Jackal Among Snakes

Magister Traugott, wearing the gray robes given to him by the Order of the Gray Owl, sat atop a parapet on the walls of Dirracha, legs dangling over the side. He peered down at the first level of the multi-segmented city, eyes wandering its streets. It was dark out and the red moon above was barely visible at this time of month. Unless one shined a light upon him, he was all but invisible to all below.

“You,” a voice cut in, and Magister Traugott turned his head in surprise.

Orion of Vasquer stood there, looking worn and tired. His long black hair had lost its signature braid and devolved into a messy tangle atop his head, and his beard grew longer by the day. His gray eyes were firm, though, and they watched Traugott with every willingness to kill.

“Who are you?” Orion asked, voice cutting above the wind of the high altitude.

Traugott lifted his legs and slowly turned his body around. “Me? I am only a scholar with an interest that has revitalized me,” he answered.

“You are more. We both know this,” Orion responded, stepping forth. “If you cannot answer… you must leave.”

“For now, a scholar is all I am,” Traugott stubbornly refused. “I came here…” he jumped off the parapet he sat upon. “…because I heard the great serpent beneath this city has knowledge. She has answers to some of my questions.”

Orion did not look pleased, but neither did he rush to attack Traugott. “Who told you this?”

“Princess Elenore,” Traugott said, flashing a smile with white teeth.

“Elenore?” Orion repeated cautiously. “…my sister? What did she say to you?”

“That the reason the king knew what he did… of Gerechtigkeit, of the coming calamity… was because of Vasquer,” Traugott outlined earnestly, stepping towards Orion. “I could not find the king. He was absent. So… I came here, to another thing that has drawn my interest.”

Orion’s tension finally dispelled somewhat, and he told Traugott coldly, “Vasquer speaks only to her descendants. Even were that not the case… I am uneased having one who offers such dubious answers so close. Who are you?”

“Magister Traugott of the Order of the Gray Owl,” the man answered, almost begrudgingly.

“A Magister…” Orion acknowledged, his wariness returning. “I killed one of yours outside these city walls. I don’t trust your ilk, your political motivations…”

Why would I ever seek to do harm? That would be an unreasonable conclusion. The calamity is

nod after a time. “Even still… what are you here

parapets of the wall, then placed one foot atop it. Leaning an elbow on his knee, he said, “You claim I cannot communicate with Vasquer… which is sad if true,” Traugott admitted.

to let you stay,” Orion decided. “I cannot risk any danger. You are a foreign element. I cannot allow

if I can offer reprieve from the voices of

rock the great

of mine,” Traugott admitted, backing away a step. “Until you have tried it, you cannot deny the enticement, can you? I believe you suffer. From how I hear your royal knights speak, I believe that it is a reasonable conclusion. You have turned against the gods, haven’t you? But what is a

Traugott. Then, he clenched his fist.

holding his hands up. “But if your mind

man pounding against ice from below. Something told him of things lurking beyond, and the supposedly powerful Magister felt as though a great leviathan of this ocean of shadows sought to

the bottom of the wall of Dirracha. He spared a glance

just you,” Traugott said, then stepped away

#####

brain was whirling, operating under the pretense that Hegazar and Vera might strut through the elevator any minute, Vasilisa asked a

he put the paper back in the drawer and slid it

come by when they do. If you stay close at hand, it won’t be a problem. Perhaps you can stay in my tower? Certainly, there is

sigh of relief. The Magisters’ arrival wasn’t imminent. That gave them some breathing room to figure out what, exactly, they could do about the arrival of Vera and Hegazar. Wait it out, perhaps? No, Argrave reasoned. Castro had sent Traugott to inform the other Magisters about Gerechtigkeit and have them return to the Tower to confirm support of Argrave’s claim to the

else could be easily fooled… but Hegazar and Vera both would surely recognized Argrave by face alone—if not him, then the two

to think about it?” Vasilisa responded

just as well,” he said, for the first time looking upon Argrave and the rest

in

Ivan insisted. “Come now… you can’t insult me,” he said,

agreed to meet someone at the inn. They’re expecting us to

his lip, then tapped one finger against his leg as he stared

your offer,” Vasilisa seized the opportunity Argrave offered. “You’ve made