Jackal Among Snakes

When Dimocles suggested a private conversation and a second offer from Erlebnis, caution flared. He wanted nothing further to do with the ancient god of knowledge. At the same time… this couldn’t be ignored, not when things were like this. He reasoned out the situation.

Argrave’s paranoia subsided with the dousing hose of logic, and he finally accepted that this was no murder plot. Onychinusa would be better suited for murder, or perhaps even Erlebnis’ countless emissaries. Argrave walked forward, joined by Anneliese.

“Hang on for a moment,” Argrave told everyone. “I’m going to have a talk with Dimocles. This shouldn’t take too long. Just… keep watch for anything suspicious.”

Everyone looked terribly confused about this development. Orion tried to follow, but Argrave stopped him, shaking his head. He was more worried about what might approach them as they talked than Dimocles himself. Argrave could handle an A-rank mage with polymorphism, without a doubt.

Once they walked near, Anneliese cast a ward to encircle them. As soon as all other sounds faded, Argrave asked, “Hurry this up, Dimocles. I don’t have all the time in the world to waste.”

“That might not be true. Your schedule has been cleared up a great deal, I should think. You won’t need to visit Sarikiz. You won’t need to rouse her, and you won’t need to draw the ire of Kirel Qircassia in doing so. A lot of things that were true are no longer so, Argrave.” Dimocles clasped his hands together, dropping his respectful address of ‘Your Majesty’ now that they spoke in private.

Argrave’s gray eyes hardened as Dimocles said more and more.

Before he could speak, Anneliese said, “We never mentioned what our specific plot with Sarikiz was to anyone beyond Orion. He cannot be your informant. That narrows it down to the elven gods alone.”

When she finished, Argrave realized she spoke as much to him as she did to Dimocles. One of the elven gods… betrayed us? But…

As Argrave’s thought coalesced, he spoke his conclusion aloud. “And given that no others knew of Erlebnis’ existence, of the Blessing of Supersession within me… it was Chiteng. He contacted Erlebnis, told him everything.”

felt out of place fell into place. Chiteng had not insisted Argrave inform the other elven gods about the Blessing of Supersession. When pressed, he seemed to avoid that question. Argrave’s tie to Erlebnis was a point of vulnerability, so he had not tried to escalate things further back then… but because of that, he’d missed a crucial detail.

moments, and you figure things out!” He held his arms out. “But it’s fine, it’s fine. I was going to tell you everything right now. After all, there are no secrets between friends. And fate has ordained that we shall walk this

path?” Argrave stared him down, suppressing the rising unease. “What’s Erlebnis’ gambit?

unfading smile slowly became a bitter one. “Alright. The last thing I would wish to do is make this meeting unduly combative.” He straightened his back and put his hands behind him. “I will lay out the facts. When Chiteng saw my Lord Erlebnis’ Blessing of Supersession on you, he thought you an envoy, perhaps even an unwitting one. With the threat of Kirel Qircassia looming

weren’t you? You seemed to think that Erlebnis knew your plans exactly. Well, you would be wrong in where you searched. Rest easy—not a one of your men or women have betrayed you.

something is happening,”

of the elven gods. They will be broken into spirits and consumed. This will be done as a favor to Kirel Qircassia to earn the alliance of his coalition and his good grace in the fight ahead. Kirel is rather angry at you and your elven gods, and he does

a deep

you and us, as I established.” The man raised his hand up. “When I came to Artur back then—told

their family. He wouldn’t do this,”

Argrave,”

that Chiteng turned on his family… for what, exactly?” Argrave

answered. “For betrayal, he received

have difficulty accepting that.” Anneliese stepped

Dimocles urged her. “I saw that bird of yours. A Starsparrow, was it? I keep some in my mountain villa. Fascinating creatures,

her the go-ahead. Anneliese was rattled enough she nearly sent her Starsparrow into the ward she’d conjured to block their conversation. After dispelling it, she let the bird go free and

Starsparrow just left. “Do you mean to tell me Erlebnis is going to aid Kirel

knows this. Measures have been taken—like I said, things will go swimmingly even if you do nothing. The Supreme Myriarch will die when the elven gods are slaughtered. One of His servants, the Myriarch Altan, will seize command. She will retreat, and she will ask her steadfast ally, King Argrave, to shelter her people.

leave the elven gods to

sighed. “Let me put it this way. At the end of all of this, Argrave, you will gain many powerful allies. Though you are poised to make enemies of the Qircassian Coalition, all of that unpleasantness will