Jackal Among Snakes

“We have to make this look real,” Argrave told Anneliese. This was many days earlier, back when they were still at the Tower of the Gray Owl. “Part of being deceitful, as these Magisters are, is expecting the same from just about everybody. Vera and Hegazar will both be looking for a ruse from the other. They’re enemies—the paranoia will already be up and running. The acting is pivotal. What’s more, you have to squeeze Vera hard, like you’re actually on the fringe and looking to be recruited.”

Anneliese nodded, rotating an empty bowl on the table with her hands as she listened. “What is the plan if one of them, or either of them, suspect a scheme?”

Argrave looked to the side, then leaned back in his chair. “I expect they’ll go along with it regardless. They’ll just have a plan prepared at the end of things to ruin our day. If Vera suspects, she’ll assume this is Hegazar’s ruse. If Hegazar suspects, the opposite is true. If both suspect the other… they’re too mired in hatred to even consider the other innocent, and the whole point of this is to stop them from uniting against us.”

The bowl stopped rotating when Anneliese ceased fiddling with it. “You said Vera is spiteful. If she suspects… there could be danger.”

“With Hegazar on my side? She’d take no chances of escalation. These two are both S-rank mages, and in unfamiliar territory—neither want a fight. They’d gladly kill each other, but only if there was no risk involved.” Argrave leaned forward. “No way in hell I’d ask this of you if I thought you’d be in danger. As things stand, things are more dangerous if we don’t do it. These two can and will cooperate against us for the sake of their own greed. They’d have no qualms capturing and torturing us for information.”

Anneliese stared at the bowl, and then her amber eyes turned to him resolutely. “I see. I will follow your judgement, then.”

Argrave smiled. “Glad that’s the case. Any improvements to suggest, thoughts?”

“I think…” Anneliese put her hand to her chin. “I think I am better at fooling people than I once was. Even still, I am not at all confident in doing this flawlessly.”

Argrave put his arm up on the chair he sat at, thinking. “Beyond what we already discussed… if you want some advice, a lot of lying is being honest. It’s easier to tell a lie if you can think, ‘this is technically true.’ A little trick of the mind.”

Anneliese tilted her head, fixing her white hair back into place when it fell over her eyes. “You have a proposal?”

“Couples therapy,” Argrave spread his arms out. “In a sense, at least. If you have any grievances… things you dislike about me, things you disliked me doing, you bring them up right then. Bring that repressed anger and frustration to the surface. I can understand if it might be—”

“I believe I can do that,” Anneliese interrupted. “That is very good advice.”

Argrave narrowed his eyes, then cleared his throat and moved on. “Alright then. If you think Vera is buying it, undo the braid on your hair. Between that and Galamon…”

Both of their eyes moved to the other person in the room. Galamon sat there, his arms crossed. His stern face was markedly sterner than usual.

“Really, Galamon. This’ll be a big help,” Argrave assured. “Unparalleled.”

“Hmm,” he grunted simply.

Argrave looked to the ground, clearly uncomfortable. In the corner, Durran threw some raisins into his mouth, looking at Galamon with an incredulous pity.

#####

going with Vera?” Argrave asked,

confirmed. “You spared

Argrave demanded, stepping forth until Hegazar kept him back with one arm. “This makes no sense. What we’ve done, where we are—you want

initial surprise of Anneliese coming to join with her. Now, her face was stone cold and apathetic, and she waited for Anneliese’s

isn’t important, now…” Hegazar cut in, pushing

want to know,” Argrave

Anneliese said plainly. “You keep doing things that endanger everyone, no matter how

I see that. And I hear you—you’ve made your message very, very clear. But let’s… things can’t end like this. I’ll

hear, but you never listen,” Anneliese shook her head. “Can you change? You said your eyes would change back, too, but they remain as they

change takes time,” he insisted, starting to feel it a little. “Anneliese. Come on. What are

thought it might break you. That I can say it now without fear… you have no idea how therapeutic this is. I have to thank you and Magister Vera for this opportunity.” She took a deep breath. “The engagement, the blood magic in the wetlands, or your constant obsession with gaining power… even this thing happening right now. You consult me for only half of what you do, and actually take that advice half again. You charge headlong towards

bothering her—just as Anneliese said, she’d never expressed any of it. He briefly tried to temper her words

told himself, stoking his

mix of indignance and hurt, Argrave remained silent. He was

Galamon said coldly. “Have you forgotten who

I tire of hearing you preach of Veid and will be glad to be free of

the crook of his arm. “You might throw

He jerked to the side, and then collapsed to the ground in a fountain of blood. Cursing in surprise at the amount of blood, Argrave ran up to Galamon and conjured a B-rank ward with his ring. Hegazar

said in panic.

sputtered, holding his hand to his neck. Argrave held his hand, casting a healing spell for show. Though such spells did work

leaned in close, whispering, “Thanks for

might have been spite, and he flinched away. “Flask…

and handed it to Galamon covertly, blocking

Galamon’s neck. It was too

Galamon confirmed. “Damn you. Damn her. What foul

was perplexed, but he quickly lowered himself to support the elven vampire. “Here, let me help you up. Act all

much of his weight on Argrave. The Veidimen was ridiculously heavy, and Argrave struggled to help him rise.

took his head off, Anneliese!” Argrave shouted at

Hegazar shouted above him. “I’ll clean up your mess. Get

was amply convinced but had to keep acting his part. He took Galamon off to the side, hauling the great giant of an elf with every bit of strength he had. Once there, he watched Vera and Anneliese like they