Jackal Among Snakes

Though the siege against Kirel Qircassia persisted above the skies in the Great Chu, Argrave was infinitely more engaged with the changes that had taken place within himself. He and his family returned to Blackgard, and thereafter to the mountains, enduring Raven’s constant scrutiny. Along the way, he explained to his companions what he believed he had experienced. But rather unexpectedly, he received contact from the source of all of this the moment his foot stepped back on Berendar soil.

“You work quickly. I thought we would again speak long after Vasquer had remembered that which she has forgotten,” Lindon observed, his voice bringing pause to Argrave’s step. “You walk a route that few before you have travelled. Only the dead, by this point.”

Argrave looked around, only to see that none of his people were moving. Another trick of the mind brought about by Lindon, but seeing it still made nervousness flourish in Argrave’s chest.

“Seems like the first order of business I have is shutting you out, somehow.” Argrave looked around, trying to sound disaffected despite the futility of deceiving the deity. “I was in the middle of something, Lindon.”

“That’s the second order of business. I’m sparing you the time you’re about to spend,” Lindon countered.

“You could’ve spared me the time a long time ago.”

“No. The terms of the treaty I forged were clear. I am disallowed to reach out to people unless they seek me out first, under extraordinary circumstances. In return, I am entitled to be able to perform some protective mental measures, such as obfuscation of my presence or that of the Gilderwatchers. I never expected to be able reach out to someone. The dictates of the treaty are so strict it was a wonder you met them at all. But circumstances are extraordinary, and you did seek me out. Dumb luck? Some grand plan? Shrewd planning in the negotiation, millennia ago? It hardly matters.”

Argrave poked Anneliese in the forehead to be sure she was still, then said idly, “By extraordinary circumstances, you’re talking about the changes to Gerechtigkeit.”

“I’m talking about Traugott, actually.” Lindon manifested before Argrave’s eyes—now a small serpent, comparatively, about twenty feet long.

“Him?” Argrave raised his brows. “We learned a little of where he’s been when we were travelling through the Tree of Being. What did we miss?”

“The glaring red flag. The Shadowlands,” Lindon explained, coiling his body until his head rested at Argrave’s height.

Argrave broke free of his companions, coming to stand just before the silver serpent. “I thought this would be about the Undying Soul he claimed, but it’s the Shadowlands? I’ve read about them more. According to Erlebnis’ records, they always appear when Gerechtigkeit descends. The creatures there are brutal, barbaric… but they’re not new. Even if Traugott did open a large portal, what’s the worst he could do?”

“You and he are parallels. You possess mortal sensibilities, but with immortal husks.”

Argrave repeated. “That dream was real,

memories rose to Argrave’s mind unbidden. “With Norman’s body, born of Sophia’s power, he had a

as clearly as if he’d been there only yesterday. There, Traugott had made Good King Norman be born again innumerable times. It was only a small comfort that apparently Norman experienced unimaginable torment during this process. Traugott had claimed hundreds of lives worth of ‘materials’ in pursuit of

as is the depth of his intelligence. He saw Sophia’s power not as just creation, but as

the barking, and recalled Traugott possessing the

almost sound like you admire

of that to you. If he could imbue that creation of his with the soul

Traugott created a

eyes flashed again, and foreign thoughts filled Argrave’s mind. He saw various stages of experimentation, at a location rather like what Lindon had described—deep underwater, in a dome of air that persisted despite the ocean all around it. Argrave saw another figure there, with him—Fellhorn. The two

cast away into the ocean after he was done with them, their human bodies succumbing to the high-pressure of the deep sea and imploding immediately. Perhaps there was some mercy

has been taken without consent.

progression, Argrave came to a rather eerie guess

“Did you mean Traugott managed to imbue the body

wholly incorrect one.” Lindon’s silver eyes stayed fixated on

again saw another vision. In this deep-sea altar, something slowly took shape from a misshapen black lump that exuded unpleasant energy. As it became more human, Argrave began to recognize it, too. The way it seemed to

silence he

As you came to me and obtained the Fruit of Being, Traugott endeavored for so

that it was impossible to make out distinguishing features. Argrave thought that the way it moved seemed familiar, and knew

yet to return—and believe me, my kind watch everywhere. Watching, waiting—in these things, we

any true guidance, anyone coming to him with a plan and help. Now, at the final

and said, “There were conditions. Unspoken conditions. But you met them, by and large.” Argrave only blinked in confusion. Lindon said plainly, “If you act with largesse and benevolence, Argrave, you’ll find people seeking you out of their own volition. People like to feel good. There’s

man? Him? He’d always tried to be, yet to hear it had been the reason that

intensity. “Do you know something about the Shadowlands

know only one thing; true power in the hands of one unversed in contentment or accepting of refusal will result in disastrous consequences. You have the anchor, Argrave. You have Sophia, and she’s been freed of the box the Heralds made for her. That means more than anyone knows, save the ones who placed her there. Traugott wants her desperately, and even I cannot say what he gleaned of her power from his constant experimentation. You cannot allow an inglorious psychopath to sabotage our would-be freedom from the hidden architects of the cycle. If the world should change, I would have