Jackal Among Snakes

Even though the bronze golem serving Erlebnis called upon the Blessing of Supersession and alerted all emissaries in the area, Argrave did not feel worried about this battle. He was more worried that someone—namely, Mozzahr, or even Erlebnis himself—would come across them than anything else. That hung above like the blade of a guillotine.

Their assault of the Lodestar was an efficient and well-planned process. The Alchemist, armed with the spell [Requite], countered the bronze golem as it attempted to cast spells. He had the fastest casting speed, and frankly, Argrave didn’t want to use so much of the spirits Durran had painstakingly collected. Let the Alchemist call upon his personal supply. Wind, water, or fire—all of it was rebounded back into the construct, chipping away at the golem’s body surface. It was a sturdy thing, and so they were not afraid of damaging it.

Meanwhile, Durran, Argrave, and Anneliese, standing on the roof, waited for opportunity for precise attacks. It was imperative that they not damage its head, as the Alchemist claimed that was where the core of its power rested. They targeted the rotating orbs of rings comprising its joints, wearing away at those.

Orion, meanwhile, locked down its movement. Physically, he was about its equal in strength—he stood near its feet, contesting it physically whenever it attempted to make a move. He was caught in the crossfire one too many times, but never seemed to complain, let alone notice it.

Melanie was their lookout. Argrave had instructed his Brumesingers to stay with her, utilizing their mist enhanced by the dryad’s mysterious magic. Blindness, magic dampening, and all other foul maladies inflicted the living beings that walked within their mist—emissaries included. Fortunately, Melanie had been immunized with a blessing from a dryad just as all other members of this party.

She roamed the alleys of the City Annals, shielded by the brume as she killed unsuspecting emissaries attempting to support the Lodestar. Raccomen’s blessing allowing her to travel through space was invaluable, as it could completely bypass wards and get her out of harm’s way for any spells. Even without magic—or her sword, for that matter—she proved more than equal to the task. Every second she earned her place in their party even despite her self-doubt.

But Melanie was not infallible—emissaries started to make their way through, targeting all of them with precise magic. They were being surrounded body by body, just as they surrounded the Lodestar, and the circle tightened as they waited out the five minutes. And even amidst all of that, it was abundantly clear that Mozzahr was coming.

Then, like a nozzle turned on a faucet, the five minutes granted by the Blessing of Supersession ran out, and the Lodestar was left with nothing. Argrave perceived the change and shouted, “Hit hard! He’s vulnerable!”

But Argrave didn’t need to speak—the Alchemist stepped forward, spear in hand, and cut right through the Lodestar’s limb. Its metal groaned as it collapsed to the ground, then lunged out at the Alchemist like a beast. He stepped on its huge bronze hand, then plunged the spear into its elbow, dismembering one of its arms.

The Alchemist leaned forth on his spear and jammed his fingers beneath the head of the fallen Lodestar. He pulled, pulled, and pulled upon its head, keeping its body still with his foot. Then, with a mighty creak, it ripped free of the place. The bronze body sagged to the ground, lifeless, yet the head still droned on, reporting its actions.

“Bloody hell!” Durran shouted, jumping off the roof of the building as several spells headed his way. It slammed into the building he’d been standing on, and broken books scattered everywhere. The magic within them dissipated upward, heading for the red sky above. The man collapsed on the ground, grunting painfully. But he was alive—and that was more than enough.

Argrave looked back as emissaries swarmed their position. He realized that Melanie’s good work was nearing its limit, and decided to head down to the Alchemist before he met Durran’s fate. Everyone else had similar ideas. As they came to the Alchemist standing before the body of the Lodestar, he subsumed its head inside himself.

his ears, as his entire body bubbled viciously. He was alchemizing its head to consume its power and use it for himself.

that this

onto them like a swarm of hyenas. Melanie persisted alone for a time, but even she was forced to come back and rejoin the pack. With [Requite], they could stem the tide of emissaries… but the emissaries seemed to be well familiar

his voice strained and quiet. “The Lodestar’s

monstrous man rose up, using the spear to straighten. Hands sprouted from his armor of bone and reached out to them, grasping their heads, and then he cast [Worldstrider]. The world

building in the city, but

roof. The scene was eerily quiet, as all of the emissaries had likely pooled over where

Durran walked about celebrating. “By the gods, that was a close

Lodestar’s weakness after your barrage.

Who’s around to watch?” Melanie protested, then shook her head, breathing heavy. “I need a little… break,” she sat down. “Water, mages? Please? Make

empty cup. “That was a tense fight. But you made the right call,” he pointed at the Alchemist. “That weird

prudent.” The Alchemist looked at the scene. “Erlebnis has vast hoards of knowledge, true. But

Anneliese stepped up to him. “Where does

I use it,” the Alchemist said simply, looking down at Argrave. “But if we had gone to another Annal, far from Mozzahr, and found its Lodestar… it would

arrived close, now, and chaos was reigniting as the swarm of emissaries descended upon him in place of them. “Are you bloody

now, the same as he is,” the Alchemist continued. “You claim he’s intelligent—and if he is intelligent, he’ll ask the emissaries where we are.” He

there, mouth agape, and huffed in disbelief. “Melanie’s

he, himself, can access what’s within. Alternatively… someone roughly as powerful as him might break in.” His eyes wandered to where Mozzahr

Valar, the vampire that Argrave had sold down the river at the very beginning of

him what he

that greed wasn’t

Alchemist said. “They are tools meant to sway kings, queens, emperors, and even gods. And nothing would please me more than to head within,