Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 674: Unassailable

“I think that the answer should be obvious.” Elenore stared Argrave down. “When you’re fighting an opponent, there’s only two ways to gain advantage. Strengthen your own side, or weaken theirs.”

Argrave narrowed his eyes at her suggestion. “Weakening him kind of defeats the purpose of this being a test, doesn’t it? If you turn down the difficulty when you get beaten into the dust, you don’t learn how to overcome the challenge. It’s… cheating, basically.”

Elenore shrugged. “Fine. Why are you even asking me? Ask Anneliese—she’s the one with magic.”

“I will. But in the meantime, I respect your opinion, too.” He leaned on her desk. “Besides, you were right alongside Orion and I when we melded into the Tree of Being, and you have the most experience around talking with Vasquer.”

“Alright…” Elenore stood up. “Then I reiterate—make him weaker. You aren’t playing a game, you’re fighting a war, a battle—and learning how to weaken Raven can be applied to Gerechtigkeit in much the same way. They’re similar, even, in how terrifying I find them.”

Argrave thought on it for a moment, then realized she did have a rather ironclad point. Beyond changing his own strategy, the only other option was to make the opposing side weaker. It was a skill that did have some hope of reapplication in the times to come.

He knocked her wooden desk with his knuckles. “See, and that’s why I came to you first. Thank you. You’ve given me a good foundation for me to ask the others about.”

“Hold on. You’re sure this… bizarre endeavor will stop Gerechtigkeit?” Elenore asked. “It’s important we be timely. I’ve started to make arrangements for some of the god’s agents to come and restore order—well, the gods that I trust, at the very least. Law’s Justiciars are already working to uphold it in the most badly-affected areas. But things are getting worse, day-by-day. Time was, we could stop suicide pacts before they’d even formed. But they keep growing and numbers, and they’re starting to throw themselves upon either our soldiers or their blades in numbers we can no longer realistically prevent.”

“Provided I can win…” Argrave nodded. “It’s as good as done.”

“Then beat his damned ass for me.” Elenore sat back down. “And shut the door on your way out. I’m busy enough as is.”

Argrave made to leave, a faint smile on his face. Before he could…

“Sophia keeps asking to see you,” Elenore called out as he opened the door slightly. When he looked back, her gray eyes met his own. “Might not hurt to pay her a visit. Boost that resolve, remind yourself what you’re fighting to protect.”

Argrave gave a steady nod, agreeing. Last time they’d spoken, Argrave had said that Sophia was like a daughter to him. Then, he’d gone out to get some smokes with Jaray. It was overdue to end that. And at her mention of people he wanted to protect, he already had some inspiration for what might weaken Raven.

#####

Argrave consulted the others about what he might do to win the fight against Raven. They had much the same thoughts that Elenore did, yet they added their own refinements that fit their character. Galamon in particular had the most poignant insight.

“Even if it hurts, fight again, and lose,” he’d instructed Argrave. “Learn how to fight against him without the weakness. Lose battle after battle, skirmish after skirmish, yet win the war.” The old Veidimen commander grabbed Argrave’s shoulder as he imparted his advice seriously. “It’s what I’ve done. I’ve suffered humiliating defeats more times than I can count. I’ve never lost a war, though. That’s key.”

As Argrave stared, Anneliese affirmed his opinion with a nod. “He’s right. Callous yourself. Nothing is better than experience.”

“You don’t seem to follow that advice,” he pointed out. “You just learn how to do things, and then do them. Even in battle, you just… figure it out, on the spot.”

“You aren’t me,” Anneliese reminded him. “Gaining from pain is essentially your favorite tactic. Why’re you looking for a different route?”

Argrave shook his head, annoyed at how well she knew him. “Why did I choose blood magic? Am I stupid?”

“I have asked that question of you many times,” Anneliese reminded him.

“Which one?” He looked at her, and she smiled coyly.

Argrave sighed, coming to terms with the fact he’d need to jump back into the wringer.

#####

second time was every bit as painful as the first, despite the fact that Argrave was preparing for its arrival. As was the third, the fourth, the fifth, the seventieth… time and time

“Return.”

soul. In so doing, he visited with someone

“Hause,” he greeted. “Sophia.”

broke away from the blonde goddess of potential, coming to rush over to him. He picked her up and held her high. She stared

you with Hause?” he asked her, looking between her and the

Sophia began, but trailed

ahead,” he prompted

should… learn more about my power,” Sophia explained. “And Hause’s temple has the shelter, so she wanted to learn how to be relaxed around

breath, ambivalent. He was proud Sophia was taking the initiative to understand her own power, but he was somewhat ashamed she had to do so

you speak alone,” Hause said,

Argrave stopped her. “Sophia… could you

Hause didn’t do anything wrong,” Sophia insisted. “I was the one that

I said… you’re like a daughter to me. I meant it then, and I still mean it. And that’ll

spot this story on Amazon, know that it has

little brighter, and then she obediently went to join her escort—one of Law’s

did you wish to speak of?”

time to tell your people—your followers that survived, the ones he saved from the past—that Raven

for that?

together. “Sometimes, friends need to give friends the push

know this present form of his better than I do. I hope you’re right, for all our sakes.” She looked backward,

coming circumstances… I think you’ll agree they necessitate a new font of power.” He walked forward. “That’s the second

“You’ve seen the Smiling Raven—in spirit as much as in flesh, I’m told. Even Erlebnis’ shallow imitation in his vault rings in my head, to this day.” She shook her head

a small group of people. I don’t want to live in a

meet his eyes—perhaps because she knew he was right, or perhaps because he

braided hair. “For now, shall we

Argrave said, beckoning

He knew Raven wouldn’t want this, but he did genuinely think it would be better in the long run for

half-hearted attempts to persuade

Heralds and Gerechtigkeit both watching, they needed

#####

to the regularly scheduled programming of dying miserably. That was all he could do while he waited for the seed to sprout roots. On the bright side… his efforts did result in

call a real battle. In a minute-long exchange of firepower, his soldiers managed to cut enough of a hole in the relentless wave of chaos that they got a payload jam-packed with nuclear magic right onto Raven’s body. The resulting explosion burnt Argrave’s eyebrows right off… but it barely ruffled Raven’s feathers. Like a child fighting an adult, even once Argrave didland a hit,

waiting for Raven to arrive in his lab. He stormed down through the ceiling like he was swimming through water instead of volcanic

them I lived,” he said, true anger in his icy voice. “No

with it. The moment he could breathe

decide that?!” Raven took three

hate you—admit it. You’re not half the damn monster you think you are, Raven, or half of the one you act like. You got dealt an awful hand,

this? Why now?!” Raven demanded,

you’ve been dragging your feet in doing what you’re supposed to—convincing Hause to use her power for our cause.” Argrave tapped his chest. “Or perhaps because I’m your friend, and I want you to move past