Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave stood atop the newly-built fortress in the Great Chu and watched the troops labor to repair the ships. Many had been badly hit by the brunt of that great wave of ice that had frozen the coastline of the Great Chu. He had spent the night here after a brief visit to a still distraught Sophia, and the ice had either broken from the tides or melted. Now, half a thousand ships that were no longer seaworthy were having that issue remedied.

“It’s done,” Elenore told Argrave, making him jolt.

“What’s done?” he answered back in his mind.

“Durran’s made contact with the Great Chu commanders,” Elenore disclosed somewhat proudly. “Well, correction—he isolated one, and from there, I’ll spare you the details. Doubtless he’d like to tell you his grand feats himself. Rather than parley officially with the troops’ knowledge, they’d like to have a meeting in a secluded place come nightfall.”

“Not shady at all. I think I’ll go alone, without telling anyone where I’m headed,” Argrave remarked sarcastically. “Fine. Where’s this going to take place?”

“A few miles east, there’s a large sea cave in a cove. They intend to meet you within it. Durran’s scouting out the place now, but I suggest you come amply prepared. Even if not all of these commanders intend to try something, one or two may. If I were the imperial court, I’d let the meeting proceed yet try something of my own.”

“A sea cave in a cove. Lots of ways to die in such a place. Would you collapse it on my head? Or maybe there’s already a secret base established there, and they plan to ambush us. Maybe they’ll just make it blow up, like all their fortresses. The possibilities are endless,” Argrave took a deep, uncertain breath.

“…you always try and act funny when you’re worried. It’s unbearable. I’ll look after Sophia, so stop worrying about her.”

After having read his soul, Elenore broke the connection and left him alone in this cold place. Some of his worries did fade at her promise, so he stopped trying to think about how to be witty now and instead focused on how to be witty later, when his wit might save him from the machinations of Ji Meng and all others of this place.

“Where’s Rook…” Argrave walked away with purpose, muttering.

#####

were willing to take more risks. They fired upon the fortress from above and below, mainly lobbing

rather neat. This one was no exception. It was a large half-circle of a beach, shielded by two rocks that seemed rather like

commanders present?” Argrave asked Anneliese. “Did they bring any

kept her eyes closed as she said, “They did bring troops, yes, but not a great abundance. I notice no overt traps. From all I can see, this cave is only partially natural. There are strange patterns in the walls, but not carvings. More like… streaks.

why they call it a sea cave,” Argrave reminded her. “It’s got

Anneliese decided, still linked with her bond. “Tasting the walls… yes. Yes, definitely. It’s a salt mine. I suspect that’s why this cave opened—structural weakness due to mining, plus salt’s typical reaction to water.

general mood? Anyone

are nervous,” Anneliese said. “That’s the most unusual thing. They’re high-ranking spellcasters. Just as we could, they could escape via teleportation. We shoulder as much risk as they do. Even still, I’d expect some degree of trepidation in some of them. Perhaps they are merely

somewhere, keeping well out of sight as he protected and scouted for them. The Alchemist was contained within the Ravenstone, ready to aid. Durran and all of his wyvern riders—plus the Order of the Gray Owl Magisters that’d ridden with them—were nearby. Argrave could even

story should be reported if encountered

looked around before joining them. He spared greeting, saying, “Ordinarily I’d ask you what you know about these people, but your

Argrave responded as they look into the cave. “I may know a few. The Great Chu never did something of this scale in Heroes of Berendar, though. You’ll have to forgive

Argrave thought it might be something else entirely, but as more senses—smell, even taste—assaulted him, he had to

cave. Eight of them kneeled atop pillows in a respectful and respectable position, their backs rigid. Two guards kneeled behind each, the points of their drawn swords stabbed in the ground. As for the commanders, their helmets were to their left, while their

Argrave removed the black Inerrant Cloak around his shoulders, bunched it up,

was minimal enough that many people—Argrave included—had viewed them as walking katana dispensers, placed there for the sole purpose of allowing the player to roleplay as the edgelord

“The emperor has named me Grand Commandant.” He willed some magic into

passive

the son of heaven?”

this extraordinary circumstance demands extraordinary actions. Each of you may disbelieve me as you will, but I can take you to the emperor in due time. The son of heaven has learned that the imperial court is extremely compromised. Perhaps all of you witnessed that days ago, when the gods did battle above our first clash. Or perhaps you had those doubts