Jackal Among Snakes

Stain straightened the ribbon he wore around his neck. His entire outfit—a gaudy thing of red and white—was quite stifling, in his mind. The stifling came from two aspects. It was mentally difficult because Stain loathed wearing the red and white of House Jast. It was physically difficult because the outfit had been made for him one year ago when he was fifteen, and it did not fit as well as it had then.

It had taken some time, but Stain had managed to track down Elias. It was important that he talk to him as Argrave had said, and even more important that he did so before Rivien. Stain wanted to be paid well for this job. The pay was nice, naturally, but the connections he might earn were more important. This ‘Argrave’ seemed important.

“Damned bastard. Better pay me well,” Stain muttered as he walked into the village. He kept his eyes on a white banner bearing a golden lion on it. “Better line my pockets with velvet and gold and fill my mouth with caviar and cream. Him and his two elves. Thin-wristed, dead-eyed…” Stain continued to mutter as he walked down the simple dirt road of the village.

The village was quite a humble place, with only dirt roads and wooden homes. The streets were filled with the occasional spilled grain from the recent harvest. The remainder had been placed into the granaries or kept in wooden barrels for temporary storage. Stain knew enough of the commonfolk to know that the harvest this year had been quite bountiful. It was a strangely optimistic portent for a nation on the eve of a civil war.

The militiamen watched the harvest warily, for it was their village’s lifeline in essence. What was watched more warily, though, was the large contingent of white-armored knights standing just out front one of the larger places in the village. Stain loosened the white ribbon around his neck once, and then tightened it again, knowing he should appear presentable.

When the white-armored knights saw Stain, they knew immediately to pay more attention to him only by the way he dressed. Their gazes stayed all but locked on him as he approached, and even the villagers gave him a wide berth.

If my brother were here, he’d say I look noble. ‘Oh, Veladrien, you project a veritable aura of righteous honor.’ Stain made himself laugh as he imagined his brother’s voice inside his head. If I was watching myself, I’d say that even pigs can dress in lace and pearls.

Stain came to stand before the four white-armored knights just out front of the building. He felt very short in front of them—a feeling he was well used to. Within, he could see many more knights enjoying a humble, if grand in size, banquet. Stain took some pleasure in seeing their white capes stained with mud, and their white metal boots lacking a shine.

“Hold,” the first knight addressed. “State your business.”

Stain put his hand to his chest in a somewhat out-of-practice noble salute. “I am Veladrien of Jast,” Stain said smoothly. “I would speak to Elias of Parbon.”

“The young lord has already received the invitation for the banquet in Jast. His reply is not yet ready,” the first knight answered, clearly the talker amongst the four of them.

“I come regarding more important matters,” Stain said, doing his best to use more formal, proper speech. “Something concerning your young lord.”

“’Something?’” Another knight repeated Stain’s vague wording. “You might be more specific.”

“Yes, I might, if you’d just let me past so that I can speak to the one whose ear is worth bending,” Stain said a little gruffly, then added in a more polite tone, “My words are for the young lord’s ears only.”

shuffled on their feet and

if you’re paranoid. I’m sure your young lord has plenty of those in his honor guard. Parbon has no lack of

first knight said. “Escort him to the

somewhere. Though his escorts were especially mindful not to step on the white capes draped across the floor on

building, making their way down the hall until they reached a door. One of the

shimmering weapons, and well-polished armor. Everything in here was very expensive, and Stain’s fingers twitched. After seeing their clothes, Stain saw

with empty plates, having just finished eating. There were three knights present, and Stain could tell they were dangerous. Their armor was quite grandiose compared to those downstairs, bearing a golden imprint of a lion decorating the front. Their swords shimmered red and

were more lightly-armored. One wore

heavy leather robes. His hair was dark and had a sharp widow’s peak, while his beard was cut to a sharp point. His eyes glowed with light and swirled with ever-shifting purple vortexes. Stain had seen high-ranking wizards before in Jast, and he knew almost instinctively

Elias, the first to speak. All heads had moved to the door long before they entered. Stain felt a little nervous—only a little.

to be Veladrien of Jast, and has some

grip. Baron Abraham adjusted

the table. “Veladrien. The name is familiar.

He has no magic, young lord, and House Jast is renowned

hear him out, at the very least,” Elias spoke with a natural authority that reminded Stain very strongly of his brother. The spellcaster Helmuth

bringing him here,” he addressed the knights. “You

knights nodded and

offering the sole empty seat to Veladrien. “You may speak as though those present are absent. Anything you tell me

“Brief message, anyway.” Stain cleared his throat, then said simply, “Argrave is in Jast. He wants to speak with you before you

Baron Abraham’s face grew taut and angry, and he

does that bastard want?” one of the

that,” Elias

and humiliated your father. We of House Parbon have no reason to speak politely of him,

hotter.

is

eye to eye. “’Come to know him?’ Do you mean you’ve fallen to honeyed words? Actions speak louder than words, young lord. He has brought only

bordering on insolence, Abraham,”