Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 390

Before Argrave stood his top ranks in this expedition—everyone who had some degree of authority. The three Veidimen officers, the Magisters, Mina and the Monticci family, and lastly his family, Orion and Anneliese. These were all people of proven trustworthiness and skill, and he needed precise delegation and execution at this critical juncture.

Seeing them all… he felt some degree of self-loathing for having doubted them. To know that betrayal came from somewhere higher up did disquiet him. Simultaneously, knowing that whatever happened moving forward would be with those he trusted absolutely bolstered his confidence.

Argrave nodded and looked off to everyone else. “We’re going to the coastline of the North Sea, where the ships I called for will be docking tomorrow morning—we can’t sleep, not tonight. I had intended Elenore to send men to help purging the land of the remnants of Kirel Qircassia’s forces, but we’ll make use of them.”

“Make use of them for what? What’s happening?” Nikoletta asked, still out of the loop.

Argrave looked at her and her father. “For starters, we’ll use their ships. You and Duke Enrico will be going back.”

The old duke had barely had the chance to say even three words, but even still he recognized the situation and gave a steady nod. Nikoletta, however, began, “But I want to--!”

“You need to go to Elenore, and you need to deliver her my words exactly as I say them,” Argrave interrupted her. “These are instructions I can’t risk being leaked.”

Duke Enrico put his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Listen to Argrave.”

“His Majesty, Duke Enrico,” Orion corrected. “But please, tell us what happened to change our plans so.”

Argrave looked at him and took a deep breath, still grappling with that himself. “Another god has hit the forests. We have to change our response accordingly.”

“And the elven gods?” Vasilisa questioned seriously.

“…we’re lacking critical information,” Argrave said hesitantly. “There is much to work out. For now, go.”

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to the battlefield would be a clear uncooperative signal,” Anneliese advised Argrave. “And as we are now, we can do nothing. The

a ward sustained by Anneliese, ensuring none of their conversation leaked out to anyone listening. They

would achieve nothing but firmly placing them on one side of things. For now, regardless of how things played out, it was best to give the image of accepting Erlebnis’

saw the gods’ power,” Anneliese continued when Argrave said nothing. “Their enemies are strong, but as are they. And each are made even stronger by the power Kirel Qircassia’s partial defeat gave

“And if Erlebnis is lying about

saw their retreat. They fight a few emissaries, who fight half-heartedly, I am sure of it. But even if they did not… could you change their Tumens’ fate?” Anneliese said tactfully. “Is there even a way out

it rhetorical… yet nonetheless, his mind worked to grab at answers. “Mozzahr, the Castellan of the Empty, fought against gods deep below the earth in the abandoned cities of the dwarves. Racial dwarves, not like

at him. “You said he invades the mainland at the dawn of the

precisely what’s happening here happened there. Gerechtigkeit saw Mozzahr as a threat to his victory, so he weakened the boundaries between realms,

stumbled

If not for him trying to kill the forest, I might not have noticed at

from that?” Anneliese questioned. “Did the enemies

grasping at straws a little,” Argrave paused, looking back to see everyone was following. Their haste had put some distance between him and the main forces, yet Orion still followed a comfortably close distance

you will grasp,” Anneliese said confidently.

cast that spell on me, the first time we interacted

times, then nodded. “You said it

confirmation and continued, “And

Ebon Cult heralding Mozzahr were prominent users of shamanic magic,” she filled

hoping to dampen her rising hope. It did no good to raise expectations. “Shamanic magic was useless to me in the beginning. Silvic was the only spirit we saw, and she wasn’t vulnerable to shamanic magic in the slightest. Spirits aren’t abundant. It’s been a thousand years since the last time gods could fragment, and most spirits have found their place far away

seen them taken in by

trying to do was teleport me to another location. That should give you some indication of how powerful shamanic magic can be. It also uses

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