Jackal Among Snakes

The time that Argrave spent with his companions in the village without a name was probably the happiest Argrave had ever been in Berendar. Though the food was exceedingly simple, their neighbors were unhappy at their presence, and the days were cold and stiff, he’d never known finer company than those Argrave travelled with. Being in life-or-death situations made their trust unbreakable, their honesty comforting, and their presence easing.

Durran practiced with Galamon, trying to adapt to only having a forefinger and thumb on his left hand. When that wasn’t happening, the tattooed tribal delved into books. Of late, he seemed to be inspired about something—he spent a particularly long amount of time focusing on previously untouched necromantic spell books written by Garm. Argrave was somewhat concerned, but he trusted Durran was a good enough person to use necromancy wisely.

Anneliese and Argrave focused on their magic studies. She was half-tutor, half-peer, and Argrave learned much and more studying with her. Never once did it feel like a chore. Indeed, it felt like a blessing, probably because they’d been enduring deadly struggles for weeks on end. Or maybe the blessing was simply the fact he got to spend time with Anneliese.

His study into a particular spell bore fruit after a while.

An invisible tempest swirling in Argrave’s hands splayed the grass flat against the ground. He held his hands out, and the power freed itself. The wind took visible form, though it was like a pane of glass against grass. It was the shape of an armored knight holding a gargantuan tower shield perhaps eight feet tall. The knight braced, then swung the shield from left to right with tremendous force.

Wind split through the vast plain ahead of him with tremendous force. Grass and the dirt in the tempest’s path were both torn asunder, upturned by the seemingly indomitable force pushing past. In only a few seconds, a vast area of wintry grass had simply been removed, much of the dirt beneath it similarly uprooted. The knight vanished, yet the wind kept travelling across the plains before them, splaying the grass flat and slowly losing power.

“Heheh…” Argrave raised his hand to his mouth, hiding a smile as he giggled. Dirt and grass peppered the area of ahead of them. “Good gods.”

“Quite a potent wind spell,” Anneliese remarked, standing with arms crossed behind Argrave.

“Compared to most of the other B-rank spells of different elements… it might be a little less potent,” Argrave nodded. “My [Pavise Gale] wouldn’t do near as much damage as the [Icebound Twinblades] you used at the Marred Hallowed Grounds. The strongest point is the initial swing of the pavise, and after, it weakens by the second.” Argrave turned his head back to her and walked up. “But it’s a lot cheaper than most B-rank spells, it can protect me while it’s active, it forces foes away from me, and it’s fitting when you consider I still have that ring that augments wind spells I got at Jast. Moreover, I intend on keeping my tried-and-true strategy.”

Anneliese tilted her head. “And what is that?”

“Sword and shield,” Argrave said. “Keep my opponents away with one hand, while I conjure [Electric Eels] with the other to do concentrated bursts of attack. Lightning magic is precise and deadly. Most other spells are more… wide range. I might cause more devastation if I use innumerable powerful fire, ice, or earth spells, but I can learn those later. For now—this is highly efficient.”

“And what of B-rank lightning magic? [Electric Eel] is still C-rank,” Anneliese noted.

Argrave put his hand to his chin. “They exist, certainly. You’ve learned some,” he pointed to her. “They’re the deadliest I could learn barring blood magic, but…”

“None are as precise as [Electric Eel],” she finished.

Argrave nodded. “Yeah. I can direct eight eels to attack different targets, and they do so with pinpoint accuracy. No collateral damage, too. Spells like the B-rank [Cloudborn Chain] are incredibly long-range and uncomfortably fast, yet it can only strike one target, whereupon the electricity spreads out for a short distance,” Argrave summarized. “Very deadly, but lacking versatility.”

Anneliese took a deep breath and sighed.

matter?” Argrave

sad eyes. “We’re to be facing foes capable of

brushed aside a strand of her long white hair. “Our armor is better than you might think. And the whole reason I had you get the Starsparrow was so that we can scout ahead, avoid

that is all it takes to meet the end. And the likelihood of that is greater now that you are a target of public interest. You are known as

“And I worry too, believe me—I don’t have to tell you. I can’t deny I want to stay in this little village with you, living happily until we expire.” Argrave shook his head. “But there’s a big obstacle to that in the shape of a world-ender… and a bunch of little obstacles along the way. We’ve got stupid people

into his shoulder. “I cannot

do. Because you’re doing it too, now. You have been for a while. We’re racing headlong to oblivion—whether we stop it or embrace it,

#####

crept up behind him and grasped his shoulders suddenly and fiercely. Durran cried out and thrust his elbow at Argrave’s face in reflex. With

his hand to his face, then eventually joined Argrave in laughter. “Good gods. Next time, I won’t miss,

stepped forth and sat beside Durran. “You’ve

it’s hard to stand about twiddling my thumbs when everyone else is working night and day. I blame you freaks,” Durran shook his head. He picked up the book he’d thrown aside after the scare. He was still a bit

was necromancy nonetheless. The spell Durran read only allowed him

some plans for a couple people that I dislike,” Durran

knowing he was joking. “Orion might not go down so

see,” Durran repeated Argrave’s earlier claim. “Anybody dies if you drop something heavy enough from a

the amusement. “Why now?

chin. He hadn’t shaved recently, and stubble had formed. “Well… seeing the Corpse Puppeeter, that whole scenario, really got me thinking. That was power. Incontrovertible power. Beyond that, I thought…” Durran raised up his left hand. “Maybe

magic?” Argrave raised

left hand about. “I even asked Galamon if he’d

at him

shook his head. “His fingers were too big, anyway, and things don’t work that way. They’d either wriggle at

wrung his hands together uncomfortably, acutely aware of the fact he had fingers. “Like I told you… we can make an early trip to Vysenn. Forget fingers, you

don’t need it, and it’s a significant detour,” Durran shook his head. “Whenever you planned to go is

tighter against each other.

‘when.’ It just happened, bottom line. I’m fine with

Argrave

Argrave knew his arrogance was spurred by embarrassment, so he only laughed

the countryside of wintry grass in silence, nothing but the sound of