Jackal Among Snakes

“Are you talking about the god’s blessing within me?” Argrave asked with a firm voice—he was proud of himself for staying steady given the walls themselves were shaking.

“You admit, then, that you have the favor of another god,” Chiteng’s red eyes narrowed somewhat.

“No. I was blessed, but I have no favor from him,” he shook his head. “We traded. Bartered. I had something that he wanted, and in return for it he lent me access to his power. I will admit he did express interest in making me one of his champions, but I refused the offer,” Argrave scratched at his ear as he shook his head.

“And why refuse?” Chiteng threw his hand up gently, prompting elaboration. His voice had quieted, so he didn’t seem as angry as before.

“The same reason I proposed cooperation with you, not subservience to you.” Argrave spread his arms out. “I have a duty. To myself, and to others.”

The congregated servants behind muttered, but Argrave stayed razor-focused on the figure on his throne. The truth of the matter was that Argrave thought he’d be better than the gods at making this world habitable. This little eerie red ocean this throne stood on was a perfect example at why allowing gods with narrow focuses unadulterated access to the world was a net negative. Humans were the best to serve humans—that was his purpose as king, now. He’d gotten the crown, and now he needed to hold it. It was as much for his future as it was for others—that’s how these things worked.

Chiteng didn’t look satisfied by that answer. “Duties are long, thankless threads that can form impeding knots when intertwined. You propose cooperation. I do not intend to subvert my own duty by wrapping it in yours without understanding your intent fully.”

Argrave nodded, filtering past the grandiose speech to get the root of the matter—he wanted Argrave’s motive. He took a breath and answered, “My duty is simple. I must allow everyone who falls beneath my banner to get through this without painful submission or death. And why? Because I want to live in a nice place.”

Chiteng watched without judgement. “You don’t care for their fates?”

“As much as about anyone else, yeah I do,” Argrave nodded, being quite honest. “The world is better with others living in it. Innovation, structure, safety… that’s what organized and civilized society offers, in large part. I want to preserve that for me and mine. I’m sure you understand, having watched over the elves for as long as you have.”

Chiteng tapped his finger on the throne’s armrest. “The chains that bind are long and greedy. I once thought it foolish that we divinity should fight amongst each other for territory, for worshippers, but death is the thing we fear. The gods will try and make their mark on your people. I am rooted here in the Bloodwoods because my family and I served the elves, earned their worship, protected them, and gave them a home to live. Your life has been short, but many of us have seen dozens of millennia pass by. The opportunism stems from seeking a staging ground for the next cycle, for it never truly ends. We seek to build a fortress in the hearts and mind of the mortals, so that when next the arbiter raises his judgment we may step upon familiar soil.”

The elven god leaned in. “They will come for all you have. They will try and erode your people’s will with filling pleasures, try and conquer the land by might, try and beat you down with reason honed over centuries. I do not chide your resistance, but they resist all the same against powers greater than they are. In your land, bodies that meet the earth nourish the crops that grow in years to come. For the gods, we need only eat each other to grow stronger. You know this, having offered that silver medallion laden with divinity.”

intently, surprised the impersonal god spoke so personally. At the end of that, he nodded. “Life is

see plainly on display.” Chiteng fell back into his throne, lost in thought. “You spoke sense. Kirel Qircassia has no reason to so meekly allow myself and my family to join his coalition when he could establish his presence in these woods both for this cycle and the next. Experience has taught me that people rarely speak sense without another motive

he finished unbearable.

and expectation. He has earned a powerful place for himself in this world by trading knowledge between all powers equitably. Nevertheless, many names have been stomped beneath

quell uncertainty,” Argrave finally

watched and waited,

Argrave said. “But I can

his throne,

patrolled. I didn’t know if I could open the portal to the Mother’s Steppes without sacrificing someone. And I

a minute. He stepped up the stairs toward Chiteng’s throne,

as Chiteng’s finger thumped against the stone. “You will need to explain how you will

Argrave brightened. “Meaning…?”

uncertainty certainly. I will speak to my family. But they were not revitalized with an offering of divinity as I was—they

broadly. “Excellent! Then I’ll wait a

slammed down upon the armrest, and the noise echoed like a giant gong out across the room until Argrave’s ears felt like they would

I will not relax my vigilance. I watch

#####

“Your absence was noted.”

of Erlebnis looked down at the elf Onychinusa as she sat before the shrine. Its too-long arms were crossed before it in what appeared to be disappointment, but the abominations of the ancient god of knowledge

a day,” she defended herself, looking up

harsh words casually. “We cannot stray far from the lord’s shrines of yet.

with the grass before the

emissary continued as