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.”

the bugs—end of quest. That option would probably be much more fun… were this a game, naturally. Argrave would much sooner jump off a tower and

ants have instincts,” Anneliese responded after some consideration. “These bugs, if they are like ants, won’t eat poison even if it

spotted some discontent with that statement, and he quickly added, “All of the other ideas are terrible—this

Anneliese agreed. “But we brought

pounds an ant can carry. I can promise you, though, I definitely won’t forget a single recipe for poison. I wrote thousands of articles about alchemy, be it the ingredients or the final product.

write thousands of articles?” Anneliese asked after a

back to that. For now…” Argrave turned his gaze

out the carriage window. In the distance, he could see a field of red that made it seem as though the lilies had turned to roses. The sight set a flame of anxiety alight in his chest. This would be the first time he tried something major that

Argrave muttered. “It might be time

#####

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

the countryside. In way of simple plank walls and straw roofs, these buildings were well-constructed and near uniform in design. They looked fanciful rather than sturdy. When

and anxiously against the porch. He was missing a few of the teeth on the right side of his mouth, and significant balding left him with only a ring of

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 notable

would not be especially appreciated if the

her lap as she

methods are strange, but you have come

be singing my

I

glanced at her to be sure her amber eyes weren’t rolling. “I’ll be charitable and assume

further as the carriage started to slow. When it came to a stop, Argrave pulled back the door’s bolt and pushed open the door, alighting onto the road. Above, Galamon leapt from the top of the carriage, and it shifted when deprived of his weight. Argrave stretched and moved his joints about, freeing himself

an old man said, walking

had something more to say, Argrave spoke quicker. “Are you Bertrand Guill, the one who sent

his company. “Yes, I am,” the man said, his voice slightly strange on account of his

some of his magic into it. “This is my pupil, and the other is my guard,

from arthritis. “I told everyone that this was a serious matter that Jast couldn’t ignore, and everyone didn’t believe me!” he shouted back to the crowd some distance behind him. The people started to approach

asked, some suspicion

who got it. These creatures… ‘Lily Lurkers,’ you called them?” Argrave waited for Bertrand to nod, and then proceeded.

grandiose name was entirely fabricated. “Ordinarily, I’d have more colleagues with me. As it stands, most everyone in Jast

“What’re you

their tyranny,” Argrave explained succinctly. “But that is a long way off,

them, more people started to

in your lily fields need to be dealt with,” Argrave said brusquely. “As such, Count Delbraun has given me leave to enlist