Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stared at the Margrave beside his wyvern. Reinhardt did not advance or retreat, merely stared at them with an indiscernible expression, one hand on the pommel of the sword at his belt, and the other on the horn of his wyvern.

“Couldn’t have spotted him, Galamon?” Argrave whispered to his companion.

“There was a wall,” Galamon noted. “And you gave no time to scout. Not even with that bird.”

Argrave ground his hands together. “I know. I just want to complain.”

“That’s the patriarch of House Parbon?” Durran asked, some excitement on his tone.

“He is remaining by his wyvern in case he needs to retreat, I suspect,” Anneliese noted, ignoring Durran’s query.

“Alright, alright,” Argrave finally turned. “Nobody do a damn thing. Just stay still.” After giving that command, Argrave let out some curses. “Alright. God damn it all.”

Argrave took a step ahead, and breathed deeply, trying his best to appear confident. “The three of you will wait here. I’ll go alone, resolve things. I’m sure he won’t be spooked by that.”

“That is dangerous,” Anneliese protested.

“I’ll be fine. I got away from him once before unscathed, and I can do it again if need be.” Argrave walked away.

“Argrave…” Anneliese called out once again, and he heard her step forward.

Argrave turned and held both his hands out, palms facing her. “I’ll be fine.”

She stared, and then nodded. “Be careful,” she cautioned, not entirely satisfied by his assurance.

With a wink, he turned back to the Margrave and his wyvern. Though he walked confidently and kept his expression firm, his Brumesingers writhed within his clothing, mirroring his own anxiety. He kept his hands in plain sight, and far away from any pockets within his gray leather duster. Though the Margrave did not lower his hand from the sword at his belt, he did not flee or brace himself.

Argrave came to stand across from Margrave Reinhardt. He kept a fairly large distance between them, but he was close enough to hear the wyvern’s breathing. The Margrave glared up at him with his ruby eyes, expression inscrutable.

“Hi,” Argrave repeated his earlier greeting.

“Argrave,” Reinhardt finally said. “Barely recognized you.”

Argrave brushed one hand through his hair. Certainly, he was tanner, his hair was longer, and his eyes were much, much different. “Hopefully the change is positive.”

is this?” the Margrave questioned with a growl. “An

cheek with one hand. “If you want me to be

tighter, showing possessiveness. “You thought to take

tribes. Son of a chieftain, actually. And yes, you’re not mishearing things,” Argrave continued, falling into his practiced suave rhythm. “He’s from the

full truth, but it was the easiest example to use in this conversation. “I came to get these eyes, among other things. It’s a very long story, and I won’t bore you with it. But!” Argrave raised a finger. “I had to get back to Vasquer. And passing through that big gate beneath the Lionsun Wall—something tells me that would never, ever happen. So, I just wanted to sneak through here. I am sorry about

their cold glare. Eventually, his head shifted in revelation, and he questioned, “How did

the Low Way of the Rose,” Argrave answered quickly, anticipating the question. He let his answer hang in the air, even though he

mouth to say more, Argrave cut in, “If you’d like, you can confirm with the Stonepetal Sentinels that I travelled through there a little while ago. While we didn’t part on the best of terms, I’m certain you can at least confirm

face, perhaps trying to discern if he

days at best to send someone to and from the entrance to the Low Way of the Rose,”

gather information, Argrave left those words unspoken. As far as he knew, Stain was here, and he was certain the man would be abreast of most happenings throughout Vasquer. He could learn news of the

from what he knew usually happened. He needed to find out how much things had deviated and adjust his plans accordingly, per Anneliese’s

Low Way, that doesn’t mean what you’ve explained here is true,”

hands out. “I helped Elias, didn’t I? I secured that betrothal

help her,

the sort of thing he had a response ready for. A father who loved his children would never forget

know,” Argrave said quietly, keeping his

he clenched the pommel of the sword on his belt tighter.

He lowered his head in a bow, but kept his eyes locked with Reinhardt’s. “And if your

grip tightened on his sword’s pommel further, and then relaxed. He raised the hand to

clenched it into a fist. “You have done right by my house, and I wronged you in the past by… unjustly seizing you. Your companions. They

they will,” he

will not make the same mistakes as last time, however. You, and all of yours, will be heavily guarded and watched.”

without protest. “Thank you for giving me a chance, Margrave Reinhardt.

studied his face when he mentioned Stain and Elias. Argrave was perplexed for a moment before the Margrave said bitterly, “My son isn’t here. Nor is Veladrien… or as you call him,

a

#####

to the Margrave for fifteen minutes or so before he and his companions were taken away to where they would be residing, what he learned was harrowing. The plague, which Argrave had been certain would remain in the northwest, was ravaging the south at an alarming rate. Elias and Stain were locked in in a siege caused by a revolt

whispered, sitting beside Anneliese as she

pointed out as she stared

lot of my confidence…” Argrave lifted up his head and looked at her. “…comes from

flinched in surprise.

“Forget about that.

am fine,” she shook her head at