Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave felt like he had a parasite in his body, and though he longed to move to cut it out, he saw the sense in what was said. If this was an attack, it likely wouldn’t have started with words. He would listen—listen distrustfully, listen with total suspicion, but listen all the same.

“Thank you,” Lindon said, relief flavoring his tone. If this was an act, Argrave already thought it was a better one. “I shall say it bluntly; whatever you spoke to was not me. I was recovering from the daze you inflicted by banishing me from your mind. Vasquer’s death wounds me as much as it does you. Two millennia old… she was a fucking kid. And that animal, I can’t even say his name—he killed her.” Silence reigned—Lindon’s grief, or a travesty of it.

“Nothing can make it right. I’m going to tell you what I conjecture, and then I’m going to give you provable facts.”

Argrave leaned the blade of blood up against his knee as he sat on the rock, saying nothing further.

“Gerechtigkeit must’ve found a way to work through the Gilderwatchers as I do. It may be that he’s had this ability for countless cycles, yet only now shown his hand when an opportunity presented itself. It may be that I am that conduit, and he’s been using me from the beginning. Even I lack total certainty. Regardless, I believe his plans are threefold. He plans to destroy the treaty limiting my abilities and that of the Gilderwatchers. That ties into his second plan; destroying the White Planes themselves. Without its binding scriptures, alliances around the world would crumble overnight. Everyone in the Blackgard Union would no longer be dictated to defend one another. Notably, by achieving the second, he would achieve the first.

“I can feel a tremendous mental energy reverberating around the world, mindlessly throwing itself against the forces that prevent us from acting in ways contrary to the treaty. If I am merely powerful, it is omnipotent. And worse yet, it’s growing in power as surely as the calamity descends. For now, only the Gilderwatchers are vulnerable—them, and those related to them. In simpler terms, you and your siblings. But later, his power could be far greater than ours ever was in the days of old. I believe you’ve already seen some of that—Sophia’s dreams.”

Argrave believed nothing that was said… but he wasn’t in a hurry to forget it, either.

Lindon continued. “His third goal is as it ever is. You’ve built a terrible power in the Blackgard Union and the nations you’ve united. By fracturing it, he hopes to throw the world into chaos and achieve victory. But more than the world, I suspect his target is you, specifically. You, and all those close to you. He will attempt to isolate and mitigate all those you have even a remote relationship with, because you are ostensibly the final barrier between him and Sophia. You are the glue holding things together.”

Argrave felt a chill. Whether this was Gerechtigkeit or Lindon speaking, that message was ominous. He had been right in assuming that the incident with Vasquer was an assassination attempt.

“I have given you conjecture,” Lindon continued. “I will now relay fact. Anneliese’s prediction was correct; that rumbling Raven reported is related to the Gilderwatchers. They heed a false Melding, heading for a Tree of Being I did not establish. I am terrified of what it entails. You can verify their movements for yourself, and Raven might feel traces of this false Melding in the continent of Anorexhai. Furthermore, if you depart to the White Planes, I suspect you would see it strain against the calamity’s power.”

Argrave took note of these things. Could each of these be a trap? Possibly. But traps could be disarmed, and if these words did prove to be true, it gave some credence to this conversation.

“In parting, I say this. Do not trust my words. Do not trust any Gilderwatcher. Assume we are yet another of Gerechtigkeit’s puppets as the golems or the undead. Assume all of my words have been flavored in deception designed to entrap, and trust only that which you, yourself, have verified. I will move to fight against this mental energy, and this false Melding, likely to my death. My people march toward what I assume must be a slaughterhouse, where their wills and flesh will be processed into meat for one who judges the world. I must do something or die trying. And above all—find ways to protect yourself. Your bloodline has been a boon, but now it is a tremendous vulnerability as Gerechtigkeit strengthens. Even having consumed the Fruit of Being, you remain at risk.”

Argrave felt a hidden pressure in his head abate and was certain Lindon had gone. Even still, he brought the blade of blood near his head, letting his power melt away whatever might be

Argrave toward a battle he might not win. Argrave agreed with the notion of acquiring protection, but even to

that could be enticed to act in their stead. With a person in mind,

been taken without approval. Report

#####

Argrave’s plan. Her manner of dealing with grief was somewhat similar to Argrave’s—work, work, work. There was a severe gap in their defenses with Vasquer’s parting, and it needed to be filled long before the funeral could be held. That was

than a few hours, the one that Argrave hoped to speak to sat across from him.

in the battle against the Qircassian Coalition in the slightest,” Argrave

blonde child ill-suited

nature of things—there is little more that I can offer than that. I am not a fighter, unless you

I have no doubt you’re very enticed looking at me.” Argrave held

never seen anything like as what occurs within your body. Are you asking for

made you a senior partner in the Blackgard Union, despite your lack of

is my blessing. It might be said that blessing so many people is the reason I remain so weak. Is that what you

it on good authority that it’s under attack right now, and I want you to scout it out, scrutinize

all gods are made equal before it? The

very curious,”

That I would lose my mind and

without

Yinther uncomfortable. He asked, “What could even attack the White Planes? You know what

they are?” Argrave answered the question with a question. “I think I have a better idea than most, given recent

He looked liable to ask countless questions, but his mouth opened and closed without asking any. Eventually, he turned and jumped down off the chair, his curiosity spurring him to

this trip