Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave walked into the branch of the Order in Jast with long, confident strides, though he had to admit that he felt rather isolated without his two companions shadowing him inside. They were just outside, waiting patiently. Provided Castro sold Argrave’s proposition well, Anneliese would be given membership to the Order of the Gray Owl soon enough.

The Jast branch of the Order was quite a grand place in comparison to the one in Mateth. It occupied one of the taller towers in Jast. The black interior was just as grim and dour as the rest of the city, though it was brightly lit by magic lamps. At the center of the room, there was a large spire, a round desk circling around it with many attendants sitting behind. The spire was hollow, and there was one entrance at the front of it.

This place lacked stairs just as the Tower of the Gray Owl, and so the central spire housed those floating platforms of stone that would raise one from one floor to the others. They were the only way to move upwards in the tower.

He stepped to the desk, and the attendant craned her neck to look up at Argrave’s face.

“Hello, sir,” the woman said somewhat meekly. Argrave didn’t recognize her, so she must not have been important.

“I have an inquiry,” Argrave began without pleasantries, removing the circlet on his head that disguised his features. He stowed it away in his satchel bag and continued, “Has the tower sent any notices regarding the library and an individual by the name of ‘Argrave?’”

“Oh,” she said quickly, taken aback. “Um… yes, they have. Is that…?”

“That’s me, yes,” Argrave said with a small smile. “So, then I have free rein of the library?” Argrave looked towards the central spire, preparing to enter.

“Hold on a moment…” she shuffled through various papers on the desk, and Argrave waited patiently. Eventually she pulled out a piece of a paper. “Apparently… your identity needs to be verified. We’ll use your magic signature… so, please empower your badge and stamp here.” She held out a piece of paper.

Argrave paused, then obeyed her directive, retrieving his Wizard’s badge. Hold a moment… they take this signature when you register as an Acolyte. Will this even work? What is a magic signature? Where does it come from?

Lacking options, Argrave could only shake his head and will some magic into his badge. It shone, then he lowered it and pressed it down on the backside where it was flat. Blackness spread out across the paper where he’d pressed like a blooming flower. After a moment, the attendant gestured towards him to pull it away, and he did so.

She compared it to another piece of paper, looking back and forth between the two meticulously. Argrave felt a little nervous. “Excellent,” she said finally, setting both pieces of paper down. “Then that’s done.”

“So, what, I get a library pass now?”

“Oh, um…” she paused, shuffling through more papers nervously. “Yes, I think… but I don’t think I can give you it… I think you have to get it from the Order branch manager, sir. I think that’s the case.” she said respectfully.

“You do a lot of thinking, it would seem,” Argrave noted sarcastically. “Can you take me there? Or at least think about it?”

the chair. “Yes,

She pressed on the interface at the side of it, and before long, a wide platform came down before them. She walked on, and Argrave followed after. Soon enough, he felt his feet lock just as

to examining the other people moving about in the central spire. They were carried all the way to the top, and Argrave walked out first, waiting for the attendant to take him to the branch

a wooden door and knocked thrice before opening. “Please wait,” she said deliberately, then walked inside. Argrave heard a brief exchange between two female voices. After a few seconds she came back out, ushering Argrave inside. He entered.

greeted cheerily. “Nice to see you. Here for my library card—got

name was called, and Argrave considered that a good start. In a city like Jast abounding with smugglers and wizards, one had to be somewhat ruthless to rise to the position of branch manager, and Elaine certainly fit that bill. She was Rivien’s sister and a powerful wizard in her own right. Connections and magical power—that combination was quite potent. At present she was B-rank,

knows me,” she said, matching his cheer and thereby trying to

am I famous in? I must’ve missed the memo,” Argrave

of course,” she said with a

I’m asked for an autograph, I’ll agree with you. For now, I just want to get some books from the library as Castro promised. I’m rather busy, you see,

nodded, rising to her feet. She took something off her desk, but Argrave didn’t see what it was and it soon disappeared into her sleeve.

of her words. He wished to ask if Rivien had told her that, but he stopped himself. Considering her brother is Rivien, it may well be she learned from him… but… she doesn’t know I associated with her brother’s smugglers, and it’s

but ‘had,’” Argrave shook his head after his correction. “I gave them all to Castro. I’m sure that’s how you know of this,” Argrave

Argrave’s gaze. She was taller than most, but in front of Argrave near everyone

bluffing. Even if she’s not, I shouldn’t

“People say that the crown prince eats puppies alive for breakfast.

and you wish to earn some significant money… you might lend them to me for a

owl’s face in gold. Argrave reached out and took it. “This is

or the Masters of the Order,

there any update on whether my friend Anneliese

council will hold a deliberation at a later

spellbooks—is it ready? I’m sure Castro mentioned this if he sent out word of my access to

said. If she was frustrated by his interruptions, Elaine was quite adept at hiding it. “The last of the

considered his answer. Is it even worth considering? She probably won’t offer enough money to make a

badge away. “But I cannot well knock on Castro’s door and demand back what I

eyes locked with Argrave’s own. She held out her hand for a handshake. “Well. If you change your mind, my offer is always open. If you have no need for money,

if you offer to shine my shoes or clean my house, I simply