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.”

it’s safe, sure, so long as you don’t step out of line. I just…” she

walked through the door. Anneliese and

“Orion wants to talk to Silvic, meaning we’re soon to start planning the expedition. A week, maybe

up at Argrave. “I’d best

head in a slight bow.

words, I hope. Risking life and limb for you. Let’s not

face grew serious. “I know the

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

#####

magic used to destroy the fortress—it

this, it was proof sufficient for the Holy Fool that there was a conspiracy brewing in the wetlands.

well, but they served merely as guards rather than participants in their meeting. Durran and Magnus were both

map of the wetlands had been arrayed atop the central table. Argrave moved it about with his fingers and said, “It can’t

I spread the word maps were

begin to guess how, he was sure magic had something to do in

hunched over. “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 creatures abound.” Argrave gestured towards the wetland spirit. “Silvic can aid us in

spoke. When another talked,

would be ideal,” Anneliese noted. “It would facilitate ease of travel, ensure that gathering food

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

road? When we’re on dryland, it’ll be relatively 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, 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, armed

Orion tilted

murdered in cold blood,”

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

Galamon give Orion a frigid glare, hand hovering near the two Giantkillers on his belt.

long you do believe this journey will take?”

try and sleep out in the middle of them, they’ll

over the table, planting his hands down. “Barring the one we reside in and the one this Jester resides in… six fortresses.

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