Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave and Anneliese sat atop some temporary bedding—specifically, a large tarp splayed out across the flat grass with some fur blankets atop it. Anneliese was already delving into A-rank magic. She had two books on her knee—one projected the strange, incomprehensible full-body matrix exclusive to A-rank spells, and the other was a more mundane book. Argrave, however, was poring through letters. He rubbed his forehead to ease his headache.

Elenore was there, too, lying down just before them with a blindfold over her face to keep the sockets clean. She squirmed, continually raising her hands near her eye sockets and then pulling them away. They were in a private tent, Galamon just outside on guard with the others. Durran was sleeping with his bear.

“It itches so bad,” Elenore said with clenched teeth, then grasped the blanket over her body to relieve some of her frustration. “I can’t stand this. I feel like my blood has been laced with pepper. It’s like my hands need to sneeze—my whole body.”

Argrave narrowed his eyes. “There’s worse,” he promised her, glancing at Anneliese. They’d promised to keep her company until this was over.

“Tell me, please. Give me anything to distract from this,” his sister pleaded earnestly, much more emotion on her tone than usual.

“But you know the story behind my heart,” Argrave pointed out, adjusting his posture until he was comfortable. “Anneliese told you.”

Anneliese closed both of the books on her lap as she said, “She heard it from my perspective. I empathized with your pain, but I never felt it.”

“You were probably more conscious of things than I was, then,” Argrave pointed out, searching for another topic. What Elenore needed most, he felt, was something that made her think hard, something that consumed the mind.

“How about we talk about Atrus, the plans for the future?” Argrave suggested.

“You know them. Place those who surrender in resistance debt, sell these debt contracts backed by land to patricians to repay their stake in the war. Beyond that, we distribute the lands along the North Sea that we promised to Relize,” Elenore recited mechanically. “Refining that plan further would be frivolous until we have all information on-hand.”

Argrave sighed and fell to the ground, looking up at the tent above them. “Well… okay. How about Traugott? Any news?”

“None,” Elenore said simply. “Even if there were, I would not trust work from one whose blood is boiling. Usually I’d mean that metaphorically… but let’s stray from long-term planning. I can’t make good decisions right now.”

“You are picky,” Argrave reflected. “Anne, do you have any ideas?” he asked, looking towards her.

“Let us talk about He Who Would Judge the Gods, and the coming change to the world,” Anneliese said. “You have informed me amply. Elenore knows much… but she could always know more.”

Argrave rubbed his face. “Old Gerechtigkeit, huh? Part of me hoped we could talk about something happy.”

mentioned both Atrus and Traugott first?” Elenore pointed out, her constant writhing somewhat

clicked his tongue. “Well, you should know. We found out not too long ago that the boundaries between

repeated. “Like dead

Argrave shook his head. “Spirits are broken gods—you might consider them the souls of gods, but the two don’t really compare mechanically. If you ask me how they broke, I’d say it depends… but they’re little fragments of a god, broken into symbols they bear atop their head. You might consider them fragments of power. They exist here, there, and just about everywhere. Some of them are small, powerless, and

cross-legged as he stared at the tent’s top. “What makes them

spirits behind. What they’d do, I can’t

curiosity leading her to

terms like ‘game mechanics.’ “Well… there’s shamanic magic, like I said. It was mid-game content. Beyond learning the spells, you have to manage your

it have broader implications?”

gods—see the Vasquer pantheon. Although… some might argue they’re not gods quite yet. Who knows? I certainly don’t. Spirits were almost a sort of currency at times, to trade with higher powers. Though from my perspective as someone who now lives, breathes, and eats in this realm… it’s not worth getting overly involved with the gods. I can’t predict

but she closed her

at his sister. He couldn’t really see what Anneliese was pointing out, but he trusted

you think?” the princess shot back

Argrave touched her elbow lightly. “We’re just

answer. Argrave said nothing, and nor did Anneliese. The silent waiting must’ve gotten to her, because she started squirming faster before she eventually said, “I

sat up. “Why is that?”

stolen from,” she said quietly, then huffed. “Forget

trying so

said in frustration, clearly infuriated by the feeling pervading her body. “It’s just… I don’t know. Whenever I share something personal, I

Argrave pointed out, then wondered if that joke was a bit

instead of my ridiculous idiosyncrasies. I’ll

that advice… but when he looked to Anneliese, her face

knees together in his arms, Argrave said, “Hey, I get it. You trade in information. Maybe that’s why you

I’m your lackey now, not some

repeated beneath his breath, laughing slightly. He stared at her quietly. The way she’d phrased it… it wasn’t merely about him,

suppose,” Argrave admitted, scratching the back of his neck

her head sideways. “Don’t you look to her every time you

I’m the lone exception to

then turned away. “Whatever. What’s the