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.”

these knights… it’s safe, sure, so long as you

paused as two people walked through the door. Anneliese and Argrave walked side by side and strode up to the

them. “Orion wants to talk to Silvic, meaning we’re soon to start planning the

up at Argrave. “I’d

lowered his head in a slight bow. “Once again, nothing but thanks

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

“I know the gravity of

seemed to shudder from a chill. She walked away, preparing to head

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issue. It was a simple thing for Silvic to recreate the magic used to destroy the fortress—it had already been inscribed

Orion was enraged by this, it was proof sufficient for the Holy Fool that

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 was either

central table. Argrave moved it about with his fingers and

form of a refugee—once I spread the word maps were needed, this was delivered readily.” Orion took a deep breath with a smile on his face, then exhaled. “Another sign the gods look upon

see in a Medieval period—though Argrave couldn’t begin to guess how, he was sure magic had something to do in the map-making process. The borders of the wetlands were unclear, and the primary focus was the eight fortresses that had

“The wetlands are very dangerous to traverse, especially with the waxpox writhing everywhere within. It’s not just the environment—foul beasts who can tear a man apart with ease roam the swamps, and poisonous

spoke. When

ideal,” Anneliese noted. “It would facilitate ease of travel, ensure that gathering food is no great ordeal, and keep

looked at Argrave and questioned, “The enemy—what foul manner of beasts must be

safe. I don’t suspect 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,

Orion tilted

whom you murdered in cold blood,” Silvic

by the accusation. “Yes, I recall. She broke my right gauntlet

hand hovering near the two Giantkillers on his

large. How long you do believe this journey will take?” Orion questioned further. “Where is this so-called

another factor. 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

and leaned over the table, planting his hands down. “Barring the one we reside in and

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