/n/jackal-among-snakes-1520/c-189
chapter-188

“You come from Veiden?” Mina questioned Anneliese, trying to start a conversation.

Anneliese stared out at the doorway which Argrave and Orion had left, nervously braiding and unbraiding portions of her long white hair. She answered Mina idly, “It depends on how you define ‘come from.’”

Mina placed her hands loudly on the dining table the two of them sat at. “You were born there.”

“I was born on a coastal village in Berendar,” Anneliese shook her head.

Mina frowned, then tapped her fingers against the table for a time, staring at the white-haired elf. She bit at her lips in quiet deliberation, then questioned, “Why did your people invade Mateth?”

Anneliese was drawn away from her idle braiding and turned to face Mina completely. Though silent for a moment, she eventually answered simply, “They thought it their duty.”

“They?” Mina repeated.

“I do not envision myself returning,” Anneliese replied.

Mina tapped her fingers on the table once again, then questioned, “Who gave them this duty?”

“Veid,” Galamon answered. Mina looked at him blankly, and so he elaborated, “Our goddess.”

Mina nodded, then placed her head on her arms on the table. “Of course. Naturally. There must be something higher than yourself giving you a reason to kill, elsewise people will have to confront their deeds.”

“Better for some to die now to establish a thousand years of prosperity,” Galamon disagreed at once.

Anneliese didn’t seem to have any stake in the matter. She rose and exited, walking to where Argrave and his half-brother had left.

“I don’t see how it is all that different from what someone like Orion does,” Mina spoke to Galamon.

Galamon stared down at her coldly. He was easily twice her size. “This is a pointless conversation. I dislike that man more than anyone else here, I’m certain, but I put that aside.”

“I just don’t want Argrave to forget who he’s helping,” Mina said. “This place… these knights… it’s safe, sure, so long as you don’t step out of line. I just…” she paused, then shook her head. “No matter. It’s not—”

Mina paused as two people walked through the door. Anneliese and Argrave walked side by side and strode up to the table.

“It seems it’s time to get to work,” Argrave clasped his hands together and rubbed them. “Orion wants to talk to Silvic, meaning we’re soon to start planning the expedition. A week, maybe a bit longer, and we’ll leave camp. Going to be a bloody journey.”

Mina looked up at Argrave. “I’d best be going, then.”

Argrave lowered his head in a slight bow. “Once again, nothing but thanks from me, Mina.”

She stood up from the bench. “You’ll pay me back in more than just words, I hope. Risking life and limb for you. Let’s not forget who Induen is.”

Argrave’s face grew serious. “I know the gravity of this.”

Mina kept her yellow eyes on his, then seemed to shudder from a chill. She walked away, preparing to head off.