Jackal Among Snakes

Though Argrave knew that something needed to be said to Orion, those words did not come to his head immediately as the two of them walked away from the rest of the party. They entered into the keep of the fortress that had manifested after the battle had concluded. Argrave glanced around at decrepit wooden furniture covered in equal parts by wood rot and growths from the wetlands.

Argrave came to stand over a table. Orion stood opposite it, staring at Argrave with curiosity as he waited for him to speak. Though Argrave briefly contemplated sitting in a chair, he saw its thin, shaky legs rotted out and decided against it.

“That centaur getting away bodes ill,” Argrave began, starting at the problem Orion had caused. “Centaurs—they’re closer to man than beast, and they can communicate with our foes. He can report to the commanders of the other fortresses, or even the Plague Jester herself.”

“You fear our enemies will take note of us? They already have—they harass us during this whole journey, brother,” Orion stepped around the table.

Argrave mirrored his brother’s steps, circling around the table opposite him. “This is different. These beasts that assail as we travel… they sense intruders and hunt them, but little else—now, you’ve displayed your power, stated your intent plainly. If the commanders are warned, the final assault will be all the more difficult. They’ll group up.”

Orion lowered his head. “I apologize.”

Argrave sighed. “I don’t get why this is happening. Back at camp, you lunged at Silvic as though she were your nemesis without any provocation whatsoever. Now, someone attacks you first, and you let them stab you? You let their ally get away?”

“I apologize,” Orion repeated sincerely, lowering his head further.

“I don’t want an apology. I want to know why,” Argrave insisted.

Orion raised a hand to the table before him, placing his fingers against it almost gingerly. The battle he’d just endured had destroyed both of his gauntlets, leaving only scraps of loosely hanging metal with broken enchantments behind.

“Do you ever grow lonely, Argrave?” Orion raised his head, gray eyes emotionless.

Argrave thought for half a second before answering, “Not lately. But I did, once. A lot.”

and bounce back into place. “I cannot grow lonely. I always have company. The gods accompany me through

less afraid of Orion lately, so he dared say, “But that doesn’t answer my question. Why do you act differently

his fist against the table and the wood buckled easily. Argrave didn’t move an inch as wood splinters fell at his feet. “Because I don’t understand,” Orion said, voice far too calm in the wake

is unshakable. All is part of the natural order, and the world can only truly be perfect when their dominion extends from the tall mountains of Dirracha to the distant corners of the world. I have ninety-eight parents, brother—my mother, our father, and all the gods of Vasquer. Each and all taught me as much of the world

wholly different from putting it into action. The task is simple: spread the faith. Yet the ways are manifold, subtle and direct in equal turns. Each path I might take has its own application that excels at different points. You enlightened me to that,” he

“Me?” Argrave questioned. “What?”

table to stand before Argrave. “The people whisper of you staying an invasion from the Veidimen by treating with them in their land. This action saved the

and put his hands on his hips. “I am not particularly smart. I confess… I confess I am quite stupid. I have always been slow to read books, last to comprehend lectures. Though my instincts and will are second to none, and I have my parents at my back… I am impulsive, easily angered.

never seen Orion express anything of this sort to anyone—certainly never the player in ‘Heroes

only allies and enemies. Even I am aware of that. Our foe seeks to genocide Vasquer with disease and rot. Will you

wetland spirit?” Orion turned back. “She is the enemy, yet you use her to help

and twisted into what he is now. He was a convergence of so many forces, stretched so thin by so many it was a wonder he was functional at all. If Argrave might teach

to cure the plague. Millions could die if Orion continued to act indecisively as he had earlier. It would be tremendously stupid to prioritize Orion’s personal growth over the fate of the

weren’t mutually exclusive. And Argrave could get more time, if he got himself deeper

needed to say to get that. He took a deep breath, battling with his desire to be disentangled from the man before him. Orion was dangerous. They had already become too closely bound for

the prince. “For now, put all of that out of your mind. The world needs you as you are, Orion. The world needs an unwavering crusader. We can work at more later.

#####

seemed pleased by his vague offer and his empty assurances, Argrave was not entirely

such a thing until he had it, but once his mind had rejuvenated he was consumed by feelings of impatience and frustration. He felt the need to

needing to say much at all. Argrave had recalled some people claiming that arguments and fights were the sign of a growing relationship—if they did not argue, it was uninteresting and

better morale, having lost none of their own, and things were prepared in short order. The only truly miserable

spend all night fretting and worrying about what Orion taught me, and then I get it right,” he explained hollowly to Argrave as he adjusted