Jackal Among Snakes

Elenore saw nothing at all, as she ever did.

Yet she could hear them. Multiple strangers, emerging from one of the secret passages she had installed to facilitate her agent’s activities. It felt like her sanctuary had been violated—not the greenhouse, but her existence as the Bat. Though she always felt disconcerted by Argrave’s unpredictable activities, she was confident it would be a long, long time before she ever spoke to him face-to-face, if at all.

Elenore did not know why he had come here. Perhaps Induen had told him something. All of her servants would be away for a long while. She might call for help, yet none would hear her most likely—even if they did, it would only seal her fate. But then… if Argrave intended to kill her, that would already be done.

Still, she knew she could not wait passively.

“My servants will be by soon,” she lied at once. “If you wish to speak, you might take me to a more private location.”

“That seems—” Argrave began, and Elenore thought he was agreeing. She heard something—a scrape of leather, what she presumed to be a boot tapped against a boot, and Argrave grew quiet. “No, let’s stay here. I’ll take my chances,” he said, leaving no room for argument.

Someone here knows I lie, and they told him. A traitor? Elenore thought of all near her, listening to the way they breathed, walked, for any hint it might be someone close to her. If it is a traitor, it is no wonder this is so well-timed.

Someone moved a little closer, and Elenore resisted the urge to tense. Argrave continued, “Well, I think introductions are in order. I’m here with Galamon. He’s a snow elf. There’s Durran—he’s a tribal from the south, the Burnt Desert. And then there’s Anneliese, my fiancée. Maybe you knew all this, but…”

What he said matched with what Elenore knew, but she couldn’t place why he was saying this. Maybe he was lying to disguise who was truly here… but his tone didn’t betray dishonesty. But then, all her reports placed him as someone who was skilled at manipulation. She couldn’t say for sure.

All of the people that Argrave introduced greeted her—a deep, guttural voice from a man, a calm and smooth woman’s voice, and a somewhat deep voice from another man. She didn’t recognize any of them.

“May I sit?” Argrave asked.

Elenore stayed silent for a few moments, then decided to probe his temperament with a minutely combative statement. “Would it matter if I said no?”

“Well, I would have to stay standing. My legs might get tired,” Argrave returned. “I suppose that isn’t the end of the world.”

His levity frustrated Elenore. She couldn’t glean any of his intentions. But… given all of his actions, she could assume that he wasn’t here for a wholly negative purpose, such as vengeance for spurring conflict between him and Induen.

“You may sit,” Elenore agreed, seeing no merit to refusing.

against the stone, and then the brief movement of the

to know—she wished to learn of how he’d found that entrance, primarily—but it was the question she thought would yield the most

shift ahead of her, remaining silent. He did not hasten to speak—it showed experience in conversation, she thought. Eventually, he said, “I brought a gift for you. Galamon, could you please…?” She heard something heavy collapse to the ground—by the jingling, a bag or

moments of metal jingling, Elenore’s discomfort rose.

s—” he stopped guiltily. ‘See,’ he had meant to say, Elenore knew. “Well, it’s jewelry. Experimental enchanted jewelry. I… well, I can’t fully describe what it does. This piece… thanks, Galamon…” she heard the light clinking of metal as something was passed to him. “This piece is a… sort of a bronze claw ring, covers the whole finger. A bit ungainly, I suppose… may

it some foul implement? He had called it ‘ungainly.’ Or was it genuinely

hold it,” she requested after an

he said, and then

with a point at the end. From the feel and hardness of it, she judged it to be bronze as he said. It had some carvings on the

she slid the ring over her finger. Once

Pale beige. Her hand.

sense of the space around her far enhanced beyond what it usually was. She lowered

painted bright pink.

could perceive the pink like she

you okay?” Argrave asked. “Maybe you ought to take

on herself. She was breathing quickly and sweating. Yet even still, this sensation pulled at her. It was like a

a book. On the table, over there.

Argrave move. Now, she was more aware of him—she had an image of someone leaning forth, stretching their arm out. “Here it

like everything would blow away if

of collecting taxes to agencies. These agencies had tremendous influence in the past, often abusing the power vested in them by the lord to extort subjects

longer did she have to rely on another for everything. Her world was no longer one consisting of trusting another. She felt a strong pull at her throat. It had been such a long time since she felt this feeling… parts of it were missing, of course. The

anyone see her emote. Being overcome was the reason she had become as she was. It was the reason this

out clearly. She acted as though she was

you giving this to me?” her voice came

chin. “That’s only one piece of a set. The rest of it will augment

I don’t?” Despite his protests, the man quickly placed some things on the table. When his hand moved by hers, she

whispered, then scolded herself. She was rattled. She hated feeling

“Huh. Guess the ring does work. Strange place to see from, but if

Durran,”