Jackal Among Snakes

“God damn it all… proxies, parables, metaphors, rituals—why can’t these damned gods just talk straight?” Argrave bit at his knuckle, stewing on what Anneliese had reported.

“Because then we would know what they intend to do. That might make their plans a little more difficult to enact,” Anneliese reminded him tactfully.

Argrave chewed a few more times, then looked to her. “I’ll tell you one thing, though. Dimocles… or maybe that was Erlebnis’ advice after all, can’t rule that out… he wants us to use the elven gods and then toss them aside let dirty dish rags. ‘Light the fire, but the don’t stay as the building burns.’ Heh.” He looked off to the side, a little disgusted.

“I think we can say safely, though…” Anneliese began, closing her eyes. “I do not think Erlebnis knows precisely what we intend to do. I think that comes in large part from your tendency to give out your plans piecemeal—barring me, none know of your full plan. Have you been doing that all along to mitigate the impact of potential information leaks?” She looked at him, amber eyes gleaming.

Argrave swallowed. “If anybody else asks, I would say yes, I did act mysterious to hide my plans. Since you’re asking, though—no, it was just a happy accident.”

Anneliese seemed amused, though the gravity of the situation prevented much exuberance. She grew somber as she asked, “How does this change our plans?”

“We’ve committed, right?” Argrave sought to confirm, seeing no way to change course.

“…definitely,” Anneliese confirmed after hesitating half a beat. “Metaphorically speaking… we head north, but in going north, one can still go northeast or northwest.”

“Poetic,” Argrave complimented, then sighed. “I think overthinking it will be just as dangerous as paying Erlebnis’ presence no mind… but if we consider that changing things up might be precisely what Erlebnis wanted us to do, then staying our course might be the best option to subvert him. We drive on, stay focused, try to learn as much as we can… and whatever he throws, we adapt to it.”

Anneliese heard him out, and then questioned, “Have you considered that might be precisely what Erlebnis is doing to you? Waiting for an opportunity?”

Argrave paused. “Maybe. But what’s that matter?”

“There is no better way to get information than to probe for it. If we bait a reaction… we learn how he moves,” Anneliese pointed out. “And how he moves might highlight what he seeks.”

decide they’re not as fond of the pep in my step as they

better than doing nothing,”

clicked his tongue, staring out across the

#####

place as a valley cut off from the rest of the place. She carried what looked to be a bouquet of

plain stone rectangles, unadorned and uninscribed. She went to each and brushed it off with practiced grace, clearing leaves and the strange, unnatural fruits of the redwoods away from them all before leaving a single of the

at the top of a hill. It looked unnaturally smooth. Puzzled, she rose to her feet and walked to it. With some effort, she managed to get up to it. She realized it was larger than it seemed, and began to clear away some of the leaves that had fallen to cover it. Her eyes widened when she saw what was unmistakably a fingernail. Believing it to be a giant, her instinct kicked in and she ran down the hill she’d ascended moments before. She grasped at a horn at her side, ready to blow… yet then, the owner of the nail sat

a weak and pathetic noise came out of the thing as she hesitated in shock. This giant had elven ears, and golden hair all the way down the length of his body. He reached

elven giants sat up in turn. When one set down a bow with a flaming string, the elven woman’s eyes widened in recognition. She pranced about in fear as she

hand out. The woman

full

as these were the first true gods to step foot upon mortal soil in preparation for the arbiter, Gerechtigkeit. And more were listening than the elven

#####

shouted as he came back

and a small yellow cat. Argrave felt a little different, looking upon them. It was likely someone here was flapping their gums to Erlebnis. Who, though? He might have Anneliese go through them piece-by-piece, but there was no time for that, and sowing disunity before meeting with gods invited

cleared of suspicion, and Argrave needed the former’s strength enough

you to keep,” Argrave began. “I need you to keep your cool. Staying alive in a fight is one thing, but you do

saluted. “Yes, Your Majesty! We hear and

was starting to like the amber-eyed Veidimen the most of his officers, but the other two were reliable enough. As the others gave less disciplined expressions of support, Argrave eventually called aside Ganbaatar, taking the elf for

years or so?” Argrave inquired. “Chances are, he’s going to be the

if that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t know. The Supreme Myriarch abandons everything when he assumes the role—name, family, home, pleasure… only the myriarchs of the Tumens even know when the position has changed hands, mostly, and that’s because they elect among themselves. It isn’t hard to guess, but even saying the name of the

things are about duty with your people. Your commanders whip themselves more

time again that leadership can turn incompetence into unmatched ferocity.” Ganbaatar looked back. “Those royal guards of