Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave sat up, breath rapid and face drenched in sweat. His body was rocking. He looked around, seeing an unending tide of blue. Feeling a rising blackness in his stomach, he turned over, grabbing the side of something wooden and vomiting into the water. The putrid substance slowly faded away, falling into the ocean and drifting behind them.

He took a second to catch his breath, clearing his nose and spitting out what little remained of the vomit. His whole body was aflame with pain. As his senses came to, he heard a rhythmic chant, and saw oars moving back and forth, cutting through the water. He turned his head, finally making sense of his surroundings. His body rocked back and forth with the tides.

He was on a longship. Though he looked around, trying to spot the coast, they were far out into sea. He turned his gaze back to the ship. The Veidimen rowing the boat looked at him and spoke of him, muttering about ‘the Hand Reaching from the Abyss.’ It seems the lie of him being an agent of Erlebnis had spread.

Anneliese sat adjacent from him, staring with a book in her free hand. Her amber eyes were passive.

“We’re taking you to Veiden, as was agreed. Fortunately, though you burned one ship and I crashed the other, one was left in sailing condition,” Anneliese said in greeting. “You passed out. You should eat food, drink fluids.”

Argrave touched his head. A fierce headache disturbed his thoughts. The memories of the battle soon replaced those uncomfortable images born of his dreams, and he looked around for Galamon.

“Where… how is Galamon?” Argrave asked.

“He dispatched those metal things admirably. His actions spared us much carnage. After, he said he would wait for your return to right his wrongs. His life would be forfeit in Veiden as an exile and a vampire.”

Argrave nodded. He felt very shaken. He had mustered a courage he did not know he had during the battle, but whatever was propping up his mentality now was gone. War was cruel. It was a great song to all the misery in the world.

Anneliese walked to him, thrusting a piece of bread and a canteen of water in his face. “Here,” she said.

Argrave looked up at her. He took the items. “I forgot. You have a big heart.”

He chewed on the bread slowly, taking small sips of water. Content that he was eating, Anneliese walked away. With his free hand, Argrave cleaned the dirt off his body, conjuring his barely replenished magic to remove blood, mud, and other such filth. It felt like he was shedding his sins, somewhat.

After he had finished the bread, Anneliese handed him other things—mostly vegetables, but it was food. It had probably been taken from Barden in haste as they left. There were a lot fewer on the boat than he recalled being at Barden, and the thought that some deaths could have been avoided had he remained conscious disquieted him. Argrave ate his food slowly, working on suppressing his meandering thoughts and emotions.

Anneliese read quietly despite the rocking of the ship. One hand tended to her long white hair, twisting it about in her fingers. She was braiding a section of it with one hand alone, fingers moving skillfully. She had already done near a foot, and considering it went down to her knees when she was standing, it would be a long process.

at her face to

fright?” Argrave asked, sitting a little straighter. “Keep

unwound the braid, and her hand dropped down

was necessary,” Argrave responded after a brief

worried about contracting vampirism?”

then I’d need to drink his blood. Or ingest it some or other way. Eugh,” Argrave shuddered thinking of it. “Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t like a

don’t hate him, despite what happened?” Her

Argrave repeated. “It

too guilty, for that. Your body was bruised from being grabbed.

grifting abilities. They’ve carried me a long way.” Argrave sat up a little straighter as his feelings of weakness faded somewhat. His

least in terms of hating people, stems from a lack of understanding; an inability to view the other person’s perspective. Ultimately, hating another merely weighs on yourself. It’s a waste of brain power. Though…

are entirely different matters, though. Everyone inevitably

lowered her head, mulling over his words in silence. The waves of the ocean battered against the longship, and Argrave turned his head out to look out across the ocean. He considered falling in for a moment and his mind wandered. The ocean was a terrifying thing looking at it from above, but once inside, it offered an unparalleled freedom. Swimming in all directions—up, down, left, right—it must be mundane for a fish, but for a

“I think you’re right.”

Argrave had seen her smile, and he could not help but return it. They stared at each other for a long moment, but Argrave eventually turned away,

the Patriarch?” Anneliese inquired, shutting her book and devoting

Dras to begin with. From there, I’ll demonstrate the breadth of my knowledge. I remember a prophecy I can use, some vague... in fact, maybe you can help make sure I’ve got

remembering something. “Oh, and if that curmudgeonly bastard Rowe the Righteous is there, he would be a great help in proving this matter. He's

he disclosed. “How much

beamed. “I know most things in heaven and Earth, Horatio." His words fell flat, Anneliese watching him blankly. "Though I can’t say I know every detail about every person, I know more about many important

some time deliberating on whether or not to say something. “Knowing so much would probably make most people uncomfortable.

try to hide. You

and composed herself quickly. After some time, she asked, “Why

this? ‘Because she asked’ would be the obvious answer, but then the further question would be

what’s going on inside my head. Who better to be honest with than someone who can see past

waves beat against the side of the longship

said my empathy would make many people uncomfortable.” She let the words hang, and Argrave nodded.