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?”

“Yes, I can

and before long,

then resigned himself to examining the other people moving about in the central spire. They were carried all the way to the

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. There, a beautiful red-haired woman wearing gray robes waited at her desk. She had sharp features that gave one an impression of

to see you. Here for my library card—got a few books in

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, and in the future she would rise to

to regain control of the conversation. Her green eyes stayed locked

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

course,” she

just want to get some books from the library as

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. “I’m told you even have

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 been only a day. It’s unlikely she would’ve learned already. Considering her talk about my fame, it’s much more likely that she learned from other people in

‘had,’” Argrave shook his head after his correction. “I gave them all

how I learned, no,” she shook her head, walking closer while lifting her head to hold Argrave’s gaze. She was taller than most, but in front of Argrave near everyone was short. “People tell me you still have a

to keep his face neutral. Probably bluffing. Even if she’s

lot of things, Elaine,” Argrave said while sighing. “People say that the crown prince eats puppies alive for

spellbooks and you wish to earn some significant money… you might lend them to me for a day or so. They’ll be returned to you, and you’ll be able to receive all of the credit and the rewards for submitting them to the Order of the Gray Owl. Your

strange metal badge in her hand. It bore an owl’s face in gold. Argrave reached out and

only given to branch managers or the Masters of the Order, but Castro made an exception for

is there any update on whether

deliberation at a later date. Now,

of illusion spellbooks—is it ready? I’m sure Castro mentioned this if he

Elaine was quite adept at hiding it. “The last of the books are arriving from the Tower tomorrow. Now,

won’t offer enough money to make

Argrave said, hiding the badge away. “But I cannot well knock on Castro’s door and demand back what I

clicked her tongue, green 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

at the very least. “Even if you offer to shine my shoes or clean my house, I simply don’t have the books.” Argrave shook her hand quickly. “Until