Jackal Among Snakes

“While you were gone, a development arose,” the Alchemist explained to Argrave as he stared up at King Norman, watching for any movement. “Your enemy took some inspiration from you. They’ve created a network of spirits around the exit of Sandelabara. We won’t be able to teleport outside without first dismantling it… or more simply moving past it.”

“I made that defensive network—not Argrave,” Onychinusa spoke up, annoyed. “But he’s right. If we teleport beyond Sandelabara, we’ll be whisked away to precisely where they want us to be. I have no doubt an ambush is in wait.”

“We can maneuver within the bounds of this plane,” Castro interjected. “I believe that gives us ample opportunity to escape.”

“All of you should take Sophia, get to a safe location. But I’m not leaving until this man is dead in the ground. Orion—you’ll stay here with me, we’ll fight together. Anneliese—you have to take Sophia. Alchemist—give Orion a divine weapon, and then protect Sophia like your life depends on it.”

The Alchemist reached into himself, producing a club of bone shaped like a crescent moon. He tossed it at Orion.

“There would be no greater honor than to fight at your side, Your Majesty.” Orion said smoothly as he caught the divine weapon, holding it in hand.

Anneliese called out, “Argrave, this is—"

King Norman’s patience grew thin. He dropped off the side of the castle, braced his feet against the wall, and then leapt for them with terrifying speed. But long before Norman came, Argrave had already teleported away to stand by Sophia incased in the ward.

“I’m back, Sophia. A few problems have come up. I’m going to need to give you to someone else. I trust these people with my life—they’ll keep you safe.”

Castro and Onychinusa cast powerful magic, lighting and fire respectively, yet both forces vanished when they came in contact with the white figures protecting Norman. Argrave shook his head upon seeing that. It would seem the king had inherited the magic immunity bestowed by the Heralds.

“My daddy’s trying to stop you,” Sophia stated matter-of-factly, voice trembling. She hadn’t taken off the blindfold, just as Argrave instructed.

As Argrave watched, Orion rushed at King Norman. He tried to tackle the man, and looked stunned when Norman resisted heartily with a smile on the face. He saw Norman speak when Orion stepped away. He was somewhat grateful Norman like to play with his food, if only because it gave Argrave time.

Argrave clenched his fist and said, “…yes, that’s right. But you don’t need to be worried about that anymore.”

Sophia fumbled out blindly and grabbed his leg. “I don’t want you to die, Argwave.”

“Hey…” Argrave patted her head. “I’ll be fine. I’m most worried about you. I can do anything, but you’re just a little girl. I’ll be giving you to my wife—she’ll take great care of you until I get back.”

the blindfold as she teared up. “But they always do.

Argrave lifted up Sophia, dispelling the ward. “I could take care of him by myself. Anne,” he called out. “Keep

to Argrave and received Sophia carefully. He looked into her amber eyes—there was concern, yes, but resolve and trust as strong as he’d ever seen. King Norman was blissfully unaware of what would happen next, evidently. Anneliese, Melanie, Castro, Onychinusa, and the Alchemist

Norman. He was relieved to see they faded by the second—they weren’t properly tethered to Norman. The first bit

with Argrave. “Our company left subtly. Luckily, my gluttony is uppity. To try this… to take my spawn from under my nose… my, my. One by one, you’ll come under my thumb. I’ll skin you all for a meal worth its weight in

distract—you ambush. Be aware—he’s about as strong as Mozzahr was, maybe a little more. Aim for

A-rank [Chameleon], but it was a partial invisibility he was sure would work on Norman that allowed for freedom of movement. And more importantly, the non-magical Orion would

where Orion had been in wonder, Argrave walked closer until he was about

his head like Argrave was adorable. “Plan away. It’s never changed anything

has. You just

even to Argrave’s surprise, Orion lunged forth and slammed Norman’s face with the club. The king was caught off guard and staggered backward, but the moment he got his

to compress coal into diamonds with his bare hands. He scored three incredibly solid blows to Norman’s face, but the king endured them incredibly well. His broken nose quickly corrected, his crushed eye reformed enough for him

stolen; if detected on

Argrave watched as one approached Orion—another headed for one of his blood echoes. Orion’s invisibility faded immediately, and Argrave felt his blood echo’s

it now,” the king shouted

a backhand. Orion barely dodged the first, yet the king threw a straight jab just after. Reeling backward, Orion slammed the crescent-moon club into the king’s punch. Blood burst out—but blood was never anything to stop King Norman. He swatted the club aside, and it flew out into the courtyard. Norman grabbed Orion’s head with both hands, and his indomitable brother actually grimaced in

blood echoes, he deftly maneuvered them with a concentrated mind. He placed one near Norman, and the other near the discarded club. He teleported near, seized the club, then teleported to Norman. He swung the club as hard as he could slammed it upon Norman’s head. Norman released one hand from Orion, grasping for Argrave, but Argrave teleported no more than a half foot backward. Norman grasped air, and Argrave again slammed the club into his face. Orion planted both feet against Norman and kicked as hard as he could, freeing

costly, but only with [Worldstrider] could Argrave teleport more than just himself. The two of them came to stand far away from Norman on the opposite

perfection. You may be someone where you came from—but here, in Good King Norman’s domain, you are

from moving. “What

about it for hours,

restraining Orion even as he wished

will maim you, day by day, hour by hour… and your only option for freedom shall be by her hands. You will beg for death. And sweet, fragile Sophia will be the only one I will allow to grant it to you. She won’t kill you. For days, weeks, months, years, she’ll refuse. And

sighed and shook his head. “I really do know you

cast [Burst] moments before teleporting to the spot. Norman wasn’t used to such ambushes from Argrave, and so did not defend as ably as he should have. A

bit as damaged as Argrave recalled him being from the first attack of that kind. Argrave clenched the club tightly in hand, walking

display,