Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 188

“You come from Veiden?” Mina questioned Anneliese, trying to start a conversation.

Anneliese stared out at the doorway which Argrave and Orion had left, nervously braiding and unbraiding portions of her long white hair. She answered Mina idly, “It depends on how you define ‘come from.’”

Mina placed her hands loudly on the dining table the two of them sat at. “You were born there.”

“I was born on a coastal village in Berendar,” Anneliese shook her head.

Mina frowned, then tapped her fingers against the table for a time, staring at the white-haired elf. She bit at her lips in quiet deliberation, then questioned, “Why did your people invade Mateth?”

Anneliese was drawn away from her idle braiding and turned to face Mina completely. Though silent for a moment, she eventually answered simply, “They thought it their duty.”

“They?” Mina repeated.

“I do not envision myself returning,” Anneliese replied.

Mina tapped her fingers on the table once again, then questioned, “Who gave them this duty?”

“Veid,” Galamon answered. Mina looked at him blankly, and so he elaborated, “Our goddess.”

Mina nodded, then placed her head on her arms on the table. “Of course. Naturally. There must be something higher than yourself giving you a reason to kill, elsewise people will have to confront their deeds.”

“Better for some to die now to establish a thousand years of prosperity,” Galamon disagreed at once.

Anneliese didn’t seem to have any stake in the matter. She rose and exited, walking to where Argrave and his half-brother had left.

“I don’t see how it is all that different from what someone like Orion does,” Mina spoke to Galamon.

Galamon stared down at her coldly. He was easily twice her size. “This is a pointless conversation. I dislike that man more than anyone else here, I’m certain, but I put that aside.”

“This place… these knights… it’s safe, sure, so long as you don’t step out of line. I just…” she paused, then shook her head.

walked through the door. Anneliese and Argrave walked side by

Silvic, meaning we’re soon to start planning the expedition. A week, maybe a bit longer, and we’ll leave camp. Going to

Argrave. “I’d best

bow. “Once again, nothing but thanks

bench. “You’ll pay me back in more than just words, I hope. Risking life and limb for

“I know the gravity of

to shudder from a chill. She walked away,

#####

Orion was provided without issue. It was a simple thing for Silvic to recreate the magic used to destroy the fortress—it had already been inscribed into the stone long ago. Silvic activated her strange magic usable only by wetland spirits of her kind, and the stones began to emit a foul

proof sufficient for the Holy Fool that there was a conspiracy brewing in the wetlands. With

Galamon, and Silvic occupied the Holy Fool’s private quarters. There were several Waxknights present as well, but they served merely as guards rather than participants in their meeting. Durran and Magnus were both absent. That

the wetlands had been arrayed atop the central table. Argrave moved it about with his fingers

land in the form of a refugee—once I spread the word maps were needed, this was delivered readily.” Orion took

something to do in the map-making process. The borders of the wetlands

beasts who can tear a man apart with ease roam the swamps, and poisonous creatures abound.” Argrave gestured towards the wetland spirit. “Silvic can aid us in travel, but this is still enemy territory. And I do mean ‘enemy.’ We’ll be facing active opposition, hunted

at his beard as Argrave spoke. When another talked, his gaze jumped

your best men would be ideal,” Anneliese noted. “It would facilitate ease of travel, ensure that gathering food is no great ordeal,

that seemed more contemplative than anything. He looked at Argrave and questioned, “The enemy—what

we’ll be on dryland often. The greatest enemy will be the Sentinels of the old wetland spirits—they’re all manners of beasts, natural-born chimeras in part, but they’re only in the deeper portions. Beyond that, there are manticores, blacksnout alligators, rockhide hippopotamuses…” Argrave shook his head as he recalled the most obnoxious

Orion tilted

you murdered in cold blood,” Silvic

unoffended by the accusation. “Yes, I recall. She broke my right gauntlet and my skin with one

hovering near the two Giantkillers on his belt. Argrave

wetlands are not so large. How long you do believe this journey will take?” Orion

There are only a few safe places to shelter here. The wetlands—you try and sleep out in the middle of them, they’ll swallow you whole,” Argrave said seriously. “The only places vaguely hospitable are the abandoned fortresses—and even then, they’re overrun by the nastiest of the Jester’s

we reside in and the one this Jester resides in… six fortresses. Will this take six days,

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