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.’”

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 many things to gain entry, especially with Orion hauling a

at the gate, wearing armor of a foreign style made largely of fur. “Enjoy your

palisades, this place seemed more tribal than Vasquer or

golden cube with the Smiling Raven locked inside. “Are

looked up at him. “Listen, I’m busy here. Just

far as Argrave could tell, there didn’t seem to be something he was working toward. He was just whittling to whittle, almost absent-mindedly. Orion looked back

“Amaranthine,” Elenore said simply.

fisherman came alive, dropping his knife and wooden piece both into the sea. He walked to his boat, got in, and waited there while staring blankly ahead. Orion hefted up the golden cube, but looked to Argrave for guidance. After hesitating a great deal, everyone got aboard the

It’s not due. The guard, most of the

some unease about having things overwritten by Sophia, but now there was someone amply demonstrating that they could quietly rewire memories, keeping an entire town

been taken without consent.

kin. Orion seems fine with it. Why can’t you be more like Orion? He’s a beacon of calm.” He felt that

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

It’s led to widespread persecution of my kin, persecution of me. During one cycle of judgment, when the extent of our capability was revealed, most all of them hunted us. In the end, months of concerted effort resulted in a stalemate devastating to both sides. But they had numbers. Billions of them, and thousands of us. We made peace, lest they 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

ever closer toward the

simply sympathetic and distraught that we were persecuted. Truly, why can’t both of you be more like your older brother?” Again, that glow of amusement came. He was getting a

that peace. Her soul is unbound by its dictates, and she remains ignorant of the heights

they’d seen both how terrifying Lindon’s power was, and how it could make everyone in an entire town

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

a story when I could merely change your

and reignited some of those fears. Argrave hadn’t felt quite so powerless in some time. What defense

what those in the past thought,

moment of silence in the boat ride, and the small black island loomed ever closer. It would be time to

coming upon an entrance to our home 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 you. They’ve never taken

mind danced as he considered what