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

Anneliese and Argrave walked side by side and strode up

seems it’s time to get to work,” Argrave clasped his hands together and rubbed them. “Orion wants to talk to Silvic, meaning we’re soon to start planning the expedition. A week, maybe a bit longer, and we’ll leave

at Argrave. “I’d best be going,

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

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

serious. “I know the

her yellow eyes on his, then seemed to shudder

#####

Silvic to recreate the magic used to destroy the fortress—it had already been inscribed into the stone long ago. Silvic

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

well, but they served merely as guards rather than participants in their meeting. Durran and Magnus were both absent. That was either a promising or

grand map of the wetlands had been arrayed atop the central table. Argrave moved it about with his fingers and said,

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

was sure magic had something to do in the map-making process. The borders of the wetlands were unclear, and the primary focus was

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,

spoke. When another talked,

would be ideal,” Anneliese noted. “It would facilitate ease of travel,

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

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 two of all. “There are leopards in the trees—they’re poisonous, too. And gibbons,

Orion tilted his

you murdered

I recall. She broke my right gauntlet and my

near the two Giantkillers on his belt. Argrave fixed him with

not so large. How long you do believe this journey will take?” Orion questioned further. “Where is this so-called Plague

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 servants.” Argrave stepped away

we reside in and the one this Jester

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