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.”

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

than doing nothing,” Anneliese argued

staring out across the

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off from the rest of the place. She carried what looked to be a bouquet of flowers… but in actuality, they were arrows,

went to each and brushed it off with practiced grace, clearing leaves and the strange, unnatural fruits of the redwoods away

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

giant had elven ears, and golden hair all the way down

of the monuments, other elven giants sat up in turn. When one set down a bow with a flaming string, the elven woman’s eyes widened in recognition.

hair—reached his hand out. The woman tensed, but did not step away. He lightly brushed her cheek, his finger far larger than her entire

Woodschild…” he muttered groggily, then planted his other hand down upon the hill he sat upon. He began to rise, coming to his full and staggering height.

was a declaration well worth noting… as these were the first true gods to step foot upon mortal soil in preparation for

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time,” Argrave shouted as he came back upon his

little different, looking upon them. It was likely someone here was flapping their gums to Erlebnis. Who, though?

suspicion, and Argrave needed the

one of you to keep,” Argrave began. “I need you to keep your cool. Staying alive in a fight is one thing, but you do not fight unless fought, and you do not instigate anything,” Argrave waved his finger between them all. “I know all of you are professional, but this

Your Majesty!

Grimalt. Argrave 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

changed in the past two years or so?” Argrave inquired. “Chances are,

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 Supreme Myriarch once he’s in that role is

your people. Your commanders whip themselves more than they whip their

incompetence into unmatched ferocity.” Ganbaatar