Jackal Among Snakes

Casto returned after a longer time than Argrave was expecting. He was worried that his companions would grow worried about his long absence, but did not fear he himself was in genuine danger. The S-rank mage and Master of the Tower of the Gray Owl did eventually return, appearing a little more tired than before.

“What you’ve shared,” Castro mused as he stepped closer, his explosive anger from before gone. “It’s a ridiculous scenario.”

“Life is often ridiculous, I find,” Argrave nodded, sitting atop one of Castro’s tables filled with all sorts of metal oddities from the same elven civilization he’d once had Galamon lure metal undead from. Most were bizarre, unnatural metal shapes, each and all standing as testament to that civilization’s metalworking skills, and Argrave sat gingerly to avoid crushing anything beneath him.

“I endeavored to follow one lead you wrote of, one that seemed simple… I could not finish the path without leaving the Tower. Even still…” Castro shook his head. “Just as important as knowledge is its source. How did you learn of this?”

Argrave scratched his face. “Doubt you’ll believe me, but I trust you enough to know you’ll keep quiet. I learned in another life,” he said succinctly.

Castro’s expression was inscrutable, and he did not even mention Argrave's assertion, perhaps thinking it mere misdirection. “So, these rumors, these movements of yours, from Mateth to the Burnt Desert to the northwest… this is why? You move to facilitate our defense against this… Ger…” Castro grappled with the word but gave up pronouncing Gerechtigkeit. “This calamity?”

Argrave nodded without hesitation. “Somebody has to.”

“You could have brought this before the Order immediately,” Castro shook his head.

“I couldn’t have achieved anything if I didn’t take matters into my own hands,” Argrave shook his head. “I think the only reason you even entertained what I wrote is because of what I’ve already done. Mateth, the plague…”

“You could have tried to rely on others,” Castro stepped forth.

Argrave laughed, then stood up off the table he sat on. “Took me long enough to trust the people with me now. I don’t think… I trusted anyone, not until recently. As recent events have proven, I have family issues,” Argrave spread his arms out. “But things are finally reaching the point of overflow. I have to start getting the word out. And if I die… you’ll have to pick up the slack.”

Castro held up Argrave’s packet of letters. “I can’t accept this without significant scrutiny.”

“I hope you do scrutinize it,” Argrave nodded. “Nothing would make me happier than being wrong. But I’m not.”

Castro nodded, then stepped in the direction of a distant door. “Come,” he called out to Argrave.

Argrave followed, and then the Tower Master opened the door. A great howling wind sounded outside, none of it penetrating the door. Argrave stepped outside, greeted by a chill. The air was thinner and colder up here, it seemed. Even still, walls of stone kept the balcony from being too cold. There was a walkway leading out to nothingness, where Castro generally mounted his wyvern. Or he had, at least.

Argrave could see for hundreds, maybe thousands of miles in every direction. The balcony extended along the whole tower, and Castro stood near the railing, waiting. Argrave stepped up to him.

will encircle this place. High-rank mages, elite knights… not an army, but more than enough to catch any fugitive. These will

what, a dozen here alone, fifty of them across Berendar, each and all S-rank mages? You have a monopoly on higher magical knowledge here in the Tower. Most A-rank and higher mages are loyal to the

out, hmm?” Castro smiled and laughed. “I meant what I said. I cannot

less surefire. And I can’t form a closer bond with one of the most powerful spellcasters in Berendar.” Argrave rubbed his hands

a… relative,” Castro

Argrave raised

face intense. “What did you

know about him,” Argrave shrugged. “I don’t care, so don’t worry. But he’s proof enough—Vasquer will not antagonize

close to Argrave.

Ingo’s unique constitution for… cruelly effective purposes. You saved him, brought him here… and the king bent,” Argrave held his

have’ him. He stays here because he wants to, and because the world is dangerous to him. No one should own a person, not even

But Felipe’s committed far more monstrous crimes than owning a person, and I don’t see any conscientious retaliation from you. Regardless, we’re getting off

to it. He bit his lip,

until the boundaries between realms grew weaker. Ingo was someone like Orion—someone chosen for a blessing from birth. Only… Ingo’s god was not so understanding of human fragility,

understand, then. Focus on him,” Argrave said.

letting that hang for a while. “…so, whenever you choose a Magister you deem worthy of escorting your noble self…

reward for my thesis on [Blood Infusion]? That is why you brought me here, no?” Argrave said, trying not to let his joking smile seep into his voice. As Castro turned his head

#####

same guy again,” Stain noted, lounging idly against the stone wall of the Tower. He wore a relatively inconspicuous gray robe that, upon close scrutiny, was

who was just beside Stain, wore near the same thing. They appeared like nothing more than two Acolytes of the order engaged in conversation. The person they spoke of was entirely ignorant of their

quiet laugh. “Same tale. ‘Legion of snakes.’ This man’s either quite committed to accuracy in this little game of rumor spreading… or he’s feeding the people something.

laughter. “Yeah. You’ve got a good eye.

arms. “Much as I wish I could agree with you about how stellar I am… Anneliese and Argrave told me to look out for something like

aback.

putting ingredients in the pot, stirring the soup,” Durran crossed his arms and exhaled, his golden eyes appearing to grow brighter. “Problem is… hard to tell what the intent of the person behind them is. Doesn’t seem wholly negative. There are a lot worse ways you could spin our confrontation of Induen than

did things go down, there?” Stain asked, hesitating. “Induen, I

looked at Stain. “Well… I wanted to just hit the man from afar, be done with it… but Argrave went to talk to

brows. “Why? Was Induen’s death not