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?”

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 is being honest with you—this is

when someone I thought loved me sawed my

in comparison. “He started off just like you—skeptical of everything, everyone.” Durran shook his head. “Key phrase

pursed her lips and said, “Every conversation I share, I am the weaker party.

think anyone else could have done it. All you had starting off was a few servants loyal

Elenore began, her voice 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 seems I

yourself unforgiven. Own who you

her head still facing off to the

should get back. You want me to

wish,” she

another lesson I learned, at a little place called Sethia.” Durran laughed again and shook

away in a brisk pace. Elenore remained in place, listening to him leave. After a while,

#####

the Rancor?” Argrave questioned Elenore, feeling rejuvenated

the main courtyard, they were in Elenore’s room sitting around a table. The place was just a large undecorated bed and table in a veritable gardener’s shed. Elenore had foregone

of the bronze pieces that Argrave had gave her. The bronze clashed with her obsidian hair but matched well with the green

on a stand in the corner of the room and stood from her seat, moving to examine it. Argrave followed Anneliese with his gaze as he answered Elenore,

noted. Behind her, Anneliese fiddled with a white

Anneliese. “Be careful. I know you’re good at what you do, but working with scummy people tends to be challenging,” Argrave said,

tea,” Anneliese said

Argrave smiled. “Anne…”

set it down. “It just drew

her uncharacteristic absent-mindedness. They had discussed the meeting with Elenore in great detail this 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 to fancy as she had in months prior. This was the first

clinking about. “I’ll limit visits from non-essential personnel, have people watch key entrances,” she decided.

Argrave looked at him, puzzled, but saw Elenore smile faintly and decided to drop

of Rancor,” Argrave brought the topic back to the matter

shook her head.

think