Jackal Among Snakes

“Feels like I can think again,” Argrave said loudly into the wind, one arm wrapped around Anneliese.

He hadn’t realized how much being stagnant in Relize had been weighing at him until he was gone. He hadn’t been doing anything too grandiose. His time had been spent giving his name to things, ordering that things get done in his name… but real, genuine progress? It was hard to come by. Certainly, this maneuver might damage his reputation somewhat… but Argrave was sure that would be overshadowed when they returned with an army of spellcasters under his command. Already, his mind worked quickly to pull himself up out of the situation.

“You elves enjoy the cold that much?” Vasilisa spoke to him suddenly, and Argrave turned his head. Whenever she came around, he felt an urge to be sure his white-haired wig was on properly and concealed his ears well, but he resisted it. It was secured with adhesive—it was fine, he reminded himself.

“Well…” Argrave looked to Anneliese. “What do you think, Sanora, Vulras?”

“We were made for it,” Galamon nodded quickly, showing no reaction to the alias.

Vasilisa stepped on the railing and looked over the sea as it passed on and on, an endless plain of tumultuous water that whipped up winds. Her blonde hair danced as she noted, “I should hope you travel the cold half as well. We’ll be on foot.” Her blue eyes fixed on them—she didn’t seem particularly happy, but then maybe that was her natural disposition. “What business have you with the flame of Quadreign? It’s for those beginning their journey on the path of magic… not midway through it,” her eyes lingered on Anneliese.

“I feel comprehending something borne of magic sufficiently grandiose may give insight into something I research,” Anneliese described succinctly.

“Do you even know what the flame does?” Vasilisa stared at her coldly.

“We know what your house used it for… and we know what it does,” Argrave answered for her. “The two are separate. It burns away the magic inside… but more than that, it burns away mental fatigue, stress, fear, and some insecurities. Physically, it improves fertility, fights disease, and generally improves health… for a time. These are the things your house used it for,” he shook his head.

Quadreign used the flame much like Argrave used the Blessing of Supersession—in repaying his magic debt, he drained the magic within himself quickly. Continued depletion and replenishment was pivotal to growing one’s magic supply—that, coupled with his black blood, was why Argrave had been advancing so quickly.

House Quadreign used the flame on their family and their loyal vassals’ families since birth. In essence, by the time they reached adulthood, they had already been performing highly efficient training as spellcasters for nearly two decades. Those that they favored became magical juggernauts, while those that they didn’t had to struggle just as all the rest. Like this, Quadreign secured hegemony over the region.

“But that’s not the sum of what it is. You called it… the Flame of the Tenebrous Star?” Anneliese looked to Argrave, and he nodded in confirmation.

foot off the railing and crossed her arm. “Then,

We have our contract. If you’d

the two of them. “So be it,” she decided levelly, then

her eyes went. Just as she said, the shoreline was in sight. The place they saw wasn’t Quadreign. It was quite a stunning sight nonetheless—there were pine trees as far as the eye could see, blanketed by a thin layer of melting snow. Like a pocket of civilization amidst

recognized, sitting on the railing and

“These lords here, House Prenvia… they were once vassals to the Queen of Quadreign. Now,

longing, part sad defeat, expressed so clearly Argrave did not need to look to Anneliese to ask

by night.. too

grabbed at Argrave’s shoulder as he sat in admiration of the coastline. “Let us prepare to take our things… and then spend whatever time is

#####

conceal it with fur. Vasilisa looked at him peculiarly but did not question that—Argrave imagined Vasilisa viewed it as inconsequential if he failed during their travels. Such a thing would be their problem, not hers. If she asked

densely forested, and many creatures of yore still roamed night and day, dangerous and mythical both. The soil was poor, and the cold made it poorer. Here, the people were primarily hunters and herders. Exceptions existed, naturally, yet the

an animal other than her Starsparrow about, even if in limited capacity. It would facilitate

rest at Prenviania.

of the Order of the Gray Owl, is it not?”

answer, but he did. “It

homes made of pine logs all throughout the city of Prenviania. Even the grandest estates were wooden. This stone building, a branch of the Order… Argrave had been to one a very long time ago at Mateth, and now here another stood. As

them. “People tore it down not too long

his

Relize… but they’re a new presence here, a foreign presence. This building was like a token of the north’s fall. I think it’s a waste, but the people did what they did.” She stepped down the simple dirt road.

happen in the game because the player always needed those facilities. It gave some insight as to the culture of spellcasters in the north, though—many of them weren’t Order-reared, merely converts after Felipe’s conquest. Vasilisa hadn’t been taught in the Order, for

as they trekked through the pine forests, their party following only a simple dirt road that was more a trail formed by game than humans. He engaged in conversation with Anneliese and Galamon, feeling of greater spirit today alone than he had in the past month. He

grow steeper, more treacherous. The path beneath their feet went from densely packed soil with pine needles scattered everywhere to hard stone and rock, slick