Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave truly hadn’t known what to expect with Sataistador. When he thought of a god of war, he pictured the honorable general type, someone like Galamon—hard and brusque, one who talks harsh and short. He supposed the addendums of ‘chaos and ruthless destruction’ should’ve tipped his mind toward the direction of someone like Genghis Khan. He had tried to worm his way into disrupting Argrave’s plan, even despite the safety the White Planes offered.

And Melanie had been the one to pull them out of the fire.

He briefly thought himself careless, but upon seeing Melanie step away from Sataistador to stand by his side, adjusted that perception. Careless wasn’t the right word—he’d brought people that he trusted to the White Planes, where safety was assured for a cohesive party, and he’d only been proven right in his judgment. There was a reason Melanie was one of his favorite player characters.

That wasn’t to say he wasn’t immensely grateful for Melanie’s choice. And not just her choice—her quick thinking in extracting information. He knew Sataistador was old, but had no idea he came from the first cycle of judgment. And she had brought him here, exposed that invaluable knowledge. Still, they’d leave ignorant of that fact if no accommodation was reached.

The White Planes are a double-edged shield, thought Argrave as he stared upon the giant war god. However that metaphor works. We could part ways here, and I’d go back to thinking Sataistador might possibly be a swell guy. I don’t want that.

But after hearing about Sataisdor conspiring to snake on him for Erlebnis, Argrave had no high hopes about a long-lasting alliance. At the same time, if Sataistador truly was from the first cycle of judgment, there was knowledge to be gained. His mind whirled, trying to think of something that couldbe made of this.

Argrave advanced. He had been around Orion and Galamon too much to be afraid of tall and wide muscle freaks. And considering Melanie wished to be looped in, he simply said, “Melanie is right. You died, Sataistador, where I’m from. You see, I played this game called Heroes of Berendar. And this reality we exist in was simulated within it repeatedly. But no matter the outcome, no matter the choices… you, Sataistador, were stomped beneath the boot of your opponent—Mozzahr.”

Anneliese and Galamon both looked at Argrave as though he was mad, but Melanie grinned a little wider.

“A tall tale. The weak do so love to talk when it has no consequence,” Sataistador shook his head. “You won’t remember offending me, and I won’t remember being offended. This is an exercise in futility.”

“So you are offended?” Melanie pointed out. “Well, so am I. I’m offended you thought I’d be so cheap.”

“We have nothing more to discuss,” the god of war said, rolling his shoulders as though preparing to leave.

“You can still benefit from this,” Argrave said. “And I’m big enough to let bygones be bygones.”

“I have no interest in you,” Sataistador said as he looked upon him coldly. “You’ve avoided war at every turn. Your only virtue is fighting battles you can’t win and coming out on top—admirable, I’ll admit, but I have no blessings to give, and I will not ally with someone I hold in contempt. Your continued charity will be your undoing.”

“I meant what I said, though,” Argrave stepped closer. “Mozzahr did beat you. He has such an advantage over you that you can’t ever come out on top.”

“Useless provocation will never turn my weapons against your foes,” Sataistador shook his head. “I have naught to prove.”

“What can I do to prove it to you?” Argrave spread his hands out. “Fact is, you have a fatal flaw. Mozzahr knows it. I know it.”

say, wrapped in safety,” Sataistador

feeling cheeky. “Alright. Would you like

moments, without words for the first time

to him.

to meet me?” Sataistador

that. We can make a deal to meet in person. Hell, I’ll do it right now. You show up in two months, we continue this conversation,” Argrave pointed between

cautiously, “Argrave,

deepened. “You would let me roam free with

giving them a cookie they tried to steal,” Argrave wagged his finger. “If you want to keep your knowledge,

you wish for an assurance of your safety during our meeting outside

shook his head. Sataistador’s surprise was a good treat. “I don’t care whether you come to fight me or flatter me. Fight me, I’ll have spirits aplenty from your broken body. Flatter me… well, that

war to your home,

of war. Like I said, if you fight me, I’ll be flush with spirits, nothing

surviving after uncountable millennia. And you barely scraped

“You’re not him.” Sataistador was not pleased by the disparagement, and stared ahead at Argrave wordlessly. In the silence following, he continued, “Two months. We meet at

I’ve agreed

the choice you have is this: sit down or step up. If I know you right, I can expect to see you on the lakeshore,” Argrave answered,

“Expect me there,” he said with a slow nod. “If this is the deal you intend to make, I can grant it. And as you wish, I shall not hinder this heist against Erlebnis,

“Wonderful,” Argrave said.

that in writing, you think?” Melanie asked

you’ve said here today. If you bluff, now would be the time to accept that

of war held his hand out. It was gigantic, just like the rest of him. But as Argrave held his out to grasp it, he realized

huffed in amusement. “What to do with

#####

magic, I meant… I don’t know, getting him

appreciate what you did, Melanie. And you’d better believe I won’t forget it.” Argrave

looked flustered and she dismissed, “Yeah, thanks,

“A vagrant. A street person. Most homeless are mentally ill, sadly, and this one in particular wanders around fighting people. Could I offer anything that might turn his head enough to help us? I doubt it. I don’t trust him enough to involve him with our overall goal, but I have two months to work out the significance of him coming from the first cycle, and take measures to