Jackal Among Snakes

“Keep watch on Durran,” Argrave spoke to Anneliese and Galamon. “I told you before he’d be a good ally, but… he’s volunteering to carry Garm, he’s following us without reason… my scheme senses are tingling.”

“I was going to tell you,” Anneliese nodded. “I picked up the same… though without ‘scheme senses,’ granted,” she noted with an amused smile. “For what it is worth, I feel no malice from either.”

Argrave nodded. “Reassuring. But you don’t need to feel ill-will to put someone six feet under, just an abundance of ambition. I’d say the two of them could qualify.” Argrave put his hand to his chin. “Maybe they’re trying to probe for information, get the truth out of me… but damn, whatever happened to asking questions?”

“I’ll take the rear, then,” Galamon raised his hand.

“Right. Thanks,” Argrave nodded. Just then, Durran emerged from the portal of sand just beside them, holding Garm in his hand upright. The other hand held his glaive—he used it as a walking stick, somewhat.

“Took you long enough,” Argrave greeted.

“Why in the world did you send me off alone in this scary place?” Durran complained. “Here. Don’t know what this is, but I got it.”

Argrave received what Durran held out—it was a strange obsidian idol. “It deactivates some animated guards ahead,” Argrave lied easily. He had just wanted some time alone to speak with Galamon and Anneliese. “Unless you care to fight them?”

Durran was already looking around the new environment, barely heeding Argrave’s admonishment. He supposed he could not blame the man—the place they were in was ridiculous. The room wound about in ways that seemed to be geometrically impossible. Pillars of flowing black sand rose into endless abysses. The pathway ahead, which resembled polished obsidian, curved up to the wall, and then the ceiling further down the hallway.

“To reiterate—follow what I do absolutely,” Argrave informed Durran, his voice being the only disturbance in the absolute silence of the strange dimension. “Don’t ever run or jump unless I tell you to. If both of your feet are in the air at the same time, it’s over for you, most likely. Galamon might catch you—he’ll be taking the rear, just in case.”

Durran watched everything like it was seconds away from jumping out and biting him.

“This place is no petty illusion,” Garm noted. “All around, I see it—magic, twisting, writhing, dancing. I can’t even fathom its purpose. And its creator… Why was this built?”

“Cool scenery, maybe,” Argrave suggested, only half in jest. In the game, it had been only that: a neat, if simple, little puzzle to occupy the player’s senses. In reality… who knew?

The Alchemist knew, Argrave was certain. But the Alchemist wasn’t exactly an open forum.

Argrave and his two elven companions were not devoid of nerves, either. Argrave started to step down the pathway, trying to keep his breathing steady. He constantly repeated the advice he’d given Durran in his head as he started to walk along the wall.

Transitioning from walking the floor to walking along the walls was a powerfully disrupting sensation. One’s body was accustomed to certain constants, and yet now, before its eyes, these constants were broken. It wasn’t like his feet were stuck to the ground—no, rather, gravity itself seemed to move with the path. It was no illusion, either.

“Gods above…” Durran called out as Argrave walked further into the stretching hallway before them. “Though… the gods might not be ‘above’ in a second,” he mused as he followed, with Galamon taking the back of the party just as he’d promised.

The silence of the dimly illuminated black landscape was marred only by the sounds of their footsteps—Galamon’s metal boots, Anneliese’s and Argrave’s leather, and Durran’s wyvern scale boots each made distinctive sounds. Argrave was hyper-focusing on his steps to ensure that none would be misplaced, but he felt that focus was making him all the worse for wear. Argrave’s Brumesingers squirmed within his clothes, perhaps sensing his terror through the druidic bond.

floor right now, Argrave told himself. Nothing strange, just floor. Don’t look at the weird sand pillars. Just

his heels, and

he called out. “A question

wait?” the man

really here?” Argrave ignored, pressing onwards. “To follow someone into something like this—it’s not something you do for answers, especially not when you don’t know the value

Argrave was

a lot. About Gerechtigkeit, about why you’re here, about what you’ve done… so let’s not act like the ‘how’ of these things doesn’t have value,” Durran answered back. “I’d have to be an imbecile to miss that there’s something interesting going on with you. Considering I’ve been exiled—self-exiled, I guess—not like I have much better

silence, now. That answer gave him a lot to digest. Garm had divulged much

spurred you to

me now?” the head answered at once. “As I recall, just outside Sethia, you said you’d prefer to have Durran as an ally. I took a little

they stepped out into, the abyss seemed to extend in all directions. It seemed if one reached their hand out, eternal darkness would eat it.

it?” Argrave questioned, stopping and staring Garm in

I kept something from you in the past… but I meant what I said. I will help you. All

His black and gold eyes did not waver as they stared back, studying him in kind. He tried to see beyond… but they were just eyes, blackened or no.

his head, diverting the conversation. “I mean, did

little. Not enough for your high standards of caution, I presume,” Garm said

knees downward, then jumped up, slightly rotating backwards as if doing a backflip. At once, true gravity seized him—or perhaps it wasn’t true at all. He fell

Galamon was third. He’d rotated too far, and ungracefully collapsed on his back. He recovered quickly, standing before Argrave could offer help. Anneliese was last. She landed

but he said, “Careful now,” as he helped her regain

the frightful fall, then laughed once she processed what

response, then turned to examine the road ahead once he was content she

come from seem a lie. Though the path ahead was the same polished obsidian, a vast jungle of uncountable different colors lay before them. All manner of life sprung from every corner of the place—the ceiling, the floor, the walls. It was only barely distinguishable

don’t wander carefully. Anneliese, Galamon, you know what I’m about to

seen anything like this…”

to sustain you. I will be in a bed… but I envy

pointed ahead. “One man

attention… but in front of the Alchemist, you want to be the least interesting thing in the world.” Argrave walked up closer until he loomed over the man. “I expect you to stay outside. Do not talk to him, do not enter his house. Even if he

Durran nodded hesitantly.

I let you come this far, dubious as your motives are. If you want to live, heed these words like they’re the word of every god you hold dear,” Argrave pressed his

that you don’t step out of line, even if they have to break your legs. Live like

it,” Durran

sake. I’ll be fine if you mess around. You’ll be paste if you mess around. All of

Alchemist alone?” Anneliese frowned. “You