Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stood at the barrier of a doorway, peering in at Sophia. His Brumesingers nestled up against her in small balls of white fur, and she held one of them in her arms as she laid beneath the bedsheet. He heard quiet footsteps and turned his head to see Anneliese walking through the parliament hall’s courtyard. She looked tired.

“Hey,” he greeted her in a low whisper, then gestured inside. “Sleeping.”

Anneliese walked as quietly as she could to the door, peered in, then looked at Argrave. She took him by the sleeve, and together, they both walked to a nearby rock and sat. Argrave cast a ward, lest Sophia overhear their conversation, and then Anneliese began. “Hause had much to say. And I had many questions to ask.”

“It seems that way. Took her hours to fall asleep. Had to bring out my pets, then stand by the doorway.” Argrave looked at her, waiting for her answer.

“Argrave, it…” she looked at the doorway. “I think I have some inkling that you care for Sophia.”

“What gave it away, the huge time commitment? I’ve been awake for thousands of hours, you know, seeing this girl endure the same torment time and time again. Elenore likes her, and you know she’s hard to please. I think you do, too. I mean, how could you not? Sophia’s just a kid, and she’s been treated worse than anyone ever has.”

Anneliese crossed her arms. “Do you intend to raise her?”

Argrave sighed. “Yeah. Elenore had some ideas. Introduce her as another of Felipe’s kids, or maybe tie her to one of his brothers—she’d be a niece. We can keep her close, justify the special attention we place on her.”

“But you would almost have to entirely ignore the reason that she needed to be brought here in the first place.”

Argrave had been dreading answering that question, and so lashed out, “Could you stop beating around the bush and just tell me what Hause said, please?”

“Sophia is exactly what we need to end the cycle of judgment. With her, it’s possible.” Anneliese paused to take a deep breath, and Argrave beckoned her to continue. “This is just my conjecture based off Hause’s vision, but I believe Sophia is what keeps the cycle acting as a cycle. She provides the means for the circle to keep spinning.”

“Meaning…”

“Meaning, since she’s no longer trapped, I suspect this cycle will become a do-or-die moment. A huge climax, as all the powers of the world converge to decide its fate. Only, Sophia is the keyhole. Without her, no one has any say. With her, someone has all the say.”

Argrave tried to wrap his head around that, then looked at Anneliese plainly. “Why the hell was Hause so jittery? Can you tell me that?”

things. She quite literally recreated them. And moreover, the things that you saw, they’re likely something conjured

my memories… me, I’m all the same. I’m all put together. Sophia didn’t know

yet to make sense of the idea myself. Perhaps the Ravenstone did protect you from her interfering with your mind. Perhaps, because you were new, you weren’t as mutable. Or perhaps Sophia rebuilt you to be her protector. To be strong enough to kill

“No one is

by those Heralds.” Anneliese gestured. “And we don’t have an understanding of what occurred in that loop.

his neck. “You said you were certain I wouldn’t

positive that it would work within the bounds of her loop. Her power is so far beyond anything Hause has ever seen, however.

it's taken without permission from

Ship of Theseus?” Argrave walked back

not sure… what

“I’m me. I

fool me, no matter how hard you try,” Anneliese said

stroked his forehead. “But how does Sophia’s power being that of creation have any impact on what Gerechtigkeit? How is she the keyhole? Is it because… they’re opposites, somehow? Destruction, creation?” Argrave pointed his finger as something came to him.

comment. But Sophia is likely what allows Gerechtigkeit to manifest. She’s also likely what allows him to survive after death. And, most relevant to our endeavors… she is the only one that can allow us to pursue Gerechtigkeit beyond the pale,

might prove to be all too sadly true. Was Griffin actually

voice interrupted his whirling mind. “Do you know

“Why’s that important now? Because he came here at the word of the Heralds? We’ll talk to Dario, believe me. I got Melanie and half the nation

shook her head.

paint the picture,” Argrave indulged

because of Mial,” Anneliese said simply. “He came to free his daughter. He came to defeat you and make or break the delusion he’d been festering for years. He’d either prove to her, once and for all, that he was a god worthy of worship… or

“Are you sure? He’s not the

you’ve changed, if that small child in there became like a daughter to you, one way or the

finish speaking, but her point was

that complicated? Good lord…” Argrave

it before, but I’ll say it again. Come wind or rain,

a shake

Anneliese tilted her head. “She’s trying to