Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 578

“I’ve told you everything that I can remember,” the man who went by Xueyan pleaded.

Strangely, Argrave hoped that the man would be a constant rhymer, if only so he could have some vague tie to Norman even despite the strange situation. Apparently he could rhyme, but didn’t always do so. The more questions Argrave asked, the more of a dead end that he reached. Frustrating as it was, he’d gotten the full story from Maestro Baobao, and this empty shell bearing Norman’s visage told no more stories.

Xueyan had woke up on the eastern shores of the Great Chu without so much as a memory of his own name. He knew how to speak, how to live, but little more than that. He was taken in by a local village, then joined a travelling troupe, then joined the opera. A set of happy coincidences… but Argrave couldn’t believe things aligned that perfectly. Someone was pulling the strings. Erlebnis? Sataistador?

“I don’t think he lies,” said Anneliese begrudgingly. “Your memory of this man is likely better than mine, but they do look identical. I believe that is where the similarities end.”

“Do you know me? My real name, my memories?” Xueyan asked urgently, his haunting red eyes looking between them.

Argrave looked at the man, wanting to call him Norman. He felt what was almost an instinct to fight him. But in the end, Argrave suppressed these thoughts, turned around, and looked up. There, the Alchemist waited for his signal. With the slightest of nods from Argrave, he was spurred into action. Almost faster than Argrave could see, the Alchemist knocked Xueyan unconscious with a spell.

“I’ll find out any secrets he holds,” the Alchemist promised, stepping past Argrave. “Refrain from putting me in the stone for the time being. I would not wish to move him from this location too quickly. Tell Elenore to contact Stain.”

Argrave gave one last look at Xueyan—Norman—then turned around with a grim shake of his head. “I want to know anything you learn.”

“And you will,” the Alchemist vowed.

Argrave walked away, and Anneliese joined him. She explained what he’d missed, searching for answers down here. “Governor Zen was contented being foisted off to court Patriarch Dras instead of us. Once he learned the Veidimen were our allies rather than subjects, he almost seemed eager to proposition the elf. But the governor underestimates the steadfastness of our people. Dras won’t give him anything.”

“Mention anything to him about the Palace of Heaven?” Argrave asked.

“No, only that the plans would come after the wedding ceremony.” Anneliese opened a door, and they marched up the stairs of the opera houses back to the now-empty booths. “We shouldn’t be too far behind. A boat is waiting for us.”

Argrave and her walked in silence through the largely-empty opera house, but eventually he broke the silence. “Have you noticed anything strange?”

tasked me with killing Traugott. I bring this everywhere for that reason. I’ve been searching for him frantically, ready to draw it. Even Traugott wouldn’t be fearless enough to appear here. He’d die in seconds. Even

at her. “Sounds like

often made when Anneliese had read his emotions, without a doubt. “I don’t feel it will be as straightforward as with Dimocles.” Anneliese looked into one of the empty booths, and the waterlogged stage beneath it. “Traugott is older. I think

and looked at

him and looked back. “I’ve looked upon gods with my [Truesight]. Sophia’s strange power, the Alchemist… all manner of things.” Anneliese shook her head. “But I saw only darkness when peering into the Shadowlands. Alongside this darkness, there was a festering voice telling me to stop looking. I was never able to work out if those were my thoughts, or something else’s. It has

she’d never mentioned it to this point. That, in itself, told

asked, “Do you remember

went distant as she lost herself to that memory, then she

then thought deeply. “I can’t remember anything like that. But the

hound. The impression is seared into my memory.” She gestured on. “We’re wasting time. Let’s not hold

belongs on Royal Road. Report any

#####

the imperial palace aboard a barge that’d waited behind for them. The canals were still clear of any traffic, so it didn’t take long to return. Fortunately, he’d not missed any of his brother’s ceremony—there

inside the Ravenstone and explained to the guards the existence of his guardian. Along the way, he

there, I hope?”

explained. “I will be brief, because I intend to return to this research as

long while, then felt some cold anger surface. “You’re

as those dolls, just as ‘Castro,’ was created. I believe there are subtle differences in the methods, but the outcome is without

does

see retains all the features Norman had. And that is because Norman is all Traugott will be capable of creating. He has a template in Norman’s corpse. But the raw materials… I see the flesh

searching for the heart of them. “Meaning… the only thing Traugott can make

the Alchemist confirmed. “That may change, minutely, as the man refines his methods. But ultimately, it’s nothing more sophisticated than the chimeras that I can already create. No one can truly imitate Sophia’s power of creation. They can only

ensure that he didn’t have any repeat encounters with enemies… no one to

not relax quite yet,” the Alchemist said. “There was a message within his kidneys. This is the reason I

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