Jackal Among Snakes

It was early morning. Durran stood near a large bush covered in black flowers. Though he noticed the blooms, his interest seemed to be focused on how they grew and how they were planted above anything else. He toyed with the leaves, almost testing them. He was so absorbed in the task that he could not hear someone moving towards him.

“Durran, yes?” Elenore asked, her chair coming to halt.

He jumped slightly, but then rose up to his feet. “Yeah, that’s me. Just enjoying the… the fragrance of this place. Never been anywhere like here, before. It’s a bit sparse in terms of flora where I lived, not sure if you know…”

“I see,” Elenore nodded. She was much more decorated than she had been yesterday, having donned much of the bronze jewelry Argrave had brought her—necklaces, bracelets, earrings, even more of the ungainly claw rings. “The Burnt Desert. A long way from home. A long way to travel,” she said, a question hidden on her tone.

Durran stared at her empty sockets for a long while. “It is. He’s not paying me, either. I’m either quite the sucker… or Argrave’s maybe got something special to him.” Durran laughed quietly. “Gods, even that silent giant Galamon got paid. At least Anneliese is getting some nightly… well, let’s not get graphic.”

Elenore exhaled from her nose—not quite a laugh, but near it. “I noticed you don’t like to do that.”

“What’s that mean?” Durran scratched the back of his head.

“You refrain from talking about what you see near me,” Elenore continued.

Durran shifted on his feet. “Well… it’s a bit distasteful, I think. Hey, I can see all this cool stuff! Wow, it’s so beautiful!” Durran waved his hands about. “Like I was telling Argrave, I think that was the point of this place. Every time someone visits you, they talk about this place’s beauty. Like a constant reminder of what you’re missing.”

“Maybe,” Elenore nodded.

“Your dad’s a real sack of shit,” Durran looked up to the glass above.

Elenore tilted her head but did not disagree. “Why would you think I would not like to hear I am surrounded by beauty?”

Durran stared at her face. “Surrounded by it, huh?” He laughed and scratched his chin. “Well… suppose it doesn’t matter anymore. You can see things again, if I’m understanding Argrave right.”

“I can perceive things, especially if I touch them,” Elenore said. “But… yes, I have a rough awareness of the space around me, now. If I had my prosthetics, I suspect I could walk without bumping into anything. But they hurt if I wear them too long. I don’t wear them often.”

Durran put his hand on his armor’s belt, staring at her missing feet with consideration. “You know… Argrave’s said he’s going to help me regrow my fingers.”

Silence reigned for a moment, and then she asked, “Do you believe him?”

of an information network. You tell me,” Durran pointed to her with his hand missing three fingers. “You’ve heard of what he’s done. You know what he’s capable of. I get some skepticism, but… good gods, we’ve got a silver platter and you’re still testing the meal for poison. Argrave

difficult to trust when someone I thought loved me sawed my feet off. He stared me in the face as he gouged out my eyes so that his visage

knew a guy that had no arms or legs. Had to be carried everywhere. His son did that to him,” Durran emphasized the last part in comparison. “He started off just like you—skeptical

silent. Durran didn’t have Anneliese’s ability, but he thought she was a bit stunned. Eventually, she pursed her lips and said, “Every conversation I share, I am the weaker party. I am always the lesser, and the lesser is

have done it. All you had starting off was a few servants loyal to your father first, and your word. Shoddy tools for building anything… but you’ve built an empire.

with more inflection that it usually had. She turned her head off to the side. “It seems I share too much. Argrave gave good advice to sleep tonight, and it

yourself unforgiven. Own who you are.

head still facing off to

should get back. You want

wish,” she answered

laughed. “Do I want to help you? No. You have to want it. That’s another lesson I learned, at a little place called Sethia.” Durran laughed again and shook his head. “I’ll leave you be. Get some rest, if you

pace. Elenore remained in place, listening to him leave. After a while, she let out another light laugh through

#####

group called the Rancor?” Argrave questioned Elenore, feeling rejuvenated

The place was just a large undecorated bed and table in a veritable gardener’s shed. Elenore had foregone the presence of servants, perhaps to better hide Argrave’s presence. Galamon stood at the

hair but matched well with the green she usually donned. “We have some ties. They’re smugglers, mostly, but a general criminal syndicate here in the capital. Why? Are they the source of this traitor

to examine it. Argrave followed Anneliese with his gaze as he answered Elenore, “Not likely, no. Maybe I’d best pass on the message directly. ‘The Bat cannot hear everything, especially not that hiding in its own fur,’” Argrave repeated

her, Anneliese fiddled with

can think of it like that,” Argrave nodded, furrowing his brows as he watched Anneliese. “Be careful. I know you’re good at what you do, but working with scummy people

Anneliese

Argrave smiled. “Anne…”

me,” she set it down. “It just

morning, and both felt things were going well. At the very least, they were going according to plan. Even still, she usually did not lose herself

visits from non-essential personnel, have

him, puzzled, but

Rancor,” Argrave brought the topic back to the matter at hand. “Noticed any

shook her head. “I don’t think

think you’ll