Jackal Among Snakes

The ‘Hidden Tryst’ room was, as it turned out, a place with only one massive bed. It was large enough to accommodate ten people easily. The three of them had travelled together long enough that such a thing didn’t really cause a problem—the Low Way had dissolved all boundaries. Argrave set Garm up with a book, and the head used simple E-rank magic to turn pages. The room was well-cleaned, it smelled nice, and the bed was soft. A pleasant place, by all standards.

The room wasn’t why Argrave had difficulty sleeping. His mind twisted and turned every which way, thinking about both what was ahead and behind. Once he’d fallen asleep, he’d been disturbed by a nightmare. He had been crucified inside a hole, and the Guardians of the Low Way shoveled flesh-eating worms at him that burrowed into his flesh. By the time he’d woken up, his body looked like Swiss cheese. It had been impossible to go to sleep after that, so Argrave sat beside Garm, reading.

The bronze hand mirror rested facing upwards on the table to remind Argrave of his duty. Just beside it was another mirror, though it showed Argrave instead of the game’s status interface. It had been a while since he’d studied himself. His obsidian color hair was much longer, nearing the shoulders at this point, yet there was still nary a speck of facial hair. It was difficult to say if he looked more or less healthy—though his skin was more colorful, his eyes looked tired and his cheeks were as sunken as ever.

“Argrave,” Galamon called out quietly.

Argrave looked up. Galamon had his breastplate over his chest, but it wasn’t strapped properly. Galamon pointed to the strap and beckoned Argrave over. With a sigh, he placed a bookmark in his book and moved to help.

“Let me help milady with her dress,” Argrave said with half-hearted mockery.

“Sand is the scourge of steel,” Galamon said. “I have to be diligent with my maintenance.”

“There,” Argrave pulled the strap tight, then locked it in place. “Milady’s corset is tightened, and I tied the lace.”

Galamon turned his head back and stared at Argrave. A snicker drew both of their attention, but Garm quickly quieted down.

Anneliese woke up at that point, sprawled out across the bed beneath its blankets. She blinked for a few moments, taking things in. Deciding to commit to waking up, she stretched out, grunting. She sat up in the bed, her long white hair in disarray and her face slack.

Argrave found himself smiling. “She is risen. Rejoice.” He stepped up to the table, picking up his book and turning around. “We should get ready to go. But before we do… I’d like to check out the production district, get some updates on the revolt that’s happening.”

“What for?” Anneliese questioned, voice different in light of her recent awakening.

“Just bothering me, that’s all,” Argrave answered distantly. “Leave our stuff. If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that no one will steal here in this place, especially not a Vessel. We saw the fate of those that do.”

“Am I ‘stuff?’” asked Garm.

“That’s up to you,” Argrave answered quickly. “We’ll get ready. Make your choice by then.”

“This is fine by me,” Anneliese rubbed her eyes. “I hope that man, Titus, did not get embroiled in this.”

Argrave looked at her, sharing her worry.

he did,” Anneliese sighed, crawling off the bed before rising to

#####

garbed in vainglorious white clothing. “I had intended to have one of my

him. Garm had elected to come along, and so Galamon hauled his pack to give credence to the disguise. The air was strange. Neither guest nor prostitute seemed particularly focused on the other. That was an unusual thing, given

you want to tell me?” questioned Argrave,

deal with

necessity being…?”

jewelry on his body diligently, fingers running across his face, arms, and a multitude of other places to free the gold. “My fellow Vessels have deemed that the revolt is necessary to suppress with force. I must obey Fellhorn’s

stepped in

Vessel did not answer, for his workers removed some piercings on his face. “I am

Argrave nodded, mind elsewhere. He

Vessel’s body began to shimmer like wind over a body of

of water moved about in front of them, formless yet with purpose. Floating in the middle of the water was a small orb of rapidly moving water. This orb contained a body—a baby, to be

behind. The baby in the orb stayed in the

Zirun had left, pointing with mouth open wide in surprise. “Was

is

“You know what I—"

they choose Vessels at birth. That baby is their true body… and sole vulnerability in that immaterial state. I told you about their magic, didn’t I? I

“Troubling,” noted Galamon.

Zirun’s workers as they moved away carrying his jewelry and clothing. “The body we see when they’re walking about is what that baby would look like grown. When they’re physically manifested like that, they can

effective against them?” Galamon touched his

use it to block attacks, though. Would probably

and exhaled. “And your plan

Argrave stepped forward. “All the

#####

see the magic of the Vessels laid plainly. Unnatural tendrils of water danced about the air in ways liquid was not meant to move, unbound by gravity. The water imitated innumerable things—blades, animals, hammers, shields—yet most common was a

the air, and Argrave drew a piece of cloth over his face, tying it quickly. He rose his duster’s hood over his head and then gestured to Anneliese and Galamon, urging them to follow. Garm perched on Galamon’s backpack, disguised by his

party wove through the idle crowds while watching the distant event happening ahead.

of threading through the crowd, they made it to an encirclement of guards blocking the people from proceeding further. The guards said nothing to calm or move

up to their encirclement, and all the guards near paid special attention to their group. He

hand from the

told the revolt wasn’t worth suppressing,” Argrave spoke.