Jackal Among Snakes

“Wanted to say…” Galamon looked at Argrave as they watched the oasis town, far out of sight. “You’ve gotten tougher.”

“The hell does that mean?” Argrave asked, worried at Galamon’s praise.

Galamon shook his head as though telling Argrave to calm down. “You used to never stop complaining. Couldn’t bear the sight of blood. Hated physical work. Different, now.”

“Not my choice, believe me,” Argrave turned his head away. “I like soft hands.”

“Regardless… you’re blind to yourself, at times,” Galamon finished.

“You’re still making potions and poisons next time we need them,” Argrave pointed at Galamon without looking.

“…as ever,” Galamon said with a sigh. “Enough talk.”

Argrave and Galamon proceeded openly and honestly into the oasis town of the southron elves. It would be difficult to approach any other way with both of them being over seven feet tall, and they also didn’t come for deceit and trickery. Of late, that was a rare thing.

“Just a reminder…” Galamon began seriously, and Argrave turned his head to look at the elf. “…don’t use the Blackgard name,” he advised.

Argrave laughed once. “Hadn’t planned on it.”

“I’ve been with you too long,” the big elf noted, looking around the town. People were starting to take notice of them, and anxiously moved to act.

“Tired of me?” Argrave kept his gaze facing forward, keeping an eye on developments.

He shook his head. “Used to you.”

Argrave spotted familiar people and kept his eye on them. “So what’s the problem?”

“Didn’t blink an eye at jumping into a pool of water and blood to enter a cave with a dying race within. It’s… concerning, that’s all.” Galamon tapped Argrave’s elbow. “Keep your hands up. Demonstrate we’re harmless.”

Argrave obeyed Galamon’s command, keeping his hands in the air. “I just broke one of their illusion spells. Though… that’s not the least crazy thing I’ve done, I’ll admit. Maybe you can help convince Garm that I’m as all-knowing as I claim to be.”

“He’s seen enough. If he isn’t convinced, my words won’t change him,” Galamon answered. Argrave saw Garm’s eyes move around in the helmet on Galamon’s back, and then squeeze shut.

A great many of the southron elves moved around the oasis, weapons in hand as they moved to confront the two intruders upon their territory. As they came closer, Argrave saw their features clearer.

The southron elves were far distinct from the pale-skinned Veidimen—they deviated far from their ancestors, enough so it was near impossible to think Galamon or Anneliese might be distant relatives to those present. Most notable was their jet-black skin, far darker than that of the southern tribals or other denizens of the desert. Their hair, their nails, and even their eyes were black. Their ears were much larger, and their bone structure was altogether sharper.

The southron elves were a lean and skinny people, and a little taller than the humans Argrave had seen in the Burnt Desert—a couple inches, perhaps, but not to the extremes of the Veidimen. They wore elegant silk clothing matching in color with their skin.

These elves gathered in front of Argrave and Galamon, most pointing a large glaive towards them. They shouted and cried and made demands, but their voices were too many to follow any sort of direction.

Argrave took an uneasy step back, and then called out, “We aren’t here to cause any trouble.”

questions, and the glaives in the elves’ hands did not lower. At the very least, the conflict was not escalating. Argrave was content to wait until things settled enough for him to speak, but then he spotted someone

pass!” a loud voice rose above the

pushed past the crowd, face marred by scars and burns. Half of his nose had been torn off by something, and one of his eyes was blinded by a burn. Even still, he looked no less of

from the two of them. With silence reigning, Argrave pressed the advantage,

warrior

shifted on his feet, planting

else matching your description,” Argrave pressed, lowering

told you this? How

line of

a steady caution in the silence following. The Brumesingers hiding

Corentin said. “And what

“Well,

“And Gebicca… why

He picked up one of the Brumesingers off his shoulder, holding

it seems you have a

#####

but the wall. He looked about, and then went to retrieve something. After rummaging through a bag in the corner of the room, he pulled free a black cube, etched with glowing runes like those found everywhere throughout

“Dad?” came a voice.

around. “Don’t

the woman responded. a rather muscular southron elf with a long, braided ponytail. She wore heavy coverings, likely for dealing with the heat of a forge. “But what’s the matter? That…” she looked at the cube in

Corentin answered. “Not overt danger. Not an attack. But the Vessels taught us those might be

“Then…?” she pressed.

claiming to know

else?” she raised

“Yes,” Corentin nodded.

she wore and stepped forward. “What do they want?” she said

cube glowing with purple runes. “I’ll find out what he wants, who he is,” he said, then moved towards the wall he had entered

she

our great empire. I am here to protect. Protect you, protect

dead empire,” she

he repeated, pointing, and then walked to the wall. “Step outside, I’ll tan

mud,” she shook her

he said with angry sarcasm,

#####

temple rapidly as they waited for Corentin’s return. “Keep thinking about ways this might go wrong. Can’t muck

standing just behind Argrave.

of his head, “Whatever. Been

place had a distinct flavor and culture to it separating it from anything else. The walls were made of smooth, black sandstone,

wood—the wood formed the frame, and silk cloth stretched tight made the seat itself. It was a little like sitting in a hammock. The center sunk the lowest,

after, Argrave heard the sound

he saw the cube with glowing purple runes in the southron elf’s hand, Argrave straightened