Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave and Anneliese crouched near a redwood tree. Both had heavy, tired eyes, but upon looking at the other in the eye they were renewed with flame. They exchanged a nod of tacit understanding, and then Argrave rose up and walked ahead alone.

Though his steps were heavy and he took them slowly in anticipation for what was to come... nothing did. He walked into a relatively open clearing between many redwood trees, where nothing could be seen for miles in any direction. Five steps... ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, and thirty.

The moment that Argrave lost count, all the ground in a circle around him exploded upwards. Thin, spindly roots sought him out like leeches in water, aiming for all of him at once. Artur’s enchantments whirred to life, protecting him ably for a few seconds before they failed. Argrave prepared no spells. He accepted the seizure without offering resistance. Before long he was totally bound, and he felt the faintest branches of roots digging into the skin on his arms and legs. His hands in particular were fully pierced, allowing no movement.

The giant elven god Merata stepped out from one of the redwoods, reforming the thing in wake of his advance. His long blonde hair that scraped the ground was marred by burns, and cut in half a thousand places to make it uneven and unkempt... more so than it was, at least. After him came Gunlik, crouching down and scouting out the place while keeping his flaming arrow pointed at Argrave. Beyond Argrave saw more figures, beaten and battered.

“We’ve been betrayed before. Fooled before,” Merata began, leaning on his crook as he walked. “How you came to us speaks well of your intentions. What happened days prior makes all of us care less.”

“I don’t think we should talk. Tread alone, trust only ourselves,” Gunlik said, pulling his bowstring of flame back further.

“We trusted Chiteng, and now our father lies on death’s door,” Merata reminded him, and Gunlik’s grip slackened on his bow somewhat. He walked to Argrave slowly, looking down at him. “Do you know what happened, little kingling?”

“Chiteng saw Erlebnis’ Blessing of Supersession within my person with the omniscience granted to him in his sections of your realm. With this knowledge, he contacted Erlebnis on his own. From there... I don’t think I need to go on,” Argrave lifted his head up.

“So you are Erlebnis’ pawn,” Merata fell to the ground, sitting. The dirt displaced by this action caught in Argrave’s throat, and he coughed.

“I sought him out for strength,” Argrave explained, voice hoarse from the dirt. “Traded knowledge for knowledge. But I was never his. He tried to make it otherwise, and I played along... but given how the forest changed, I think you know my true allegiance.”

Merata nodded. “I wonder if you will say the same thing when your insides are bored out by roots for several days.”

The elven god demonstrated this, sending his roots all the deeper into Argrave’s person. He hissed in pain, but gradually started to laugh as he embraced it. He laughed until his throat was sealed shut by a strangling root. Only after a few seconds did the pressure relent.

“...you could go that route,” Argrave finally managed, voice as deep and hoarse as Galamon’s after the strangling. “But the truth won’t change.”

Merata slammed his crook into the ground behind him and leaned back on it, sighing. Slowly, the roots around Argrave relented, giving him freedom. Argrave fell to the ground expecting pain to greet him, but when he impacted he felt... perfectly whole, as a matter of fact. He looked at his hands and saw nothing.

“He bears nothing?” Gunlik asked Merata.

your insides, little kingling. Do not take it personally. I talked to

of him was fine, and that baffled him beyond belief.

was Chiteng’s. And ours. We did not learn from Sarikiz’s

me estrange Kirel Qircassia from Erlebnis, but that bond might not be fully

Merata shook his

bury the hatchet with Sarikiz,” Argrave called

two godly brothers. Gunlik finally managed, “Even if we could, why

and might earn us victory. Kirel governs land and sky-- she would love nothing more than to

hat in hand to the people our elves have been fighting for centuries, and--” Gunlik

on the redwood for support. As Anneliese had described, he had a gnarly cut from his throat all the way down

commanded, voice still strong despite the death that lingered about him. “Bring him, and his queen. Despite his initial dishonesty, he was faithful. We must discuss how this

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tapped her foot against the ground anxiously. “Argrave deserves some say in this,

gave her was cold, and her gaze slowly went from hopeful to one of anxiety. Gradually,

then? Is there some new development?” she asked hopefully, though outwardly her body braced as though preparing to flee. Behind, some more elven warriors entered behind, and she grew

detainment before a trial,” Batbayar explained. “The other myriarchs have reviewed my evidence... and there is enough to detain you before a

arrow already pierced her wrist. She cried out in pain, and another warrior already stepped up to pull the thing from her hand. It

anger and half sorrow. “There’s no stopping the Lord, don’t you see? Do you think we truly could have escaped from those monstrosities if not for my intervention? It’s over! The battle was over to begin with! What are we before gods?! Don’t throw

was assured only because of your betrayal,” Batbayar said in judgment, and then pulled taut a wire.

slowly, all of the other myriarchs gave nods of confirmation.

is to

be for nothing,” she begged, even as her

won’t be,” Batbayar shook his head. “We will learn from your betrayal. Our army will still grow stronger

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good thing for

Qircassia is useful to the Lord. Now, the god has regathered his forces at his breach, and remains undecided as to how he will proceed. Though this may be

I... the Lord needed me to do it,” she said, her voice choked. “He needed me to do what he could not. It was

at her. “Did you have something to do

could not. That’s... that’s what was needed of me. That was my purpose. It always has been. That’s why... that’s why you sent me there, had me