Jackal Among Snakes

Vasilisa grabbed the iron gate that stood out front the palace in Quadreign. She fit in a key and opened it wide. Argrave eyed the gate—it was cheaply made, and the iron had grown rusty and brittle. The Magister had led them through the city with purpose, and they’d diligently followed behind their escort. It wasn’t as though any people blocked their way.

The quest line in Quadreign had always described the city as failing, as a fragment of its former glory. Certainly, the player could observe the failing houses, the decrepit palace, and the stagnant clocktower. Even still, Argrave felt as though he was seeing the city for the very first time. These were living people enduring hard times in this land of bitter cold. He saw how thin they were, how they shuddered in their poorly heated homes, and how they slowly withered away in this isolated valley.

There was an old man waiting for them in the palace’s courtyard. He wore clothing that once might have been brilliant blue but was now faded and worn and lined with fur to ward away the cold. Vasilisa stepped right up to him.

“Young lady,” he greeted. Argrave recognized him—he was the steward of this palace. Befitting an elder member of House Quadreign, he was a mage with quite a formidable magic pool.

“That title is no longer applicable, Ferrel,” she said coldly. “Here.”

Ferrel took a bag from her hand, and Argrave heard metal clinking within. The steward looked inside, then looked back to Vasilisa. “But… my lady… all of what you earned?”

“I am still part of this house. Take it. I will brook no protest,” she commanded him.

The steward acquiesced with a quiet bow. “It will help alleviate some of the debt.”

“Forget the debt,” she disagreed. “That money is for supplies. The Lous family lost half their herd. We need to buy food, other essentials, distribute them.”

“Of… course, my lady,” Ferrel bowed a little deeper.

“These elves are my guests,” Vasilisa looked back, blue eyes steady. “I want them to meet my sister. They… are here about the flame.”

“Your sister is…” Ferrel’s lips twitched. “I’ll speak to her. It might be difficult. You know how she is.”

“Alright,” Vasilisa nodded, her stern voice lightening up somewhat. “You three. Come along.”

#####

Vasilisa escorted the three of them to a guest house within the palace. It was poorly maintained, and this fact seemed to embarrass the Magister greatly. She promised it would be cleaned, but Argrave insisted it was something they’d be willing to handle themselves. She seemed insulted at first, but gradually she accepted the proposition.

They didn’t have the chance to do much, though. Ferrel returned after a time, and they were escorted within the palace proper—specifically, the great hall beneath the clocktower. Though there was a great ascending set of stairs leading to a throne that seemed to be made for a giant, the person they had been brought to meet—Vasilisa’s sister—sat in a simple chair at the foot of these stairs, the steward standing just beside her. Her name was Diana, and she was the present baroness of Quadreign. She looked quite like Vasilisa, being blonde and blue-eyed, yet age marked her a little more than it had her sister.

As they approached, he heard Diana question Ferrel quietly, in a voice almost too low to hear, “Do I know them?”

“No, my lady. They are new to us. Your sister brought them,” the answer came, just as quiet.

Diane nodded, then leaned her head against her hand and massaged it gingerly as they approached.

you came here to look at

dipped his head. “It is Veidimen work. Consequently, we are the

their general direction. “And…

that he would need only my aid with this matter,” Vasilisa interjected. “I merely wanted to

for a few moments, then refocused. “Then you have my leave,”

his head once again. “I can promise confidently that you

I’d very much like to be left

she gripped the arm rest of her chair firmly. Anneliese took note of this and stared for a

said. “Thank

explained as they walked. “The territory is… not what it once was, and my sister has been working very hard to curb our decline. There are many

we got to work immediately. To that end… I’d like to see the site where the flame is

was. I need to take care of a few other things before we go there. Return to the guest house a moment

#####

watched the docks of Relize from Leopold’s estate. One didn’t have a clear view of the sea, and even if there was, Durran didn’t know which ship they left on. It hadn’t

that they’re

back. “Things will

Argrave when he won’t be marching beside his army. And

you be well-accustomed to earning respect, no matter the situation? You earned a place in the world with a name alone. A rather unintimidating name, at that. I hardly think of bats as the foremost authority, yet here

subject. “The army moves. I think the first order of business… shall be

#####

hunched over a set of runes, doing his very best to make it look like he was doing some important deciphering. As a point of fact, though, it was all just acting. An investigation quest had little meaning when one already knew what it was they

feet and turned around, where Vasilisa stood expectantly. “Well? Were you all

isn’t extinguished,”

“That’s a bit difficult to accept when

around, making a point to survey the place. “…still, the runes

“If they are active, they’re

be fixed,” Argrave shook his head. “The flame isn’t here anymore. The runes are somewhat degraded because they’ve been sustaining the flame from quite a long distance away.” He looked up. “Given the nature of sending energy through the air… you might have noticed some

breath and stepped away, and Argrave suspected many pieces were falling into place in her mind. Her eyes trembled in rage,

away, used by

enough came in close contact,

spoke through

time to rebuild its essence from the ground up. Though I should note the thief would

Anneliese, yet the fact that she remained calm said that there

Argrave gave her the second,

you think us capable of heading to the palace and doing such a thing? As I understand it, that place is a hotbed

the runes could not sustain it so. In addition, as I mentioned… it would have to be someone knowledgeable about the flame. I’m not sure