Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave blinked open his eyes, staring up at the white ceiling above. He took a deep breath. His lungs felt back to working order, finally. He started to move and found his body happy to obey. He sat up, his head clear and everything in working order. He touched his chest, putting on a pondering expression.

Anneliese looked at him from where she sat at a table, reading a book. “You slept well,” she remarked.

Argrave ran his hand over his face. “Yeah… I guess I did. I feel pretty good, actually.” He turned to look at her. “Had a dream. Went to this barbecue place I always used to go to. You were there. Then it got weird,” Argrave shook his head.

“And you felt this was worth sharing?” Garm remarked.

Argrave turned his gaze to him. He had many choice retorts in mind, but what Anneliese had told him yesterday still stuck with him. He clasped his hands together and asked cheerily, “How are you doing, Garm?”

Garm could not move, but Argrave veritably saw him shrink away. “I’m… fine,” he responded awkwardly.

“That’s good. Sorry we couldn’t take you with last night,” he apologized. “I hope you understand why, at least.”

“…it’s fine,” he dismissed, closing his eyes so as not to look at Argrave. “Bunch of people eating, smacking their lips—wouldn’t want to be there, anyway.”

“Even still,” Argrave shook his head, then stood, setting aside the woolen blanket and grabbing his duster off a chair. “Where’s—”

The door opened, and Galamon ducked through.

“Speak of the devil,” Argrave said, throwing his duster on quickly.

“The sandstorm has cleared,” Galamon reported, and then slammed the door especially loudly.

Argrave furrowed his brows. “That’s good news, no? Something wrong?”

“…nothing,” he answered after a time.

Argrave looked to Anneliese, who returned his glance with an unspoken confirmation that something was indeed wrong.

“Right,” Argrave continued. “Well… we should find that merchant Tatia referred me to… his name was Titus, I believe.”

Anneliese shut her book, then came to her feet. “I shall get my things together.”

#####

Though Argrave didn’t wish to press Galamon as to what was bothering him, believing it might have something to do with his vampirism, Argrave found later that they did not need to ask.

When they made it to the central square, Argrave noticed there was a particularly large crowd around there. His first instinct was to avoid it, but curiosity drove him to see what they were gathering around. When he grew close alongside Anneliese and Galamon, he found it easy to look over the crowd of people ahead.

strange dark lumps on them but couldn’t immediately recognize what they were. They were many, numbering near fifty. He stared for a while, failing to discern what they might be. Gradually, though,

They were corpses.

truth—the skin had become so dry it cracked at every point, curling inwards to reveal what lay within. Their mouths had not a hint of saliva, and they had shrunk so small that they could not weigh more than fifty pounds, even the largest of them. The flesh fell away at points, revealing petrified organs or bone.

smell of anything. It was a vaguely disconcerting sight, but Argrave had been through the Low Way, and was not

what had made the

Galamon said. “I see, now, why you warned us

said nothing, turning his head back. He intended to look for only a bit longer and then move on, but he spotted someone standing by the chairs,

smiled when she saw Argrave and moved forward. The crowd parted

she greeted happily. “A pleasant

on the chairs, but Argrave managed to return her

interact on occasion,” she noted, touching her purple dress.

Argrave answered quietly with a nod. He looked past her. “What happened

as though it wasn’t immediately obvious what he was referring to. “Ah. The jails were beginning to grow full. I decided to clear them out, stop procrastinating. A terrible habit of mine, you

people do?” Argrave

know it well,” Mistress Tatia returned. “Some stole, some used magic within the city, some committed violence, some refused to pay their taxes, some dared to blaspheme against our Fellhorn… yet most tried to provide subsistence to those outside the city… the tribals. Many convert falsely, and then try to subvert our authority.” She

woman. “…make them take Fellhorn unto themselves.” She pulled back the person’s sleeve, revealing a cross with four x’s on the tips etched in a strange, shimmering blue ink. It looked like the person had sapphires in their skin, almost, but Argrave knew

know when they transgress. Yet if they are not reminded

answering. Then, he slowly nodded.

you return from Argent, I would love

responded in

look forward to it,” she beamed, blue eyes shimmering against the dawn light. “Good luck on your journey. Welcome to the Burnt Desert—and please, make the

Mistress Tatia walked away.

especially conscious of the fact he had spit to swallow as he stared at those husks. He turned back to Anneliese and Galamon, and said, “Come on. Let’s

#####

He simply stared out across the dunes of black sand, watching the road pass them by. Their caravan was hauled by four dark brown camels over the sole stone

caravan,” Argrave noted, turning away from the

stayed silent, staring

their message was pretty clear,” Argrave looked back out across the dunes. “Might’ve been for her citizens, but doubtless Tatia sought to give that

we will be treated fairly, even luxuriously. Transgress but slightly, and no mercy will be

can you do that? Both of

answered without

not answer

fools, unable to accept they’ve lost, unable to embrace the winners. The terms are fair, if merciless. Break no laws. Submit

at Garm, acknowledging the point of his cynicism. “Well, be that as it may, I can’t imagine I’d like to live under these people. Delphasium is probably the best among them

them from power. They are deeply entrenched, supported by legions of people, and are possessed of a strange magic beyond magic.” Anneliese tapped her finger against her temple as she thought. “And at the end of it, we receive the gratitude of a people who refuse to ask for help, who refuse to ask for aid. I cannot suspect they would express their gratitude easily… nor are they

brows, not expecting

want to stay out of this,” Anneliese looked to Argrave. “And I think that it’s the smart thing to do. We should stay this course. Once you