Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 401

Argrave and Anneliese spent their time stuffing their packs full of the valuable things in this library. There were bags enough to carry more than they probably had a right to. Onychinusa looked a little taken aback at their blatant raiding, but this place was a point of research for shamanic magic. There were many spells to go around. Unfortunately, the old emperor had no care for enchanting--in the end, that didn’t matter. The search parties sent out to scour old ruins undoubtedly would unearth just what was needed.

And so, with their pockets overflowing, they returned to Orion, where he was promptly given several packs to carry.

“I promised I’d deal with the mandragora,” Argrave reflected, looking back as he offloaded the last of the bags.

“...and the Yateveos,” Orion reminded him, carrying several bags on his arm like he’d just gotten home from the grocery store.

“I think we can, and without fear. But the library might fall,” Anneliese said innocently.

At this, Onychinusa looked a little distressed. “Wait...” she said quietly, her voice trailing off as she suppressed her speech.

“What? You don’t want the library to crumble into that bottomless abyss, never to be recovered?” Argrave asked, hamming up the description.

Onychinusa looked pained, but she eventually managed a nod of confirmation.

“I did make a promise,” Argrave said, as though his promises held great weight. Onychinusa looked to the side while tapping her feet, and so Argrave continued, “Does this library mean a lot to you?”

“No,” she shook her head.

“If it doesn’t mean a lot, then you’d be fine if everything inside was buried in stone and tree parts, forgotten by the world...” he provoked, and when he saw the effect on her temperament quickly continued, “But if it does mean something to you, I can find a way out of it.”

“Really?” Onychinusa looked at him.

“Sure. I appreciate you enough to do that much," Argrave nodded.

Onychinusa looked at the library and the mandragora, then back at Argrave. "Knowledge has to be preserved, right?"

He smiled back. "Sure. Then, let's go. You have a dryad to talk to."

#####

When they returned, they saw Batbayar and the mother dryad having a conversation. The two turned their heads when they saw the returning four, and Anneliese asked Onychinusa, “Might I come with you, or do you wish to be alone? I am curious about what recovering your lineage entails, and have some questions of my own to ask.”

Onychinusa’s gaze was distant, and her mind was elsewhere enough it took her a moment to process a question had been asked. “What? Oh. I don’t care,” she said, completely out of sorts.

Anneliese took the agreement without a word, leaving the ancient elf to her thoughts. Meanwhile, she whispered to Argrave, “I’ll do my part. Trust me,” she said, her breathing tingling his ear.

When she pulled away, Argrave gave her a nod. Once they came near the dryad, Argrave called out, “Batbayar. A word?”

Argrave and Orion awaited him.

Batbayar looked at him, while Argrave was doing his best

was acting this out well. He couldn’t make an overt bid against Altan. He didn’t think that anything he did would pass, there. At the end of the day, he did admire and respect the elven army’s discipline. And so... perhaps it was best for them to deal with their own. Perhaps it was best to use their system against the

it’s about time I tell you why I went behind the backs of the other myriarchs to come here,” Argrave began, making his voice

his. “I thought

couldn’t tell you,” Argrave explained. “Not until I was totally certain myself. Understand, though, that it’s because if I didn’t have proof, I’d only make an enemy

proof now?” Batbayar

straight:

didn’t change expressions noticeably, but something about his mien became all the scarier in half a second. “You were right

the ancient

but he slowly said, “We’re

being that orchestrated the death of the old empire has come back for seconds. With the dryads’ ability, we learned the truth of her birth... and in that

Orion, listening intently. He set

We know Chiteng betrayed your gods, but if I’m right... perhaps one of your Tumens was not hit as hard as the rest. Perhaps its leader quickly got control of the situation, minimizing

stayed behind while you went off into those ruins again. It was to ask the dryad what that woman was, since I

aren’t supposed to talk, damn it all, Argrave thought,

it, and was about to continue before Batbayar

I trust, I'm far less likely to suspect those who I've lived and

blur, Orion seized the S-rank myriarch's neck, saying firmly, "You ought to atone for

Orion's wrist as Batbayar struggled to breathe. "Don't make enemies where we have friends, Orion.

All of us remaining are good, and you are the best of

Argrave

released Batbayar, though his anger

was the

I deserved that. I understand his rage. If you doubt my myriarchs, you doubt my family... so I understand. And I hope you understand why I view you with suspicion, bringing that ancient elven woman

of confidence, and so said, "I don't think

is?" Batbayar narrowed

heal this forest," he

she doesn't... guess

#####

Veid's name does he do it? Anneliese thought as she walked with

felt full of confidence in that moment, when it came to finding the words to lead Onychinusa toward subverting Kirel Qircassia's presence the only thing that came to mind was his name. It repeated in her head, clarifying

perhaps less so, for the ancient elven woman broke past her

back, her dark hair swaying with a light breeze. “You will claim all that any citizen of the empire had... and from there,

throne is here?” Onychinusa

of the empire... but if you do as you must, you will have

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