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.

#####

him—endured hell. The 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 again, Argrave and all the forces his imagination could conjure were wiped out, and the confrontation was capped

“Return.”

heal his soul. In so doing, he visited with someone he’d also been intending to reach out toward. After all…

“Hause,” he greeted. “Sophia.”

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

asked her, looking between

began, but trailed

he prompted

“And Hause’s temple has the shelter, so she wanted

her own power, but he was somewhat ashamed

speak alone,” Hause

stopped her. “Sophia… could you

anything wrong,” Sophia insisted. “I

a daughter to me. I meant it then, and I still mean it. And that’ll never

know that it has been stolen. Report the

her escort—one of Law’s Justiciars. Hause stood there patiently, hands crossed before her

to

your people—your followers that survived, the ones he saved from the past—that Raven is still alive.

“Raven… he’s ready for that? Ready to meet them, confront

give friends the push

for all our sakes.” She looked backward, into her temple.

but lying. “He’s becoming more human day by day. I think this proves that your ability isn’t as dangerous as you thought it was. And the coming circumstances… I think you’ll agree they necessitate a new font of power.” He walked forward. “That’s the second thing. I think it’s past time for you to

as much as in flesh, I’m told. Even Erlebnis’ shallow imitation in his vault rings in my head, to this day.” She shook

where it’s riskier not to do it,” Argrave said, looming over her. “Everything is relying on such a small group of people. I don’t want to live in a world where Blackgard remains safe, but every distant city dies because

because she knew he was right, or perhaps because

ran a hand against her impeccably braided hair.

said, beckoning

was doing. He knew Raven wouldn’t want this, but he did genuinely think it would be better in the long run for the man to know the people he’d saved when he was the Smiling Raven

that, he needed to point out Raven’s half-hearted attempts to persuade Hause to unlock people’s potential. He’d made little progress—or even

Heralds and Gerechtigkeit both watching, they needed every

#####

programming of dying miserably. That was all he could do while he waited for the seed to sprout roots. On the bright side…

in the relentless wave

waiting for Raven to arrive in his lab. He stormed down through the ceiling like he was swimming through water instead of volcanic glass. He seized Argrave, and slammed

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

with it. The moment he could breathe again, he said,

are you to decide that?!”

not half the damn monster you think you are, Raven, or half of the one you act like. You got dealt an awful hand, and you still did better than

now?!” Raven demanded, throwing his tremendous

use her power for our cause.” Argrave tapped his chest. “Or perhaps because I’m your friend, and I want you to move past all this self-hatred