Jackal Among Snakes

“You said we would rest,” noted Durran, though he did not complain as he put the white books written by Garm back into his backpack. He fumbled a little on account of his missing fingers, which made Argrave feel guilt once again.

“We will,” Argrave confirmed, resting off to the side while Galamon packed his things for him, accommodating his weakened state. “We’ll take a nice, long rest—believe me, my legs ache much worse than yours, and I want to rest. But half the damn continent knows or will know we’re in this camp, and I don’t care to be a sitting duck so that Induen or anybody else comes here and ruins my day. We’ll go to a secluded place without any watching eyes.” He turned his gaze to Anneliese. “Speaking of, there’s something I want you to do.”

“Alert Mina, have her get away from Induen,” she guessed.

Argrave smiled. “If only everyone could guess my plans as well as you.”

“That might be a problem, actually,” Durran shook his head. “Might make future deceptions a bit more difficult.”

Argrave chuckled but said nothing.

“Alerting Mina will not take long. Half an hour, perhaps,” she nodded, and her Starsparrow jumped to her finger.

“I’ve already told Orion we’re leaving. He’s to return to the capital, put affairs in order, get some stellar armor for the two of you to wear… and then rejoin us at Kin’s End. I don’t plan on travelling again until I’m fully prepared to defend myself—I’ve earned something of a reputation, and all of my brothers are a bit trigger happy. Moreover, I’ll need a B-rank spell to demonstrate to the Order of the Gray Owl that isn’t blood magic. Ancient, forgotten blood magic, at that. Part of the advancement process to a High Wizard, you see.”

Anneliese seemed the most pleased by this news. She was the one constantly encouraging him to take a rest, and stop using blood magic—now, he promised to do both.

Argrave stood. “I know a place. Small village, maybe six houses. Doesn’t receive travelers often, and the residents leave less often. We pay them a few gold, they’ll shine our shoes and feed us grains, I’m certain—but it’s a safe place to hole up, and that’s all I need.” He looked to Anneliese. “But first…”

“I will send the Starsparrow out,” she finished.

#####

“Another day without more deaths, nor registered refugees,” Induen noted, staring down at a document. Mina, standing across from him on the death, tried to read the document upside-down in vain. “It seems we’re doing well.”

It felt strange for Mina to hear the words ‘we’ coming from the crown prince of the Kingdom of Vasquer. She could not deny she had been dreadfully apprehensive about this task that Argrave had given her. Rumors of the crown prince’s temper and cruel tendencies persisted in every territory from the Parbon Margravate in the far south to the vast forests of the Archduchy of Corsare, furthest north in Vasquer.

for management and rulership. He was adept at predicting how people would act, and how to force people to act. He had an astonishing aptitude with numbers, and anything that entered his memory did not leave it. He could keep track of innumerable factors at once, always maintaining a

was limited.

plant and put something new in its place instead of simply changing the way it was tended to. There were no half-measures with him.

supposed he simply enjoyed

Mina noted. “We have to keep working at it until people start to

the rumors of his temper, he did not lash out at her when she suggested other methods. She wondered if they

It’s a permanent affliction, this waxpox.” Induen stood up straight until he towered

evidence for that,” she pushed back. Something golden moved in

I suppose we must wait for everyone to fall sick and die before we take

reared back his head in laughter, Mina caught sight of another golden flash. She dared glance away, whereupon she spotted a beautiful golden bird by the window. She was prepared to dismiss it from her mind, too occupied with the temperamental prince to pay attention to a pretty sparrow. Then, she thought

her eyes tracked it, she noticed its action were far too deliberate in drawing her attention to be those of a simple-minded

privy,” Mina declared,

very unladylike declaration,” he derided. “Why do you tell me?

once. She kept herself from sprinting only because of her company. She opened the door, passing by the royal guards Induen had stationed outside, and entered the courtyard of the castle. She made to a secluded place, whereupon she glanced up at

and Mina’s head jumped back involuntarily. Once the bird settled on her arm, staring up

rather adorable action, Mina thought, but the topic was too serious for her to act upon it. The reason that the waxpox had not spread at all the past while was because Argrave

in paranoia, to which the

what he imagined,” she told the bird. Maybe it was her imagination, but it looked amused before simply vanishing. It

to go? Mina mused. I’ll not stick around here once Induen learns the news.

to her, she took a deep breath. South. The Margravate, perhaps. Safest place, I’m

no further thought,

#####

no more deaths. The steady trickle of refugees seeking his blessing thinned every day. And though he was less busy because of it… he was glad

for people at the capital in Dirracha. Soon enough, he would be joining them. Though he had put it out of his mind while focusing on this task… there was

And yet… Argrave might. He had some of Elenore’s cleverness when she had been younger and more vibrant, not crippled as she was now. He still did not understand why she had to be harmed in such a way, yet it

the most important thing to him. All of his many parents,