Jackal Among Snakes

“…so, which cup has the coin?” Mina asked, running her hand over an array of three identical cups. Elias sat in a chair at a rickety yet clean table, while Mina sat atop it. Argrave was buried beneath blankets in a bed at the corner of the room, forming a shivering hump as he peered at a book dimly lit by sunlight through a boarded window. Some days had passed. Mateth had been a hive of activity as the troops were rallied.

Galamon sat at the foot of the bed, watching fumes rise into the air from a brewing potion. It was a potion that calmed the mind—Argrave considered it the reason he had been able to do what he had in the battle and had elected to make more before the invaders arrived. Its ingredients were the last of Argrave’s funds, barring that set aside for necessary expenses like food.

“This one,” said Elias, pointing at the center cup. Mina lifted it; it was blank. Elias lifted the other two with both of his free hands, but none of them had the coin. “What?”

“Check behind your ear,” said Mina gleefully.

Elias retrieved the coin and widened his eyes. Argrave frowned, his annoyed face peeking out from the blankets. “You’re supposed to be helping me with C-rank magic, Mina.”

Mina hopped off the table, striding to his bedside. “I told you what I know, Grave. Fourth-dimension magic, for me, was like looking past a veil, or finding out the secret to a magic trick. Looks complicated, but it’s simple deep down.”

Elias stood, setting the coin back on the table politely. “It’s useless to ask for help. It’s different for everybody.”

“Why are you two at my house, anyway?” said Argrave, burrowing deeper into his blankets.

“Your house, Grave? You said it was abandoned,” Mina countered. “My father won’t miss me; he barely knows I exist. Mom might make a fuss, eventually, but that’s beside the point. And Elias here decided to stay and help.” Mina gestured at Elias, who still refused to meet Argrave’s eyes.

“Whatever. Do s-silent magic tricks,” Argrave shivered. “And stay off the table. You may be like a cat, but you aren’t a real one. People eat there. Namely, me.”

Mina scoffed, yet still sat at the chair. “You don’t look like you do much eating.”

Someone knocked at the door. Galamon’s head whipped cleanly, and he stood, drawing his dagger and holding it close at attention. He opened the door slowly, peeking through. Then, he opened it wide and walked away.

“Hey, Nicky.” Mina greeted.

Nikoletta entered. She wore custom-fitted leather armor, the blue swordfish of Monticci painted on the breastplate. As testament to the wealth of the Dukedom, it was thoroughly inscribed, and enchantments shone along those inscriptions brilliantly. It was a familiar set of armor.

In the normal course of ‘Heroes of Berendar,’ after Nikoletta was expelled from the Order of the Gray Owl she would be involved in the civil war briefly before returning to Mateth after hearing it was invaded by the snow elves. The armor set she wore was an heirloom and was found in the Duke’s estate, which had been overrun by Veidimen.

“Hey Mina.” She looked around the room, giving a nod to Elias. Galamon sat back down in front of Argrave’s bed, staring at the brewing potion like a dejected puppy. Nikoletta spotted Argrave and walked up slowly.

“Argrave. You look terrible…,” she said in concern.

“Don’t lie to me. My superior good looks are my one benefit in this beanpole body,” Argrave put his hand to his face to accentuate his handsomeness. His hand was warm, but his face still felt too cold.

Nikoletta elected to ignore his comment. “Every time I see you, you look more and more unhealthy.”

me.” Argrave closed his book. “The Baretta Troupe Auction. You said it

of Monticci should this

a tightly packed place, all yelling and spitting like starving dogs, fighting over scraps in some vainglorious perversion of both gambling and mercantilism.” Argrave paused, taking a deep breath after his rant. “I merely

know what

threw the blanket off. He strode across the room and pulled aside a decrepit plank, then pulled out a piece of paper. He walked back to Nikoletta and handed it to her, and then

complained as Nikoletta read through the document. He stood, bunching them together while shivering intensely. Galamon stood, taking the sheets from Argrave by force. He pointed to the bed, clearly commanding

for Foamspire?” Nikoletta spoke incredulously. Galamon walked away, off to fetch clean

some… tough love, I suppose? Th-though, perhaps he’d hate me calling it ‘love.’ He

said, treating the paper carefully. “It’s an extremely valuable piece of land. Many nobles rent out apartments during the summer and vacation

and the soon-to-be civil war. An estate is stable income, true, but I don’t need a stable income. I need loads of lucre now,” Argrave said quickly. Galamon walked back in with fresh blankets, and Argrave quickly

“Why?” Nikoletta inquired.

cheerily, then started shifting to cover all of himself with the blankets. He

father would be willing to buy Foamspire for a fair

ocean in a few months. Then, he remembered that Nikoletta was one of the ‘good’

your father can go to the auction and

Nikoletta pushed further. She grabbed a chair from the table

is a precious thing in a country

sound so certain there will be a civil war,” Nikoletta noted, leaning forward and placing her

this was, from the very beginning, a scheme by Vasquer. I know because they sought to involve me in it. The royal family wants war. Felipe wants to purge disloyal subjects and replace them with sycophants. It’s in anticipation for the succession.” Argrave scratched his chin and then added as an afterthought, “also, he wants to give

player could not change. The civil war would always happen. Some of the nine playable characters could delay it slightly, but it still happened eventually.

grown very quiet, and everyone had turned to look at

south—Monticci included—will join in favor of those against Vasquer. The north will remain firmly under heel of Vasquer, though. Most of the northern nobles move pragmatically

her face. Elias stood and

royal family in the Tower,” Nikoletta said as if in epiphany. “Back then, when my research had been stolen, Induen genuinely had done

but yes. It was dually to provoke Monticci and eliminate

true, it only reinforces the validity of the rebellion. A king pledges protection in exchange for service; such callous disregard of life is not befitting of a true king.” Nikoletta picked her head up and

and evil, but House Parbon lacked a plan beyond simply overthrowing the king. If the player sided with the rebels, the kingdom would fall into crisis as people scrambled to present

would fight over the throne. Many nobles would simply declare independence, breaking off from the kingdom. The entire situation was a mess regardless

as long as you sell that little piece

I’ll be sure to do that.” She stood. “On one condition. You have

smiled. “Such a monumental task? What shall I

barely sleep, eat only plain food, and spend all hours of the day either trying to learn C-rank

try to reach nirvana,” Argrave shook his head. “Please. I’m fine. I read until I fall asleep. I eat plain

at Argrave with her deep pink eyes for a time, and Argrave stared back. She broke her gaze away