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.

Veden and beyond. He had a natural affinity 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

the prince was limited. Sorely

dying 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. Though he could see the merit

he simply

“We have to keep working at it until

the rumors of his temper, he did not lash out at her when

it won’t lose it. It’s a permanent affliction, this waxpox.” Induen stood up straight

in the corner of her eye, but she didn’t

of a single recovery,” Induen noted, half-mockingly. “But indeed, I have no evidence they will not recover. I suppose we must wait

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

she noticed its action were far too deliberate in drawing

the privy,”

“A very unladylike declaration,” he derided. “Why

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

involuntarily. Once the bird settled on her arm, staring up at her, she questioned in a low whisper, “Argrave

was a 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 had stopped

she confirmed in paranoia,

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

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

deep breath. South. The Margravate, perhaps.

further thought,

#####

Though the people afflicted with the waxpox still persisted… it caused no more deaths. The steady trickle of refugees seeking his blessing thinned every day. And though

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

proceed without bloodshed. And yet… Argrave might. He had some of Elenore’s cleverness when she had been younger and more

consult his brother Argrave for advice. His family was the most important thing to him. All