Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 467

“Where have I experienced a method of persuasion like this before?” Argrave said, rolling his shoulders. “Playing nice, with the pretext of total destruction? It’s a familiar street we’re walking. And you probably should have record in those Annals telling you that it didn’t work on me last time.”

“So, shall I tell Mozzahr all you’ve taken and what it does?” the Keeper pushed. “Conspire against you more actively?”

“Do it,” Argrave nodded. “You already got me what I wanted, and I’ve been running around long enough. But you won’t, will you? Because you want to control things from the background, as Erlebnis’ good little servant. You want us to head deeper in, limit our options, force us to fight… and have your master sweep things up.”

Orion and Melanie entered into view, and Argrave walked toward them, pulling the Inerrant Cloak tighter over his shoulders.

“What you said, about being enslaved… it sounds plausible enough to bear merit, but it’s not quite possible enough to bear weight,” Argrave continued.

“My thoughts exactly. Would Erlebnis allow a being with ill intent to control all of his operations, even his vault?” Anneliese contributed, walking up beside Argrave. “And even supposing you were kept near Hause… you spoke with such certainty that you’d be freed. But how are you sure? Antagonizing us cannot see that come to fruition. No—these are the textbook tactics of Erlebnis. And I know better than to go along with them.”

The Keeper’s silence was answer in itself, but he quickly bubbled up again, “But Erlebnis—”

“He is coming,” confirmed the Alchemist. “So you stall for his arrival, pitting us against each other.”

“We’ve collected all we can,” Argrave continued, watching Orion and Melanie run ever closer. “Now, it’s time for the final resistance. You can search without us, I trust?” He looked up at the Alchemist.

“I can,” confirmed the Alchemist. “And far faster, too.”

“Give me our weapons, and go,” Argrave said. “You’ll find us here.”

The Alchemist’s body shifted, and he drew out several artifacts, emerging from his body like frosting from a tube. He stabbed them to the ground one by one, then handed the final to Argrave—a familiar quarterstaff, the Resonant Pillar. It had two rings on each end, and looked to be made of jade.

hand. It felt as heavy as lead, but as it empowered him, it felt like

out until then.” With that, he was gone, twisting into a horrifying form and surging down the hall. He was empowered by the countless artifacts that he’d acquired,

will die,”

the spear. “It’s one versus five… and you gave me the

for Mozzahr. The Castellan of the Empty burst into view, his feet skidding as he slowed his speed to make

Keeper calmly, any emotional inflection in his voice now gone. “But forget not where you are. My twin is coming… and he is more unlimited than I am. I am bound in books

“Twin?” repeated Argrave.

my answers,” the Keeper said dryly. “Now… I’ll not distract either of you. It would not do for either side to

and Durran, and try to get that Eighth Blade of yours ready for the thrusting attack. Cut at me if you must. You two magic users—look for openings, cast strategically. Presume I’m invulnerable, because I will be. Those artifacts make your magic much stronger than it normally is. We’re all the strongest

twirled the now-light Resonant Pillar in his hand. It chimed pleasantly, casting off dancing lights. Once

prudent? Even with this cloak you mentioned…” Orion questioned, sizing up the war hammer he’d been given. It looked to be a tooth fastened by metal, and

Orion,” Argrave said. “Keep everyone else safe. Don’t let

his golden helmet, and the prince nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. The queen, our brother-in-law, and Melanie… they will

corridor. He declared with a steady voice, “In this domain, Erlebnis’ Blessing of Supersession lasts as long

but certainly, he’d need every edge he could get against Mozzahr. He spread out his blood echoes, having them perform the simple and repetitive task of conjuring [Electric Eels] imbued with blood magic. In

into his being. When Mozzahr’s bolt of Emptiness struck, he felt the Inerrant Cloak draw out that power in unimaginable quantities to suppress the damage it might’ve

the corridor like a feral beast. The cult leader hefted a divine sword of bone in his right hand. It seemed he recognized the Blessing of Supersession from his battles with the emissaries, and knew he needed to kill the caster quickly lest they begin a painful barrage. But then,

the reason why it was called Resonant made itself clear. The power it had received returned through the opposite end, and Argrave swatted

moved quick and received it with the sword of bone. A deafening noise erupted

like a knife. Argrave, though, calmly stepped into its line of fire. The Emptiness slammed into him with all of the ferocity of an exploding star, and raw power surged out of the Blessing of Supersession as the Inerrant Cloak used its power to defend him. Surprise flashed through Mozzahr’s elven features at his attack’s impotence. Enough residual Emptiness had struck the Resonant Pillar, and so

again the Inerrant Cloak defended him. The castellan grew yet more confused and shocked, yet Argrave calmly called upon his blood-infused [Electric Eels] to punish him. Mozzahr leapt away, but he wasn’t faster than lightning—about twenty eels struck him squarely on the chest, and he landed ungracefully in a painful-looking roll before gathering

with a cannon of lightning that made Argrave’s ears ring, and Mozzahr was forced to shield himself with Emptiness that scattered under the power. Anneliese, meanwhile, collaborated with Melanie to rain a twisting spire of ice down upon his back. He

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