Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 669: The Road Not Taken

“I could start with pleasantries. It’s clear you have a great deal of questions you’d like to bombard me with, Anneliese, but I’m not sure how we’ll all walk away from this, and I don’t want to start liking you before I’m sure I can afford it.” Lorena began. “How is Sophia, these days?”

“These days?” Argrave repeated.

“Jaray’s been flirting with it for a very long time, but I won’t be as subtle as he is.” Lorena’s bright eyes darkened, expressing her grim tone just as well as her voice did. “I do represent the Heralds in some capacity. You’re tipping very dangerous scales, and it’s becoming very worrying. No one decided that you should decide the fate of the world. It was only by the force of your own will that you brought us to this. You’ve conquered this world, well and true.”

“No one?” Argrave raised a brow, looking around. “I’m only the leader because people tolerate me as one.”

A burst of flame and smoke erupted from her nose as she scoffed. “Your rule is predicated on gods and nobles, deciding the whims of all. You appeased them, not the whole. Not that I’m…” She cut herself off, calming flames that started to appear near her. “I see there’s good in your heart, Argrave. The love you have for your family is enough to move my kin, move me. I’m not…” she sighed. “Damn it. I should wait for Jaray. He’s better at explaining these things.”

“You should.” Jaray walked out from where he’d been obscured. He dragged along two loungers—it wasn’t entirely clear where he’d gotten them from, but he set them both beside Argrave and Anneliese.

Argrave laid down relaxedly, while Anneliese sat upright on the edge of her provided seat. “Why don’t you explain, then?”

Jaray walked until he stood in front of Lorena. “When last we spoke, we were talking about convenience.”

“So?” Argrave beckoned.

“You named me a catspaw to the Heralds,” Jaray continued, and it made Argrave tense up to hear those words repeated. It all but confirmed someone’s omniscience. “It’s true. They rely on me because I’m a convenience for them. And the time is rapidly approaching where they’ll no longer trust us to handle the situation alone.”

“And that’s relevant to this situation how?” Argrave leaned in. “Listen—all that I’m looking for is the method to stop Gerechtigkeit’s mental influence, full stop. We’d hoped that might lie with you and the method to unlock our bloodline, but—”

“Might as well let them speak, Argrave,” Anneliese reminded him, glancing over.

Argrave silenced himself, listening closer as Jaray nodded to Anneliese in thanks. “The Heralds and their ways remain a mystery to both Lorena and I. But they, just like all of us, are beings of convenience. They want an easy, quick solution that puts all of their fears to rest. Right now, you are their fear. And with you pursuing these dangerous things, Sophia in tow… they might be liable to do something desperate.” Jaray cradled his hands, expressing his sincerity.

Even if it’s on the side of Gerechtigkeit, they’ll do something.” She sighed deeply. “It’s time to make a

looked between them. “It seems to me that you know a hell of a lot more about the Heralds, and this world, than we

keep the cycle of judgment going perpetually.” Jaray looked up at the bright red moon above, then looked back. “They would be willing to give anything within this realm—secrets and abilities beyond your imaginings—if only

Argrave? Would you consign trillions to death this cycle to save a slightly higher number many millennia from now? By what right do you involve people in this struggle? It’s only now that you reveal your true intention to the gods, but the people remain ignorant to this very second. Why

getting worked up, Lorena,” Jaray reminded her softly, and she leaned back

you two might be speaking from experience.” His eyes darted between them. “Am I

following his question was

me that I’m not the first to come this far?” Argrave stopped lounging, leaning in. His next words were spoken harshly as he asked, “Would that

upon him. “What if it

without authorization; if you see it on

“So, you had the means to fix all of the misery that people had endured, but you decided against it, because…?” He looked to Anneliese, seeking her perspective. She only watched them without a word, scrutinizing, and he was forced to look back. “What did they offer you? Let me guess—a moon?” He looked up. “A home world

only shook her head at his provocation. “You have no concept of

“Gerechtigkeit—”

she looked down upon him as he sat. “It would be the end of worlds beyond this one—the Heralds didn’t lie. But more than that, it would be the end of magic, the end of divinity. You’re entreating

the eyes determinedly. “Someone has to do something. Because I know this…” Argrave looked out at everything. “I know this isn’t right. We’re in service to higher powers, giving our lives not knowing to what. The misery, the death… I know there’s another way.

Creation without destruction is cancer. Life without neither is stagnation,” Lorena said emotionally, pleading with him. “Think about what

put you, living on the moon?” He asked pointedly, and

that you’ve obtained the knowledge for immortality, will you share that with all? Will you give all things you own freely? Will you relinquish all worldly possessions? I think not. You’re a king, and such

by him, reminded him of his place. He was staring at, he realized, himself. Lorena had come to the same summit that Argrave had,

cruel pragmatist or a selfish tyrant. Rather, the passion with which she spoke betrayed a certain kinship between their approach to life. At the heart of this all, he knew that he still needed her wisdom, regardless of whether or not he agreed with

You saved your people by bringing them to the moon?” Argrave asked.

the dragons. They live there, far above, to this day. At the end of it all… isn’t that what you crave? A land for you and your people? To live undisturbed by the ravages of the cycle? That reward could well be yours, Argrave of Vasquer. And

herself by pacing about. “He was the one who brokered the deal that saved my people. You and Anneliese… the entire continent of Berendar… any you dictate, by this point, could be given a land of their own. Nothing