Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave’s hand emerged from a still body of water, grasping onto a sandy beach. The sand fell away, and he fell back in. A second later, his hand came back up, and he used his elbow to raise himself up out of the water.

“Christ,” he gasped, water dripping off his face. “Cold. Didn’t think about how much of a nightmare this place would be.”

Argrave felt a colder glaive pointed against his neck, and he raised his head up, blinking water out of his eyes.

“That’s because it’s an emergency entrance to this place,” Corentin said, staring down at Argrave with his one good eye. “And I’m questioning how you knew of it.”

Argrave shamelessly grabbed Corentin’s glaive, and the old one-eyed veteran laughed and helped Argrave out of the pool. Soon enough, Anneliese emerged, having little trouble freeing herself from the pool.

Lastly, Galamon came up. Weighed down by plate armor, he had to climb up the side of the wall, digging his hands and feet into the sand bank. Corentin offered a hand, but Galamon refused it, coming to stand tall.

“…I’ll have to do rust treatment. Again,” Galamon said bitterly.

“Who’s this one?” Corentin inquired, staring at Anneliese.

“Another friend, completely trustworthy,” said Argrave, rising to his feet while shivering. “Water’s too cold. I hate this.”

“Welcome to Otraccia. You’ve come a little too quickly,” Corentin shook his head. “We’ve only just migrated here. Beyond telling Durran what you’ve told us, we haven’t had time to do anything else, least of all deliver supplies to the southern tribals.”

“Yeah,” Argrave nodded, shaking himself about to cast off some of the water. The Brumesingers jumped out of his duster, shaking themselves off of all water. Argrave shied away as he was pelted with water droplets. “That’s because things are moving a little too quickly,” Argrave said grimly, shaking cold water off himself.

“What do you mean?” Corentin stabbed his glaive into the sand and crossed his arms.

“The battle will happen tomorrow morning,” Argrave conjured fire, holding his face a little close to ward off the cold. “Things have gone a lot faster than I thought they might.”

Corentin’s one eye grew distant. “Gods above.”

“The Lord of Copper sent me here to gather fighters—something I don’t intend on doing, naturally,” Argrave assured at once. “I know well that your people aren’t exactly fit for a large-scale confrontation of this sort. I was hoping, though, that I might get some of the war relics you promised the southern tribals. A Sand Courser, most preferably. We have backpacks. We left them outside the illusory entrance, because they’re filled with books. Not exactly suited for water.”

Nor is Garm, Argrave thought, but kept that to himself. It wouldn’t be dangerous, per se, but he still felt hesitant to bring the head into the town in case something unforeseen should come to pass.

Corentin took a deep breath and exhaled, then nodded intently. “A Sand Courser? I can’t decide this. Wait here. I’ll bring the others. They’re checking out the old buildings, making sure the forges and such still function.”

The one-eyed veteran took off in a steady jog, but Argrave paused before sitting down. The enchantments on his gear had warded off the majority of the water from seeping in, but his clothes were still a bit heavier.

“Do you think these supplies will help, if we even get them?” Anneliese questioned.

“If we get them, they’ll do more than just ‘help.’ It’ll probably be our lynchpin for the raid on Argent.” Argrave sat cross-legged in the sand, waiting. “Maybe I didn’t talk them up enough. I just never thought we’d be the one to use them.”

him. Galamon was removing his armor,

bit nervous,” he confessed to Anneliese. The Brumesingers came to him, curling up near

“A bit?” she repeated.

then shook his head

silent support with a gentle grip. Argrave turned his head, locking eyes with her. He said nothing for a time—he didn’t know

a stray dog, it follows us to our new home,” Morvan No-Nose shouted out, prompting Argrave to turn

to his feet. “Everyone. Didn’t expect

like I was telling them. He just missed us too much,” Corentin shouted out from the

old veterans laughed, and Florimund came to stand before Argrave. “Corentin informed us of

to everything I’ve been told, yes,” Argrave

thought, but eventually turned back to face Argrave.

and nodded excitedly. “That’s good.

“We’re old. Some of us… well, most of

hard time functioning as a man anymore,” Yann

the head, ‘can’t function,’” Florimund turned about, laughing. Their easy-going banter seeped into Argrave’s mind, easing his frayed nerves somewhat. “As I was saying, we’re old enough to fight… but too old to be of much use for much

driving at?” Argrave

blood between us. For centuries, there has been. Giving them arms, armor—that won’t be enough to put

Argrave’s eyes widened. “What?”

Vessels are wiped out, we have to make peace with the tribals,” Morvan noted. “We can’t function if we keep wandering about,

need a place in this new world. And we won’t have one if we don’t get involved. The tribals need to know we’re their allies, not their enemies.” The old

they’re afraid of us, too,” Yann

“I’m not in the position to say ‘no.’

Argrave’s shoulder. “We’ll prepare. And then, tomorrow, I’ll lead

#####

cold morning. Durran sat there, watching the suns rise ever higher above the sky. He had donned his armor—wyvern scale armor—and sat atop rocks, arm wrapped around his glaive as it leaned against his shoulder. His wyvern, a great

sky,” Boarmask noted, staring

Durran said. “It

silent at Durran’s answer, and the two watched the rising suns

I said,” Boarmask broke the silence. “I’ll help you with Titus,

hmm?” Durran turned his head. “Give him a fair trial? I don’t think we have the same

his arms, plate armor creaking. “No matter what they’ve

bother trying to make it so. You’ll just end up with a gut full of spite, loathing this

out, and Durran twisted his head back. A warrior wearing wyvern scale hopped over the rocks, making his way over to the pair of them. “Durran, it’s

his

the warrior shook his head. “Better, actually. Best I’ve

towards Boarmask. “Hold this. If you see Brium’s signal, blow the horn. You know the