Jackal Among Snakes

“Hmm…” Rowe grunted as Argrave set down the quill, leaning over the parchment Argrave had been writing on. Anneliese was on the other side of him, just as interested.

“That’s the simple illusion spell, [Muffle].” He pointed at another diagram. “And there is how you translate [Muffle] to an Inscription. Once you will magic into it, the enchantment will be complete. This one will muffle sounds, naturally. Higher-ranked mages with larger magic pools like you mostly resist illusion magic, and plenty of enchantments or spells exist that help prevent people’s senses from being twisted.”

“Very prudent to use a spell I don’t know to teach me enchanting. Quite the amazing teacher you are, aye,” the aged elf said sarcastically. Rowe reached out and touched the paper without asking Argrave for permission. “Aye, I feel it. I can put magic into this.” He did so, and the inscription shone briefly before fading back into ordinary looking paper.

Argrave picked up a gold coin and dropped it onto the paper. It was near soundless. Rowe watched this with brows furrowed. Argrave ripped the paper, and it was completely soundless. Rowe stopped him. “I get it. Stop wasting paper. You know how much this stuff is worth?”

Anneliese picked up a piece of paper and moved away. Rowe turned to Argrave. “Then that is that. If I had known this matter was so simple, I might not have agreed to this trade.”

“Yeah, sure. You would have definitely figured it out without me. Spare me the prideful nonsense,” Argrave said dismissively. “Now, I’ll get you those illusion spellbooks at Jast. Might be a pain, but I need druidic magic. Best way to scout and watch for enemies in the entire world.”

“I’m glad you see that,” Rowe said with some measure of pride. He stepped a bit closer, locking gazes with Argrave and speaking quietly. “So, that one is coming with you?” Rowe inquired. Argrave turned his head. Anneliese was writing something.

Argrave looked back to Rowe, nodding. “Yeah. Why?”

“That’s what I should be asking you, boy. I have responsibilities here, but I could give you a higher-ranked mage. I’m sure I could talk one of the A-rank mages into coming with you. A devastating force on that continent of Berendar, as far as I’m aware. Invaluable in… whatever it is you’re doing to stop He Who Would Judge the Gods,” Rowe said, shaking his head quickly.

A loud poof came from behind Argrave, and he turned his head to spot a small mushroom cloud of smoke fading into nothingness. Anneliese stepped back from a burning piece of paper.

“That’s why I’m bringing her. Latent genius, that one. She has great talent,” Argrave said, pointing with his thumb. “Some enchantments are really quite useless, like that one you saw there; one-time uses that only destroy whatever it is they’re written on. Others, like warding magic, are immeasurably useful. Trial-and-error, really.”

Rowe walked forward slowly and jabbed his walking stick in Anneliese’s foot. She let out a little yelp and jumped back. “Damned girl. Be more careful with paper,” he reprimanded, picking up the smoldering piece of paper where the blackened remnants of an inscription could be vaguely seen. He cast a glance at Anneliese.

“Besides, I need people of good character at my side.” Argrave walked forward, shrugging. “I trust Anneliese and Galamon more than any unknown element that is far stronger than me, magically speaking. Well, probably physically speaking, too.”

Rowe cast some fire magic and finished burning the paper, scattering the ashes while wiping his hands off with his fur robes. “Trust. Bah. You’ve known her for three days, maybe. Keep being so trusting, you’ll end up on a spit with the Tenebrous Reaper pissing on your still-warm body.”

“What’s with you and piss?” Argrave shook his head. “I haven’t been wrong since you’ve met me. Never will be, if I can help it.”

“You were wrong once,” Rowe said condescendingly. “Told me to ‘divine with animal guts,’ but that’s tripe. There’s no validity to it. Might as well toss a coin in the air to decide.”

“Tripe,” Argrave repeated. “Very nice pun.”

“Disgusting.” Rowe waved his hand and started to move away.

“Hold a moment,” Argrave stopped him. “I might need some help carrying the books and navigating this place. Can you call some people? I’ll get a list ready of the spells I need.”

Rowe frowned. “You don’t know the spells themselves,

names and what they do. Otherwise, I’m out of luck.” Argrave picked up a quill. “Oh, also, if you could get one of your mages to

order me about. Savor it; it won’t

will have to be carried to Katla,” Argrave called out as Rowe walked away. “This

#####

his shoulder. It was full of books, so it could not be light. The Veidimen before them

your family?” Argrave questioned his new

deeper inland, past Veiden,” Anneliese said, amber eyes looking off to the side.

call. Filial piety isn’t exactly my thing, either,” Argrave said

that she had problems with her family. Some were blatant, like her grandmother. Others were only Argrave’s assumptions, and so he

in Berendar he was not always the tallest in crowds and could not see over the

far distance. At the center of the crowd, Argrave recognized one of the prominent snow elves in

with a shrug. He was a big man, but his demeanor was withdrawn and battered. “They had counters ready for our primary strategy. Even

comparison as he rebutted, “I thought you

crowd, using his cane to push some of the snow elves aside. People looked at him angrily before they recognized him,

from the capital.” His white eyes looked past Argrave to the snow elf lugging around the chest.

you trick me? Argrave wanted to ask immediately, mind dwelling on Mateth. He had always liked Dras when playing ‘Heroes of Berendar.’ Now, after what Anneliese had told him, much of the goodwill he’d had was gone. Even still, Argrave knew he only had himself to blame. He knew Dras was not entirely forthcoming; he should have

with a shrug. “Rowe and I worked

now, why you were so quick to give up trying to save that city. You had

passive, but he

but the bulk of it was a high-ranking spellcaster. What few mages are still alive believe he used S-rank elemental magic. Your city remains in human hands, and I’ll

the unaffiliated mages, there’s maybe ten people in the Order of the Gray Owl capable of magic of that tier, and only three that use elemental magic. If Duke Enrico placed a lot of value on my words, he might’ve called in a favor… Argrave’s head spun, but he could think of

control as Dras’ words set in. Mateth had not fallen. Argrave had been worried his actions might have prolonged the battle, ultimately worsening the result. Instead… Mateth never fell at all. He

after pausing for a long time. “Like we agreed,

had been immeasurably helpful, it wouldn’t be enough going forward. Though the variables would remain the same, the equation would be different. Argrave would need to be more flexible and predictive. One failure could cost him his life, or

Dras said with a nod. “I’ve prepared a ship to send you back,

Argrave probed.

can row the ship yourself,” Dras posited. “Might make those wrists a little thicker, but I think you’ll

his wrists beneath his clothes. “Wrist thickness is about bones, not muscles. Believe me, if I could run more than fifty feet without coughing blood, I’d do so.” Seeing Dras’ expression turn somewhat contemptuous, he added, “That’s a metaphor. I think I

snorted. “One questions why Erlebnis would choose one so… physically deficient, shall

and brain, and those things are a lot more valuable than bulging muscles,”

who had been speaking to Dras before Argrave arrived interrupted, saying, “Show

him disrespectful, I would make that known,” Dras reprimanded immediately. “Go take care of

up. The man put down the chest, and a cloud of white burst