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.

they were.

They were corpses.

not a hint of saliva, and they had shrunk so small that they could

anything. It was a vaguely disconcerting sight, but Argrave had been through

understanding what had made the elven vampire

executing them, earlier,” Galamon said. “I see, now, why you warned us against touching

back. He intended to look for only a bit longer and then move on, but

smiled when she saw Argrave and moved forward. The crowd parted for her, and she came to stand before

“A

on the chairs, but Argrave

interact on occasion,” she noted, touching her purple dress. “You were on your way

quietly with a nod. He

referring to. “Ah. The jails were beginning to grow full. I decided to clear them

did these people

some dared to blaspheme against our Fellhorn… yet most tried to provide subsistence to those outside the city… the tribals. Many convert falsely,

pulled back the person’s sleeve, revealing a cross with four x’s on the tips etched in a

cradled her wrist and returned to the crowd. “We know when they transgress. Yet if they are not reminded of this…

for a second, not answering.

“When you return from Argent, I would love to host you once more. Your stories were

responded

beamed, blue eyes shimmering against the dawn light. “Good luck on your journey. Welcome to the Burnt Desert—and please,

Mistress Tatia walked away.

fact he had spit to swallow as he stared at those husks. He turned

#####

his hand. He couldn’t read it, though. 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 road of the Burnt Desert. They wouldn’t be able to ride this thing the whole way, but it would

turning

stayed

back out across the dunes. “Might’ve been for her citizens, but doubtless Tatia sought to give that message

obey, and we will be treated fairly, even luxuriously. Transgress but slightly,

can you do that? Both of you?” Argrave

answered without

not answer

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

I can’t imagine I’d like to live under these people. Delphasium is

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 in a position to do so. Indeed, the Vessels may be more likely to offer aid against Gerechtigkeit

not expecting this sort of

it’s the smart thing to do. We should stay this course.