Jackal Among Snakes

A knight pushed open a set of oak double doors that had the symbol of House Monticci in the center. The swordfish split open, and a small office lay beyond. A few faces turned towards the new entry. Argrave walked in, looking around the room. It was an office and a library in one, and a big round table occupied the center of the room. Many documents were splayed out across the table. Argrave recognized them—they were from the druid’s camp.

Barring Nikoletta and Elias, there were two people present that Argrave did not recognize. This was something that had scarcely happened to him since arriving in Berendar. Most of the civilians in Mateth were untouched by the Veidimen invasion, but the military and leadership were mostly killed. If these two were here, it meant that they had probably died before the game began.

The man at the head of the table was of an average build. He bore a set of gilded armor bearing a blue swordfish at the front, so Argrave recognized him as Duke Enrico of Monticci. Argrave placed him at his early fifties. He had blue hair and the same dark pink eyes Nikoletta had. His hair was wavy and well-groomed, and his beard was trimmed to a sharp point. He was still quite handsome by Argrave’s estimation. A veritable silver fox.

The other was a gruff-looking knight with a scar-lined face. His head was shaved bald. He stepped forward, placing himself between Duke Enrico and Argrave.

The Duke scanned Argrave, head tilted to peer at him from behind the knight. “This is your friend, Nikoletta?”

“Yes, it is.” Nikoletta crossed her arms and nodded.

Argrave wanted to comment that her answer had changed since they first spoke, but he kept quiet.

The Duke continued. “He’s a tall one. Taller than the king, even.” He tapped the table. “Step aside, Knight-Commander Ryger.”

“Duke,” the knight obeyed quickly, taking his place at the table. The doors shut behind Argrave.

“My daughter has been relaying what you’ve told her the past few days,” Duke Enrico started. His voice was calm and steady, with a certain business-like quality to it. “Your information was supported by what you brought with you, and my men retrieved some of the bodies in that camp of… what was the word…”

“Druids,” Argrave supplied.

“Yes. Druids.” The Duke stared at him. “Nikoletta may not question where your information comes from. I, however, am greatly concerned by how you know so much. You knew things occurring in my territory before I did. How did you come to know about this camp of druids?”

Elias turned his head to look at Argrave after the duke had spoken. Clearly he was interested in the answer too.

The knight-commander walked beside Argrave, coming uncomfortably close. He was a fair bit shorter than Argrave, but probably much heavier. Argrave smiled at him, keeping his feet firm.

“Information gathering is one of my strengths,” Argrave answered. “I talk to a lot of people. I walk around a lot. I do things—favors—for people. You can learn a lot if you have time and an open-mind.”

Argrave essentially described what ‘quests’ were in an RPG. Indeed, he had learned most of the game through quests, so it was not a lie. One of the key parts of being convincingly deceptive was learning to deceive oneself.

Ryger looked dissatisfied by Argrave’s answer. The Duke pressed more. “That is not specific. Who, or what, gave you the information?”

Nikoletta grabbed his arm. “Father, please don’t do this.”

The Duke did not look at Nikoletta to respond. “You are too trusting. Thwarting schemes requires considerable caution, and plenty seek to undermine our Dukedom, Nikoletta.”

“You are too paranoid,” Nikoletta shot back. “Argrave could have made us go to war with Parbon, but he chose to risk himself.”

matter.

Argrave interrupted. “If I know you, Duke Enrico, you were already planning on rallying soldiers as soon

Enrico stared for a moment. Somehow, he made dark pink eyes seem fierce. He had a stare that could

or where or why—none of that matters,” Argrave continued. “Those documents alone should set you on edge. They document your troops better

reveal the intention behind the conveyance of information.” The Duke paused, running a hand across his beard. “But, in this case, you are right. Preparation has never undone anyone. On that note… several people have described that battle you had

head. “Yesterday I

widened, but Nikoletta burst out, “You said

me being C-rank doesn’t matter, as I haven’t had the time to

see.” The Duke nodded. “You strategized

“Yes,” Argrave confirmed.

you have thoughts on what the snow elves

Argrave pointed his thumb at the knight-commander Ryger. The man’s face deepened into a frown, but he

have asked his thoughts, and now I am asking yours. I prefer to strategize

has Nikoletta told you

believe we are hopelessly

know you are,” Argrave corrected. “You’re vastly outnumbered, they have Ebonice in large amounts, they’re more experienced, they have detailed information about

“Ebonice?” the Duke repeated.

and generally shatter immediately—especially wards. It comes from their region, so they have a lot of it, naturally. My guard Galamon

aren’t lacking in training,” the knight-commander said, speaking for

battles under their belt. Their leader, Patriarch Dras, conquered all of the other tribes of the region. Their magic isn’t at all

the maps on the table. “Then

troops can disembark. Hiding traps

they might deploy their

refining the ideas. Like this, Argrave integrated seamlessly into the battle planning. The morning passed by

#####

use earth elemental magic as a siege weapon?” The duke pressed, pointing to a diagram of

the platform. They would have to build it like stairs so as not to make it crumble, and that sort of magic is very costly. The

they use it on

of Mateth are enchanted.

too much,” the duke

and looking out the windows. “Look at that. It’s near midday. Galamon must be back by now, surely… well, if that’s the case, I have to

the duke inquired harshly. It seems he

things of my

“What things?”

stumbled into the room. Argrave looked

note to the Duke. “Margrave Reinhardt’s knights were attacked. House Parbon has sent missives

stepped forward and took the note before the

was coming,” Argrave said. “It’s tough, always being