Jackal Among Snakes

“When you said you had something to show me…” Durran trailed off, then looked to Argrave. “This is one of the last things I expected. You’re…”

“Not a necromancer, no,” Argrave shook his head. “He is, though. And he wishes to speak with you. The southron elves don’t care much about necromancy, so fret not.”

Durran stared down at Garm, brows furrowed and eyes wide. “Not ominous at all,” he nodded his head slowly. “Listen… I—”

“You should listen,” interjected Garm annoyedly. “Argrave. Let me speak to him alone.”

Argrave looked down at Garm. “Sure about that? What if…”

“If he ends me… avenge me, pretty please?” Garm mocked. “Just put me in the sand, walk away. The elves need to talk to you—that much I know. This one’s too bothered to be of much help. I’ll talk to him.”

Argrave shrugged, then planted Garm into the sand. “Alright. Be gentle, Durran—he’s more sensitive than he looks.” He walked away in long strides, casting glances backward occasionally.

“I know this is bizarre,” Garm began once Argrave was far away. “But I don’t want to be slowly introduced to you. I don’t have the luxury of patience, grooming you to understand what I am. I need to speak, now.”

“This is some…” Durran ran his fingers through his matted hair. “What are you?”

“Living misery,” Garm introduced himself. “And Garm, High Wizard of the Order of the Rose.”

Durran stared for a moment, then shook his head. “This should mean something to me?”

Garm sighed. “Foolish of me to think one secluded in the mountain would know of my order… It doesn’t matter. I was once an A-rank mage. Still am, technically… but limited, as you can plainly see. Argrave has been accommodating me the past month.”

Durran shifted on his feet. “Alright. Still not getting the full picture, but… you’re a powerful spellcaster. You were a powerful spellcaster,” he amended. “Still don’t see why we should be speaking. Still don’t know… how you speak,” he added, obviously disturbed as he gazed at the stake protruding downwards from his neck.

“I’m speaking to you because we’re alike, and we’ve gone through similar things.” Garm paused, then lowered his voice. “Galamon, the big one—how near is he?”

Durran said nothing, very suspicious. Eventually, he scanned the distance, then said, “Pretty far.”

“How far?” insisted Garm in a whisper.

“One… two hundred feet, I guess.”

“It should be fine, then, but keep your voice down. That one hears all, and I won’t draw suspicion by conjuring a ward.” Garm cleared his throat—an action that disturbed Durran—and then continued. “You. I can practically smell it on you. The frustration with other people. The frustration with yourself. Your weakness. Your ineffectual leadership.”

“Are you about to tell me not to feel this way? A head on a stick comes to cheer me up because we’re similar?” Durran laughed. “What is this, a joke? Comedy can’t solve all woes, if this is what you’re getting at.”

“But you’re also pragmatic,” Garm continued in a low mutter. “And after that little awakening back at Sethia, doubtless you’re feeling a bit… disillusioned. You’re realizing how stupid the average person is.”

at Garm, silenced by his

they’re leaded poorly,” Garm stated matter-of-factly. “But you… you’re weak. Nothing. No more than dirt, unable to enact meaningful change. You need power to save people from their own stupid decisions—power the

down at Garm. “In totality? You’re

of them?” Garm questioned. “I needed options. I needed a way to

Durran stared down at Garm cautiously. “Can’t imagine

confirmed. “I need a change, fast. Ever had sleep paralysis? It’s a terrifying thing, and that terrifying thing is my entire life. I feel like I’m losing my mind every day. And now… my soul is damaged. You probably don’t understand the meaning of that, but… it is…” the head struggled for the words. “It’s bad for the mind,

turn to

“You are just like me. Damned smartass. No wonder

I’ll have

more, ‘til they realize they’ve made a mistake. I’ve had my fun in the sun, believe me—you can’t fool me,” Garm answered, undaunted. “You can see

can agree on that, at least,” Durran

I’ve read you right—I know I have. You’re weak. You resent this. You’re proud of being talented, of being handsome, of being superior… not for vanity, but because you believe that you can

if he’d heard a sentence he’d been

you don’t pity me. I wouldn’t. But I… I know power. I know power better than any of the people you’ve seen today. Any you’ve seen die today. Brium, Quarrus, that golden one… forget her name… in my prime, they were

worked out well for you,” Durran

a limited time frame, so I’ll speak my offer plainly. You’ll help me. Quietly. Argrave, Galamon, Anneliese, even your lizard pet—you’ll tell no one of our arrangement. And… in return… I’ll make you know power, too.

a universally bad idea to accept a bargain with

of the Rose knew of him, too. You’re going to follow along—he wants you as an ally, and it should be simple enough.” Garm’s smile slowly dropped. “They won’t want this.

then finally whispered,

#####

the bodies that Durran had brought back. Argrave certainly wasn’t going

old veterans didn’t give news, first.

yeah,” Argrave confirmed. “They haven’t been

his head,

you advice. What happened at Sethia? Hated to leave like that, but it’s clear it wasn’t exactly

his head. “He took control quickly. But… well, it did not feel like an armed takeover. He had medical needs tended to, food distributed, water collected, shelters established…” Florimund

dim, but he recognized it

it?” Argrave

A pact of non-aggression, mutual defense… and promises of supplement, aid, cooperation. Permits free entry into Sethia, gives exemptions from

good thing. And that might be

ink was old and dry, suggesting the document had been drafted some time ago. “We have to recognize Sethia as independent… support Titus as its leader… and agree to use their soon-to-be minted coins in all of our dealings. Mutual defense, too,

with his own eyes

he…” Argrave hesitated to argue against the document. This was regarding the southron elves’ future—what place did he have to

nodded. “This is a man willing to butcher innocents to gain this power. He tried to frame one of his allies when it was politically expedient.” Florimund stepped away. “I cannot make the decisions for my people,

back out to Florimund. “Don’t forget he was ready to kill more people had

seemed… amenable to negotiations, too, if we were unsatisfied with the proposal.” The elf held the paper close to his face. “We are isolated, protected. With the Vessels gone from Sethia, we are the safest we’ve been in decades. I see no reason we cannot

What you’ve done… what you lost,” Argrave noted, looking away where