jackal-among-snakes-16091326
chapter-429

Argrave stood at the stables with Anneliese, watching as the people there tended to the horses that had been drawing their carriage. She held a packet in her hand.

“To think your handwriting used to be so much neater,” Anneliese ruminated, biting her lip. “What is this strange script? It used to be so pretty… now I can barely read it, these days.”

Argrave scoffed. “Is that the point?”

“No, no, of course not,” she said, flashing a teasing smile at him. “Infusing blood magic into all spells… you really had your mind set on magic that caused you pain from the get-go, hmm?”

Argrave said nothing in response, looking back to the tower. “Wanted to seek Castro for counsel about [Blood Infusion], but…”

Argrave heard some commotion from the entrance to the Tower of the Gray Owl, and turned his head to see what this was all about. There, Castro walked, someone walking by his side with quite the hunch.

The Tower Master walked toward them, and Argrave moved to meet him halfway. His eyes wandered to the man that was coming with, and he saw Ingo. The Tower Master’s apprentice was in quite the state—his eyes were bloodshot, his pale skin was drawn tight against his bones, and his baby blue hair was thin and wispy. He shivered as though it was cold, but Argrave felt the weather was rather warm here. Ingo looked near death, quite frankly.

“Ingo wishes to meet this Alchemist. But I won’t allow whatever happens until I’ve met him myself, Your Majesty,” Castro said insistently yet respectfully. “I have my own carriage. We shall follow.”

“Are affairs settled at the Order?” Anneliese asked cautiously, her good-natured teasing vanished now that others were here. “This will not be a short journey. We have much to attend to before the matter with the Alchemist.”

“Yes,” Castro confirmed. “The Order is in capable hands.”

Argrave nodded. “Then… let’s get ready to go.”