Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 330

“You didn’t have the foresight to bring boots?” Elenore asked Argrave as she leaned on his arm.

Argrave looked down at Elenore, smiling with bitter patience. She wore cloth pants for travel, and he could barely see her pink feet. Indeed, pink—the new flesh was like a newborn’s, markedly different from the leg just above it.

“We,” he rephrased. “We didn’t have the foresight. You might be my lackey, but you have lackeys of your own. We’ll get you some footwear once we get outside—one of the two mages has some to spare, maybe.” He adjusted his arm slightly and she moved nervously. “How do you feel?”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I get a chill in my spine anytime I feel my… feet… fall upon a surface.”

Argrave nodded. “But no pain?”

Elenore looked to him, and his eyes fell upon hers. They were still red and raw—it looked like she’d been hit by pepper spray, or something—but the bulk of her eyes had been fully restored. She had gray eyes, the same as he did. Seeing the change made him feel indescribably good inside. In the wake of the tremendous hardships of the past few days, he felt like he’d found a great buoy of happiness to draw him from the somber ocean he’d found himself in.

“No pain,” Elenore confirmed. She blinked rapidly, then closed her eyes and squeezed them shut tightly. “Ugh. Dizzy,” she said simply.

“I’ll be with you the whole way,” he assured. “Your bones could still be fragile, so try not to put your whole weight down. Just lean on me.” He turned his head, vaguely gesturing towards Anneliese. “If you want, I could get Anne on the other side.”

“Why not carry me on your back, spare me any strain at all?” she said sarcastically. “No. I’m fine.”

“Then… move anytime you want,” he suggested gently.

Elenore stayed frozen in place. She took several deep breaths, but her knees stayed locked in place and she made no attempts to move.

“…anytime,” Argrave repeated teasingly.

“Yes, anytime. That includes now all the way to eternity, maybe even until Gerechtigkeit himself blows away this tent,” she retorted, clearly flustered.

passed. Argrave waited for her first step with a patient smile on his face. Slowly, she lifted her foot up and stepped forward. Argrave

clap, but that might cause problems. Anne, you want

her second step. Slowly, surely, her confidence started to return and her pace increased. Argrave followed her about as she tracked a rough circle about the tent.

of her mouth rose, bringing some bright life to her tired face. She laughed lightly. “Feels…

enthusiasm she seemed

once again. “I didn’t think… it would be so different from the prosthetics. But…” she struggled, her tongue tied. “I

to go outside?” Argrave

and looked towards the tent flaps marking the entrance. Faint dawn light barely peeked beyond them, offering inviting illumination.

the tent flaps aside, offering more entrance to light. Galamon stood there patiently, guarding them. He was eating some rations—dried meat. Elenore shielded her newly formed eyes, blinking rapidly and slowly adjusting.

suns. The two balls of fire illuminated the spring beauty of the region of Atrus. Near Vysenn, civilization was especially absent—there was a lake, a beautiful field

watered from the bright light, but she still seldom blinked, her gaze wandering the countryside with unabated enthusiasm. It overwhelmed her

need to… sit,” she

pointed with his free arm, then shepherded her until they came to the rock he pointed to. She sat down eagerly, then Argrave right beside her. Anneliese came to stand behind

of jewelry…” Elenore began. “I always missed seeing the distant sights. When we walked down to Vasquer’s holding area, I could not see the snake until I grew very close. During that battle, I could not see the gigantic mass of snakes you

corrected. “They’re

my bare feet. When I returned, one of the royal maids chided me for acting unladylike.” She placed her hands on her knees. “When I told my father, he came with me the next day. I climbed trees and jumped

Argrave listened silently.

laughed again. “I don’t think I deserve

jostled her about. “Deserve? Nobody

don’t know,” she said, then sighed. “There I go again. Sharing something

all you want,” Argrave said dismissively. “I’m

say anything back, her watery eyes still wandering the landscape. Her eyes settled upon something. “Our army is a bit

barely visible beyond the mountains that formed the valley Castle

prepare to return,” Elenore looked to Argrave, her

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