Jackal Among Snakes

“It’s a wonder you three fit at all,” Durran noted as they rolled down the road in a tightly packed and humble carriage.

Moonlight made its way through the thin decrepit cloth that covered the top of the carriage, illuminating a group crammed left-to-right on one side: Galamon, Argrave, and Anneliese respectively. Argrave was awkwardly holding his shoulder up so it was not jammed against Galamon’s plate armor, while Anneliese contentedly peered out at the city, comfortably nestled against an accommodating Argrave.

Opposite them was Durran and Elenore. Elenore wore a hood and a completely black mask to disguise herself. The bronze jewelry she wore didn’t need exposure to work—it could see through walls, even. As if taunting them, Durran put one of his legs up. There was ample room on his side. Argrave didn’t care one whit if Durran put his feet anywhere—after his talk with Elenore, she returned with a change of heart. That meritorious feat would not soon be forgotten.

“Better than driving,” said Galamon.

Argrave chucked quietly, briefly reminded of the days back when they travelled and fought with the Lily Lurkers. “That week was something. Remember running from that horde of the bugs?”

“No,” Elenore turned her head. “I don’t remember.”

“What, you don’t want to hear me reminisce?” Argrave’s smile was undampened. “Sourpuss,” he called her.

“I’m—” Elenore began fiercely but paused and took a deep breath. When she spoke next, her tone was businesslike once again. “Since you’ve been proven right already, can you at least tell me what we’ll find down here?”

“Vasquer,” Argrave told her plainly once again, then winced when the carriage bounced and Galamon’s pauldron dug into his shoulder. He was not especially worried about how this meeting might go—Nikoletta could converse with Vasquer, so he had some experience about this matter to rely on. Things might go differently… but the giant snake was not dangerous.

Argrave saw Elenore was annoyed by his simple answer, so he smiled and continued, “Don’t worry, things aren’t dangerous. No traps. I imagine Ruleo has been thorough in his cleansing—he always is. I think some of the older members of the vampiric coven will still be alive deeper in, but they’ll never leave their little sanctuaries. They have defensive measures in an old catacomb—poison. Your men will be stopped there, I guarantee it. I have something in mind for that.”

Elenore gestured towards him. “And what of Ruleo, your history with him?”

Argrave shrugged. “Has to be resolved someday. Put a stop to any conflict.”

“You essentially murdered his father,” Elenore said dryly.

Argrave scratched his chin. He always hated hearing about his old self. “I did,” he agreed.

“You want to stop any conflict? Stop his heart,” Elenore suggested to him.

way,” Argrave

murdered his father. And these rumors of

dead because he tried to solve all of his problems by domination or destruction. He was cancer growing on the world.” Argrave turned his head to

forward. Maybe it was only Argrave’s imagination, but he thought she was observing him, judging him… maybe

kept away. I’ll send him to the palace to observe things up there before we enter,” Elenore concluded. “I think my answers come before this potential resolution. I

#####

arrived at a place at the foot of the mountain leading up to the Dragon Palace. The mountain wall was steep here, forming a natural barrier from the higher reaches of the mountains. The mountain was not

lead the princess down to Rancor’s conquered territory, she relied on Argrave to give her an escort to disguise the effects of the new jewelry that she had received. The princess seemed insistent to keep her partially recovered sense a secret for the time being—Argrave thought it reasonable, being that he had done much the same thing in the past. Keeping her cards close at hand even with her own loyal servants proved she was taking Argrave’s advice

gentleman’s club on the outside—as they walked through, Argrave saw it had all manner of high-class drinks, plenty of books for the average high-class aristocrat of the capital to read, and ample lounge space for all to socialize. An enchanted glass display meant to keep high-class liquor secure

his nose behind

for the commentary,” Argrave told Galamon, hoping that Elenore wouldn’t ask too many questions

that this place had some strange effect on Galamon just as the area housing the vampire coven below Nodremaid had: his tongue was looser than normal. Galamon nodded, catching Argrave’s point, and

a bit, but he only remained arm up and available. She didn’t like

gentleman’s club, this place was much the same: a gathering spot for well-to-do vampires with pompous attitudes harboring a desire for close relations with similarly well-to-do vampires. Instead of high-class

Argrave was glad he

seemed mentally unstable, having been used as veritable drinking taps for

arm was a bit firmer—a subconscious reaction, perhaps, though of anger or unease he could not say. She would likely try and find a use for the people who were still sane. Elenore might ransom them back to their families, put others to work. The rest… Argrave could not say. Could they even rejoin

rooms were littered with corpses, each and all badly mutilated. Vampires did not die easily, and their corpses reflected that. Having

Elenore whispered

his

she said. “And

on a crate. Fortunately, this room was only a storage room of some kind. Argrave wondered what this was about… until he saw her

spymaster Argrave had in his head. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. He wanted to say something to

Argrave could act, Durran strode up and crouched before her as she held her stomach. He stared

Elenore broke the

can see that,”

she excused. Argrave thought she said it naturally enough it wasn’t a lie, but Anneliese tapped his foot with