Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave found the city of Sethia to be a mix between Delphasium and Malgeridum. While lacking the despotism of the latter, and not exactly possessing the abundance of the former, it met in the middle. Perhaps the Vessels were somewhat cautious of the treatment of their people with a threat—the southern tribals in the mountains—looming so close.

Indeed, they had managed to find an inn at a decent price. The coins they’d obtained in Malgeridum had been of tremendous help in securing a non-exorbitant expense. Only a day had passed in the town, but Argrave suspected he would be spending much time in Sethia, so he was glad to not spend too much.

But now they idled and studied, nothing to do beyond wait for Brium to contact them. Only a day had passed, but Argrave appreciated the change in pace very much. Good food, a decent bed—a welcome reprieve from their time trapped in a storm of sand.

“If I might advise you, Argrave…” Anneliese said gingerly, sitting on a table before Argrave’s bed. He sat half-covered by a blanket.

“You’re smarter than me. Why would I ever refuse your advice?” he conceded quickly.

“Oh. Um…” Anneliese showed a rare moment of pause, taken aback by his words. Cheeks a little red, she gathered herself quickly and said, “I would hold back trying to learn any B-rank spells yet.”

Argrave leaned back into his bed, looking down at the B-rank spell book. He thought about her words, then lifted his head and asked, “Why?”

“Because it is challenging, especially if you have only a shallow mastery of C-rank spells,” she explained patiently. “At the moment, I believe it would be best to focusing on those you are capable of learning, rather than trying to stretch yourself as you are.”

Garm added, “The girl is right. You might have the magic capacity to handle spells of that rank, but if the knowledge is shallow, you’ll only waste your time. It’ll take longer. Much longer. It’s naught but wasted time.”

Argrave bit his lip, then decisively shut the book, setting it on the table where Anneliese sat. “Alright. I’ll heed your advice. A part of me questions if you just want more time to ask me questions about my homeland,” he pointed to Anneliese.

She smiled. “I wonder,” she replied vaguely, though Argrave knew she was only joking.

Argrave lowered his finger, then flitted his gaze between the two of them. “But I’m just curious—why should I hold back on reaching this milestone? Why would it take longer?”

“Because B-rank magic differs greatly from the ranks below it,” Garm said. “Each rank before it adds complexity, both to the matrix and the spell. The increased complexity accommodates increased power. The matrix is larger—it can manifest more raw magic.”

Anneliese nodded as Garm spoke. “But B-rank magic does not add another dimension to the spells. Instead, the previously static matrixes become animate.”

“I know about that,” Argrave said. “But why would having a shallow understanding of lower-ranked spells hinder me? For C-rank, I just kept studying, thinking about it… until something clicked,” he shrugged, not fully grasping it himself. “I know it’s far from the image of a scholarly mage, but it worked.”

“The fact you don’t understand why something clicked is the problem,” Garm admonished, and Argrave turned his gaze to face the severed head. “Put simply, you will be adding movement to C-rank spells. If you can’t understand the quintessence of these spells, how will you ever learn how to move them?”

Argrave didn’t respond, and Garm’s face grew serious as he continued.

“Learn more. Come to understand C-rank spells completely and utterly—illusion, elemental, healing, it matters not. When you understand what you did different, you will be ready to poke at the next barrier. Until then, refrain.”

Argrave nodded, taking in Garm’s words in silence. “Thanks for the advice,” he finally remembered to say.

Garm closed his eyes. “Nothing more unbearable than watching incompetence as an expert,” the head dismissed. “Doubly so when I am unable to do much myself.”

Argrave found it difficult to hold back a smile at the head’s attitude. “But I have—"

Sharp knocks disturbed Argrave’s words, and he tensed, immediately looking to Galamon. The elf stood up, holding his Ebonice axe close at hand. Evidently the vampire had not heard whoever was just outside the door, and that set all of them on edge. Argrave quickly lifted Garm and hid him under a blanket.

Galamon opened the door slightly, bracing it with his foot so it could not be forced open. A woman wearing red clothing stood beyond. It took only a few seconds looking at her wet, dark skin to identify the woman as a Vessel. She had sharp, narrow features, and looked so thin as to be starving.

Argrave immediately recognized her as one of the Vessels sworn to serve the Lord of Copper, though for some reason he could not recall her name. “Galamon,” he called out. “She’s one of Brium’s. Let her in.”

The woman seemed surprised, yet not uneased, that Argrave knew her purpose immediately. Once Galamon opened the door, she eyed him and his axe without much caution before taking slow, almost sauntering steps inside. She looked around the room.

“So you’re the ones,” she said.

“The chosen ones, yes,” Argrave said glibly. “Something you need?”

Unamused by his quip, the woman stared at Argrave coldly. “Argrave?” she asked, and when Argrave confirmed with a nod, she continued, saying, “The Lord of Copper would meet you. He expects to see you and your companions out front of the grand tower of Cyprus.”

“Out front?” Argrave tried to confirm.

“Yes,” she confirmed begrudgingly, as though she loathed the question. “The master says to arm yourself, though he isn’t expecting you’ll need to fight.”

Argrave furrowed his brows questioningly, and then nodded. “We’ll be there, shortly.”

#####

Though Argrave had been worried that Brium’s request to see them out front meant that he would refuse them access to the tower of Cyprus, that was not the case. Instead, the Lord of Copper stood just outside the walls of his tower, with a small entourage of Vessels.

The Vessels swearing fealty to the Lord of Copper all wore clothes matching the shades of the metal that was their namesake—oranges, browns, reds, and all in between. None of their outfits could be called ‘decadent,’ barring Brium’s. Argrave, still in black enchanted leather, felt out of place as he approached them.

Brium had been engaging the Vessels near him, but when he spotted Argrave he tore away from the group without a word and spread his arms wide as though to welcome Argrave with an embrace. Finding himself in a predicament, Argrave slowed and raised his hand to wave.

“Lord Brium,” he said cautiously.

“You’re here. And promptly, too,” Brium greeted, not making to embrace Argrave as he feared. “That’s good. Honestly, you’re early. That’s fine. Let us speak some. I will inform you what is to happen.”

“I’m all ears,” Argrave said.

Brium placed his hands together, then walked past Argrave, obviously wishing for him to follow. “I found nothing suitable to pass to you on such short notice, unfortunately. These things take time. Perhaps that is why you were surprised to have been contacted so quickly, hmm?”

“If you found nothing, then…?” Argrave trailed off, unsure where this was going.

“Ah. My mouth outpaced my mind,” he shook his head, walking down the road. Argrave followed him, the two of them walking side-by-side. “I’m sure you remember a certain happening some… two days ago, I believe. It revolved around the southern tribal’s wyverns, and a raid on Argent?”

“It was our welcome into the town,” Argrave nodded.

“Was it now?” Brium questioned, then continued. “At the time, much of the Lord of Silver’s Vessels were engaged with me,” Brium placed a hand to his chest. “Even Lord Quarrus himself was engaging in a discussion with me. It was a minor dispute—which of the city’s people belong to who and such. This proved an inopportune time for them to have such a discussion—their tower was raided while they were away.”

“Funny timing,” Argrave commented.

“Hilarious,” Brium agreed with a plastic smile. He stopped in the road, and Anneliese and Galamon came to stand with Argrave. “Today, the lords of Argent and Aurum have insisted I meet to discuss this matter. They believe I am subverting them.” Brium clasped his hands together. “I have to correct the misunderstanding.”

“But… what do you want us to do?” Argrave questioned.

“You’re going to come with me to this meeting,” he stated plainly.

Argrave didn’t know what to say to that for a time—it had been the last thing he was expecting to hear. He shifted on his feet and questioned delicately, “Don’t you think, if you want to give them the idea that you aren’t subverting them, bringing a foreigner into the meeting might send the wrong message?”

“I have some plans on that front, fret not,” Brium shook his head. “You’ll learn them once we’re there.”

Argrave was frustrated by the vagary but could not point it out directly. “This doesn’t really test whether or not we’re trustworthy,” Argrave noted. “In fact, it’s really just risking for nothing. I could cause problems for you.”

“Well…” Brium raised a hand to his chin and cradled it delicately. “A part of me likes you. You possess some of the politeness of a gentleman of the Burnt Desert without the obsequious fawning I’m constantly privy to as the Lord of Copper. A pleasant balance.”

“I trust that’s not all,” Argrave pressed.

Brium put on his best smile once more. “I think you know in your head… what’s at stake.”

Argrave’s features grew taut at once. Between the emphasis, the word choice, and the complete non sequitur, there could only be one thing that Brium was referring to—Garm.

“Don’t worry,” Brium said calmly as Argrave’s mind whirled with a million questions. “I don’t care. Indeed, that kind of thing only affirms my choice. Someone willing to step past the line into the forbidden is precisely what I need at this juncture.”

Argrave suppressed the urge to shout and demand, ‘how.’ As much as he wished he could believe that Brium was simply bluffing to extract information from him, there was little room for interpretation. It was no bluff. Brium knew about Garm, and beneath that, he could make Argrave’s life very difficult.

Argrave was certain Brium wasn’t an exceptional schemer or master at espionage. That made the scenario all the more baffling. They hadn’t been incautious with Garm—measures were taken at every turn to ensure he couldn’t be easily seen.

“Once more… don’t let this weigh at you,” Brium said, reaching up and grabbing Argrave’s shoulder. It felt like a spider was on his arm, but he stayed still. “We have a meeting to attend later; I’d like you to keep your tongue sharp for that.” He removed his hand and waved Argrave forward. “Come. Meet the Vessels beneath me.”