Jackal Among Snakes

Gilderwatchers.

As the name suggested, they were gigantic serpents that appeared gilded. All from their eyes on their head to the feathers adorning their body shone with the color. They possessed a presence of mind expanding far beyond their body, and the ability to communicate telepathically with their kin by touch alone. In the past, Argrave and Elenore had used this ability in several circumstances, from sharing their true thoughts to scouting out the cities of Blackgard or Vasquer.

Erlebnis’ knowledge gave Argrave several new insights on top of what he already knew. For one, most of their kind resided deep underground. Given their ability, it made some sense. Argrave likened it to snakes that used sound to aid in detecting prey. For two, the ‘watcher’ part of their name came from their propensity for neutrality, not their presence of mind. Their ancestral matriarch had been a rare exception.

Argrave was sorely tempted to return to Vasquer and inquire deeper about the character of his alleged great-granduncle. But they had timed things with the raid against Kirel Qircassia to avoid undue scrutiny, and they couldn't delay further. Argrave did inform his siblings of the message he’d received, but it turned out that had been a futile thing.

“I heard it too,” admitted Elenore as they leapt through the endless corridors of space in Raccomen’s realm, heading for where Lindon was supposed to be. “I don’t like it. It makes me hesitant to think.”

“He’s our relative! I, for one, am looking forward to it,” Orion said, ever the optimist when it came to family.

Argrave was hesitant to speak, but since they’d passed into Raccomen’s realm, Lindon had gone silent. He risked the god’s ire and said, “I think you’ve learned by now that just because someone’s family doesn’t mean they’re a saint. Let’s be cautiously optimistic.”

“And I’ll be cautiously pessimistic,” Rook, the only one who hadn’t heard Lindon, added. “That’s the job of a guard. Keeping you three alive. If he were an ancient god, surely I’d have heard of him by now.”

Argrave wasn’t so sure, but he didn’t voice that opinion.

#####

When they finally emerged from Raccomen’s realm to another part of the world, Lindon’s voice came back to them.

“There you are. You were beyond me in Raccomen’s realm,” Lindon said. “Oh... that pleases you, does it? Were you speaking ill of me? What was it, I wonder?”

Argrave thought of nonsense about purple elephants, and he felt a glow of amusement that wasn’t his own.

“So guarded. Rest assured, I won’t pry too deeply. For now, I shall merely inform you that I’ve sent a boat to retrieve you. Seek out the port in the nearby city, and tell the green-capped man, ‘amaranthine.’”

and he could tell they’d received much the same instruction. Raccomen’s portal wasn’t too far from a city, and they found the place quickly. Argrave had been preparing to do a great

gate, wearing armor of a foreign style made largely

they continued on into the city to its port. Largely wooden houses and oaken palisades, this place seemed more tribal than Vasquer or the Great Chu. There weren’t very many people at the port, most having gone out to sea

carrying the golden cube with the Smiling Raven locked inside. “Are you

him. “Listen, I’m

as Argrave could tell, there didn’t seem to be something he was working

“Amaranthine,” Elenore said simply.

and waited there while staring blankly ahead. Orion hefted up the golden cube, but looked to Argrave for guidance. After hesitating a

most of the people in this town... just some simple tweaks of mind. They

felt some unease about having things overwritten by Sophia,

been

from kin. Orion seems fine with it. Why can’t you be more like Orion? He’s a beacon of calm.” He felt that familiar glow of amusement from Lindon, and when it quieted he continued. “But you’ve already experienced our power, you know. In the White Planes. You forgot much about your time

boat continued onward, heading for a distant black rock. Argrave listened patiently, glad this meeting wasn’t starting off

wipe us all out. We Gilderwatchers were forced to relinquish our power over the mind to aid in creating the White Planes. Now, our minds meld with kin alone... excepting myself, of course. We Gilderwachers aren’t neutral by temperament. Most of us are bound by the White Planes, limited in innumerable manners. In

toward the distant volcanic island. Why was

sympathetic and distraught that we were persecuted. Truly, why can’t both of you be more like your older brother?” Again, that

ignorant of the heights of our power. As you know, she possesses a presence of mind, but lacks

this history before. It almost beggared belief, but they’d seen both how terrifying Lindon’s power was, and how it could make everyone in an entire town ignorant. Argrave did wonder if Lindon was being entirely forthright, but everything that he said did make a great deal of sense, right down to

was entirely reasonable for the god of the mind, dreams, and consciousness to toy with all three. If he could peruse Argrave’s thoughts, he was undoubtedly capable of crafting such a rich story

when I could merely change

chilling, and reignited some of those fears. Argrave hadn’t felt

was what those in the past thought,

the boat ride, and the small black island

soon. I share you and your sister’s caution in trusting kin. I have a vague idea of what you came here to ask of me, but blood relation alone is insufficient to listen, trust, and help. When you come inside, I suspect your other relatives will wish to greet

as he considered what the deity