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

am,” Anneliese confirmed. “You

one arm. “This makes no sense. What we’ve done, where we are—you want to part ways

from the initial surprise of Anneliese coming to join with her. Now, her face was stone cold and apathetic, and she waited for Anneliese’s answer as much as Argrave seemed to

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

I want to

everyone, no matter how much

true thoughts weren’t that bad of yet. “Alright. 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 change,” he

head. “Can you change? You said your

it a little. “Anneliese. Come

arms. “I never expressed any of this because I 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

things were bothering her—just as Anneliese said, she’d never expressed any of it. He briefly tried to temper her words with the knowledge she was just being considerate, before remembering he was forgetting

that, Argrave told himself, stoking his own flame. What

mix of indignance and hurt, Argrave remained silent. He was glad when Galamon stepped forward, removing his

made a vow before Veid,” Galamon said coldly. “Have you forgotten

back. I tire of hearing you preach of Veid and will

his arm. “You might throw away your soul, but I

held her arm up and cast a spell in one swift motion. A spear of ice hurtled towards Galamon’s head. He jerked to the side, and then collapsed to the ground in a fountain of blood.

said in

for show. Though such spells did work on the elven vampire, they

in close, whispering, “Thanks for this. Really, thank you.

Argrave in what might have been spite, and he flinched away. “Flask… idiot,”

it and handed it to Galamon covertly,

watching Galamon’s neck. It was too covered in blood to

confirmed. “Damn you. Damn her.

perplexed, but he quickly lowered himself to support the elven

grunted, leaving much of his weight on Argrave. The Veidimen was ridiculously heavy, and Argrave struggled to help him rise. Once he had, he dispelled the

took his head off, Anneliese!” Argrave shouted

quiet, Kinslayer!” Hegazar shouted above him. “I’ll clean up your mess. Get behind

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