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?”

What we saw back there, that place, Sandelabara… most likely, Sophia didn’t rewind things. She quite literally recreated them. And moreover, the things that you saw, they’re likely something conjured from Sophia’s mind. Norman probably wasn’t truly that

me, I’m all the same. I’m all put together. Sophia didn’t know me, but I

the Ravenstone did protect you from her interfering with your mind. Perhaps, because you were new, you weren’t as mutable. Or perhaps

“No one is that conniving

gestured. “And we don’t have

on his neck. “You said you were

would work within the bounds of her loop. Her power

story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the

the Ship of Theseus?” Argrave walked

not sure…

it. Forget it,” Argrave waved his hand. “I’m me. I know I’m me. You

how hard you try,” Anneliese

“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

us to pursue Gerechtigkeit beyond the pale, and end the cycle. I told you that she was one half of an unimaginable whole.” Anneliese lowered her head. “Well, Sophia is one half of the cycle of judgment. The other half? Gerechtigkeit. Or so

to be true, but it seemed his thoughts about this whole endeavor might prove to be all too sadly true. Was Griffin actually Gerechtigkeit? Were these twins of opposing polarities the cycle? There

“Do you know why Mozzahr

talk to Dario, believe me. I got Melanie and

her head.

paint the picture,”

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

head. “Are you

changed, if that small child in there became

didn’t finish speaking, but her point was only made all the clearer

that complicated? Good lord…” Argrave

walk, I’ll be with you,” Anneliese assured. “I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Come wind or rain, you and I

told her with a shake of his head. “Still,

roused, by the way,” Anneliese tilted her head. “She’s