Jackal Among Snakes

“I’m thinking you and I work for the same person,” Ruleo waved his hand between the two of them, keeping his eyes far off the black bag that was his target. “Let’s just take it easy.”

Durran laughed. “I highly doubt that. But since you think so, why don’t you spill your guts to me? Who do we work for, mister colleague?”

“The Bat,” Ruleo held his hands steady.

Durran studied him, running that through his head. Had Elenore sent this man to watch him? Something about it sounded wrong. He’d spoken to her guards as he left—they’d seemed more cooperative than suspicious, and he’d told them precisely what he intended to do. And besides… this man would know Durran worked for Argrave, not Elenore. Elsewise, why would he be watching him?

“How about we go to her together, then?” Durran planted his glaive on the ground. “We can sort out this misunderstanding, ease my suspicions. Might save your life.”

On the other side of the confrontation…

Ruleo felt he was getting a handle on things. What were his options? Try and escape, for one. He felt he could. He had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Or two… he could play along with this tribal, return to Elenore, confess his sins. Ideally, his necromantic creation would do its duty, steal the paper with the magic signature. But if Ruleo’s hunch was right, and this was something big she was keeping secret… Elenore might not let him walk away unscathed. She might not let him walk away at all.

Playing along is too dangerous, Ruleo concluded. You made a mess of things. Cut your losses. Get away.

“Let’s go together, then,” Ruleo nodded, lowering his hands to his side.

“Really? Well… not what I was expecting,” the tribal seemed surprised. “Let’s—”

Ruleo thrust his hand into his pocket and threw out powder. At once, Durran raised his hand and cast a spell of wind. Before the two could meet, Ruleo cast a spell of his own—a simple E-rank ignition spell. The powders roared to life, exploding into loud yet largely ineffectual sparks that scattered from the wind spell. It was only a distraction. Ruleo circled around, rearing his arm back for a punch. Durran was, as Ruleo had expected, prepared for that.

The tribal blocked the punch with the shaft of his glaive and a deafening ring echoed out. Durran quickly kicked at Ruleo’s gut, and the two disentangled. The tribal cast a spell at Ruleo as he retreated. A wolf of fire roared out, and Ruleo felt he had ample time to get away.

The black glaive cut through the spell, though, and the spell wreathed around the blade unnaturally. The flames carried with the swing of the glaive far beyond where they typically might, and Ruleo desperately shielded with his gauntlets. The fire whipped at his face, and he heard his skin sizzle.

Pushing past the pain of the burn, Ruleo covertly tossed a hook attached to a very thin line at the closed bag the tribal had been carrying.

“Quite some gauntlets you got,” Durran looked at the dent in his glaive’s shaft from it had been struck earlier.

healed the burn on his face. “I’ll tell them you tried to steal my bag. They’ll believe me over you—I might look like a thug, but you’re from

Durran

pulled tight on the string with the hook. It caught on the bag, opening it up and causing the contents to explode out. Durran was caught off-guard, but

but one reached out and caught his wrist. The other coordinated well, seizing Ruleo beneath the shoulder in a way that immobilized his arm. He felt cold steel at his throat and craned his neck

word,” one of the men said, laxing the tightness of the blade. “Let’s

paper. He gritted his teeth and stared at his captors as they helped him to his feet. Behind, the tribal walked up

call me a coward if you will, but the moment I saw you, I sent a signal to these lovely gentlemen just as they asked me to,” Durran retrieved the paper with the magic signature and held it

#####

of personal possessions. She was not in her greenhouse—rather, she was at another private location. Though bound, Ruleo was still a mage, so spellcasters she trusted were nearby in case he tried something. Additionally,

for traitors, and Ruleo was one of the first suspects that came to mind. He had no genuine loyalty to her beyond the fact that she offered him significant wealth at times. Indeed, he probably bore some dislike towards most of Vasquer given what had been done to him. She supposed she couldn't deem this a true betrayal

to looking into Rancor,” Elenore began, leaning forward somewhat until her eyeless sockets loomed over the

already got all the details about Rancor you need. I

her arms. “We’ve been working profitably and consistently for a few months, now. I valued you enough to reveal my identity. So…

my suspicions for long-term moves you might be enacting after Induen’s death. Mostly just a hunch, something to occupy my time. I overestimated myself… or maybe underestimated you. Either way, I’m only sorry

it difficult to continue a relationship in which there is little

sat up straighter, paying attention. Her hearing was better than most, having been

her head to him

a crime?” he said, undeterred. He waved a bag in his hands. “Hey. Told you we’d meet again. You gave me quite a bit of heartache. Broke my bag. You have no idea how difficult it is to haul things about in

Ruleo said,

Can’t be too bad if you’re

decide?” Elenore asked Durran, cutting into their conversation. She had no time to waste on banter.

pointed at Ruleo, bound on

her mouth. She had deliberately told her people not to disclose Ruleo’s name to Argrave, doubly to preserve the man’s life and to answer a question she had. Elenore had gotten her answer; Argrave knew Ruleo, meaning he did recognize him by Durran’s description alone. Had he been

answered unaffectedly, likely

Leader man wants you to live.

observed Durran, using her newfound perception to scan his body. She did not see the wisdom behind Argrave’s decision, at least practically speaking. Though she preferred to make no enemies, disagreements like the one between Argrave and Ruleo were

up Durran. “So, you’re the ones spurring the