jackal-among-snakes-16091326
chapter-185

Argrave told Galamon, Durran, and the very out-of-place Silvic that he and Anneliese intended to check up on their books before rejoining the party to discuss what needed to be done. Silvic asked to bury Drezki, and his companions saw to that task alongside her so that no issues would arise with the Waxknights or other residents.

“Was almost like things correcting themselves,” Argrave mused as he pushed open the door, stepping inside. “Drezki… god damn it. Why did it have to end like that? I should’ve…”

“Should have what?” Anneliese pressed.

Argrave stopped beside the half-open door. “I don’t know. Should have known better. Should have taken measures.”

“People tell you time and time again that way of thinking leads nowhere. When will you heed that lesson?” she questioned.

“Lot easier to say that than to do it. Don’t deny you ask the same thing,” Argrave refuted.

Anneliese just grabbed his wrist, giving it a solemn squeeze. It reminded him he wasn’t the only one affected by the things that happened around him. He flashed a bitter smile, then said, “Hopefully that little display helps keep Durran cautious.”

“Durran is different than he was before,” Anneliese said. “I don’t think he will cause trouble as he did in the Lionsun Castle.”

“I definitely hope not,” Argrave shook his head, stepping within the room and glancing about. He took a mental inventory of all within. Everything was as neat and orderly as it had been left. Then, his eyes fell upon something he had not been expecting to see—a human figure, greatly distorted by illusion magic.

At once, Argrave raised his hand up and formed the matrix for a fast-acting lightning spell, the C-rank [Skysunder]. With a yelp, the person threw themselves behind Argrave’s bed, shouting, “Wait!”

Argrave kept his hand raised, but said tentatively, “Mina?”

Anneliese stepped within the room cautiously, coming to stand shoulder to shoulder with Argrave.

Mina gingerly raised her head above the bed, and Argrave lowered his hand with mouth agape. “What in the hell are you doing here?” he demanded.

“Last time it was a book, now you nearly throw a spell at me?” Mina said incredulously, rising up a little further.

Mina of Veden had changed a great deal from when Argrave had last seen her. As ever, she looked like a cat, but some maturity shone through on her face. Her once shoulder-length yellow hair had grown much longer than that, and her yellow eyes seemed tired.

“I never expected to deal with this situation a second time,” he shook his head. “I’ll ask again—what the hell, Mina?”

“I’m sorry, I am! It’s different this time. I was expecting you to come back, wanted to talk to you!” Mina said urgently.

Argrave scratched his cheek. “Yet you still use an illusion spell, just the same as ever.”

“Because I thought I’d win, this time,” she shook her head. “Gods be damned.”

He briefly recalled their little game of whether or not she would surprise him and snorted. Argrave stepped away and looked around, and seeing no one was present, shut the door. “Why aren’t you at Mateth?” he began, stepping back into the room. “Why are you here? Looking to follow the current trend, catch a life-threatening disease?”

Mina’s yellow eyes gazed up at him. “You don’t know, do you?” she questioned, then shook her head. “Hah. I guess it’s my world, but really, no one knows besides me.” She shook her head, then looked up at Argrave. “I thought I changed a lot, but you… you changed a lot,” she noted, sizing him up. “You look… healthier. Scarier,” she admitted.

Argrave waited patiently. He could tell she was dodging the question because she found it painful to answer. That alone was answer enough, he supposed.

She stepped around and sat on Argrave’s bed, arms crossed. “Why do people say you call her your fiancée?” she gestured with her chin towards Anneliese. “Why are your eyes all… all wrong?”

Argrave sighed, and Anneliese conjured a ward that the three of them might speak privately. Mina watched her warily.

“I remember her,” she pointed. “She’s the elven woman you brought from the land of the snow elves.”

“’Brought’ is a poor choice of words,” Argrave said as he nodded. “Her name is Anneliese, in case you forgot. And yes, for all intents and purposes, we are engaged. I’ve answered one of yours, now time for mine—why aren’t you at Mateth?” He came to stand over her.

“You said you were never wrong about these things,” she said bitterly, her throat seized up. “Nicky sent me away. She said that… it wasn’t right, and that she was sorry.”

Though Argrave wasn’t exactly blindsided by her answer, it did make him feel much worse than he expected. The fact that Mina was desperately trying to stop herself from being emotional about it made it strike all the deeper, he found.

“And here you are,” she continued, sniffling once. “With a fiancée, whom you spend the whole night with, keeping the whole keep up with… moans, and…”

“Hey, woah woah woah,” Argrave held his finger out. “I don’t know what kind of twisted fantasies are brewing in that head of yours, but put them out of your mind. If there’s anything ‘heated’ going on in this room at night, it’s heated talks about magic and history,” he pointed to the books around the room.

Anneliese hid her face with one hand despite the fact that it was covered by a mask and shook her head. Argrave was still sure he saw a faint smile of amusement, though.

“Please. Magnus seemed to have mistaken me for your spurned lover, and so he divulged everything about you two,” she shook her head. “He was trying to turn me against you, I know. He’s a rude bastard…”

“Magnus,” Argrave lifted his head up and nodded, face blanking as his half-brother’s name came out once more. Argrave spared a glance at Anneliese, and she nodded as though she knew what he was thinking.

It was very obvious that Magnus was trying to impede Argrave at every turn. It went against what he knew of Magnus—as far as he knew, he and ‘Argrave’ had no animosity between the two of them. It was clear to him that something needed to be done about this. He just wasn’t certain what, yet.

Argrave turned his head back to Mina. “You know, Anneliese and I spent one night in this keep. And… well, whatever,” he finally surrendered. “Think what you want—I can’t stop you. But why did you come here, of all places? You don’t appear ill. Not yet, at least…” he glanced around the room. “You ought to wear one of these masks… keep your health up…” he stepped around, searching for the solemn white Humorless Masks.

“Induen came to Veden,” Mina disclosed, looking at Argrave. “I figured you might have some answers about that whole situation.”

Argrave turned back to Mina slowly, face taut. “I think we ought to spend some time catching up, then. It seems there’s a lot to talk about.”