Jackal Among Snakes

Magister Vasilisa watched the man beside her pour a drink into her cup. Cups, rather—the bartender filled multiple tankards, each and all just beside Vasilisa’s wrist. Her eyes jumped between the brown alcohol and their party of three, sitting adjacent from her and waiting expectantly.

“You sure you don’t want anything?” Vasilisa questioned.

“Alcohol does nothing for me,” Argrave said vaguely while the two beside him shook their head.

The drink finished pouring, and she handed a set of gold coins to the man. He tried to refuse her, but she insisted until he took it.

“Just, uh… feels a bit…” her blue eyes jumped between them, then she shrugged and tipped the tankard back. “Whatever. You don’t want it, that’s your business. But what’s my business…”

She snapped. Though no matrix formed, she’d cast a spell, and a ward enclosed them. Casting spells without matrixes—that was one facet of Vasilisa’s A-rank advancement. None of the other customers in this tavern in Quadreign seemed to react to the spell, perhaps well-used to Vasilisa being here.

“What’s my business is what in the hell you’re speaking of when you talk about taking down Magister Ivan,” she said, sipping at her drink slightly. “You might not get things, being from where you are… but me, my sister’s territory? They’ve become nothing before what Margrave Ivan owns, Silvaden. We’re dust before a castle. Maybe they call you ‘Smiler’ for your endless optimism, but I see things clear, and they’re clearly impossibly bleak.”

Argrave mulled over her words for a bit while the Magister let the silence hang, drinking deeply from her cup. She’d very nearly finished the first from what Argrave saw.

“Do you know how I discovered you were in Relize?” Argrave questioned. “I was speaking to a northerner… something mundane, I think it was about furs that were commonly traded to Relize… we wanted to avoid some competition, you see.” Argrave leaned in, entwining his hands. “This woman, she was a little old. Still robust and firm, though, like a great deal of the people we saw on the way here. And she started talking about the good days beneath the reign of the queens of Quadreign.”

Vasilisa stared at Argrave as he spoke, so wrapped up in his fabricated story she couldn’t think of anything to interject.

“She spoke of your traditions here,” Argrave continued, locking eyes with her. “How your women ruled, because only those that create life can justly preside over it. She told me how the flames of Quadreign once flowed through this city, giving warmth even in the winters of this northern valley. She spoke of the queen’s mageguard—chosen from birth among loyal vassals, tempered by the flame, and holding two ideals at heart.” Argrave raised his hand, counting as he listed them. “Protect the queen… and protect her people. And this woman spoke of how they died to the last against the forces of Vasquer.”

Vasilisa blinked quickly then looked off to the side, obviously hiding tears. She grabbed a new flagon and drank it all, then set it down quietly. “What does it matter?” she questioned, her voice hoarse. “My mother was the last queen. My sister has a brain tumor, and though it can be cured, all those capable of such a feat would wring us of our last coins. We have an obligation to the people—if my sister is cured, we couldn’t afford to feed them. All of the queen’s guard died, as you said. Those you would have us fight against possess all of what we once owned.”

Quiet set in as the Magister opened her heart up. Anneliese leaned in, almost a mirror of Vasilisa’s emotions, and said, “The people live, and the people remember. And even if you disbelieve that claim… no one succeeds if they content themselves with defeat.”

“You seek the flame both for the people of this city and your sister,” Argrave said. “I think that’s clear.”

Magister looked back.

few and far between,”

ass,” she shook her head and fixed her blonde hair behind her ear. “I don’t do what I

long he turned back, continuing, “…but honor can blind you to a lot of opportunities you

thing. I’d rather die than do something against my

not,” Argrave leaned back in the chair. “Fact of the matter is, though… people like Magister Ivan will piss on your honor. They’ll exploit your integrity, and the only thing they’ll feel is disdain… disdain that you’re so gullible, so easy to use and abuse. He thinks you’re

took a slow drink

quickly soothed. “This is merely to raise a

tense Magister a bit, and so Argrave continued, “And the worst part of all this? After his betrayal… after he let Quadreign fall to Vasquer, after he stole the Flame of the Tenebrous Star from your house… what do people view him as?

tightened once again… but her eyes dipped downwards from Argrave’s, growing

content yourself with

can we do? Four of us? You, maybe A-rank. Her, verging on A-rank, and him…” she threw up her hands in Galamon’s direction. “Ivan can match us

don’t think the people, low or small, have genuine affection for Margrave Ivan. His power comes from the throne of Vasquer, not the people.

the rim of her third cup. “Argrave and his

“Even still, that man was able to get swords in people’s hands. So far as I know, he was not even in the line of succession for the throne. And you? House Quadreign, reputed rulers, heralds of the good days of Quadreign? That cause has much more legitimacy than his, I should

reluctant realization as she acknowledged that his point had some merit. “I wouldn’t… know

I can’t say I’ve made no mistakes, but I’ve learned as much from each one.” He clasped his hands together. “If you agree, we could leave

at Argrave and his two companions in turn. Then, she took another drink. “My mother taught me to

his coat as he prepared to stand. “If you want my cards laid out plainly, I have a vested interest in getting the Flame of the Tenebrous Star returned to you quickly. I can’t really afford to wait a year. And… your sister… can she? Well, never mind,” he shook

#####

into scorched earth. In other words, the soldiers are off to a stellar start,” Elenore summarized, wearing a black dress and a golden blindfold over her missing eyes. “We have a base of operations that serves as a foothold into the north, a cooperative ally, and a good example of what surrendering can bring to Argrave’s would-be enemies. I suspect we’ll be largely unimpeded until we reach this place… Castle Cookpot, located

over the map of Vasquer. “You say stellar start… I say

matters they have, Princess

said as much?” Leopold shook his head. “Where is he? Why can I no longer speak to him?

spoke to you before he went into hiding,” Elenore reminded