Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave and Galamon sat around a campfire, engaging with the Stonepetal Sentinels. One Sentinel seemed to be recounting a story, and Argrave was asking him questions. Though there was a cautious distance between the two parties, there was also an undeniable curiosity from both—by all accounts, an engaging conversation.

Meanwhile, though, far out of either’s sight, something else was happening.

Alasdair leaned on a table with his arms crossed, standing just across from a woman who examined a long piece of parchment with spell light. The woman was old, with wrinkled skin and thinning gray hair, all concealed by robes bearing a rose on the shoulder. They were in a tent that had been enveloped by a ward to block out any would-be listeners.

“The lords of Blackridge Citadel were the Tullens. Even the minor nobles in the regions—the castellan, the treasurer, et cetera… none of them were named Blackgard, Alasdair,” the old woman looked up at the Master Sentinel.

Alasdair sighed, then kneaded his forehead. “Is there even a noble house with the name ‘Blackgard’ affiliated with the Order?”

“These records aren’t perfect, but they’re just about so. ‘Blackgard’ was never a house associated with the Order of the Rose.”

“Slippery bastard. Had everyone under his thumb the whole time. Played us like an instrument, now I’ll string him like one…” Alasdair muttered. “Thank you, Jean.”

“What will you do with him?”

“Confine him. Find out why he’s here, why he knows so much about the Stonepetal Sentinels, and… after that, I’m unsure. Depends on what he says. We’ll probably confiscate his things. Both he and that female servant of his have items worth at least a year’s supply.”

“Those two are both mages,” Jean contributed. “The she-elf is probably B-rank, judging by how much magic she has. Argrave, or whatever his real name might be, is likely C-rank.”

“What about the big snow elf?” Alasdair pressed.

“A warrior alone. You’d know better than me about his skills,” she shook her head.

“Alright. Thank you.” Alasdair leaned off the table, walking about the tent. “We’ll gather some people before they fall asleep. Veterans, mages... all our men are here, and I’ll take no chances. Can’t be sure what these people want. I’ll be sure they rue this deception, though.”

“Acting without the approval of the other Master Sentinels?” Jean clicked her tongue. “You’re taking liberties with the leader gone, Alasdair. I thought you were the honest one.”

“You know as well as I do that Claude would do the same were he here,” Alasdair refuted passively. “We’ll keep them engaged, make sure they feel welcome. It’s important we find out why they’re here, and who sent them, if anyone. Claude would agree with me.”

Jean rolled up the parchment. “Not my place to argue. I’ll return to the ladies' tents, gather some spellcasters to help.”

#####

With the moon behind the mountain, the fort in front of the Low Way of the Rose was deathly dark. In one of the tents closest to the walls, a set of white eyes peered out into the darkness, watching ever carefully. Galamon drank from a flask quietly, guarding

flitted from the work in his hands—maintaining his armor—and watching the outside. He continued like this in relative silence, the silence of

body completely still, and then put the gauntlet he had been cleaning back on his

sleeper, woke immediately.

“Be quiet,” Galamon insisted.

something to the effect

flicked his forehead, and Argrave winced in surprise. “A

preparing to enter the tunnel,” Argrave dismissed, too tired for a proper

last night?” Galamon said sternly. “They’re giving

blinked, thinking. “You don’t

do if I wanted to capture potentially dangerous people without casualties,” Galamon

jumping the gun?” Argrave

you know me to be

his head as though to jolt himself awake. “Alright. Alright.” He pulled out of the sleeping bag, rising to his feet. The commotion awoke

frantically. “Already dressed, everything’s packed…” He took a deep breath. “Okay, what the hell am I doing?” he asked himself,

wrong?” Anneliese

“Our hosts seem to have taken issue

there’s a caved-in portion. Can’t sense any people blocking it. We move quickly, we exit without issue,” Galamon said, planning everything out thoroughly. “We’ll

it quickly turned into a headshake. “No, no… this won’t do. I don’t know what the hell happened, but I need to get into the Low Way. All the other entrances

“You’re thinking about this now? We have a quick and easy out. We take it,” he

sneak in when they’re ready for us? Forget that. These guys are some of the best-equipped knights in the kingdom of Vasquer. It’d be ridiculous to even try. We have them unaware. They won’t be focused on the entrance. We have to go

instead we should rush past when they’re prepared to apprehend us?” Galamon’s voice held disdain.

hole, and then follow the wall until the base of the mountain. There is another collapsed portion there. We can enter right next to the entrance

Anneliese, feeling his point supported. Galamon questioned, “You’re sure there’s

am,” Anneliese nodded, getting up from her sleeping bag. “While Argrave was speaking to the Stonepetal Sentinels, I was examining the walls and the tunnel. It was difficult to be around them. I could

for me,” Argrave said eagerly.

put his helmet back on. “It’s dark. Light will attract attention. I will lead you two through

retorted, his mind

sleeping bags on the grass, and Argrave put the backpack over his shoulder. He checked

the ground, and the night was so dark he could only follow after Galamon. True to Galamon’s word, it did not take long before their feet left the courtyard’s grass and stumbled

wind at his cheek, and his hair moved. Realizing this might be the last time he felt open air for a long, long while,

the wall as it winded, taking quiet yet quick steps. With the wall to guide them, Argrave