Jackal Among Snakes

“…and after the tomb guardians shambled in on Barden, one of their arrows hit the palisades. I was knocked unconscious by the wood splinters,” Argrave explained. “Anneliese here can tell you what happened afterwards. She carried me on her back and swam across the great blue ocean. She's dedicated like that,” he finished, tapping the snow elf’s elbow as they walked through the gates of the Monticci estate.

Ahead, two knights carried a chest up through the estate’s front door. Anneliese did not seem to hear the exaggeration as she was observing everything around her with a great deal of interest. Though she feigned obliviousness to the hateful glances cast her way and the disparaging terms muttered in her direction, Argrave could tell they reached her and bothered her.

“You still haven’t mentioned what ‘Gerechtigkeit’ is,” Nikoletta said, coming to a stop. “I don’t understand. You go alone to the heart of an invasion, and you manage to just talk them into setting aside arms? It’s ridiculous. These things don’t just happen,” she shook her head, spreading her arms wide in disbelief at the situation.

“Hold on.” Argrave held out his hand and conjured a D-rank ward spell around them. “Soundproofing.”

“So, talk.” Nikoletta pointed, then crossed her arms. “How did you do what you did?”

“Well, much like how Anneliese put aside the battle we were having to defeat the metal men, Patriarch Dras put aside the invasion for another matter.” Argrave rested his hand atop the Ebonice daggers on his waist.

“Elaborate,” Nikoletta demanded.

Argrave scratched his chin. “Not sure you’d believe me.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” she dismissed. “I’m tired of you leaving me in the dark, damn it.”

Argrave chuckled. “Never heard you curse. Guess I’m in the deep end now.” He scratched the back of his head. “Gerechtigkeit is a calamity. An ancient one, old as no one can remember. Shows up every millennium and again to try and put an end to the world.” Argrave shrugged and shook his head. “The Kingdom of Vasquer is too young to have any records of it. It’s… what, year 872 since its founding?”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, more confused than anything.

“I just told you. A god is going to descend to this mortal plane hellbent on destruction. Wouldn’t call him malicious—it’s just his instincts. Malicious or not, I much prefer living, and no one else I can see is stepping up.”

Nikoletta shook her head, mouth agape in bewilderment.

“She might take you seriously if you acted serious,” Anneliese recommended.

“That’s true,” Argrave nodded. “But—”

Nikoletta held her hand out to stop them from talking further. “What exactly is going to happen? When is this going to happen?”

“What is it? I think the world ‘calamity’ should make things clear enough. A disaster, a…” Argrave waved his hand, searching for synonyms, “An apocalypse, though it’s a living thing rather than a force of nature. If you can call a god ‘alive,’ that is. As for when this is going down… considering that now is near the end of autumn… a few years. I could probably give an exact date, but frankly I haven’t looked at a calendar in many months.”

“You’re serious about this?” Nikoletta sought to confirm. “This isn’t some tactic you used to convince the snow elves?”

“No,” Argrave shook his head. “Everything I’ve done has been towards this end. The big bad evil takes precedence over mortal squabbles in my eye. The whole world will just stop: no more life, big empty wasteland, everyone dead… as far as I understand it, at least. There aren’t any tales of what happens after Gerechtigkeit, unfortunately, so I can't confirm this.”

Anneliese raised a hand to get attention. “A millennia ago, my people took part in a great war on another continent outside of Berendar. The devastation wreaked is spoken of in many stories. Perhaps the only reason the people of Berendar do not know is because they were not affected. But now, He Who Would Judge the Gods is to appear on this continent,” Anneliese said, pointing to the ground.

and Argrave waited patiently. Eventually, she asked the question he had been waiting for. “How

matter. In time, the truth will be made clear for everyone. Dim echoes of Gerechtigkeit are already deeply rooted in this continent.

“Why don’t you want to

to

trust

you with my life, but what

Nikoletta stared at him, her dark pink eyes shaking slightly. Eventually, she shook her head. “I don’t get it. I don’t get it at all.

said simply, voice low. “Until it’s done, I have no other aim.” Anneliese studied his face with her amber

do, then?” Nikoletta asked

your forces. Build your strength. And, when the time comes, help,” Argrave shrugged as though it

to happen anyway, if I know my father. I’ll probably keep that

frowned. “Red hair, chains,

confirmed.

know her. She’s done some work for the royal family. Don’t give her too much

she nodded. “I’ll

“Alright. Talk over.”

Nikoletta grabbed his wrist. “Wait. You spoke of how to deal with this matter of

free. “Well, you’d have to trust me a good deal. After the talk we had, that might not

second, and then said, “Tell

see it, your father can send thirty proposals my way. As long as I never answer or even receive them, he’ll be left waiting. I plan on leaving soon—more things to settle before the end times, you see. Once Castro helps Duke Enrico out of his coma, you

you leave him waiting too long, he might just change his mind,” Nikoletta

dad might be fostering some ambitions for the throne? He’ll persist for

and she stared at the ground. “Even still, it’s not

out and shrugged. “Of course, you have to trust I won’t answer any of his proposals. Might be you could find someone else for the task,

held out her hand. “If there’s one thing I trust, it’s that you don’t wish to marry me.” She cast a brief

like depressing self-deprecation, but you’re right,” Argrave

#####

the two knights opened the door to Argrave’s old guest bedroom, entering sideways. Argrave followed close behind. He failed to duck, though,

behind her hand. “Don’t laugh,” he demanded, pointing at her. “I got used to the big doorframes at Veiden. Not my fault

tall. You’re the abnormal one,”

entering the room he’d stayed at briefly in Mateth.

a room, or do you…?”

staying long enough to sleep,” Argrave answered. “Have to get

in his guest room at House Monticci’s estate. They cast a glance at Anneliese as they left and shut

Where’s my money?” Argrave

taken aback. “From the

think I stopped this invasion for free?” Argrave said sarcastically. “I’m kidding. Yes, of course from

bidder paid in rose gold magic coins: 214 of them. We probably could have got a lot more if we’d gone through different channels, but… no matter. I