Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 185

Argrave told Galamon, Durran, and the very out-of-place Silvic that he and Anneliese intended to check up on their books before rejoining the party to discuss what needed to be done. Silvic asked to bury Drezki, and his companions saw to that task alongside her so that no issues would arise with the Waxknights or other residents.

“Was almost like things correcting themselves,” Argrave mused as he pushed open the door, stepping inside. “Drezki… god damn it. Why did it have to end like that? I should’ve…”

“Should have what?” Anneliese pressed.

Argrave stopped beside the half-open door. “I don’t know. Should have known better. Should have taken measures.”

“People tell you time and time again that way of thinking leads nowhere. When will you heed that lesson?” she questioned.

“Lot easier to say that than to do it. Don’t deny you ask the same thing,” Argrave refuted.

Anneliese just grabbed his wrist, giving it a solemn squeeze. It reminded him he wasn’t the only one affected by the things that happened around him. He flashed a bitter smile, then said, “Hopefully that little display helps keep Durran cautious.”

“Durran is different than he was before,” Anneliese said. “I don’t think he will cause trouble as he did in the Lionsun Castle.”

“I definitely hope not,” Argrave shook his head, stepping within the room and glancing about. He took a mental inventory of all within. Everything was as neat and orderly as it had been left. Then, his eyes fell upon something he had not been expecting to see—a human figure, greatly distorted by illusion magic.

At once, Argrave raised his hand up and formed the matrix for a fast-acting lightning spell, the C-rank [Skysunder]. With a yelp, the person threw themselves behind Argrave’s bed, shouting, “Wait!”

Argrave kept his hand raised, but said tentatively, “Mina?”

Anneliese stepped within the room cautiously, coming to stand shoulder to shoulder with Argrave.

Mina gingerly raised her head above the bed, and Argrave lowered his hand with mouth agape. “What in the hell are you doing here?” he demanded.

“Last time it was a book, now you nearly throw a spell at me?” Mina said incredulously, rising up a little further.

Mina of Veden had changed a great deal from when Argrave had last seen her. As ever, she looked like a cat, but some maturity shone through on her face. Her once shoulder-length yellow hair had grown much longer than that, and her yellow eyes seemed tired.

“I never expected to deal with this situation a second time,” he shook his head. “I’ll ask again—what the hell, Mina?”

“I’m sorry, I am! It’s different this time. I was expecting you to come back, wanted to talk to you!” Mina said urgently.

Argrave scratched his cheek. “Yet you still use an illusion spell, just the same as ever.”

“Because I thought I’d win, this time,” she shook her head. “Gods be damned.”

and seeing no one was present, shut the door. “Why aren’t you at Mateth?” he began, stepping back into the room. “Why are you here?

one knows besides me.” She shook her head,

could tell she was dodging the question because she found it painful to answer.

her

and Anneliese conjured a ward that the three of them

she pointed. “She’s the elven woman you brought from

said as he nodded. “Her name is Anneliese, in case you forgot. And yes, for all intents and

were never wrong about these things,” she said bitterly, her throat seized up. “Nicky sent me away. She said that… it wasn’t right, and that

he expected. The fact that Mina was desperately trying to stop herself from

sniffling once. “With a fiancée, whom you spend the whole night with, keeping the whole keep up

of twisted fantasies are brewing in that head of yours, but put them out of your mind.

hid her face with one hand despite the fact that it was covered by a mask and shook

spurned lover, and so he divulged everything about you two,” she shook her head. “He was trying to turn me

his head up and nodded, face blanking as his half-brother’s name came out once more. Argrave spared a glance at Anneliese, and she nodded as though she knew what he was

very obvious that Magnus was trying to impede Argrave at every turn. It went against what he knew of Magnus—as far as he knew, he and ‘Argrave’ had no animosity between the

you come here, of all places? You don’t appear ill. Not yet, at least…” he glanced around the room. “You ought to wear one of these masks… keep your health up…” he stepped around, searching for the

came to Veden,” Mina disclosed, looking at Argrave. “I figured you might have some answers about that

face taut. “I think we ought to spend some time catching up, then.

#####

bed, and mutual understanding was established. Despite everything, Mina knew that Argrave alone could

guilty, of course. He felt like he’d ruined

devoted to trade and administration had enlightened her about the importance of proper management, and she used the

what he’d done to do so. That took up the bulk of the conversation, and though Argrave felt it was a somewhat disdainful waste of time to recount something that had no bearing on what they were to

something he disclosed readily. Apparently, Nikoletta had long ago informed Mina of his fight against Gerechtigkeit. He resented that Nikoletta could not keep a secret, but Mina told no others, and it was not genuinely harmful if rumor of it did spread. It was, ultimately, one of his long-term goals to propagate information about the coming

alongside Durran, Galamon, and the wetland spirit Silvic. He gave her a spare Humorless

had settled, he was finally alone with Anneliese, a fact he

Magnus was scared, terrified earlier?” he asked her, sitting

“Desperately so,” Anneliese confirmed.

a long while. As his brain spun for explanations, he half-hoped Anneliese would interject. She always had bright ideas—things that he’d missed, perspective he lacked. But

the resources to make Magnus move. Plenty of money, plenty of non-monetary

Levin? Even Felipe?” Anneliese continued his

a certain low cunning to him. Felipe is probably too busy rallying the north and keeping his court in line, but maybe he could. Even still, once again, could they terrify Magnus? And what would be

all that fits,” Anneliese nodded. “Yet what would

He could just be worthless trash, human scum, that kind of thing…” Argrave rubbed his mouth with his hand, losing himself in thought. As a stray thought came

Anneliese looked at

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