Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stared out, once again, into Nodremaid. The bleak and inconstant red light coming from the ceiling seemed a salve for the constant darkness they had been subject to inside the Menagerie. Argrave’s party had come here only after Galamon had done significant scouting. Ossian had returned to the fortress in front of the Low Way some days ago, and returned with a second party, numbering near forty—amongst them was Alasdair.

“Do you know a very interesting principle about water?” Argrave quizzed Anneliese, staring out into the distance.

“Could you ask a vaguer question?” Anneliese shot back.

“Water always runs downhill,” Argrave looked at Anneliese, brushing her sarcasm aside.

“…I think that is true of most liquids,” she said after a time.

“Very good,” Argrave turned his head away. “Just checking to be sure you knew.”

She breathed out lightly in some amusement, then pressed, “Why are you bringing this up?”

“The canals,” Argrave raised a finger, pointing at them. “They have sluices. They’re part of the path that I need to take to get the Crimson Wellspring—divert the water right, you get a dry path you can take to get up to it. But then… I got to thinking. We opened the lower levels, didn’t we?”

“…oh,” she nodded, understanding things.

“These Stonepetal Sentinels… they’re real nasty people. I was thinking real hard, running things through my head I might say to win them over to my side… and maybe I could,” Argrave looked up at the ceiling. “But these people… I think I got them wrong from the start.”

“How so?” asked Galamon.

“They’re cowards,” Argrave said, looking at Galamon. “Like you, apparently.”

Galamon frowned. “I didn’t mean that I—"

“Don’t get mad,” Argrave looked back to the canals. “I just mean… they live in fear of the outside, and they live in fear of what’s in here. They don’t trust anything… because they’re scared.” Argrave sighed, then frowned when he felt some pain in his chest.

“Fear keeps people alive,” Garm rebuked.

“Just let me make my point,” Argrave shook his head. “You can’t reason with these people. Hardly even worth it to try. And… well, I’m damn tired of acting nice to people who couldn’t spare but a single spell for my welfare. The scraping and the bowing, the false flattery… it has its uses, but I think I’ve been relying on it too much.”

“So you intend to flood the lower levels, kill them?” Anneliese asked.

“I don’t think that’s possible. Despite its current state, this city was well-made. Even if the canals overflow, a drainage system will correct things quickly enough.” Argrave looked around. “I just need to… well, I’ve said it. I need to scare them. I know that’s possible. I intend to turn their caution against them. Especially Alasdair’s.”

“What do you mean?” Galamon pressed.

“That one wants to be leader of the Sentinels, no matter what. He needs a good achievement. Wiping out the vampires… that was mostly Ossian’s thing, and he’s young and bold. I imagine Alasdair sees him as his chief competition to replace their missing leader, Claude. As such…” Argrave looked at Garm. “I imagine he’ll want to get into the library. And quickly.”

“Why are you looking at me?” Garm asked concernedly. “I can’t open the library. It was well-managed by select Order members. Now that they’re dead… well, I can’t imagine anyone can get in, unless they destroy the enchantments entirely. Near impossible to do, you know.”

us as easily. He wants you above all, I suspect. You’re another card in my hand,” he gestured

betting against the Sentinels this time.” Argrave looked to his companions, and all looked confused by the expression. “Er… I mean, I want things heavily weighted in my favor,”

me.” He stared up at Argrave. “I won’t do

Garm’s hair. “You stay near the final sluice, and you raise it to start and stop the flooding after a little bit. You’ll

Garm eventually agreed. “Don’t forget,

dismissively. “I go in. I act bold, I act unafraid—make it seem like I’m in control. After some happenings, some well-placed words, everyone falls into place. So… any objections to this plan,

should elaborate a bit more,”

Argrave nodded. “From the beginning,

#####

head. Though the setting was entirely different, it brought back some memories. Last time things began like this, they ended very poorly.

out. He had been very cautious before approaching—Galamon had confirmed their count, the Sentinels numbering thirty-six, and Garm had confirmed there were no mages beyond B-rank. Should things go sour, Galamon was instructed to pick Argrave up and run away. Unflattering, perhaps, but Argrave was confident they could get away easily enough. Indeed, their

right to fear a trap. Not like they can escape it now,

Argrave spoke at a fair volume, his voice ragged and rough. He sounded like a chain-smoker when he spoke loudly, but Garm assured him that would change in a few days. His limbs felt weak, taking deep breaths was still painful, and Argrave could not exert

things as they were, Argrave knew he couldn’t expect a warm reception. Despite the many days taken for his recovery, he still felt terrible. But the Unsullied Knife would still be here, and Argrave would much rather get it

the Unsullied Knife now by dealing with

it from their fortress later… in the heart of their power, where near two hundred of them would be waiting. In addition, he knew they had at

more appeal. The

off the pommel of his sword. “You cured the Redlung?

and into my lungs… and pulled the disease out, piece by piece,” Argrave emulated what he described, then stepped forward, continuing in his hoarse voice, “It

hand out

stop. He looked about casually as though he didn’t care about the armored entourage before him. The place had been filled by the corpses of vampires, Sentinels, and Guardians. It was gruesome enough that it might’ve bothered Argrave a great deal… but he was

but… well.” He looked to Alasdair. “I think you

a room full of knights wearing enchanted armor who were also flanked by spellcasters at the same or higher rank than himself.

comedy sketch, but instead, a long silence settled throughout the lower levels of the headquarters.

Ossian eventually asked, one of few of the Stonepetal Sentinels

heirloom.” Argrave shook his head as though disappointed. “Things could have gone easy for the both of us. I could have taken you here,

wanted most. I think it would be best for all of us…” Argrave’s throat failed, and his voice faded away. He paused to take a drink

to dissolve the tension somewhat. Alasdair stared at Argrave unflinchingly. He seemed disappointed--likely due to Garm’s absence. “I can’t trust you. You were dishonest from the beginning. House Blackgard

Argrave raised a brow in surprise. “I see. Guess I shouldn’t have… well, it doesn’t

so Argrave continued. “Alright. I’ll give you honesty. I

toy with me,” Alasdair

giant of a man, as tall as me, with

as

have an entourage

his head. “And it is hard to travel

deep breath, thinking. Ossian asked,

of the territory of an enemy rebellion,” Argrave mocked sarcastically. “Though… with things as they are, I