Jackal Among Snakes

Anneliese looked out the window of the carriage, her head resting on her hand. Her other hand played with her hair, which was splayed out on her thighs. The carriage rode across a field of lilies, leaving two trails behind in the pure white flowers. The fields seemed unending. As Argrave recalled, one could only see this field at certain times in the game—fall. They bloomed near the end of fall.

“A pretty sight,” Anneliese commented. “Like snow, but… alive.”

“Yes, very beautiful,” Argrave agreed, staring at Anneliese. “As we move ahead, they’ll begin to turn red, and beyond that, wilt. That means we’re growing closer to the cavern.”

Her amber eyes switched from the scenery to him. “Erlebnis told you this?”

“He doesn’t tell you so much as reach into your head and place things there,” Argrave responded. “Unpleasant yet convenient at the same time.”

She crossed her legs, placing her hands atop her knee. “For an agent of Erlebnis, you don’t seem to rever—”

“Now that we’re getting this close, we should really discuss the plan for these insects.” Argrave shut the book he held in his hand, changing the subject. “These bugs, they’re called Lily Lurkers locally. They’re the reason this field is so largely… undisturbed.” Argrave set his book on the carriage seat, and Galamon slowed the horses to hear his words better.

“The nearby village’s young couples would have late-night rendezvouses at this place when the lilies bloomed because the moonlight reflects beautifully off the white flowers. Now, at night, those bugs roam the field like supersized ants, ripping people apart.” Argrave pointed.

“You know, ants can carry…” Argrave paused, struggling to remember the number. “…100 times their own bodyweight… if I remember right. They’re strong. These bugs, they’re the same way, except they weigh about ten pounds and have a paralytic poison stinger. They’re around the size of my head.”

Anneliese nodded, a frown disturbing her face. “You mentioned they come out at night. We must’ve come here during the day to attack them while they’re in their… burrow. Burn them out, perhaps.” She waved her hand as she offered the example.

“A plausible solution,” Argrave agreed. “But the underground caverns are large enough it would be difficult to do either. Burning them out or using water might collapse the cavern, too. We need to go inside. This task requires precision.”

“Entering the cavern would be suicide,” Galamon contributed. “Tight spaces… perfect for those bugs. Impossible to kill when they’re in large numbers.”

“Both of you…” Argrave spread his arms out, shaking his head as though ashamed. He clapped his hands together, though the sound was muffled by his gloves. “Such mindless killers. Violence isn’t always the answer.”

Both of them looked at him like he was mental.

Argrave carried on, unaffected. “Fact is, we can’t butcher this whole colony of Lily Lurkers. Waste of time to even try. Would take weeks, maybe a month, if we tried to kill them off one-by-one without any casualties. Their numbers are too high. Originally, I had been thinking just the same as you two, and consequently dreading this task. But these bugs—they have to eat, no?”

“Poison,” Anneliese caught on quickly, and Argrave confirmed with a nod.

“Plausible,” Galamon commented. “Don’t think poisoning counts as non-violent, though.”

Argrave waved his hand. “Mere semantics.”

no such option would be available to Argrave. One follows the quest marker, goes into the cave, kills the bugs—end of quest. That option would probably

if they are like ants, won’t eat poison even if it is laced into something

Argrave spotted some discontent with that statement, and he quickly added, “All of

Anneliese agreed. “But we

won’t forget a single recipe for poison. I wrote thousands of articles about alchemy, be it the ingredients or the final product. It was unimaginably tedious.” Argrave tapped his temple. “This mind of mine is all we need to make every poison creatable in Berendar. We’re deep in the

of articles?” Anneliese asked

sure myself. Masochism, perhaps. We’ll get back to that. For now…” Argrave turned his gaze towards Galamon. “Galamon, turn left. Hard to brew potions in the middle of a field. We should head for that

sight set a flame of anxiety alight in his chest. This would be the first

might be time to bring up the Blackgard name once

#####

a very quiet place. Not many lived here, particularly because they were so far from any source of water or civilization. They paid homage only to the Count of Jast, who himself was sworn to the Duchy of Elbraille. They did not have much to offer to the Count in way of taxes, and consequently, protection was insignificant as well. Still, some minor families persisted here, growing what few crops could be grown without a nearby

straw roofs, these buildings were well-constructed and near uniform in design. They looked fanciful rather than sturdy. When coupled with the well-kept hedges in yards, the place had

the teeth on the right side of his mouth, and significant balding left him with only a ring of gray around the top of his head. He occasionally cast glances at some of the people working

man’s tapping feet came to a stop, and he leaned forward until he was sitting on the edge of his chair. After a few seconds of watching, his eyes narrowed, he stood and walked off the stairs leading to the porch. He strode across the village square with purpose. A few people in the village watched him rush by curiously. In the far distance, a wooden carriage moved closer. The old man and some few others gathered to watch the carriage come in. In a small town, someone arriving by carriage was undoubtedly a

less welcoming if they knew that Argrave had circled around the village before rejoining the road. He assumed it would not be especially appreciated if the villagers knew he had left trails of carriage wheels and horseshoe marks along their favorite romantic gathering

looked to Anneliese, who had her hands in her lap as she waited quietly. “No issues

us much anyway,” Anneliese shook her head. “Your methods are strange, but you have come this far,

commented. “Well, faith is earned, I suppose. You’ll be singing my praises by the end of this,” Argrave half-muttered as he looked out

sure I

be sure her amber eyes weren’t rolling. “I’ll be charitable and assume you’re

of the carriage, and it shifted when deprived of his weight. Argrave stretched and moved his joints about, freeing himself of the stiffness from the ride. Anneliese

man

Argrave spoke quicker. “Are you Bertrand Guill, the one

at Argrave and his company. “Yes, I am,” the man said, his voice slightly strange on account of his missing teeth. “You’re from Jast?

making it shine by willing some of his magic into it. “This is my pupil, and the other is my guard, Galamon. I’ve come by order

the crowd some

elves?” one asked, some

a better thing that I’m the one who got it. These creatures… ‘Lily Lurkers,’ you called them?” Argrave waited for Bertrand to

the crowd. No one seemed to have the slightest idea the grandiose name was entirely fabricated. “Ordinarily, I’d have more colleagues with me. As it stands, most everyone in Jast

“What’re

an attempt to end their tyranny,” Argrave explained succinctly. “But that is a long way off, and Jast has maintained neutrality in mirror of their liege lord, the Duke of Elbraille. More importantly, it’s not

people started to approach, and

to be dealt with,” Argrave said brusquely.