Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave came here in part to retrieve a treasure—or rather, a set of treasures—but it was not something he’d consider his primary purpose. He wanted two things from these Magisters—a safe escort away from the Tower, and then after… well, this living fortress’ head wasn’t the only thing that could move. But then, maybe he wouldn’t need the Magisters for that at all.

Argrave’s primary concern was getting through this fortress as quickly as he could while securing his party’s position for the second part of his journey. His haste was both for the temperamental Magisters he travelled with, and the disgusting atmosphere he found himself in.

Both of the Magisters wore illusions—Vera’s was acting, a metaphorical façade, while Hegazar’s was his spells. They agreed in advance Anneliese should stay near Vera, while Argrave focused on Hegazar. Only a rough guideline, naturally, but it was sufficient enough. At least, it needed to be, if the plan they’d brewed back at the Tower would work.

Most of what they travelled was a straight corridor of stone, yet parts of it had chipped away, revealing the pink, smooth flesh beyond that resembled the pink, soft flesh you’d see inside a body. He felt like an endoscope. In addition, what was still stone was oddly shaped—the pathway they walked, for instance, was vaguely reminiscent of a spine.

“This place…” Magister Hegazar looked around. “Magic’s dense. It’s so dense it’s like a gas in the air, pushing against my skin as I walk. There’s danger in a place like this. It’s like toying with the trigger for a beartrap. Quite a nasty fortress you’ve come to—we’ve come to,” he corrected.

“If you’re afraid, you might leave,” Magister Vera suggested.

“No, I wouldn’t consider such a thing,” Hegazar said smoothly. “I am merely reminded of you, grotesque little spider that you are. Reminds of how disgusting your home in Jast was.”

“At least I have a home and a family,” Vera rebuked as they walked.

Maybe Argrave was delusional, but he could’ve sworn that even Hegazar was not entirely unoffended by that comment. If he was, he didn’t miss a beat in replying, “Soon enough you’ll keep getting older, and they’ll all die one by one.”

“Near the end,” Argrave cut in. “Path branches here.”

“Branches?” Hegazar noted incredulously, still walking. “No matter. We have plenty of time.”

“We’ll need to split,” Argrave disagreed. “This place wasn’t meant to be entered alone. To open the way, multiple unique magic signatures are required.”

Vera stopped. “How would you know this?”

“It was true in the last one of these living fortresses I visited,” Argrave anticipated the question.

Hegazar stopped too, and his illusory form grinned broadly. “You’d gamble so much on past experiences, eh? Jerk two Magisters about on a chain?”

Argrave deliberated his response carefully, staring at Hegazar’s form in silence. Let them think I’m gambling, he concluded. Might lower their confidence in me, but it’s better than giving away too much.

“I didn’t have much choice but to gamble,” Argrave said quietly.

opening. “A correction, Kinslayer. Not ‘didn’t.’ You still don’t. Best hope the dice you’ve cast don’t end up snake eyes,

Vera soothed sweetly. “So, we

looked ahead. “Three is all that’s

I’d like you where I can see you.” Hegazar decided

without hesitation. “Anneliese, Durran… you remember

forget,” Durran

all of them, and then

eyes at once. He didn’t want to display blatant distrust, at least not

though the words felt

within sight?” Vera teased. “I merely wish to

didn’t seem uneased by the idea, but Argrave surely was. “If

Let’s enjoy a few moments of bliss, free

#####

Hegazar spoke to Argrave as they walked. It was only the two of them. Galamon remained at the point where the paths branched, ready to help any should the need arise. It was only a small comfort. “Finally, a moment

Argrave, obviously maintaining extreme caution. The Magister feared a trap, or general danger. He would be disappointed. The pathway of stone and flesh extended ahead of them for a long while, shrouded in darkness broken by

pretty frank generally,” Argrave said—a total lie, but Hegazar would probably believe it easily enough. “With how you

of you… and that little elf girl you link hands with. Well, she’s little to you, at least—quite the giant

in his tone, too, as he asked more monotonously

I’m not one to stick anything where it’s not wanted, be it an opinion or a thought…” Hegazar wrung his hands together as they walked. “…but I will say this. You seem

looked to Hegazar’s illusory form, studying the bald head and face.

I can tell that with my eyes alone… quite the beauty, too, though too tall for my tastes. That’s no issue for you, though, and I have nothing but compliments.” Hegazar raised a finger to emphasize his counter. “But that’s just the thing, you see. No one gets anywhere without being like us. Driven. Practical. She has a goal just like you do… and you might like that. I don’t care how statuesque some woman’s figure might be—smart is sexy. I certainly liked

were…?” Argrave

my wing… tutored her, mentored her, raised her up alongside me until we

up ahead, veritably taking form out of darkness. He responded to Hegazar, asking, “Considering the current state, I

to make. We can rely on ourselves and ourselves alone. Things were straight out of a dream… until she decided that walking side-by-side was not

heard the words… and though he could usually find some position to empathize with someone, he couldn’t find it here. Despite himself, he asked, “But

he continued, “You don’t listen very well. Makes me think what you have to offer might not be

until it

broke the rules of the Order countless times, because of her. She killed many people, you know… and I helped her hide that fact. She thinks she can trot off on her own, leaving everything before behind like it never was?” Hegazar’s voice had

of himself. He was repulsed by the revelation until he examined it further. Hegazar was who Argrave would be if he had not left the Tower when he first arrived in Berendar. Bitter, self-serving, cynical… he’d only do

in the Tower. Ruthless practicality was a hallmark in optimal gameplay for open-world RPGs—if an NPC had something you wanted, you’d

He felt validated in his choices thus far, seeing the miserable man that Hegazar was. With spirit renewed, he felt words come to him as easily as