Jackal Among Snakes

"Look at him,” Rowe said, stepping towards Argrave. Elaine and the people with her shifted cautiously beside the shipment of illusion spellbooks. “Goes white as a sheet when he sees me.”

“That’s just my complexion,” Argrave returned.

Argrave wanted to grit his teeth. Rowe being here did not exactly scream peace and prosperity. He was an unpleasant zealot with the power of S-rank magic to back his zeal—it was a wonder Argrave didn’t enter to find that a fight had broken out with Rowe being the obvious winner. It was even more a wonder that Dras would send him here at all.

Argrave dismissed his thoughts as the silence extended between them. “What brings you to sunny Jast? You must’ve missed me—that’s my first guess.”

“Oh, aye, I missed your stupid jokes and vacant stare,” the aged snow elf said harshly, walking stick echoing through the room as it impacted against the stone. “Complete tripe. I came here on order of the Patriarch. Some things to do in this city of vapid morons.”

Elaine stepped forward and crossed her arms. “Are we going to move this—”

“Shut up,” Rowe said coldly, turning his head to Elaine. “Speak when spoken to.”

Elaine’s expression turned to one of wroth, but Argrave held out his hand and grabbed Rowe’s shoulder.

“Be nice,” Argrave said quietly. “Might be you’re the top dog in Veiden, but you’re only one of three S-rank spellcasters in this city. Even if your dragon came with you, I can’t guarantee you’d walk out of this harbor alive if you cause trouble.”

When Argrave mentioned that Rowe was an S-rank spellcaster, Elaine’s rage turned to a steady caution. Rowe turned his head back to Argrave.

“That true?” Rowe grumbled. “Your kind live barely a quarter the time we do, but you’ve more high-ranking spellcasters?”

“Using magic of higher ranking extends one’s life, and we’re far more numerous than the Veidimen,” Argrave shook his head. Argrave knew that Rowe was much stronger than the two S-rank spellcasters in Jast, but he did not care to let him hear that. “This is what you would have gone up against had your invasion continued. What I did for your people was a good thing. I spared you an inevitable retaliatory genocide.”

“I don’t care to hear you praise yourself,” Rowe shook his head. “I’ll cause no trouble. I’m smart enough for that, at least. But that one isn’t S-rank,” he pointed his walking stick to Elaine. “Her magic pool’s only a bit larger than yours. Why should I respect her?”

“I’m an exceptional case. Compared to most her age, Elaine is quite talented,” Argrave shook his head. His magic had been increasing rapidly as he paid his debt to Erlebnis. One’s magic capacity grew when expended, and Argrave expended his consistently to accommodate the Blessing of Supersession. Combined with rapid replenishing from the Amaranthine Heart, it stood to reason he progressed faster.

“On top of that, she coordinates the Order of the Gray Owl here in Jast. She’s the only reason we have these books.” Argrave frowned. “It’s common sense to offer respect when you don’t know who someone is. Why are you so socially incompetent?”

“Socially incompetent?” Rowe repeated. “Few people are worthy of respect. Even fewer are non-Veidimen. For instance,” Rowe stepped past Argrave, coming to stand before Galamon. “Galamon. It’s been some time, hasn’t it?”

“It has,” responded Galamon simply.

the steel with you gone,” Rowe said. “Spiritless. No passion. None of the other commanders come to your ankles. Had you been leading at Mateth,

the praise, stating, “I wish

“So, you’re tired of

is the second I would serve not because of obligation alone.

and took a deep breath. When next his

walked to Anneliese next. He sized her up. “Seems you’ve improved your magic, if only just. You’re… a bit skinnier, perhaps. This one cannot feed

been easy, but I cannot blame the leader for a rocky path when that is

Rowe walked back to the two Veidimen slowly. “So, Elaine,” he said the name harshly as though it was difficult to pronounce. “Argrave is here, as you were

over. Once it was set down, Rowe pried the lid open with his walking stick and removed one of the books, perusing it. He checked a few more in silence, grumbling, and then took his stick back. The chest

one pilfered from us,” Rowe said with his lips upturned. He glanced at the two beside him. “You two, do your thing.” The elves with him grabbed the box and moved to leave the room. Argrave and company stood

satisfied?” Argrave stepped forward, staring down

need nothing more from the torch over there,” he referenced Elaine’s red hair. “Hothead,

at Elaine. She

tired for indignance.” He looked

wander through these dangerous streets alone. Someone might

things that come near me, boy,” Rowe shook his head. “I can be discreet. I’m no lackwit. Just tell me

him its rough location. He reached into his satchel and pulled out an iron circlet—it was what Argrave had been using to disguise his

eyed it. “What is

to demonstrate. “Muddles the features. Very common thing in this city. Snow elves are

over and old, I tower above most,” Rowe

it,” interjected

Galamon, and then begrudgingly put the Circlet of Disguise over his bald head. “It’s cold.

in my room, I’ll do that first,”

lazy,” the aged elf muttered loudly as

narrowed, but then he acknowledged the absurdity of the claim. Argrave shook his head and laughed heartily. “Watch your step,

their party, arms still crossed. She let out a sigh, staring at the doorway Rowe

like making people laugh.” Argrave paused for a moment, then added,

unduly predisposed against you. I apologize if I was brusque or dismissive in the

especially. Even had you been, I don’t care. I’m used to

working on writing some obscure details for a game, and the only time people would ever reach out was to correct some minute mistake he might’ve made—and oftentimes, they weren’t even right. Argrave sighed, wondering why’d he’d

abuse, huh. Childhood

that,” Argrave