Jackal Among Snakes

The first thing that Argrave noticed when entering the palatial estate of Mistress Tatia was neither a sound, nor a sight, nor a smell. Instead, it was a sensation.

The air around them felt incredibly dry.

It was strange, then, that the second thing he processed was the presence of rushing water.

Argrave stepped past the purple cloth blocking the entrance, staring into the room. Arrayed before him was a decadent marble table inlaid with gold at the corners. It was low set, falling just short of Argrave’s knees. The top of it had been covered with purple felt. In each corner of the room, there were small waterfalls pouring from golden horns into small pools.

People sat around the table, though instead of in chairs, they sat atop mounds of pillows in very casual positions. As Argrave entered, most of them came to attention, sitting straighter and casting curious glances at the newly arrived three. They all wore very bright and catching colors. Argrave recognized them to be Vessels.

Each and every Vessel had a strange, almost aquatic quality to their dark skin. It glistened as though fresh out of a pool, yet not a drop of liquid could be seen anywhere on them. Their hair had a silken quality to it, almost oily, and it seemed to move about, spurred by an unfelt wind.

Argrave recognized some. Most prominently, he recognized the woman at the head of the table—Mistress Tatia. She rested amidst a pile of red and gold pillows, wearing a purple dress studded with gemstones. The dress was loose and exposed much of her dark olive skin. She was a robust woman—not fat, exactly, but certainly fleshy.

Argrave locked eyes with her, and she sat up amidst her pillows. She raised both hands in the air. Her actions had a sort of flowing grace to them, each moving to the next without ceasing.

“Greetings, wanderers from the distant north!” she greeted, her voice smooth and pleasant. “My invitation, it seems, was well-received. I am pleased to see you elected to dine with us.”

Argrave stepped forward, allowing room for Anneliese and Galamon to follow him in. Their eyes wandered around the room while the Vessels sitting watched them.

Placing a hand to his chest, Argrave lowered his head a little. “Thank you for welcoming us into your home, Mistress Tatia.” Argrave returned her greeting.

She beamed, showing perfect white teeth. She gestured towards an empty mound of pillows beside her. “Please, come and sit. You and your companions have been arranged a place at the seat of honor. What may we call you?”

“I am Argrave, and these two are Galamon and Anneliese,” he introduced as he took slow, steady steps into the room, somewhat overwhelmed by the sense of hospitality all were projecting. The sense of consideration and kindness was intense enough to feel feigned. Argrave possessed knowledge enough of these people’s characters to believe he was safe, but recent events had proven he was not all-knowing.

“Most suspected our invitation would be rebuffed,” a Vessel spoke—a man with a clean-shaven face. “It is not often that northerners pass through here. The people of the north fear this place—a land of barbarians and heat, nothing more… or so the people of Vasquer think. But we have quelled things, don’t you agree?”

“I made it here without issue,” Argrave replied, finally making it to the end of the table. Mistress Tatia fluidly gestured for them to sit, and Argrave lowered himself into the pillows. He found that the closer he grew to the Vessels, the moister the air became, as though they were isolated in a bubble of wetness.

“My chefs are still preparing our meal,” Tatia explained as Argrave looked about. “And tell me, gentleman Argrave, how does this town of mine treat you?”

Argrave shrugged while nodding. “Having marble beneath my feet is like walking on clouds compared to that heavy black sand outside the walls. And the food’s been nice. Part of the reason I was swayed to come, in fact.”

the two northern elves?” Tatia smiled, turning to Galamon and Anneliese as if

crossed his arms and nodded, while Anneliese added, “This place cannot have been easy to

life completing this place, passing away at 212.” She nodded as if

Argrave quickly, hoping to move

was curious about… regarding the tribals,” Anneliese questioned,

asking an offensive question,

I’d be happy to answer your questions,” Mistress Tatia

instead of killing them outright?” she tilted

lip, casting a miffed glance at Anneliese. She did not

for a foreigner to

let them die in the cool embrace of Fellhorn… or

tribals waged war unending, we Vessels are but humble servants of Fellhorn. He

than a party trick, but it served to illustrate their power. They embodied the water, taking it

this, we bring a peace to this land—that is but one aspect of the

them entirely. But the rest of the Burnt Desert was

aggravating their hosts. “I am thankful for

ours,” Mistress Tatia

Rats feast upon their corpses, and they feast upon the rats, growing diseased from it. They drink blood for sustenance… All of this hardship merely because they

a woman agreed. “Fellhorn renders all equal beneath him. The hardships of an uncivilized life—theft, violence,

“Drained?” repeated Galamon.

Vessel. We Vessels absorb their souls, offering them to our lord

his neck to hide his expression while Mistress Tatia hurriedly added, “Let us not speak of

through the purple cloth marking the doorway to the room. They held silver trays of food,

meals before each and every person present at the table, Mistress Tatia

was it?” Tatia asked, and when Argrave nodded, she continued, “Now that we have told you of our home, I wish to hear

gloved hands together. “Do you want to hear of Veiden, land of the snow elves, or the lands north

food was placed before her. “You passed through Vasquer, did you not?” she questioned. “Because, truly, what is occurring there at present intrigues

“House Parbon intends to combat the royal House Vasquer. Their spheres of influence largely constitute the south and the

more,”

#####

Tatia said, placing

help,” Argrave returned, having left much of his grand steak unfinished. It had tasted delicious,