Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 611

After Lindon declared that he wanted to take guardianship of Sophia, Argrave asked the first question that came to mind. Life wasn’t one or the other—it was a gradient.

“Why not both?”

Vasquer projected only uncertainty, as the messages she bore could not answer such questions. It faded as something welled up from within her being, and Argrave felt something dormant come to bear. Lindon, who had been waiting and watching, spoke in appreciably non-mental terms.

“The dictates of the treaty make such a thing impossible.”

Argrave realized in hindsight that the question might’ve been foolish, but tugging on the corner of this shared space within Vasquer’s mindscape, he felt Orion’s confusion and hesitance. In ages past he might’ve thought Orion simply didn’t understand something, but he knew better now. His brother’s hesitance made him gain some of his own—hesitance quickly mirrored by Elenore.

Argrave was going to ask what Lindon wanted with Sophia, but Elenore’s voice cut through the din.

“Why were you able to contact Vasquer now where you couldn’t before? That, too, was dictated by the treaty, no?”

Argrave’s own question caught in his tongue—or mind, as it were. Hers was a good question that everyone, including even Vasquer, came to mirror. Argrave could hear Elenore’s voice bouncing around without end as all reflected the inquiry with their own minds.

“Because the circumstances of the treaty allowed me to,” Lindon answered.

“I think it’s well past time that you show us the damned treaty, then,” Argrave said with a laugh. “You keep mentioning it, and then defying what you’ve established.”

“I cannot show it, for reasons you can doubtless guess: the treaty itself.” Quietude reigned for a few seconds before Lindon appealed briefly, “You know my nature. I have given to you without end. This will not be an exception.”

now. Argrave assumed there was an ulterior motive. From his worldly experience, such a thing made sense. Lindon had given a lot, but at some point, favors would need to be reciprocated, even for giant bodyless snakes. Sophia was someone who could do nearly anything. He didn’t particularly like treating her as a bargaining chip, even after what he’d

it was just that, Argrave didn’t see something too wrong with it. It wasn’t all that different from her healing the disabled, as far as he was concerned. Still, Argrave needed more information before he could give the idea

won’t keep you from telling us what you want Sophia for,” Argrave continued. “I don’t care who they are, no one could’ve

to safeguard her and this

too fond of meddling with the mind too much, even if you claim it’s already been done to me without my knowledge. Sophia is fine as she is. If we can play around the treaty—perhaps have Sophia visit you as we did, or something of that sort—then we could do it. Unless, of course, there’s something more you intend to do with her that you’re keeping from us. Something you think we might not

was silence for a long few seconds, and Argrave

intend to

to communicate with one another, and that was all they needed.

you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the

nature, didn’t care to interfere with the mind much, how could they have drawn the notice of the wider world? How could they have provoked a genocide against them? It must’ve been Lindon. That was concerning. But then… by his power’s nature, it had quite the subtle

it?”

chafe with their freedom restricted,” Lindon

interjected with her own thoughts—memories of Lindon, who, despite being vastly more subdued than any other Gilderwatcher, never raged or spoke of rebellion against the hand that fate had dealt them. Though tricksome and troublesome, he was always warm and kind. He had discouraged Vasquer from seeking out the surface, even. Her

wants, A), given Vasquer had children with a human, you can’t be the weirdest Gilderwatcher. And B), you’re right on one point: you’ve given without an end. We can, at the least, hear

deafening. Argrave was ready to speak again before Lindon’s voice came

was

leave this place, together. If you wish

what was wrong. It was Lindon’s voice… but

out at Argrave’s mind, seeking it out with fury, rage, and destruction manifest. It was just as it had been in the brief memory that Argrave saw, where Lindon’s body perished after probing that which he should not. The memory of the attack did little to prepare for the reality

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