Jackal Among Snakes

A man walked down the streets of Jast with his head hung low, brown hair covering much of his face. Rather than sad or dejected, he seemed to be lost in thought. He wore somewhat rugged clothing that matched very well with the color of the buildings throughout the city, enough so that it might be impossible to see him at all in the dark.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t swing it. All of them were ready and eager when I told them about the score, but they changed their tune in hours, Stain considered. This guy probably had some ties with the Order here. Maybe he’s a key man between the wizards and the crews. Would explain why he had jewels… might explain why he was at White Edge. Might be a warehouse.

Stain lifted his head slightly, scanning the crowd ahead. At this point in his life, he’d become very adept at spotting wealth on people. Rings on fingers, jewelry, where they might keep their gold… it was a skill that needed to be honed, just as one had to learn how to take it from them.

No luck today. Waste of time, he concluded about the passersby. His mind wandered back to the mark he’d been considering. Maybe I should go to White Edge, scout things out. It’s clear that the man didn’t want the tax collector going into the village. There had to be a reason for that… might be worth much more than jewels when all is said and done.

After stopping and looking to be sure none were following him, Stain turned into an alleyway. He walked quickly, taking winding turns with complete confidence, before coming to a run-down portion of Jast. Some of the finely paved street had caved in here. This place had once been a cistern, before the Order had made a more easily accessible place for the people to fetch water.

Stain walked down into the caved in portion, scrambling over loosely packed rubble. He ducked into a portion that was large enough for him to fit, and then stared out at the underground cistern. The water level had lowered over the years without management, but it was still relatively full. Stain sat, removing his boots and socks. The dagger he’d hidden in his footwear dropped out, and he caught it.

After rolling up his pants Stain entered the water, disturbing the still underground lake. Holding his dagger and boots above the water, he headed for a faint light on a distant wall. Once he reached it, he climbed up onto a raised alcove just before a simple makeshift door. He looked around a bit.

Looks like one of the lamps broke again, Stain noted, setting his footwear and dagger aside. Cheap junk. He turned and sat on the alcove, waiting for his feet to dry before placing his socks on. He watched the ripples he’d made spread across the cistern’s water.

Without warning, something cold touched Stain’s throat, and he heard a single footstep beside him. His breathing stopped, and he turned his eyes to see a giant of a man holding a greatsword down to his neck. His features were muddled, and Stain saw an iron band on his forehead—a Circlet of Disguise.

“Stand up, enter the door. Test me, you lose fingers,” the man said, his voice low and gravelly.

Stain swallowed, looking between his dagger and the cistern, judging loosely if he still had time to jump in. Getting cut once… should be worth it. I can lose him in the water—he’s wearing plate mail.

“My feet are wet. I don’t want to walk barefooted, and I don’t want to put my socks on when they’re still wet,” Stain spoke nonsense to stall for time.

Stain did not have time to react as the man’s foot struck his chest, sending him sprawling back away from the water. He coughed, winded, and gazed up weakly. He heard the door open.

“Galamon…,” the voice said, somewhat annoyed. “I told you not to be too mean.”

“You also told me he was shifty beyond measure,” the man called Galamon retorted. “He was looking for a way to run. Seen it before.”

The other voice sighed. Stain tried to crane his head to look, but suddenly a foot pressed down on his chest. The one called Galamon stared down at Stain, features indistinguishable because of the circlet he wore.

worse,” the other said urgently.

#####

down until he was sitting. Galamon kept the greatsword in hand, but he no

apathetically. He looked around, spotting where Anneliese was idly reading through the various pieces of paper on a desk. She wore a Circlet of Disguise just as Galamon did. They had purchased them on

in one corner, and a collapsed stairwell on the opposite edge of the room. There was also a badly worn and poorly constructed

can understand the people that want to live humbly despite their wealth, but this is just…

caught his breath, slowly correcting his posture until he was upright. His gaze flitted between Argrave

a swindler is to make money. What’s the

raised a finger slowly. “You’re the guy. The… the wizard from White Edge. Seven feet tall, black hair,

Argrave confirmed. He had his own Circlet of Disguise just as his two companions, but he elected

I’m smart enough to get that message. I stopped planning to search for those

“That’s nice,” Argrave nodded.

in—I get it,” Stain raised his hands as if surrendering. “You’ll never see me

name. Veladrien of Jast. Now, with a last name like ‘Jast,’ one might think you have some ties to the lovely

his next words very carefully. “Look. I understand that you might have some business going on in White Edge. Maybe it’s got something to do with the Veidimen—I know they have some operations here, and I remember that tax collector mentioning

I’m Count Delbraun’s brother, I might sell you out, get the Count’s eye on your business. That is not

save his life,

because he called me ‘a stain on Jast’s honor.’” Stain

That’s the name of the smuggler group, I presume,”

live in his… his gilded palace, I’m certain, but he and I are not close at all. He doesn’t care if I live or

“But you’re still a little entrenched in that side of things. How would you learn about the tax collector if you didn’t have some connection to the Count? The count received the taxes, after all. You had to learn about the jewels from him or his

him, but… but everything else I said was true,” Stain

his estate. Did you sneak

lets me in, mostly on account of my other siblings there. I check his documents sometimes to find things that I might get some people on, skim

the thing. You like money,” Argrave pointed. He reached into his pocket and

eyes locked on the rose gold magic coin. He was quick-witted enough to gather himself and respond, “I wouldn’t

philanthropist.” Argrave nodded and stowed the coin away. “Here’s the thing. I have the sneaking suspicion that the Duke of Elbraille, Count Delbraun’s liege, is preparing for war. I need to confirm that suspicion and get all

as he digested what Argrave had said. Seeing that the three

any orders from up high,” Stain laid out, and Argrave nodded. “I can tell you what I know already. Delbraun planned to remain neutral, but lately, Jast has been quietly gathering troops. A lot of the wizards loyal to the Count