Jackal Among Snakes

Nikoletta sat by her father’s bedside, staring down at his chest as it rose and fell. His injuries were healed, leaving not even a scar, and his breathing was steady and unlabored. Still, he refused to awaken.

“It’s been two days, Master Castro. Can you not awaken him yet?” Nikoletta said, trying to keep her tone polite, but finding it difficult to do so in light of her worry.

The old tower master stood beside her, watching the Duke Enrico. “As I told you, the spell to do so would be very costly. I would not leave myself fully drained of magic with the possibility of a recurring attack. I understand your concern, young lady Monticci, but your father is in no immediate danger.”

“Hooh…” Nikoletta sighed, crossing her arms and leaning against her knees. “People in comas get brain damage sometimes, right? What if that happens?”

“What did I say?” Castro asked, then repeated, “Your father is in no immediate danger.”

“You’re right,” she said, lifting her head up. “You’re right. You would know best. I don’t… even know how to begin to thank you, Tower Master. How did you even find out about the invasion?”

Castro shook his head. “It was happenstance I came here. I was looking for a promising Acolyte.”

“Your wyvern… I never intended to…” she muttered. “You sacrificed much for Mateth.”

“I helped of my own accord. If one places their hand in troubled waters, should they rage when their hand is bit? Such is the action of a child, not a man as old as me.” The tower master smiled. “My Gray Owl… I cannot say I am unbothered by the loss, but when you lend something to someone unversed in how to use it properly, you cannot expect them to be a master. He had been by my side for seventy years. Everything dies, eventually.”

“House Monticci’s honor demands we repay this debt,” Nikoletta answered firmly.

“I know, and I do not doubt your house’s honor. Someday, that debt will be collected. I would prefer it to be at a time when neither will suffer further. Should I extort you while your seat of power lies in ruin, your father in a coma? One does not save a life expecting repayment—or at least, not a true savior,” Castro dismissed with a shake of his head. “Take your time, rebuild yourself and your city. Despite my sagging skin, I plan to live for a while yet.” The Tower Master smiled warmly.

“And besides, that squadron of archers you called for helped greatly when they arrived. I had heard of this ‘Ebonice’ through rumor alone, but it is indeed a great enemy to spellcasters.” He retrieved an arrow of the black substance and held it to the light. It resembled obsidian somewhat but was much more translucent.

“You are… a very good man, Master Castro,” Nikoletta said, a great deal of tension draining from her shoulders.

Nikoletta’s mind had grown numb from the constant anxiety the past few days. These events helped her realize how powerless she truly was. With her father incapacitated, she was the regent of the Duchy of Monticci. There was great unrest within the capital Mateth—refugees from the coastal villages swamped the city’s gates, causing great disorder outside.

Inside was little different. There were a few snow elves living within the city, and mobs formed, lynching several of them without provocation. It was a terrible thing, but the military force they had was too small to punish the people that carried out those acts. The guilt weighed at Nikoletta’s mind daily. She lowered her head into her hands, rubbing her tired eyes.

And atop all of that, Argrave was still absent. He could be dead. He could be a captive, tortured and starving. He could… Nikoletta frowned, recalling something the Tower Master had said.

“Master Castro,” she said, straightening her back. “That Acolyte you were looking for… was his name Argrave?”

Castro was taken aback. “Yes, it was. You know of him?”

“Are you serious?” she stood. “But then he…” Her mind fell into disarray.

Did he plan this all along? To have Master Castro come to help at the last minute?

“No… no, that’s ridiculous.” She shook her head.

“You know this boy, young lady Monticci?” the Tower Master questioned.

cousin. He went to Veiden to stop the

say?” Castro asked with a strong hint of disbelief flavoring his

the end of her sentence cut off with another ring. She stepped past the chair and quickly moved to the door, stepping outside into the estate’s hallway. She rushed to a large bay window that overlooked

breathing quickened. She looked out to the ocean beyond, but she saw no other ships. The flag bore atop the ship was white in way of the red flag with the

#####

she stood behind Argrave within the ship’s railings. She had donned a set of thick black leather robes lined with white fur more suitable for travel. Her long hair was bound in a half-crown braid. It flowed down all the way to her knees, swaying lightly in the

standing atop the figurehead of the ship. He, too, wore a set of black leather robes, though with a cloak of white fur over his shoulders in way of lining. “Please. I saw you riding in this same spot when you sailed to Barden. This was on the eve of battle, no less.” He placed

regain his balance, and then he made a speedy retreat back onto the safety of the boat’s railings. Anneliese stared at him. She didn’t smile much, but he had

Argrave sat against one of the railings, peering out to the coastline ahead. “At least I don’t get seasick. Always wondered if I would, but never really had the

spirits. Is it because you’re heading home?” She sat on a chest tied to

sat atop of. “I’m in good spirits because of those books in there. Good harvest, all

that you’re happy because Mateth did not fall. It went against your

almost cracked at that moment. Anneliese was half-right. He was hopeful. He hoped that he would not return to see the people he’d become intimately acquainted with

“Alright, so maybe I am. It’s a double-edged sword, though. Mateth is still standing, but it’ll be harder for

do, exactly. You want to prepare the

so we’ll wait

to bring

at his neck. He spotted a great number of knights

his body, immobile. Argrave was using druidic magic. He had bound a pigeon to himself and left it resting on the ship’s sail. He commanded the pigeon he was seeing through to move and watched as it flew out across the ocean towards the host of knights. In the center of the knights, Nikoletta rode

vision spun once more. “Druidic magic

ever closer towards the beach. Eventually, when the ship grew close enough, the ship turned on its side, and a great deal of Veidimen pushed out a

out. “Feel that? Wind, untainted by snow or dread cold. A stiff autumn breeze is paradise compared to that winter

suppressed a small little grin as he saw Nikoletta’s obsidian-color hair waving about in the wind. Some knights tried to stop her, but none dared restrain the young lady Monticci

strides. Nikoletta grew nearer, and her caution overwrote whatever it was that spurred her to move towards him. She slowed the horse

you in one piece,”

tackled Argrave, hands wrapped around his back. Argrave staggered a little but

didn’t…” Argrave trailed off. He heard some sobbing noises, muffled beneath his

crying? Why are you crying?” Argrave turned his head to Anneliese in panic. “Why is

chest lightly. “Shut up, you

was doubly awkward considering the height difference. He didn’t want to get his

been… so damned hard,” Nikoletta said. “Why don’t you tell anyone what you’re doing? Why do you go

what to say for a time. After a while, he opened his mouth and slowly said, “I mean… you’ve still got my clothes in that guest bedroom. Didn’t

worse. It took him a few seconds, but he

all just exploded on you.” She took a deep breath, regaining her composure. “I thought I might never see you again. Spent the whole time steeling myself for that. Maybe they’d find your corpse on

you, Argrave thought,

“Me? Dead? Impossible. No rest for the wicked. That includes the long sleep.” He surveyed his clothes where she’d wept, cleaning them off with water magic briefly. “It appears

is in a coma, at least for another couple days.” She took a deep breath, as though it was difficult to say aloud. “Ultimately…

Berendar any longer, at least for another decade.” Argrave retrieved a rolled-up paper from

Argrave’s eyes stayed locked on the steadily approaching knights, marching on foot. He turned his head back to the longship. All those that had been rowing the longship stood at the edge, shields arrayed in a perfect