Jackal Among Snakes

“Met halfway?” Orion repeated Argrave’s claims.

Argrave nodded. “I know your situation. Without you, this camp falls apart. Your blessings are the only thing keeping the vast majority of the people in this camp alive, and more come every day.” Argrave stepped closer. “But with this many people, things become more difficult with each new body. Even with spellcasters to create clean drinking water, food is a pressing concern in these wetlands. You have to dedicate your royal knights to hunting just to sustain this place… and even then, the creatures of the northwest aren’t the easiest to swallow.”

Argrave stepped just before Orion, staring up at his older brother. Orion pressed more, asking, “What will you do, then?”

“I’ll get what’s needed to justify action—to justify an expedition into the wetlands, where we can put an end to the swamp folks’ gods. I’ll set things in motion. All I need is help when the time comes.” Argrave held out his hand. “Focus on your duty. I will focus on mine.”

A normal person might question all of Argrave’s actions, his claims. Argrave had never before plainly stated the root cause of the land’s troubles to anyone besides his companions—not with the Veidimen, nor anywhere else. But Orion was far from normal.

Orion grasped Argrave’s hand. Argrave could still feel some intense heat from Orion’s earlier display. “The gods whisper true. The tallest trees grown sprout from the smallest seeds sewn. It seems you stand tall as testament to that.”

Argrave tried to parse his meaning, but Orion pulled him in and hugged him once more before he could ponder deeply. Argrave accepted it, knowing that refusal was not an option.

“A herd wanders if left alone for too long. I cannot let them go too astray. I must return to the people.” He patted Argrave’s shoulder, then released him. “Wait here. My knights will escort you to a room within the keep for you and my future sister-in-law, and a separate one for your companions. I will await your proof, Argrave. I hope for your sake you speak truly. Know that the gods do not like lies of such proportions… and I am the instrument to express their displeasure.”

After bowing to Anneliese respectfully, Orion left the room, closing the door behind him. Argrave watched the door, then glanced at Anneliese before finally turning to meet Magnus. The prince still stood there with arms crossed.

“So, l-l-l-little b-b-brother,” Magnus said, imitating a stutter. “What is this? Get a new set of eyes, a woman at your arms, and you think that the world will part for you?”

“Don’t act like you care. Go back to eating, drinking, and whoring yourself to an early grave,” Argrave waved his hand.

Magnus crossed his arms and grew silent. It seemed to finally be dawning on him that things had changed vastly from when Argrave had been ‘Argrave.’

“Can’t picture why you’re here. You’re a hedonist. You do what you want,” Argrave noted, stepping closer. “Someone like you has no place at the heart of a plague. Are you gathering information for the Bat, looking for a pretty penny? Heard rumors of something desirable, seeking to make it your own? Maybe you’re trying to use Orion as a cudgel for some scheme?”

The questions were many and largely unfounded, but with Anneliese’s presence, he hoped one of his wild guesses might bear fruit and draw a reaction from the taciturn prince.

Magnus stared up at Argrave. “And I should buy your ridiculous story of wanting to help Orion?”

story. Good thing for me, I’m not selling it to you,” Argrave shook his head. “It’s a waste of time talking to you. Go back to wandering, be a happy man. And if you don’t… well, don’t step on my toes. Might be I have to show you why I’m so confident all

Magnus scrutinized Argrave carefully. There was tension, and Argrave kept his focus on Magnus’ hands in case the man tried something. Argrave knew that, despite their relative equality in terms of

he could win. He partly wished

sparing one last glance at Anneliese before opening the door and leaving. Argrave let out a sigh of relief once the

you so easily,” Anneliese said

refusals of requests for supplies,

escort of royal guards like most of the other princes. No danger,

things are only certainties in the world you knew,” she pointed out, walking closer. “Magnus may not be consigned to just

right,” he admitted. “There’s deeper meaning for his being here—has to be. Speaking of,

head. “I gleaned nothing of his motivations. He and Orion are like opposites—if one is an explosion of light, the other is a gray slate. Magnus

nodded. “Yeah. The oldest and the youngest children

you expected. We will set the groundwork, and then Orion will…” she looked up at him.

head. “Golf, hah. Living in Berendar really puts into perspective

Argrave off. Soon after, the door was

Holiness has instructed us to assign you and your companions a

#####

were a late-game area in ‘Heroes of Berendar,’ always. Everything deep in this foggy wasteland was monstrously dangerous. Though putting an end to the plague took

wetlands, that proved to be an impossible task. The last of the swamp folk occupied the fortress deepest within the vast wetlands. They couldn’t go without help. Of course, ending the plague alone was possible, theoretically… but realistically?

way. The gods of the swamp

time to prepare?”

is intense scrutiny from Orion. A tribal from the deep south, two snow elves, one of whom is suffering from a certain bloodborne condition, and me?” Argrave shook his head at once. “We establish our presence. We set out to handle our part before we get entangled,

a day’s rest,” Durran adjusted his pack.

and they’ll be guarding the keep constantly. Orion is… unique, certainly, but he’s not a petty thief. He’s not even a grand thief,” Argrave assured. “Do you think I’m fond of the idea of risking all our books, our horses? I wouldn’t do this

and shrugged. “Fine. I guess they might weigh us down when we’re

becomes a god, ostensibly, but is he really that powerful?” Argrave explained, seeking to soften the impact of the word. “All we fight is a unique existence. And I assure

opened her eyes, and her Starsparrow landed on his shoulder. “I think I’ve routed out a good path. I marked the trees with my bird—I’ll tell you

boots and gloves

to see them leave were the few refugees up so early in the dawn. The place was still mostly