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?”

tree, but when called stood up and walked to where Argrave and Orion awaited him. As with most people, he

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

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

time I tell you why I went behind the backs of the

red eyes of his. “I thought you had

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

that proof now?” Batbayar

"I’ll say it straight: one

something about his mien became all the scarier in half a second. “You were right about making an enemy of

end of the ancient elven empire,

to speak, but he slowly said, “We’re rebel slaves. It’s a

“Onychinusa over there... she’s the last living ancient elf, and indeed the last member of their imperial family. The 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 library down below, we

bemoaned Orion, listening intently. He set down the bags he

fought were Erlebnis’ servants,'' Argrave continued. “And I can’t say this for certain, as 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

behind while you went off into those ruins again. It was to ask the dryad what that woman was, since I wasn’t sure I could get a straight answer from you,” he continued. “The mother dryad

to talk, damn it all, Argrave

didn't deny it, and was about

less likely to suspect those who I've lived and

neck, saying firmly, "You ought to atone

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

bleed for ingrates. All of us remaining are good, and you are the best of us,"

that," Argrave gripped

Batbayar, though his anger did not

said was too much, but that response was the same. Let's end it there before things get out of hand. Fundamentally,

understand his rage. If you doubt my myriarchs, you doubt my family... so I understand. And I hope

don't think she's a servant of Erlebnis. After all, she's going to heal the forest. That's rather contrary to

is?" Batbayar narrowed his

this forest," he nodded, going all-in

doesn't... guess

#####

Anneliese thought as

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 her objective without offering any solution to the problem. She was as despondent

for the ancient elven woman broke past her haze and asked, “What

light breeze. “You will claim all that any citizen of the empire had... and from there, you will claim your birthright

here?”

throne, given the decay of the empire... but if you do as you must, you will have the power to command me

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