Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave scattered bread across the streets, watching as the pigeons dropped down and chewed on it without care for the abundance of people walking about. He looked one in the eye, and then his hand shone with a spell matrix. Argrave felt a bizarre sensation in his chest that felt as though some carbonated liquid was bubbling about near his heart.

After the spell finished, the bird flew up and joined a flock of six unprompted. They acted just as ordinary birds, but Argrave felt there was a certain connection between the six of them distinctly separate from the rest of the animals. They moved together, acted together, and never strayed too far from Argrave’s sight.

“You should stop here,” Anneliese said. “Bonding with too many creatures can change your behavior, especially if they’re all of the same species.”

Argrave stood. “Six birds. It should be fine as a temporary druidic partner. Mostly for scouting, anyway.”

“I’m curious why you use the C-rank spell [Pack Leader] instead of a more sophisticated, direct method of controlling the animals for detailed observation,” Anneliese asked. “Knowing exact details about an enemy is important.”

Argrave gestured, and then continued to walk down the street. “Gives me less control, sure, but with two mages, one of us can act as a net. [Pack Leader] allows one to control many of one species, but I get only a general sense of what each is feeling. If they feel something, or spot something dangerous, you can use one of the aforementioned more precise druidic spells to get a detailed examination…” Argrave trailed off, taking a look at Anneliese.

Anneliese had her arms crossed, and her gaze was locked on something else. Argrave followed her gaze, lifting his head up. There was a body hanging from a rope. It had been cast from a window and tied to something inside. It took a few seconds for Argrave to realize it was a Veidimen. Once he realized that, Argrave became very aware that they were being stared at.

“You alright?” Argrave asked.

“I’m fine. My people attacked theirs. Perhaps I should have expected this,” she returned quickly. “Keep going.”

Argrave clicked his tongue, but eventually said, “When we make it to Jast, I know a shop that sells some enchanted iron circlets. They muddle the features, make them less distinct for the average passersby. It’s an illusion enchantment. For now, maybe we should get going… or buy a hood.”

Anneliese lifted her head, amber eyes locking with his gaze as he waited for her answer. Eventually, she touched her hair. “The long hair would make a hood difficult. I will manage for now. But thank you.”

“Alright,” Argrave said, keeping his gaze steady. “We’re done here, any—”

“Argrave,” a guttural, spine-chilling voice called out.

Argrave turned to the source of the voice. Galamon stood there, his black, fur-coated armor covered in a large cloak. There was a bit of his armor missing at the torso from the attack he’d suffered outside Barden.

“Holy hell,” Argrave exclaimed, walking forward without caution. “I’d never forget that growl. Was wondering when you’d turn up.”

stayed silent, his white eyes staring at

were just wrapping up. Let’s go back to that abandoned house. We have some things to discuss,” Argrave stepped forward, touching Galamon’s shoulder. “Saved me a lot of trouble. Thought I’d have to go

#####

this? Why

and hands on the floor while kneeling. “What I’ve done cannot

Anneliese walked into the house, brow furrowed after seeing this scene. She shut the door slowly, her eyes

“Get up, you’re embarrassing me,” he repeated when Galamon did

to stop kneeling. His white eyes stayed locked on the chair that Argrave sat at, as though he dared not look

contracted

Argrave said. “Wasn’t a big deal, really. You dealt with the tomb guardians. Everything worked out. Just bad

me, I violated Veid’s teachings. I must be punished,” Galamon said

seeing a puncture on the elf’s pauldron. Argrave leaned in. “I’m not going to punish you. I really don’t care. Everything worked out fine, now… we just get

I will punish myself. Veid would demand

you planning to do, go take a sunbath?” Argrave shook his

for breaking contract if the contractor did not wish for punishment. Should that fail…

you, considering my physical deficiencies. All things considered… let’s quantify the damage done.” Argrave held up his fingers, counting. “There’s

the one… way I figure it, you’re looking at about ten years of indentured servitude as

the first time. The two waited quietly, staring

usually means death. I’ve also got a ridiculous number of books to haul about,

and then pointed to Galamon as he remembered something. “I’ve got years’ worth of manual labor for

big snow elf lowered his head once more and took

“Your punishment’s really quite harsh. This is why you don’t ask

besides, but it was the first time Argrave had heard it. “You’ll work me to the bone, I know.” He lifted his head up, and his face took on his

What do I know, though,” Argrave waved dismissively. “Anyway, now that we’ve put this nonsense behind us, we can start getting ready.” Argrave put his

Argrave asked,

alarm you. I

his fingers, Argrave stood. “Go get them. We have some things to fetch from a certain ruin you’re familiar with. It’s near empty and full of real valuable stuff. You think I’m going to let someone else take that prize from me? We’ll need that Ebonice axe for the big metal man still

to them,” Galamon

does too.” Argrave took a step forward, grabbing Galamon’s shoulder. “I promised her