Jackal Among Snakes

Elaine watched Argrave as he ate his breakfast. It was more than a bit disconcerting, considering she deliberately chose him out of all his party members to stare at. Anneliese was feeding her Starsparrow, Durran was examining all of the food curiously, and Galamon sat in silence. Of the three, he certainly didn’t picture himself being the most interesting to look at.

Elaine had long ago finished her meal, but Argrave still had much and more to eat. Ever since becoming Black Blooded, he found his appetite much greater than it was before. Maybe that was just because he exerted himself more.

Argrave finally stared back at her, chewing through a soft slice of meat. He examined the black gaseous magic within her, considering it a good exercise to help him distinguish between the different ranks of magic by sight alone.

“I think you could become A-rank anytime you want, now,” Argrave guessed, hoping to break some of the silence.

She shifted in her chair and crossed her arms. “And how would you know?”

Argrave tapped his temple, indicating his eyes. “You think I got these lamps because I like the way they look? No—I can see your magic. Very impressive.” He lowered his hand and shook his head. He deliberately mentioned this ability, hoping vaguely she might report it to princess Elenore. “I got what I wanted from the Low Way… and from the Burnt Desert beyond it.” One of his Brumesingers jumped up on his lap, gazing at the green-eyed woman across from him.

Some of the iciness was dispelled by his conversation, and Elaine looked down at the gray fox on his lap. “I hope those creatures of yours made no mess.”

“They never do… unless I want that to happen,” Argrave pointed his fork. “So—let’s get to brass tacks. How is business?” he took another bite as he waited for her answer.

“Good. You mentioned that I could become an A-rank mage—the issue is, I’m too busy to head to the Tower of the Gray Owl to study the process,” she nodded with the faintest of smiles. “The Veidimen are a bit stingy. They’re only distributing the lowest-ranked druidic spells. Even still, they sell like nothing else, and I dare not cripple this business in infancy. Rowe is a hostile prick, but I very rarely have to see him. At this point, I very nearly make as much gold as my brother.”

“Do they trade any Ebonice?” Argrave got to the matter he cared about most.

Elaine shook her head. “Don’t know what that is. We’ve only traded spellbooks and books about enchantment.”

“Do they carry black weaponry?” Galamon butted in. “Crystalline.”

Elaine looked at him. “Maybe. I seldom go personally anymore.”

Argrave tapped the table, thinking. “Alright. If you can make it happen, I’d like to see some of the Veidimen smugglers.”

“What for?” she frowned.

I set you up with this killer business and asked for nothing in

but if you’re here a week and no longer… you’ll just have to get lucky if you want to meet them. Voyages to Veiden take a while. Might be they stop by. Might be they

to get. “Alright. The enchanted jewelry that I left

nodded. “About two weeks ago, the last of them came back in. Very valuable stuff—I’ve got them in our vault. A lot of the appraisers made offers to

After I finish up here, I’d like to see them,” Argrave tapped his food with his fork. “I’ll pick out what I plan on using. Everything else, I’d like to leave to you to sell.

bit her lip,

the table. “You’re

that doesn’t know what they do. I’m in

maybe that tower master Quint in the southwestern center of Jast? I know who you might’ve

as she deliberated. “75-25,” she brought

already paid my service fee for the appraisal a long time ago. Those items are mine. I’m trying to do you a favor,

between the two of them, waiting

her tension dissipated and Elaine shook her head. “Dealing with you the last time was definitely different. Fine… 85-15, gods

as though his sternness never was,

#####

due to her brother’s rules, but Argrave only agreed once Anneliese confirmed she held no malicious intent. He

walls of enchanted steel. The main door was heavy enough to require two men to open it, and the vault itself

a little run through the maze-like vault, they arrived at one of the cells, and Elaine retrieved a key. The jewels were kept in a simple box per piece, alongside a detailed

ostensibly. But there was an issue of resonance. For the ring that Anneliese and Argrave wore, it merely contained a spell—one could wear ten of them without much issue. They were portable spells, in essence. The

the enchantments are incompatible, their efficacy would be reduced by an astonishing degree. If one wears a ring that helps its wearer resist fire and a ring that helps them resist ice, the

a good set for each of his three

and his survivability could hardly be improved more. Argrave chose a set of anklets that augmented speed. Speed and power were not different—they were one in the same. Galamon would always benefit from more speed. They were anklets… but considering how big the man was, he might need to wear them as bracelets. Additionally, Argrave found him a necklace to resist electricity, which Argrave considered the most potent form of elemental magic. The Giantkillers gave him lightning immunity, but only

him. Argrave chose out any enchantments that helped with his defense. Though his wyvern-scale armor was very good, it fell short of what Anneliese and Argrave wore. In the end, it amounted to a steel ring that hardened one’s skin, coupled with a set

around… he didn’t plan on

and concentration. It would enable her to aim better in battle and ignore distractions easier. She was already a calm person by nature, and he hoped this would capitalize on that strength of hers further yet. On a more personal note, he hoped it might help with some of the more negative aspects of her empathic nature. She seldom complained, but Argrave still felt remorse when he

lucky. After that, he’d been hoping for something to aid with blood magic—once again, no such fortune. In the end, he settled on a ring that strengthened his wind magic. It might

be the money he