Jackal Among Snakes

“I won’t tolerate you being ungentle with Sophia.” Argrave crossed his arms as he stood before the Alchemist. “You need to be as kind as you know how before I ever bring her around here.”

Argrave and the Alchemist stood on the mountainside where he’d chosen to set up shop. It was far removed from any prying eyes, and the only people that hung around here were ostensibly the great big snake Vasquer and Onychinusa, the unsociable recluse.

The Alchemist looked down upon Argrave with his cold gray eyes, and Argrave suspected that if he had nostrils, they’d be flaring in annoyance. “If you were going to be so sentimental, why did you send Castro to perish instead of myself?”

Argrave felt like he’d taken a punch to the gut after hearing the truth laid out so plainly. “I don’t want to relive what was going through my head. Suffice it to say that it was an impossible situation to be put in, and I’m never going to forget what Castro did.”

The Alchemist turned away and started walking. “I’m sure he’d weep with joy.”

Argrave glared up at him. “Why are you making this more difficult than it is? Do you think I chose wrong, is that what you’re trying to convey? You think it’d be better for you to become the Smiling Raven?”

The Alchemist stopped walking and looked back, returning a question with one of his own. “Why do you think I offered?”

“You’re angry at me? I thought that was beyond you.” Argrave walked closer. “The simple fact is, we never would have gotten this far without you. And I don’t think we’ll get much further if you were some mindless abomination trapped in this gemstone.” Argrave held up the gleaming black Ravenstone, and it dangling from its chain.

“And yet you treat the thing we retrieved with undeniable ties to Gerechtigkeit like a princess, giving her a bed and a home, whispering sweet words, introducing her to your family, fabricating excuses as to why you should welcome her as family.” The Alchemist leaned down. “You cannot be pragmatic only when it suits your whimsy.”

Argrave grabbed his head. “I know. Damn you, I know. Hause claims… claims that I might’ve been changed by her. Sophia is one half of the cycle of judgment. She’s creation itself. I can’t explain why I like the kid beyond weak platitudes like ‘it’s the right thing to do,’ and ‘she’s just a little girl.’ It makes sense in my head, but… what if it doesn’t?”

The Alchemist studied Argrave intently in silence. Countless eyes opened all on his body to better survey him. “She is creation?”

“That’s right,” Argrave nodded.

The Alchemist looked up at the sky, and the thousand eyes faded. “That does make sense.”

raised his brows. “It

The Alchemist looked to be parsing through half a thousand thoughts, but then he refocused on Argrave. “This Sophia thing being unimaginably powerful and being a young girl are not mutually exclusive concepts. You managed to make the dwarves suffer you. If you cannot do the same for a seven-year-old child, that would be unimaginably disgraceful. So, I concede. I will

Argrave tilted

was one half of the

“Correct.”

to end the cycle

his arms

think you are.” Instead of making new eyes, the Alchemist leaned down until the solemn pupils on his face were just

that she may need to be destroyed. If she is half of the whole, her death may be the only thing to bring about the cessation of

#####

the people that he’d been honest to without reservations. Anneliese, Elenore, Galamon,

be aware that it has

Here, they’d received dwarves in months past. Now it

fight going forth,” Argrave explained to them. “Gerechtigkeit will be so much greater than

means that we unleashed chaos that cannot be restrained, for those confused,” Anneliese explained the

“But it seems that greater challenges bring greater rewards. We’ve set on the path to untying the noose that’s been strangling this world for the countless years behind us.

coming, as is the counter invasion of the Great Chu headed by you, Galaman.” Argrave looked at Galamon, and his somber friend only nodded. “Now, more than ever, it’s important our victory be decisive and beneficial. We cannot afford the internecine conflicts of cycles past. With the dwarves and the Veidimen as our allies and no serious internal problems plaguing this nation… we have the opportunity to jump off a springboard that leads to a global alliance.

that note, I’ve been giving some thought about Dario’s situation. He’s

raised his hand. “Relax, Melanie. I’ve decided

eyes a few times in surprise, but quickly said, “I was only speaking pragmatically. Imagine if all of our soldiers

Anneliese said some different things.” He looked to his side,

in front of everyone? Is she implying I want to shag that mummy without the bandages? That idiot with the vacant stare and the constant complaints about how it’s so hard to be a good person?” Melanie seemed to realize only belatedly the difference in their station,

raise a good point—he can still be made use of. If he can employ those metal

of them, and even Argrave could tell something finally set in for her. She was welcome here,

glad we set the record straight,” Melanie said, then joined Durran and Elenore in some mirth with