Jackal Among Snakes

“He speaks the truth,” said Law, speaking from one of his Justiciars as they stayed within his realm. “If he’s sworn while bound by my power, he could not lie. It’s an impossibility.”

Argrave exhaled, looking upon Raven with a great measure of satisfaction. They had returned to Law’s Court. He had agreed to be bound by its power, and they had inquired whether or not he was still affected by the impulses that led him into becoming the Smiling Raven. And he’d claimed they’d gone, utterly.

“You should have killed me,” Raven said, leaning up against the golden walls of Law’s Court. “The risk of keeping me alive was too high.”

“Evidently not, Raven.” Argrave had been happy to return to calling him the Alchemist, but word from the man himself indicated he was no longer uncomfortable with his old name. “You overestimate yourself.”

“Or underestimate you, perhaps,” he conceded.

“You said you felt whole,” Argrave continued. “What does that mean for you?”

“Hunger drove the Smiling Raven. Hunger, compassion, and certainty. The first is gone, but enough of who I am remains that I can still claim to be alive.” He looked down at Argrave. “I couldn’t claim that, before. I was a shell, driven by an objective hammered into me. Now, I am what I said. Whole, and alive.”

Argrave held out his arms in congratulations. “Raven, back from the dead.”

“Hmm. It’s been many years,” he agreed quietly, closing his eyes.

Argrave smiled at him. “Never had the chance to thank you for saving my life. And giving me one hell of a gift, besides.”

Raven nodded, opening his eyes. “Don’t thank me. I made the assessment it would be more pragmatic for you to live, even if risking a calamity. What Erlebnis did to you was worth the risk to salvage. By nature, I suppose he couldn’t bear the idea of his knowledge dying off. Helping you… on that point, at least, I was correct. But again, I underestimated just how good that outcome would be. Another underestimation of you.”

“Maybe it was the right estimation,” Argrave dismissed humbly, though felt pride at the praise. “I can earnestly say we lucked out with Lindon. It feels luck hasn’t happened to us very often, but maybe it’s because I’m lucky often enough I’ve forgotten what unlucky looks like. But hell, better to be lucky than to be skilled.”

“To a point,” Raven agreed.

looked at him. He still retained that inhuman appearance, but Argrave thought his words

can you still do all of what you used to? Precise surgeries?”

seem fine. Do you

thanks for noticing. It’s Anneliese.” Argrave beckoned. “Perhaps it’s time I caught you up on everything that

that needs to be said.” Raven looked down at Argrave, then

that and stowed it away. It was rare enough to sell for many

Now that the verification is

#####

the

newly-restored Alchemist. He claimed that fixing Anneliese would be a ‘rudimentary procedure,’ and indeed it had taken him no longer than a few minutes. They sat on a table atop balcony in the imperial palace of the Great Chu. Above, the siege into Kirel Qircassia’s divine realm persisted. They could feel the power from the battle even many miles below. But that power felt somewhat pale in front of the four golden fruits on the red table between them. The Fruits of Being, with

narrative has been purloined without the

plant it—”

painted them as a harmonious, peace-loving species—what would a newborn do for us, then, but cause burdens?” He examined the

Lindon said.

those vagaries.” Raven

justice. Each fruit is like an unborn star, slumbering,

others. It’s a fine enough way to learn of the human body. In time, I intend to show to her the diagrams I made

Traugott and the Heralds,” Elenore

unknown and has powers unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. They need to be dealt with. You claim that visiting with

or bathed in light, none escapes their presence of mind. In their festival of will, we saw hints enough to form a robust plan of action to flush Traugott out. Our lead on the Heralds is less substantial, but

Argrave truly hunt Gerechtigkeit to the source of his being, he would need power.” His

or not to say their thoughts on the matter. There had been some discussions, though

his hands on the table. “It’s too limiting. We’d be pigeonholed into acting in a manner befitting whatever sphere we govern. That frightens me—I can’t be