Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 31

If one was suddenly placed in a situation where they needed to dispatch near a hundred animated corpses coated in metal and capable of bending steel with their hands, they might not be able to come up with a solution. That was doubly true if they were entirely out of magic when confronting this situation.

Argrave had faced worse odds. Granted, it had been within a game, and there was no imminent death in the case of failure.

One of the main reasons people were able to do much more in games than in real life was because of the limitations imposed by artificial intelligence. NPCs could not act like truly real people. They were incapable of making judgements and responding to the situation accordingly. They had to be programmed, and that programming could only account for so many scenarios. Once one learns vaguely how the AI functions, it becomes easy to overcome insurmountable odds. You can manipulate the AI into poor situations.

These tomb guardians could be compared to artificial intelligence. Though Argrave had thought while planning this might be a big hurdle, all he needed was time.

Argrave peered through a small hole in the palisades out at the crowd of tomb guardians. Though they had been headed straight for Barden, they now veered away, following after a lone figure: Galamon. He rode on horseback, circling around them and deflecting the odd magic arrow that came near him.

“We just need to wait,” Argrave said, leaning against the palisade as he stared out. “If we move too soon, the archers will take notice of us and fire. Those things are indiscriminate butchers.”

“You’re placing Galamon in much danger,” Anneliese commented.

Argrave turned his head around. He was surrounded by Veidimen. It felt strange being around them. With them, he felt as though he was average height again. With the pale skin, they might as well be kin.

“He’s tough, and he’s the only one I can trust with this. Besides, worst-case scenario, vampires can regenerate, and are much more physically capable than most. You should know this.”

Anneliese nodded. “It is merely disquieting. He is a great figure.”

“Yet the Veidimen exiled him,” Argrave stepped away from the palisade.

“He is still respected, even if Veid has punished him. I study his strategies.”

“It shows,” Argrave said. “Without your quick decision, things would have gone much differently.”

“I did not do enough.” Anneliese crossed her arms. “The battle should not have been so close.”

“What would you have done differently?” Argrave asked, curious to hear some insights from a future prominent strategist.

Anneliese did not take long to consider. “I would have tried to kill you as quickly as possible. Your magic sealed the first landing party’s fate. I did not think the commander would be willing to sally out of the palisades and onto the beaches. Things would have been much easier if you had remained within the walls.”

smiled. He walked away and sat on a wooden crate that looked stable. “I left an impression,

scouts. I see now that may be otherwise.” Anneliese stood before the sitting Argrave, keeping her eye on the distant mob. “I

that Argrave could blame them, exactly. Unlike the Veidimen, the humans were not used to setting aside conflicts

the commander, merely an advisor. That incompetent moron nearly killed us all by allowing us to deal with

strange posture. You’re hurt,” Anneliese

“What? Why?”

“You

her away incredulously. “Save your

as I please.” She took another step closer. “Our contract does not dictate

by her intensity. He slowly did as she asked. Anneliese held her hand out, and he felt an odd sensation like razor burn along his backside.

spent your magic to

no confidence in your plan?”

laughed. “No, it should work just fine. Not much magic will be needed, actually.” Argrave looked back out at the slowly fading mob. “Want to

Anneliese nodded.

but that’s not important. They’re reanimated by magic. Bludgeon them, sever limbs, stab them, crush them—those things don’t work, really. Not only is it very hard to pierce the metal, losing parts

against a house. “Magic is about the most painful thing for them, but Ebonice does the job nicely. Pierce their skin with Ebonice, it’ll be like a balloon popping—the things fall over like a house of cards, and we’re crawling away from Tartarus back

those restrictions.” Anneliese waved her hands, going along

out. “Shouldn’t be

I

you?” Argrave spread

She paused, and Argrave furrowed his brows in confusion. She elaborated further. “You could have Galamon lure them away to one of the

a mess.” Argrave said,

will cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. The cat is out of the bag, and now it’s time to

have no loyalty

side. “Never really thought of it. As far as I’m concerned, a human is just what I happen to be. We’re all animals, despite how some would raise themselves above that label. All that matters is character. Galamon is of good character. As are you. As are many others, regardless of vague separations. Unfortunately, greed and stigma cause

lowered her head, thinking. She asked

you are

he found that he

#####

needed to keep a constant eye on them. The archers, of which he counted around fifteen, constantly fired on his position. Generally, the movement of the horse was enough to keep him from being hit. At times, he would need to swat aside the magic

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