Jackal Among Snakes

Elenore walked in a room in the parliamentary hall with Orion, Galamon, Melanie, and Durran walking along with her. She saw Hause, sitting on a couch cordially alongside Anneliese. After taking a moment to gather herself, she walked to sit across from the woman.

“Hello,” Elenore greeted. “My brother’s taken me to be his personal messenger. And he tells me you might have very important information.”

“Certainly,” Hause greeted. “I have been taking the time to acquaint myself with Anneliese. She has been speaking of your plans for the future. And hearing of your aims, well…” she ran her hand through her hair. “Perhaps it was not a mistake, what I did. Perhaps the hope I saw did not end with tragedy, and this stories continue onward.”

“Many people died because of what you did,” Durran said simply, walking to the wall as everyone else sat. “Because you meddled with people, an entire continent lost its lives. And it was your own power. You don’t have an excuse.”

Elenore looked at him sharply as she slowly sat. “Durran. This is not the time.”

“It may be meager defense, but what I see is potential,” Hause said in response. “Meaning… even if my hand had not unleashed it, the end result may have been the same. I sought to contain Raven, guide him. Not… not that.” She looked down at the ground. “Raven… does he still refuse to visit?”

“So far as I know,” Elenore said.

“Well… he has a nobler aim, now. All of you do,” she lifted her head. “I can tell you what you might become, all of you. Perhaps it will give you direction. Perhaps it will tell you nothing at all. But nevertheless, I can tell you.”

“Please,” Elenore gestured. “Argrave insists.”

“Then perhaps we should start with him,” Hause inclined her head. “Please know… that I speak honestly, and fairly, and do not hold my words against me.” She looked about, and everyone gave affirming nods—even Durran, who gave his begrudgingly. “Then… Argrave… he exudes death. It is pivotal to his being.”

The party grew silent. Melanie spoke up first, questioning, “Well, uhh… have you seen that before? Got a frame of reference? A famous slaughterer, perhaps?”

“I know what it means,” Hause nodded. “It speaks, largely, of what he is capable of. If he believed it necessary, he could deal death without hesitation. He could make choices that most other people would balk at. This does not make him evil, nor good. Death is a natural part of life. People with incredibly strong will often exude death.”

“Did Raven?” Elenore asked quietly.

“Yes, but not to the extent Argrave did,” Hause shook her head. “It is not a negative thing. I think it is a testament to his sheer tenacity. It is your duty to guide and make sure that tenacity does not express itself in detrimental ways, by my belief. As for his other potential, what I believe you look for more closely… his innate potential is judgment.”

“So he’s judgmental? That fits,” Durran laughed.

good, or bad?” Elenore asked. “If you were to unlock that potential, what might it

Raven, I saw a hunger that grew ever larger the more it ate. It seemed to expand infinitely. When I changed him, he became as he is. His bizarre alchemical body,

what are they like?”

your body is rich soil for a

of rebirth—of sundering petrified roses, so that the foul flesh beneath can be reborn twice as awful. The other… it speaks of wrapping yourself in the power of others, using either foe or ally alike to invigorate

black executioner’s blade up against the wall and

can demonstrate that fact later, if you so please. Though I will admit—finding so many talents clustered together like

have Argrave to thank for that,” Galamon added

her head. “Yet you… you have realized much of what you are. The faithful hound spurs your step. Your potential… it was marked by blood, claimed by it and changed irreversibly. Yet now that pestilence has been cut apart, and I see only the scars it left. Even still, this experience serves to strengthen the hound that you are.” She turned her head to Orion. “And you, golden-armored knight, denied your potential. Broke it. It is a stained-glass window with ninety-six colors, and on the other side rests authority. This window lies abandoned,

away. “But there is a lesson in your words. Not

us last two?” Melanie stood up, her curiosity

And this emptiness is a great drive forward, giving you a relentless push toward finding something that might fill this hole. I think you two have made strides toward taming and harnessing this aspect of yourselves, but

bitterly. “Thought

can become a chameleon—an actor without peer. But I do not speak merely of speaking, talking, articulating, or moving… you possess the potential to fool

“Not very fond of the stage. Prefer to be watching the people

“And you, Anneliese. I see in you… an

is eternity?” Anneliese asked without missing

know how it applies here. Well… I have seen eternity on many people. Inventors whose

her legs and pondered that. “So, then, you have seen all of us. And what of enacting

looked around. “You have seen Raven—as you know him, the Alchemist. He cannot be called fully mortal, anymore. I am on the wake of the greatest disaster my abilities have ever caused. I need to reflect on this. And even so, it will be some time before all

Elenore nodded. “I imagine you’ve given all of us much to think about, in turn.

from her distractions. “You’re right. I

#####

gone,” Mial said

They were deeper in the heart of the dwarven cities underground, and the now-abandoned city was quite terrifying. Still, Mial had led them back to the old dwarven senate house, and eventually to a room within it. This

helped him write most of it. He would not move it so randomly, and…” she stuttered in panic. “I don’t know who took it, but it’s gone. You have

she gave no indication she thought

well…” he babbled, at a loss. “You helped him, right? You

perhaps it’s only natural I help. But I’m only mortal. My father might’ve