Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave and Galamon emerged from the thinning beige smoke. Judging by the reactions they received by Elenore’s gathered men, they struck quite a harrowing pair. He saw Elenore beside his companions—the princess crossed her arms in uncertainty, for she could not perceive things a long distance away. Argrave walked confidently forward.

“Mages! Gather,” Argrave commanded. “The pump of poison in the air has stopped. The vampires are preparing for our assault—we dispel the smoke, then press through to put a stake in the chest of these foul bloodsuckers before they can prepare!”

Elenore had already given Argrave significant authority, and his words themselves had a commanding atmosphere. Her people rushed to obey, the mages taking the head of the pack to dispel the smoke. Argrave stepped up to Elenore.

“Things went well,” Argrave told her, watching the mages as they worked. “I’ll take the helm for the second assault. They’ve grouped up—perfect for me.”

Elenore studied him, evidently unsettled. “You… encountered trouble?”

“Not enough,” Argrave commented. “Anneliese, Durran. You’re ready, I trust?”

Durran hefted his glaive. “Naturally.”

Anneliese did not answer, but instead came to his side to tend to the wounds he’d left untreated wordlessly. Argrave smiled at her.

“Perhaps you should hang back, let me handle things from here,” Elenore suggested.

“You’ve done enough. Barely let me participate last battle. Besides, they have spellcasters in their number. I still have something to show you,” Argrave grinned broadly.

Anneliese gave him a sideward glance for his words but did not protest.

“The smoke clears!” one of Elenore’s men shouted.

Spurred to action, Argrave turned on his heels. “Won’t be long, now. I’m looking forward to getting to brass tacks when we come back,” Argrave left her, then ran speedily to take the vanguard as he’d promised.

“Galamon—give Durran the axe. Durran—here,” Argrave removed his glove and his ring, then gave the thing to him. “You cast wards to defend. I imagine they’ll try something they already have—holding a chokepoint, like a corridor. I’ll break past, but I need you to defend me.”

“…right,” Durran acknowledged, then turned to Elenore. “Hey. Keep this safe, will you? I appreciate it,” he thanked before her answer, then tossed his glaive towards her.

“That’s—!" she shouted, alarmed, yet caught the glaive all the same. “That was dangerous!” she admonished him.

“Hey, come on. Look after it well and you’ll go from me being okay with you to me liking you. Big step up!” Durran laughed.

“I hope you…!” Elenore began to curse him but deflated in half a second. “Treat this task seriously, lest you perish.”

Durran waved her goodbye, and then with his new equipment, advanced alongside them.

simple—cleaning duty. Now, I know

he was tempting fate with such arrogance. Argrave knew people, though. A confident, arrogant leader who’d already proven himself in battle was a great boost for morale. They’d seen him emerge from a poison waste covered in gore—if that was not a proven fighter, what

dispel it. Despite that, all the warriors bore cloth wraps over their face for added protection. For a long while,

They lead us to where

were gathered ahead. Argrave triggered his Blessing of Supersession and began creating [Electric Eels]. Galamon held his Giantkillers at the ready, prepared to protect from errant lightning cast by distant spellcasters. At first, he

passed by where Argrave and Galamon had halted their initial assault and entered a long and wide corridor lined with stone sarcophagi. Lightning attack spells bridged the gap almost at once, yet Galamon caught them with the blue lightning rod daggers in his hand. Long passages were the best place to restrict large group of foes, and their foes intended to hold this spot so as

soon enough—spells of other elements came, coupled with blood magic. Anneliese and

here,” Argrave commanded the men behind him. “Wait

steadily into the constant barrage, dispelling and conjuring wards in short bursts of movements. He kept the eels at their back, and they illuminated all ahead with light blue light. He was sure the spectacle would appear as though they were standing in front of the sun—to dark-accustomed vampires,

Argrave held his hand out, and two thick strands of blood took the shape of a recurve bow. It

their number… but given the price of failure,

magic wisdom didn’t account

it would be able to shatter any defense the foe might form, A-rank or no, he spurred the electric eels at his back past him. They swarmed like a beam of unimaginable power, hissing

allowing passage for the [Electric Eels] to kill en masse. Confident in this theory, Argrave started to walk forward before the scene had settled, using what little time remained in the Blessing of Supersession to spawn more electric eels

the walls and the ceiling from the attack of eels. Most of what remained of the enemy could only be described as charred corpses. A great gash of overturned stone lined the floor and wall, until his arrow of blood hit a stop and dug ten feet through. What few living dead remained were in no condition to mount a serious defense, and even the unharmed fled in a

and

in the corridor and had paid the price. Elenore’s men could handle what few remained. If they couldn’t… well, even now, near a hundred eels swirled above Argrave’s head, and Anneliese and Durran were unspent. He

#####

Argrave said, looking around. He knelt down, examining the lock to the vault before them. “Doesn’t look like part

it. He was sure that Ruleo would be able to handle something like this… but that would

where he is, sir, but things have nearly finished

rose back up to his feet. “The two of you—go looking for him. Stick to areas that’ve already been cleared, and be careful,” he

his companions once again. Looking around, one could see the bodies of vampires everywhere. Elenore’s men were quite skilled. He would have to ask her how she assembled so many talented and reliable people. She had never elaborated on that in ‘Heroes of Berendar.’ He supposed there

can feel it,” Galamon said

to him.

mind.” Galamon rubbed his breastplate of dark gray steel. “At… the

looked around to be sure none were listening. “Well, now’s not

white eyes refocused, as though he had been drawn from a haze. He shook his head and slapped himself

he finally

the vault. Not much time passed before the two he’d directed to find this locksmith returned. They were out of breath, obviously

“You’re Jerard?” Argrave asked.

sir,” the

Argrave crossed

“I do, sir.”