Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 177

“I’ve come to see my brother. It’s clear to me he needs help, despite his abundant capability. I’m told Prince Orion is ahead, tending to the plagued,” Argrave spoke to the Waxknight before him, staring at the man’s dead eyes barely visible behind his bandages.

“Do you mean to say our Holiness is your brother?” the leading knight demanded, taking a step forward.

“Half-brother,” Argrave removed his hands from his horse’s reins, holding his palms out. “But a brother nonetheless.”

The loose bandages wrapped around the leading Waxknight’s face slacked, blocking his vision, and he corrected it while pulling it tight.

“Prince Induen?” one at the side questioned.

Argrave shook his head. “No prince at all, elsewise I might have an escort gleaming as you knights do.”

“Argrave, then, the bastard,” the leading knight said.

“All are equal before the gods’ eyes. That’s what Orion says, at least,” he smiled warmly, defusing the situation.

The Waxknights sized Argrave up, then glanced back towards his companions, examining them in turn.

“For your own sake—the waxpox abounds here,” their helmetless leader informed him. “We will take you to Orion if you wish it to be so, but even our Holiness struggles to combat the disease, and more refugees show up daily.”

“I have an idea of how bad things really are,” Argrave turned his head, looking through the trees from whence they’d come. “Things get worse beyond these wetlands every day. Not all refugees had the good fortune to be tended to by my brother. And that’s precisely why I came here—to help him, and to help those that suffer,” he said seriously.

will take you,” the knight gestured. “Orion accepts all comers. Whether you

and

“Drink your super juice, you two. I know you drank it this morning, but this is the heartlands. Disease flows through this place like

off the white, solemn Humorless Mask covering her face, and imbibed the

go,” said Durran, voice tight from his grimace. Anneliese nodded,

he kept his Brumesingers close. Argrave could not say with confidence that Galamon was these knight’s superior in combat. They were some of the most dangerous warriors on the continent at this stage, exceeding

had long ago described these knight’s capabilities to his party. Their entire body was affected by the waxpox. This made them immune

the knights so close in proximity she had tact enough to avoid asking shameless questions. Durran

northwest were tenacious and aggressive, and much of the fortress had been torn asunder by growth—trees, roots, fungi, and vines all consumed the gray stone. People lay in tents en masse. Despite the seclusion of this place, the vast majority of these people seemed better fed and better treated than those Argrave

to a makeshift stable that they’d been using, and Argrave left his horse there without complaint. Durran seemed hesitant to leave his mount there, and his eyes glanced from side to side as though paranoid, watching each and all of the disease-ridden inhabitants like coiled

measured and disciplined steps into the keep where more of their colleagues abounded, guarding the man that lay

a thick braid that descended to his knees. His eyes were gray, with thick and bushy black brows giving him a fierce gaze that might remind most of a stern, if

to Orion. They spoke to him, and then pointed. Orion looked at him.

experience he’d had with this man in ‘Heroes of Berendar’ all at once. A great deal of

even Galamon—and he hurtled towards Argrave like a bull. Despite himself, he took a step back. Galamon looked ready to advance, but Argrave stopped

chest screamed out in protest as he squeezed Argrave tight, embracing him. Argrave felt that he’d grown a lot the past month, but now he was being treated like a small child. After a moment of rib-crunching embrace that very nearly triggered

eyes…” he paused, all of his mirth disappearing at once. Argrave tried not to show his fear in wake of the volatile

he shouted. “This is my brother, come to

was met by exultation he’d not been expecting to receive. Orion heralded him proudly before the crowd. Even despite their sickness,

saw you. Now your back is straight, your gait is steady, and your will…” he whispered into Argrave’s ear, barely audible above the cheer of the crowd. “I see light in you, now. Gold amidst the dark, like Vasquer’s heraldry… and

stood above the crowd, too, another

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