Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave once again felt the familiar sensation of being trapped within something that was in motion. It had been a long while since he last had the experience—the movement of the living fortress was so smooth it could be likened to travelling on a train or a car.

Hegazar, Anneliese, Argrave, and Durran held their hands to the fleshy apparatus in the back of the room, siphoning their magic into the vast fortress. It had been given a series of commands sequentially and burrowed through the earth efficiently. Argrave had done this quest enough to remember the commands, fortunately—Elenore was the one to give the quest to the player, funnily enough. It felt like much of the tension had been dissolved, yet the budding nervousness of his eventual meeting with Princess Elenore was replacing it by the second.

The rumbling sensation of movement beneath their feet ended, and Argrave felt the pull of his magic end. Hegazar was the first to retract his hand.

“Looks like we made it,” Argrave said, shaking his hand off. He didn’t like the sensation of touching that thing at all. “It seems this was a worthwhile endeavor for all.”

“I wonder what Vera must be thinking,” the Magister mused, reaching down. He pulled free the ear key, holding it close to his person. “Well, it’s no matter. Time is of the essence. Collect all that I promised you, and let’s be off.”

“What will you do to her?” Anneliese questioned.

Hegazar put the ear key into the slot closer to the door and stopped, turning his head back to Anneliese.

“What business is it of yours?” He questioned, tone passive.

Anneliese shrugged and walked forwards. “I am merely curious.”

“She has many friends. I am not sure what I will do,” Hegazar shook his head. “It requires deliberation.”

“I thought you’d kill her immediately,” Durran looked impressed.

“Told you I wouldn’t already,” Hegazar shook his head. “Violence is for savages. I can get more from her alive than dead. I just need to decide what state I’d like her alive in. A captive? Who knows…” he let out a long, almost sad sigh. “She had opportunities to kill me in the past, too. She didn’t take them. Always wondered why…”

As Argrave pondered what the Magister was getting at, he spoke the key phrase for the door and it slid open. He walked out with a confident step.

#####

Their group had hauled out a great many things from the depths of the vaults, and all of it resided in the heart chamber. It was a great mound of enchanted items of varying value. Though Argrave would have been satisfied with the set of bronze jewelry he came here to get, he definitely would not protest to acquiring more valuable enchanting items. He’d have a very adept broker to sell them off to in short order, too. That, plus the other loot they’d acquired from the Archduke’s palace or Induen’s retinue.

Galamon offloaded what few books and such he held to Argrave, Anneliese, and Durran, and then stuffed everything within rather ungracefully. The more delicate stuff was wrapped, but altogether his backpack became a misshapen mass of valuables and Order of the Rose books. He had a king’s ransom in his backpack. Altogether, an extremely profitable venture. It wasn’t a flawless trip, but it was the best Argrave could scrape together sandwiched between two S-rank mages.

living fortress just after that. Hegazar left with them. Once they reached the entrance, the stone

eroded stone caused by the still-active waterways, while the area above was brown stone that was nothing more than a ceiling to prevent the smell of the wastewater from reaching the city streets. The newer city had been built atop this place, with new sewers that better utilized waste for fertilizer. Considering this place was a natural stream originally, the years had mostly purged any smell or sign this had been a

living fortress offered more room to stretch than this place, though, and Argrave found himself ducking

follow the stream down. Exit won’t be far. It drains off into a lake. It’s a relatively secluded place—just a few fishing towns. Forest should

I’m leaving, then. This was… a more profitable trip than I thought it might be. You have potential. I suppose the two of you

simply, disregarding the petty

down into the lower portions of the sewer tunnel, moving quickly and steadily without

Durran sighed, setting his glaive firmly on the ground and

prelude, nothing more,” Argrave shook his head. “But I’ll

into the tunnel. She

Elenore is our top priority. Once

ground so that it echoed throughout the tunnel. “How scary is this sister of

doesn’t even have any guards. But I’m more worried about this than meeting Orion or Induen.” Argrave surveyed his party. “Excellent work, everyone. We’ll take a small break, then

moment. She got the message, and as the other two settled in, she walked towards

#####

their feet. The both of them sat just beside

to Argrave. “You will not fret that things did

know,” Argrave shook his head. “Ever since Induen died, things have felt less… apocryphal. I still feel rushed, stressed, but I think… I think I can do this. It’s starting to feel like I can do this. I’m still paranoid as all hell about what might go wrong, but it’s different,

glad,” Anneliese said

“Looks like my advice helped you out,” he finally said. “Certainly had

quietly and leaned against Argrave’s shoulder. “Yes,

jokingly. “Soon enough, you’ll do everything I can, and

not think I could,” she shook

decided to bring up the things that were truly sticking in

yes. They

putting one hand to her head. “I can see why he’s

at him better. “Everyone has something that annoys the other. The engagement caught me off balance, at first… and I still believe it is detrimental, practically speaking… but it gives me a lot of comfort. Above all… I know you well, and I trust you enough to respect the actions you take that we disagree on. We cannot be compared to Hegazar

at the rushing water for a long while, biting at his lip. “I

out a quiet grunt

Elenore,”