Jackal Among Snakes

Epilogue 4.3: Family Memorial

Argrave and Anneliese sat by the hearth as the fire crackled, the both of them staring up at the family portrait that’d been made so many decades ago. It was a little microcosm of what they’d experienced this week—a vibrant family. All save Vincent and Hannelore had Anneliese’s colorful amber eyes, while most had inherited Argrave’s black hair. They were all quite tall. Elimar was bigger than Orion, even, who also stood in the photo right alongside Elenore. Their daughters hadn’t liked that much, while all their sons had.

“Maybe we should get another portrait painted,” mused Argrave idly. “One for the road.”

“The family is much larger,” Anneliese responded. “It would take far longer. We had enough trouble posing last time.”

Argrave sighed. “They’ll make a camera someday.”

“Would we remember this so fondly had it not taken so long?” Anneliese asked.

Argrave shrugged. “Maybe not.”

Silence spread between them. Argrave had come to appreciate silence a great deal more. Time was, he spent every second talking, jabbering, joking. He still could, of course, but he found there was as much power in refraining from talking as there was in speaking eloquently. More than power, he simply felt at ease near his wife. There was no need to impress, to pretend. Their lives were almost one in the same.

“I think it’s time to go,” Anneliese broke the silence. “They might be waiting for us already.”

“Ah.” Argrave rose to his feet. “It’s... it’s prudent to remember, before we go. Remind us of the price of arrogance, complacency.”

“Hmm.” Anneliese stroked her brow, then stood to her feet and grabbed Argrave’s hand. “Who’s teaching the new children this time?”

“Theodore,” Argrave responded as they walked through the mansion. Revelry was absent this late at night. Anneliese looked troubled, and Argrave noticed that immediately. “Worried about him?”

“Always. He inherited my empathy.” Anneliese squeezed his hand a little tighter. “But he’s learned to temper it in recent years. He’ll do a great job with the young ones, but I worry he’ll carry their reactions with him.”

Argrave went silent for a moment, thinking. “Durran’s right. We can only baby our soon-to-be centenarian children for so long.”

Anneliese chuckled. “Perhaps you’re ready for that, but I’m elven. At three hundred, these instincts of mine may fade. Until then… I can’t stop being their mother.”

“It’s Vincent you should worry about,” Argrave said. “He always act weirdly at these.”

With all covered, they left the estate, walking around to the back. They walked across small bridges spanning pleasantly babbling brooks, and passed beneath the verdant orchards that bloomed year-round. Faint magic lamps embedded into the pathway illuminated their path. Distant, almost reverent chatter came into view, and finally they came to a beautiful grove centered around a large monument with some writing on it. A single torch of black flame burned just in front of the monument—a gift from Vasilisa of Quadreign. It illuminated a simple phrase.

IN MEMORY OF THOSE LOST

Most of his life, Argrave never had any interest in ruminating on the past. Increasingly, he found himself doing so more and more. Not for his sake, but for the sake of the names written down on this wall—the people that had given their life for the future that all present here today enjoyed. It would be all too easy to lose themselves in the bliss they’d carved out for themselves. It was this hard moment of remembrance that both of them felt would help keep their family from straying from the good path.

“So… grandma’s grandma was one of the big golden snakes Orion visits?” their dark-haired granddaughter asked Theodore as they neared, her blue eyes wide.

“Grandpa’s distant ancestor,” Theodore corrected gingerly. “It was from her that we derive our last name. Vasquer.”

“How does a

you don’t want to know,” Vincent commented, staring at

didn’t eat meat. When his younger brother Diedrich had punched his tooth out, he asked for his sibling not to be punished. Every ounce of money he made managing Elenore’s business interests went straight to Sophia’s charity. Argrave put a reassuring hand on his son’s shoulder,

aunt Elenore spent a lot of time with Vasquer,” Theodore explained with a kindly smile. “You should

looking over. “But,

secret.” Theodore leaned in. “Elenore really loves talking with you kids. It’s the happiest she ever

were standing behind her. She gently stroked the top of the girl’s head. “And she especially loves talking about Vasquer. Shall we go together?”

“I’m worried that

could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for

patted his son’s shoulder. “I trust you with this almost as much

lowered his head, smiling. “Couldn’t have just said, ‘more

to family. Anne taught me that.”

to the lost. The emperor took the time to look around, at his family speaking in hushed tones of people gone, of stories that needed to be

slipped away. His son had always been unusually talented at doing that. Argrave looked for him, but didn’t have much luck. He walked through the grove, head swiveling about as

“Hey,” he greeted her.

over.

on your

“Do you ever wonder if I could’ve done more with the power of

names on this wall if I did things better?”

ever think—” she

But… I don’t know. They’re like infected wounds. Have to clean your cuts, or

for a long while, then looked back at the monument.

nodded. “Me neither. That’s why

were sad. “But… for there to be a concept of good fortune, there

buyer, there’s a seller.” He looked at her. “You

nodded. “No, I didn’t see him. But he typically goes over there.” She gestured, where the grove artfully warped to conceal a small little

pointed without another word. He found Vincent sitting on a stone

once. “I just…

didn’t say anything, just wordlessly walked up and sat down beside his son. Vincent stirred, clearing his throat. Father and son sat there in the quietude, while the distant whispers of the rest of the family filtered through

one to teach the kids, next year,” Argrave

hope you’re joking.” Vincent leaned in, clasping his hands together. “I’m not suited for it. I’d muck it all up.

in. “You don’t think it’s

eye widening. “No,

“Just what?” Argrave pressed.

deserve the honor.” Vincent scratched his cheek. “I’d

I haven’t noticed the things you’ve done behind the scene,” Argrave continued, and Vincent jerked his head over. “The support you’ve shown us. The support you’ve shown this family. I don’t know why you get like