Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 658: Beating One's Nature

Drinking alcohol was really just drinking scummy water for Argrave—his black blood, coupled with all the other myriad ways that his body had changed since using the Fruit of Being, made both water and rubbing alcohol equally intoxicating. Which is to say: not at all. As time went on, it became clear Durran had become much the same way. Nevertheless, both of them drank pisswater in honor of Garm. He’d be pleased.

Argrave spent the first while regaling the so-called King of the Scorched Sands on the merits of Garm’s choices in the Shadowlands. There were tales to tell that were good enough they seemed tall, but each and all were the truth of the matter and nothing more. They talked well into midnight, and Argrave appreciated the night far more now that he’d experienced total darkness. The night, at least, had some stars shining, and a large red moon overhead.

Gradually, though, something loosened and mellowed Durran—it couldn’t be blamed on alcohol. His repartee slowed to a lull, before disappearing altogether in way of a more honest form of the man Argrave had come to know.

“I like your city, Argrave,” Durran admitted. “I don’t know if I’ll end up staying here—though, that depends a lot on Elenore. I can show her the desert, but I can’t make her like it.”

Argrave rested his arms on the table between them. “She’s a city rat, but she’s also tough. I think she could do both.”

“Yeah, but there’s no parliament in the Burnt Desert. And there’s no you.” Durran took another drink, grimacing at the taste. “She’s given herself fully to this cause of ours. She has a lot to offer. She can do things I can barely imagine. Sometimes… I struggle to see my place in things.”

“You’re important to us,” Argrave said in assurance. “Don’t doubt it for a second.”

“Please. I really only know how to fight—and as we’ve proven, Orion is infinitely more suited to that than I am.” Durran raised his tankard. “Not that I mind. To Orion, savior of the city.”

Argrave narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying to goad me into playing the surrogate father that points out all your good qualities? This sounds like a ploy to get me to say nice things so you can make fun of me.”

Durran laughed. “No, I’m just… a little lost.” He looked at Argrave. “What do you need from me? What do you want from me? I want to do more. I want to do better. I want to pay you back for that golden meal you fed me, because you deserve it. Look at Garm. Man was more jaded than anyone I’ve ever met, and still, he… did that.”

Argrave leaned back in his chair. “I think… I think I get what the problem is.”

“Yeah?” Durran looked at him.

“Yeah, I do.” Argrave tapped the table. “I think I’ve been stifling you.”

eyes. “You’re

don’t work best being given orders. You work best given free rein, left to your own devices with

Durran laughed. “Tell me more

go back to the Burnt Desert,” Argrave continued. “And I need you to tie up all the loose ends that I’ve been putting on the backburner. I need you to deal with the automatons that the subterranean mountain people use, for starters. I need you to be the

home, stop wasting my time,’ yeah?” Durran

sweet nothings and say they love you, you’d be hashing this out with my sister. But you’re talking to me. That says a lot about what you want to hear. Sometimes,

tankard. “Maybe you’re right. No—you are right,” he amended. “No ‘maybe’ about it. I just… lost a lot of confidence, having been

things, and fix it,” Argrave ordered. “I trust you. I do. You’re capable. Make sure that your homeland is ready to receive the calamity. No one knows the Burnt Desert better than you.”

on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please

that he didn’t

nodded, then joked grimly, “He’s a little less say in

thinking… maybe Elenore and I could,” Durran suggested. “Respect his wishes, but carry on the name

the body of your child just as I possessed Argrave. After all, he might’ve left his traces on you somewhere.” Argrave raised his tankard, enjoying the horrified expression Durran

#####

own—rather, they seemed to come from the traditions that he’d inherited in the manner of golden tattoos lining his body. The ‘memories of dead

spoke with Anneliese, who’d been catching up on other fronts. She had been reviewing the results of the research into the new field of soul magic—or rather, the expansion of druidic magic into soul magic. Argrave

read, Anneliese elected to search for Onychinusa. She returned in what felt like no time at all, and it was only then that he realized how engrossed he’d been in these developments. She delivered news of her

Lllewellen expired,”

at her. “Elenore said Onychinusa

days ago, I suspect. She ‘kidnapped’ Llewellen to force him to research a way to preserve his life, to live on with her. Onychinusa tells me that he helped her accept it. So, they spent their last few days with one another peacefully. She’s sad. But at the same time, I think she’s… much more

rather sage.” Argrave looked down at the documents before him. “Have

one?” She walked up, laying eyes upon it, then carried on past him. “No. I was going through the daily reports in chronological order. I saw interesting

looked at her. “You mentioned you