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?”

where Argrave and Orion awaited him. As with most people, he seemed a

up with the dryad, fishing out some information...” Batbayar looked at him, while Argrave was doing his best to make his face

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

the backs of the other myriarchs to come here,” Argrave began, making his voice quiet and

fierce red eyes of his. “I thought you had told me,” he said in an

tell you,” Argrave explained. “Not until I was totally certain myself. Understand, though, that it’s because if I didn’t

proof now?” Batbayar

nodded. "I’ll say it straight: one of

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

the dryad told you about the end of the ancient elven empire, about your

hesitant to speak, but he slowly said, “We’re rebel slaves.

very same 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 down the bags he held

we weren’t there... but if things are as I suspect, your army was taken by surprise. 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 losses and assuming command in one fell swoop. And perhaps... perhaps there is a reason those monsters didn’t focus your army, wipe it out, and then switch to

connected dots. “You say all of this, but there’s a reason I stayed behind while you went off into those ruins again. It was to ask the dryad what that woman was, since I wasn’t sure

talk, damn it all, Argrave thought, though his face was

didn't deny it, and was about to

of who I trust, I'm far less likely to suspect those who I've lived and died beside than a silver-tongued despot from a family of

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

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

isn't. You bleed for ingrates. All of us remaining are good, and you are the best of us," the prince said with

that," Argrave gripped his

though his anger did

said cautiously as Batbayar coughed, “Forgive him. What you said was too much, but that response was

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

throat. Then, he felt a rush of confidence, and so said, "I don't think she's a servant

Batbayar narrowed his

forest," he nodded, going

she doesn't... guess it's all

#####

do it? Anneliese thought as she walked with Onychinusa deeper

Qircassia's presence the only thing that came to mind was his name. It repeated in her head, clarifying her objective without offering

past her haze and asked, “What does

dryad looked back, her dark hair swaying with a light breeze. “You will claim all that any citizen of the empire had... and from there, you will claim your birthright as last

throne is here?” Onychinusa asked,

a figurative throne, given the decay of the empire... but if you do as you must, you will have

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