Jackal Among Snakes

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.”

surprise him and snorted. Argrave stepped away and looked around, 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? Looking to follow the current trend,

she questioned, then shook her head. “Hah. I guess it’s my world, but really, no one knows besides me.” She shook her head, then looked up at Argrave. “I thought I changed a lot, but you… you changed a lot,” she

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

sat on Argrave’s bed, arms crossed. “Why do people say you call her your fiancée?” she gestured with her chin towards

ward that the three of them might speak privately. Mina

woman you brought from the land of

is a poor choice of words,” Argrave said as he nodded. “Her name is Anneliese, in case you forgot. And yes, for all intents and purposes, we are engaged. I’ve answered one of yours,

said you were never wrong about these things,” she said bitterly, her throat seized up. “Nicky

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

you are,” she continued, sniffling once. “With a fiancée, whom you spend the whole night with, keeping the whole keep up with…

are brewing in that head of yours, but put them out of your mind. If there’s anything ‘heated’ going

a mask and shook her head. Argrave was still sure he

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

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

he and ‘Argrave’ had no animosity between the two of them. It was clear to him that something needed to be done about this. He

one night in this keep. And… well, whatever,” he finally surrendered. “Think what you want—I can’t stop you. But why did you come here, of all places? You don’t appear ill. Not yet, at least…” he glanced around the room.

looking at Argrave. “I figured you might have some answers about that

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

#####

a great deal—misunderstandings were resolved, animosity was put to bed, and mutual understanding was established. Despite everything, Mina knew that Argrave alone could not be held responsible for Nikoletta’s choice. She appeared to be placing her position as the heir to the Duke before her own

Nikoletta’s choice didn’t make Argrave feel less guilty, of course. He felt like he’d ruined something. He didn’t tell Mina, but he

night. At first, they spoke of Mina’s situation. Apparently, the time she’d spent with Nikoletta and Duke Enrico in a city devoted to trade and administration had enlightened her about the importance of proper management, and she used

and 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

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

to stay for Mina alongside Durran, Galamon, and the wetland spirit Silvic. He gave her a spare Humorless Mask of Anneliese’s. They agreed to discuss things tomorrow, when both

things had settled, he was finally alone

was scared, terrified earlier?” he asked her, sitting on his

“Desperately so,” Anneliese confirmed.

his brain spun for explanations, he half-hoped Anneliese would interject. She always had bright ideas—things that he’d

Plenty of money, plenty of non-monetary assets. Yet…” Argrave shook his head. “I don’t know if she could terrify

brother you mentioned, Levin? Even

north and keeping his court in line, but maybe he could. Even still, once again, could they terrify Magnus? And what would be their motive to have

that fits,” Anneliese nodded. “Yet what would be his motive to continue

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

looked