/n/jackal-among-snakes-1520/c-260
chapter-259

“What, precisely, do you experience when you use the bronze jewelry? I have heard you use the word ‘see.’ Is it similar to sight, or wholly different?” Anneliese asked Elenore.

Elenore observed the simply dressed snow elf across from her. Anneliese, just as Argrave, wore exotic, hardy gray leathers with protective enchantments along all its length—duster, pants, and shirt all. They had another black set of lighter make designed for travel in the Burnt Desert. Allegedly, the fact they matched was coincidental—Elenore wasn’t so sure.

The woman was rather like an unending river of questions. Upon examining the ostentatious, puffy way in which the people of Relize dressed, she had questioned Elenore of how such a thing came to be. She inquired about construction, ship craftsmanship in Vasquer, the size of the sea Relize neighbored, and now it had come to Elenore. Anneliese asked her questions with an open-minded curiosity that came without judgement, so it was difficult to brush them off.

“You may understand it as a sphere of perception around me,” Elenore described briefly.

She was not averse to answering questions—there was some time before the meeting with the Dandalan would come. They waited within the warehouse a fair distance from the meeting place in a private area so as to talk without fear of distraction. They had been amply cautious in setting this up, and now they merely needed to wait. Elenore wished to be able to receive firsthand reports from Anneliese as she observed things… among some other motives.

“I recall you mentioning being able to observe something hidden within a box without opening it,” Anneliese continued, amber eyes veritably glowing.

Elenore nodded.

The elven woman leaned a bit closer. “Does this extend past protective enchantments? Safes, vault, et cetera? Could you view inside those chests you brought to the warehouse, for instance?”

“Magic interferes, but does not block entirely,” Elenore shook her head.

“Can you perceive my insides? What I have in my pockets?”

Elenore crossed her arms. “Yes, I can. Why did you not try these things out when Argrave had possession of them?”

Anneliese leaned back against the warehouse’s wall, bringing one hand to her long white hair. Elenore observed her fingers move very adroitly, forming a braid. “I wish I had.”

Much of Elenore’s focus was devoted to Anneliese’s fingers as she braided. It was so practiced as to be habitual—Anneliese seemed capable of doing it in her sleep.

“You watch me braid, no?” Anneliese cut in.

Elenore, surprised, cocked her head back. “I… I was, yes.”

“I knew it,” she smiled, pleased with herself. “Even despite your unusual manner of sight—if it can even be called so—the face retains certain habits.”

Elenore didn’t know what to make of that, but she found herself smiling back. After a time, she found her own curiosity rising. “Why do you keep your hair long? It must be a hindrance.”

“Argrave likes it,” she responded simply. “I do, too. But it’s impractical, I agree.”

“He asked you to keep it like that?” Elenore tilted her head.

“No. I merely know,” Anneliese shook her head.

Elenore took a deep breath and sighed, ruminating on things in silence. She had come to trust Argrave more than she thought herself capable, yet the fact remained it felt like there was still a certain distance between him and his inner circle.

“I tried to kill Argrave the first time we met,” Anneliese spoke.

Elenore came to attention, feeling like her mind had been read.

“You looked disheartened, so I thought I might share something,” Anneliese continued. “We were enemies on the battlefield. I could tell at once something was amiss—he felt no hostility towards me. He recognized who I was. He wished desperately for peace. Nevertheless, I fired a spell at him with the intent to kill. Fortunately, he is quite skilled at fighting with magic.”

Elenore grew silent. Anneliese put her finger atop the braid she’d made—it was two feet long, by this point—and unwound it all with a whisk of her finger.

“Did you… think about it? Does it haunt you?” Elenore asked.

“Yes. I brought it up with him. He had forgotten it,” Anneliese laughed.

Elenore laughed too—that was the last conclusion to things she thought she’d hear.

“He’s forgiving?” she pressed. “Has he ever… been betrayed, or at least felt betrayed?”

“Certainly. Durran’s presence was… not without its issues. I would like to tell you of it sometimes,” Anneliese continued. “Not just that—Veiden, the Patriarchate, everything.”

Elenore was puzzled, and she rubbed her hands together. “Why? Is there something I should know? I received reports of Veiden military strength from Melanie herself—I know well the threat your people pose.”

“I hope for a confidant. A friend,” Anneliese smiled. “As much as I enjoy those I travel with, it is difficult at times to be the sole woman in a party of four. There are fundamental differences between us that are difficult to bridge.”

Raising a brow, Elenore gave a slow and steady nod. “I imagine so.”

“I am glad of it,” Anneliese clapped her hands together.

“But let’s not forget the reason we came here in the first place,” Elenore waved her hand to caution Anneliese. “This meeting with the Dandalans is important.”