Jackal Among Snakes

“Set aside this fight, for now. Let me ask you a question,” Durran hefted his glaive, pointing it at Garm. “Say you prevail. What next?”

“I’ll work at regaining the power I had,” Garm answered at once.

Durran lowered the glaive. “You see, I’ve noticed a little problem you have. I ask that question, and you first talk about what you’re going to do for yourself.”

“I can’t help anyone without power,” Garm shook his head. “That’s why you’re doing this, no? I offered you a route to power, and you lunged for the opportunity.”

“More I learn about you, the more I realize how your perception of me is flawed. There’s a key difference between you and I,” Durran settled back, sitting cross-legged amidst the field of black roses. “And it’s how far we’re willing to take things.”

Garm raised a brow, and also sat down patiently. “How so?”

“Let’s reflect on things,” Durran raised his hand up. “You deliberately withhold information whenever it suits you. You lie constantly to get what you want. You don’t care about how your actions bother people, nor about those you hurt. Moreover…” Durran picked a black rose. “These things you summon. They’re made of human flesh. I can’t just gloss over the fact that death is such a casual thing for you.”

Garm snorted. “You’re denouncing me as a bad person? You joined me in this deception. Don’t get sore when you got caught in your own trap.”

“You don’t really care about other people,” Durran held his gaze. “That’s the impression I get.”

Garm stared in silence, then raised a brow. “Is that a bad thing? I do intend on helping Argrave, if that’s your concern.”

“I know what I’ve seen,” Durran said flatly. “And I’ve seen that when you want something, you’ll do whatever it takes to make it yours. Person like that with power… well, it’s dangerous. Letting you roam free would be dangerous. If not for the present, for the future. Gerechtigkeit might be a supreme enemy… but what comes after, that’s just as important. That was my mistake at Sethia.”

Garm scratched his cheek. “A man can’t change?”

“My uncle was someone who did whatever he needed to get what he wanted,” Durran said calmly. “You yourself said people like him were like rabid animals, and that the best thing to do was put them down. For themselves as much as everyone else.”

“I said people that toy with kids are rabid animals. You’re comparing me to your molester uncle?” Garm veritably growled.

Durran shook his head. “I don’t think you have that twisted inclination, no. But if you did, nothing would hold you back. You’ve got no conscience. No morals.”

Garm threw a dagger at Durran, and the tribal warrior quickly rolled to the side to dodge it.

guilt I’ve been

been miserable,” Durran continued as Garm rose to his feet, readying spells. “I’ll admit that. You’ve gotten plenty of life lessons that taught you to be as you are. In your situation, you had to take what you wanted, because no one was going to

The tribal warrior caught it, shattering it with one hand. He stabbed his glaive into the earth and walked forward. Garm stepped

the blade. It worked well, for a time. They conquered the empire of the southron elves. But eventually… they hit a wall. And they were eaten

liquified—he was mimicking the power of a Vessel in this lucid dream-like state. Great spouts of water hunted each bat that came towards him, killing them relentlessly. Ahead, Garm used Argrave’s favorite spell,

hard life is no excuse to trample on the lives of others,”

electric eels shot downwards at Durran. He pulled an axe out of thin air, and swung it upwards. Garm only realized it was made of Ebonice when everything he’d conjured dissipated, and sparks of lightning scattered across the vast expanse

and grabbed

of southern tribal traditions, by all rights.” He held Garm there, squeezing tight. “When I was the last living, my father said I was ‘good enough.’ And that’s just the thing,” he continued. “I am good enough. I can get the job done. And unlike you… I won’t

Garm smiled mockingly, barely resisting

sided with the Vessels from the beginning,” Durran pulled

less danger, much less

grip over the Burnt Desert for time eternal. And my people would

in,” Garm snarled. His body started to contort unnaturally, popping and breaking. He seemed

nauseating,” Garm continued. “At the end of the day, if you’d stop worrying about what’s right and worry about what’s good, you’d live twice as much and work half as

living right are

atop a stake. His eyes were missing, now. “You would

shook his head. “And that’s

my head. You’ll never know my thoughts. Mutual understanding—that

kid. Maybe we’re alike in that way. But rather than becoming those who mistreated me, I’d much rather be their better. That way, the next generation can be spared of cynical bastards like us.” Durran

talking. You’re insufferable.” Despite his harsh words, Garm’s voice shook

fear… or

#####

of Durran. He was unsure of what, exactly, was going to happen. Matters of the soul, of death… simply put, there was a reason Galamon never studied magic. He was smart

Galamon knew, then, the battle was finished. He stood, walking over to the altar-like table where Durran rested. The eyes

though the person had given no

a golden eye locked on Galamon. Slowly, the man sat up. He looked at his hands like

Galamon asked

turned, and the two eyes started at Galamon for a