Jackal Among Snakes

“All of that work to return without finishing?” Ganbaatar stepped to Argrave, concerned but with anger held tightly at bay. “What was that conversation?”

Argrave watched the ship docked with knights and his cousin aboard, then looked to Ganbaatar. Behind, Moriatran and Artur moved off, speaking to each other as they spoke of the battle they’d just endured. Argrave waited a moment, then conjured a ward around himself and the elf.

“Kirel Qircassia is in league with another god,” Argrave said to Ganbaatar flat out.

It pained him to phrase it in such a way, deflecting blame from himself… but what he needed most was Ganbaatar’s cooperation. He could practically hear Dimocles saying, ‘You know best, Argrave. That’s why you deceive this man.’ But then, shame had never been in Argrave’s repertoire.

“What in the blazes does that mean?” the wood elf stepped closer. “Why are we here? Why are we standing about? And… ships?”

“I’m going to fix this,” Argrave said point-blank. “But I’ll level with you—things are desperate. We’re on the backpedal.”

Ganbaatar took a deep, angry breath through clenched teeth. “The backpedal,” he repeated.

“I need to get to the dryads,” Argrave continued. “And I’m hoping you can help with that.”

“Do you realize what you’re asking?” Ganbaatar gestured towards him. “The dryads are the sole thing kept secret, kept protected. Elves can move, relocate, build new homes… but the dryads are linked to the forest, bound by their roots. To give that up…” he clapped his hands together. “I give up everything, everyone.”

“I don’t need to engage with them so much as the place they’re taking root,” Argrave continued. “You’ve been, haven’t you?”

“I was eight years old. Most everyone that goes there was,” Ganbaatar looked to the side. “Blindfolded, carried miles… no way I remember where it is.”

“But the place you did see—did it remind you of anything?” Argrave gestured.

Ganbaatar didn’t need to think long before answering, “It was like that place we met with the elven gods. Those hanging gardens, that colosseum…”

“Ancient elven ruins,” Argrave told him. “Well… ancient elven style, at least. That’s irrelevant. I need to go there, Ganbaatar. Please, help me.”

“You don’t know how to go there?” the elf stared with his red eyes pointedly.

“I don’t,” Argrave shook his head. It was half-true. He knew where it was on the map, but the place was accessible only by cutscene, even with the game stretched to its limits. He didn’t care to chance risking his life to defy that principle. The dryads had protection in place.

Ganbaatar looked off to the side, debating with himself. Then, with his mind settled, he said idly, “The Supreme Myriarch and his Kheshig know. Contacts among any of them are pointless. The myriarchs know, too. The only contact I have among them is my mentor, Batbayar, but…” he looked at Argrave. “Is it bad? This… this change in the battle, I mean.”

but even Argrave wasn’t that boldfaced. Instead

as though he’d dealt with this a thousand times before. Argrave was impressed despite the terrible situation. “They they’ll all die,” he said distantly. “Betrayals like

about to do. “If I could get you to talk to Batbayar… could it be done? Could you persuade him to take

desperation? Not

he brought this upon everyone, unwittingly or not. Then he looked

at Argrave. “How would you make that

words around, he couldn’t find a way to put it diplomatically. This man had come to him

#####

you sure you head the right way, Your Majesty?”

trees are big and impressive, but there’s so damn many of them that they all look

I found it,” Anneliese told Argrave, scouting with her eyes instead of her bird in a rare occasion. “Big tree, slightly hollowed stump, cavern hidden by roots… it has been disturbed, but it remains

of the party. Argrave had the others doing as he bid—and ‘as he bid’ mostly meant doing whatever to draw no suspicion from Erlebnis. Though he sent Nikoletta along to Elenore, he didn’t have high hopes that his sister acquired any shamanic magic from the search parties sent to loot valuable locations in Vasquer. Locations

to help with surprisingly little fuss. Maybe Argrave was delusional, but the elven warrior seemed to almost feel some relief when he heard of Argrave’s mistake, like it was some sign he was truly human. Regardless, Argrave hoped Batbayar would be as accommodating toward his apprentice as he had been in Heroes of Berendar. Elsewise… the plan wouldn’t die, but it’d become

dawned. Argrave could say the same about most of the places on this continent, so it wasn’t quite special yet. Nevertheless, they proceeded deeper in. And when they did,

was all too similar to many that Argrave had seen before, be that in Heroes of Berendar or in this life. The stone tablet and the statue itself had been displaced, and Argrave blinked at a loss at

upon an answer, he opened his mouth… speaking to Erlebnis’ emissaries

thousands of elven refugees come into my kingdom without a proper plan,” Argrave said decisively, feeling half a madman as

happen,” came the

Orion had already pulled back his fist to punch the emissary at the cave’s entrance. The prince paused when he saw

happen,” Argrave repeated, stepping past them both. “And

thin lips speaking precisely. “Your party could screen the retreat. As I understand, your queen’s A-rank ability revolves

she looked at the abominable creature. Though Argrave shared her discomfort the emissary knew of her power, Argrave answered on her behalf, “Yes, that’s

draw suspicion, but enough for her to endure. She endures, buying time for Altan to give a convincing retreat. Then, you may reconvene with her wherever you so please.”

no answer, ill at ease with placing the woman he loved in the line of fire. Practically speaking, that would be the right move. Personally viewing the battlefield gave them the chance to survey the betrayal firsthand, make some evaluations about the fate of the elven gods and the future of this resistance plan of

do it,”

looked at her, wanting to argue. Upon seeing the fire in her amber eyes, he surrendered and said, “If she’s

his Kheshig, yes,”

“If that matter’s settled, can I ask a favor from my newfound friend?” He used Dimocles’

the emissary said, not

to secure the assistance of the dryads, too,” Argrave looked on unflinchingly. He had never told Chiteng this part, and so he divulged it now

blankly, giving no

way to get the elves to give it up—more specifically, to take me