Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stared at Nikoletta without batting an eye even as her eyes wavered on the point of frustrated tears. He couldn’t blame her for being distraught that he’d not come to help when her father had been captured. Were his reasons understandable, logically? He thought so. He had to prioritize stabilizing the country over saving one man. But with her father caught by Vasquer loyalists and dragged across almost the whole of the country, reason probably didn’t factor into the equation for her, presently.

“I’m sorry, Nikoletta,” Argrave said earnestly. Earnest apologies had solved a lot of his problems in the past.

This time, the apology seemed to make her angrier. “That isn’t what I asked,” Nikoletta shook her head, and the bird above her cried out, drawing Argrave’s eyes away. “Why even come now? Had you forgotten? Did my father and I jump into your head as an afterthought one night, Your Majesty?”

Argrave shifted on the back of his horse, looking to the Veidimen behind him before focusing ahead on her. “I came to help.”

Her firm posture crumpled somewhat, and her head nearly met her horse’s as she bent over. “Well, you’re probably too late to do that. The only thing missing to pronounce his death is his body. If indeed we can find that—perhaps he’s been eaten by the centaurs.”

With those last words, Nikoletta turned and rode back towards the fort that she’d just come from. Argrave watched her ride away for some time, then looked to Anneliese somberly. She gave him a sympathetic glance.

Orion rode up beside Argrave. “Cousin or no, that was disrespectful. She should be reprimanded, Your Majesty.”

Argrave side-eyed Orion. “Her father is missing. Don’t tie the noose yet.”

“Does that give her total amnesty?” Orion’s gray eyes seemed sharp even through the small holes in his golden helmet.

Argrave looked at him pointedly. “Think about how you acted when you lost family.”

Leaving the prince to stew on that, Argrave directed his horse forward after Nikoletta. They took things at a slower pace, giving the garrison of the fort ample time to see the approaching honor guard of Veidimen. As had been the case at Relize, they watched with awe at the sight of the hulking warriors.

There was a small stable established at the side of the fort, and their party trusted their few horses with the people there. They walked through the gate to be greeted by three: Nikoletta, Mina of Veden, and Magister Vasilisa. The blonde sister of the Archduchess of the North was a little taller than Nikoletta. Mina had grown her golden hair out long—it was as though she and Nikoletta had traded hairstyles, with Mina’s long and Nikoletta’s short.

“Your Majesty,” Mina bowed her head somewhat. It was strange hearing her refer to him as something other than her nickname for him, ‘Grave.’ She looked to the next, greeting, “Prince Orion. And your friend, Anneliese.”

“Wife,” Argrave corrected flatly, trying not to sound proud.

Mina stared at him with her greenish yellow eyes. “So she’s not your friend.”

something he’d said to Nikoletta long ago, and he looked at her to see if she thought the same. It did, evidently, because a small smile played about her lips. Soon

should call you Your Highness, now. I think you’ll be a

“Thank

my niece,” Vasilisa continued. “Is she representing my

the point, though. That little natural disaster I saw on the way in—it was the roots that disturbed the earth, right?

those damnable woodland creatures. They nearly killed me. But I… yes, I

to scout out the roots, tell me what you see. Orion—help me get the Veidimen situated here at camp. I want to make some

some time,” Nikoletta called out as Argrave started

circling about above the fort’s courtyard. A golden flash flew by it as Anneliese’s Starsparrow surged out, already moving to scout as he directed. “Very impressive. That means

upwards towards the top of the redwoods. Even behind walls, one could see the trees nearly anywhere.

“I’ll figure things out,”

He wasn’t sure what

#####

Enemies couldn’t dynamically transform the terrain in Heroes of Berendar—not enemies you could fight, at least. He had his suspicions, but nothing more. He wasn’t sure

soil?” Nikoletta asked him as he stared at the great mound of roots that had overtaken the old fortress like

in front of him as though the thick wooden tendrils might come alive again and assault their party. He wasn’t ruling out

see them.” Orion spared a brief glance back to Argrave. “Wood elves. And mayhap they will

fought that thing that puppeteered corpses. Waqwaq. These trees look quite similar now to it now that we come close. That

by that centaur Orion fought. Matesh. He was

wandered between the two of them. “When do

once again now that she’d said something outlandish. “When I can be sure it’s

won’t be soon, I’ll go myself,” Nikoletta

of people that care for you? This place is dangerous. You almost died. I didn’t think I’d be the one

nodded in agreement, but Nikoletta was undeterred. “What do

losing a father?” Argrave

empty. He supposed he did miss his real father on Earth, but it felt… different. Regardless, it seemed to strike home for Nikoletta, and she looked guilty. Argrave thought her behavior

Nikoletta had changed after the Veidimen sacked Mateth. Many of the people she knew and loved died. She was colder, harder, and more vengeful in that timeline. He saw stripes of that now—the irreverence, the cynicism, the drive. He hoped to turn the car around before she came to that point. But frankly… he shared some of her pessimism about the situation. The prospects for Duke Enrico were slim if he was in that

silence, Anneliese abruptly walked away. She headed for the

“Checking something,” she said.