Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave judged Traugott with cold, calculating eyes, the two of them standing atop opposite roofs with the city square between them. Though they’d not had time sufficient to interrogate Orion as to the source of the humanoid monster lying dead between them, no one else could reasonably be responsible for bringing the Shadowlander to this city. That he helped put an end to it after it’d killed hundreds of Sumner’s men and devastated both the city and the palace only stoked his rage.

But he’s got no magic left, and all my men are around him. I don’t know what effect Ebonice will have on his little shadow, but… Argrave’s eyes jumped around, searching for a way to neutralize this man. He didn’t trust him. When the Magister reached into his pocket and pulled something out, Argrave watched cautiously even as people below cheered for their victory over the Shadowlander.

Traugott folded a piece of paper into a plane, then gingerly cast it forward. It glided perfectly towards them. Argrave was skeptical to the point where he considered conjuring a ward to block it, but Anneliese grabbed his arm.

“It’s harmless,” she assured him quietly, then caught it out of the air.

In that second of distraction, Traugott vanished. Even as Anneliese unfolded the paper, Argrave jerked his head about in paranoia. “This guy…” he muttered beneath his breath.

“Your Majesty!” a voice called out, and Argrave looked down to lock eyes with Sumner. “Elenore has told me about some rats trying to escape from the palace. With your leave, I would catch them,” he promised.

“Rats?” Argrave repeated, kneeling down. “Those loyalists, I imagine. Did she mention anything else? Have they succeeded in their activity?”

“She mentioned nothing of it,” Sumner shook his head.

“Alright. Time is of the essence. Hurry,” he nodded, then rose to look to Anneliese. “What’s on it?” he questioned her, looking at the paper fearfully.

“It is…” Anneliese trailed off, confusion causing her to err. “He wrote an apology.”

Argrave frowned at once. “You’re serious?”

Anneliese handed it to him in way of explaining it, and he took it after hesitating a beat. As her eyes scanned the city, she said, “We have much to do. I saw Galamon on the way down. He might need assistance. And Elenore…”

willingness to make amends, and further hoped that he and Argrave could talk about

crumpled the paper in his tight

his actions. What exactly did Traugott want? How much was he responsible for? And squirming in the back of his head, Argrave considered that all of this might be his fault. He

and there is much to do,” Anneliese

a bounty, spread word, enlist Castro’s aid…” Argrave turned his head, where he witnessed a soldier kneeling before

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of her own capable of casting magic. The city felt such a foreign place in her eyes now, even after her experience with the ancient snake Vasquer. It had been so long since she saw it with her own eyes.

but the city was devastated to the point it was hard to recall any memories of it at all. Falling debris had either crashed through some roofs or crashed into the cliffs of the mountain. The latter was more dangerous as the debris dislodged other rocks, provoking chain reactions that took dozens of lives in minor landslides. Some buildings were entirely buried. One detached tower had

and she would sooner focus all efforts to

B-rank wards and distributed it to key military members. This one was Durran’s, but he had given his to her after he returned from his expedition to break the stalemate in Atrus. She thought that was stupid of him—even with this ring, she stood no chance in a real fight. But still, it made her feel safe

frame, emaciated, missing hands… it was Felipe, no doubt. His long gray hair drifted with the light winds, his face towards the sky. The top of his head had caved inwards, and his eyes had been gouged out completely. His body had broken

held her hand to the wall to ensure she

unlike Felipe, he breathed. She watched him with

someone there?” Levin called

back to Levin. He remained still. Puzzled and angered, she

concluded. His voice was weak,

embarrassed as her voice shook despite her mocking. “You looked like a flying squirrel with a vengeance. It was very

Levin asked, still remaining eerily still. “No… I… is

put her foot atop his fingers, trying to

is he dead?”

put her full weight on her foot, but Levin

with a wild satisfaction, then took a