Jackal Among Snakes

Anneliese and Argrave stood shoulder to shoulder, their arms stretched out ahead. His arms were just a bit longer than hers. Spell matrixes swirled to life in their hands, and then, they proceeded to blast Galamon with the C-rank [Skysunder] again and again and again.

The corridor they were in filled up with sound and white light both as they rained lightning upon the elven vampire. Durran stood at their backs, shielding his eyes. The sound echoed out of the small tunnel dug into mountainside supporting the Skyburnt Fortress, and into the skies beyond that.

Argrave lowered his hands first, magic entirely spent. A few seconds after, Anneliese ceased as well. Ahead, Galamon stood, both of the Daggers of Ayazz in hand. White sparks danced around both blades, their power so intense they illuminated the entire corridor.

The elven vampire took a deep breath and exhaled. The inside of his mouth was glowing the same shade of white emanating from the daggers. He turned on his heels, then stepped away further down the corridor. The light provided by the dancing electricity lit up a great wall before them, with two gemstone-encircled slots along the center, rather like a plug.

Galamon thrust both daggers into the wall’s slots, one after the other. A great click echoed out through the corridor once the second was inserted. The lightning writhed in the slots wildly, but then, as if finally accepted, it began to dance up the walls. The white electricity morphed into different shades as it travelled along.

The sparks filled up the wall in a fashion resembling a meter slowly filling up to completion. Argrave thought it was similar to those strongman competitions where one would slam a hammer upon a button and watch and see how far the light rose up. Everyone watched in awe, and Galamon released the daggers and stepped back.

An image of dancing sparks took form. It depicted an eclipse. A man stood beneath it, thrusting a sword straight through the sun and the moon.

“Wondrous thing…” Anneliese said quietly.

“Now, imagine we charge up his daggers like that, and then he stabs some big monster. Absolutely devastating. Could kill a dragon. That’s why I call them the Giantkillers.” Argrave pointed his fingers, the least impressed of the group by the lightshow on the wall. Anneliese and Galamon didn’t seem to appreciate this commentary, but Durran looked intrigued as he raised his eyebrows at Argrave.

As they watched, the wall started to depress. Some mechanism came to life, and it clicked horrendously. The grinding it made was like a screech that triggered some primal discomfort, and everyone tried to cover their ears despite the fact two of them wore helmets and could not necessarily cover their ears. Anneliese’s Starsparrow chirped to express its displeasure.

The image faded, and the wall moved about. It shifted from place to place in simple, elaborate blocks, moved by hinges and pistons of some sort. When things were done, the sleek stone corridor extended forward into darkness.

Argrave was the first to step forward. He pulled out the relocated daggers, and then handed them back to Galamon a bit irritated. “Don’t lose these. Took a mighty wallop in the chest for these, let’s not forget that.”

“And I lost my axe over a mountainside saving your life,” Galamon rebutted, taking the daggers.

another,”

a grimace, Argrave looked to

your doubts

trying to annoy you. You’ve already disclosed some spooky details that makes my skin crawl, and that was more than enough for me to realize your knowledge is real way

while he smiled and gave a resigned shake of his head, turning to the passage before them. “This… is the Passage of the Last Conquest.” Argrave took a few steps deeper into the dark corridor. “Their leader, Ayazz, whose daggers we now wield… he had intended to conquer the Lionsun Castle. He died prematurely. Lacking a leader, the subterranean mountain tribes sealed this secret tunnel and made those daggers the key, so that one day his equal could once again lead the tribes to conquer the vast lands of Vasquer…” Argrave conjured spell light, his magic having already replenished enough from blasting Galamon to do so. “Or so

at the daggers in a new light now that Argrave

get to it,” Argrave adjusted his backpack. “Once we get into

#####

the stone and clicking out through the stone corridor with every other step he took. “The patriarch of the house is always a fierce, undefeated warrior, but he’s honorable. It’s been like that for centuries, unchanging.

nodded. “Heard that one before. It’s true. He does have a wyvern. Considering this tunnel leads right

it, eh? Does the

Berendar,’ he definitely would have stolen

be the best, my relationship with House Parbon has improved somewhat. I don’t want a reputation as a wyvern-thief. And everyone will see us fly away. I don’t care to attract that

Well, that’s fine,” Durran shook his head.

we won’t see him, even from a distance. In, out—quick

“Time was, I thought I was on the taller side, but you people… the prospect sneaking with you divests me

Galamon is one of the most reliable people you could ever wish for,” Argrave

nodded quietly in agreement, and Durran shrugged, saying nothing more. They continued their long walk down

#####

and square place narrowed into a tight tunnel that forced the three tall people of the group to crouch low, which elicited some laughter from

of dirt, hardened by moisture. The only solace was the lack of

finally came to a solid wall of dirt, Durran noted,

Argrave felt along the wall. He ran his fingers against it, brushing aside moist dirt as he searched for something. He bit his lips when his fingers brushed against nothing but dirt. Frustrated, he started to dig. He

his hands. He leaned back, using all of his body weight and some leg strength to pull on the thing.

grabbed the string, giving it a pull. Argrave felt like a child who’d been struggling to do something,