Jackal Among Snakes

Orion laid his gaze upon towering gray walls. He was no stranger to such sights—be they in Mateth or in Dirracha, he had seen walls standing near hundreds of feet tall, enclosing all that within and protecting it in the same turn. But this was not Vasquer, and yet these gray walls stood like giants in this endless black desert, nestled at the bottom of a crater. He had always been proud of his people’s feats. He did not expect to see their equal in this unforgiving, if beautiful, desert.

The prince stepped closer. Orion had gone south, south, and south again, running into village and town and city in equal turns. All rejected him, yet at all stops he received yet more tales of this land of Sethia—a place that was free of the burden of the leadership of the Vessels of Fellhorn. All was as Durran described, even the great curtain walls before him.

When he neared, he spotted a caravan of a strange people lingering outside the gate. The gate guards, though nearby, did not seem to bristle at these people’s presence. Their skin was as black as night, their ears were half the side of their head, their height was greater than that of man, and their guardsmen had a familiar looking weapon in hand. They wore strange and luxurious silken clothing.

Orion walked to them with slow, heavy steps, an innocent curiosity driving him forward. As he neared, their heads turned towards him, watching, waiting. They prepared themselves for anything, yet as he neared, one broke off.

“Argrave?” one asked, half in disbelief.

Orion paused, standing before the southron elves of the Burnt Desert.

#####

“Your brother was a savior to us all,” said Corentin. He was a one-legged, one-eyed veteran, and he kindly handed the prince a cup billowing steam.

Orion accepted the cup from the southron elf, turning towards the fire. They encamped within a small, secluded alcove on the edge of the city Sethia.

“Why do we camp away from the city?” Orion questioned. “Are your people barred from entering?”

“No,” Corentin answered, walking with a limp on account of his missing leg. He used his glaive like a walking stick as he moved around the various others sitting around the fire. “No, we can enter. But all that most know of Argrave is that he was black-haired and gray-eyed. You might be mistaken for him.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Orion looked down at the cup, taking a drink. It was a tea of some sort—a strong, fruity flavor that left a strange tingling on his tongue.

Corentin paused his walk. He ground the bottom of his glaive against the sand, then tossed it aside, awkwardly moving to sit. He splayed his iron peg leg out before him, sighing as he sat.

“Argrave saved the city. But a lot of people were too blind to see it. Misled by someone named Titus,” Corentin shook his head. “But… even still, it all turned out alright in the end.”

of this land—that’s what I

Lord of

names came at him at once. “And these people—they were tyrants? They

absolutely. Beyond that, they kept slaves, breeding them for desirable appearances.” A nearby southron elf handed the old warrior a cup of his own tea, and he drank from it. “But all that’s done now. The slaves to Copper and Silver rejoined the humans

was wrong—this he had been taught by the gods. And

get involved here?” Orion

Lord of Silver,” Corentin said

cup. “So

us all killed, remained safe by siding with the Lord of Copper. But he infiltrated that man’s tower, subverted him, and liberated this city. Now… you see it prosper. There were three giant towers of precious metal there months

somewhat contented by this answer. “But why… why might Argrave be unwelcome, if he truly did all of

“It… he framed Argrave and Durran. It was a complicated situation,” the southron elf shook his head. “I cannot bring myself to hate the man, though. Titus treats us elves fairly, promotes our interests in turn

Why did

when it happened. But… there’s another I know, one who’s been in contact with us. He knew Titus quite well, from what I understand. The man wears the mask of

#####

Atrus had entered Relize, after a brief discussion with Elenore and Anneliese he decided it would be best for them to remain within the Dandalan estate. After all, even despite the presence of potentially hostile foes, their goal did not change—winning

story to convene with his ridiculously large family, escorted by the diligent Ansgar. Elenore, meanwhile, sent off Melanie to gather information. Undoubtedly her agents were paying attention, and even if they weren’t, the arrival of such a delegate could not avoid attention. The Dandalans were not opposed to allowing Melanie’s reentry—it was a good sign. Still, Argrave felt sorry for the servants who would have to move aside those two

is not

It was a comfortable longue room with little in the way of decoration, but much in the way of comfort. Argrave sunk back into one of

think you’re wrong,” Elenore shook

Levin’s side? I missed the memo,” he spread his arms out. “I think a kingdom has more to offer than we do, balkanized state or no. If Levin is here to

admitted. “But… if Levin does genuinely intend to remain neutral and renegotiate peace with the victor… we might find that out now.

he was someone to be despised. Even still… much the same could be said of Elenore. She had done

someone like Induen…

Elenore on this,” Anneliese

The elven woman had a bitter but resigned look to

Argrave said slowly, “Alright. If I’m in the minority…” he left his accession unspoken. “Still, I’m not sure how you intend to get words to these delegates. Even if you do, Levin might not even