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.”

#####

Anneliese advised Argrave. “And as we are now, we can do nothing. The fate

coastline. The two of them talked in a ward sustained by Anneliese, ensuring none of their conversation leaked out to anyone listening.

she had a point. Rushing back into things 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’ unspoken offer. And so they headed for the ships Elenore sent, where

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

at her. “And if Erlebnis is lying about sparing

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

gods deep below the earth in the

the mainland at

abandoned dwarven cities… well, precisely what’s happening here happened there. Gerechtigkeit saw Mozzahr as a threat to his victory, so he weakened

closed her eyes for a brief moment, then opened them again as she almost stumbled over something

hidden away in the Bloodwoods as he was. If not for him trying to kill the forest, I might not have noticed at all.” Argrave sighed. “Whatever the case, it doesn’t matter. This is

lessons can we take from that?” Anneliese questioned. “Did the

and the main forces, yet Orion still followed a comfortably close

will grasp,” Anneliese

you remember when Onychinusa cast that spell on me, the

a few times, then nodded. “You

nodded in confirmation and

filled in somewhat eagerly. “And shamanic magic employs

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 from the

taken in by the elven gods.

me to another location. That should give you some indication of how powerful shamanic magic can be. It also uses a highly limited resource that can’t reasonably be obtained until things get… very

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