Jackal Among Snakes

Anneliese and Onychinusa sat on the rocks of the mountain peak. The ancient elf stared at the snow elf.

“Your braid is pretty,” Onychinusa said matter-of-factly. “I tried to copy it, but I couldn’t.”

Anneliese smiled at the sincerity as her fingers brushed the half-crown braid keeping her hair back. She suggested, “The dryads could braid your hair. I know they always miss seeing you.”

“They put wood and stuff in there. Something about dryad wood is special. It makes it harder for the spirits to carry me from place to place.” Onychinusa shook her head, and then looked to where Orion and Argrave conversed with the ancient serpent Vasquer. “Why did they come here?”

“Argrave is going to ask Vasquer to watch the underground near this area. And he has some important questions, too.” Anneliese explained succinctly. “Threats come from below. And on that front… you said you did what we wanted?”

“I’ve been warding all of Vasquer against divinity,” Onychinusa nodded, then rocked back and forth atop her seat. “Blackgard has enough spirits guarding it that divinity cannot enter without a link to the area. If they’re already manifested, they could force their way through. Spirits can’t pass, too, so unwanted people can’t teleport inside the mountains, anymore. Only you, me, and Argrave can. If anyone else tries, either in or out… they end up a few miles underwater. Hopefully, they’ll drown.”

Anneliese smiled broadly. “That is exceptional, Onychinusa.”

Onychinusa seemed to take the praise well as she rocked quicker. “Elsewhere… I made some spirits act as detectors. They’ll roam about the land, and whenever they detect divinity, they’ll return with that knowledge.”

“The spirits can communicate?” Anneliese tilted her head. “Argrave never mentioned that, and I certainly have never read that.”

“…no.” Onychinusa shook her head slowly. “But I make the spirit store the location the divinity was spotted, and then I can teleport to that spot.”

Anneliese exhaled loudly. “Shamanic magic is a wondrous thing. But I suppose that only happened because you were the one using it, right?”

“Erlebnis made these spells, I think. Maybe what I’m doing now was supposed to be my purpose,” Onychinusa suggested. “The emissaries can’t use shamanic magic. Nothing from divine realms can. It would make sense”

“That may be the case,” Anneliese conceded, rising from her seat to come near Onychinusa. “We have had this talk many times before. All I hope is that you are happier and freer, now.”

Onychinusa’s only

“Perhaps… someday, you might

disgusted. “No. I don’t like

like people? Why not?”

“And they can talk. And… I don’t like their faces,” she finished,

I different

to people… makes my head hurt.” She looked up at Anneliese. “Not you, but others. I have to learn their name, listen to what they think… bleh.” She stuck out

did look minutely disappointed. Still, she looked off elsewhere and said, “Okay.

of the mountain with a comfort that did not seem to match.

down beside Onychinusa. “The cycle of judgment. More specifically… they hope to gain greater

#####

flight of white stairs, keeping her hand to the tightly closed walls to support herself. When blue light came stronger from ahead, she took her hand off the wall, becoming more confident. Slowly, Georgina’s full figure was illuminated as she pressed down below. She couldn’t help but inhale when she came to the end of the stairs, where the city of the

been claimed by the Ebon Cult, this place’s beauty was amplified. In the vast, quarried cavern, streets of the purest white marble continued for as far as the eye could see. The buildings were massive works of architecture, some standing taller than the walls

lights was the only thing that preserved her life. But even despite the gift of power, she now returned to this place empty-handed. She set off

metallic masks over their face. Some were nothing more than metal crudely molded into vague faces, while others were elaborate recreations of demons or angels.

She stepped up its wide marble stairs, heading for the entrance. She could feel the power of the twisting blue lights above, pushing against her skin as a constant force. She walked

she saw outside in a pattern somewhat like a snowflake. A woman in a purple robe stood in front of the door, her hands placed before her. She had a mask, too, though hers was unlike any others Georgina had seen coming

“I’ve come

pleased,” the woman

think he prefers to

cannot get everything he wants,” Mial answered. “Rise. Tell me of

stand beside Mial. The two of them took a turn, walking deeper into the palace with all the comfortability of

king.” Georgina held her fingers thinly apart with a frustrated sadness. “I had him. He was mine. And then…” she sighed,

you to obtain the king, you realize. It was something he said only as an

the castellan wanted it, even if he’d never expect to actually get it. So I tried. What he’s doing deserves