Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 675: Burning the Boundaries

Not long after Argrave had agreed to accept Lorena’s help, Raven returned. Argrave had expected to deal with a long conversation before they got back into things, but instead, Raven wordlessly initiated the procedure once again. Argrave briefly contemplated if this was a plot to see him dead by consuming his soul, but reasoned that Raven could’ve done that long ago had he wanted to.

Once his soul was forced out of his body, he was expecting to endure a battle of terrifying ferocity. Instead, he saw the carcass of the Smiling Raven lying there, immobile, while Raven himself sat down on the edge of the boundary between their two souls. Argrave was hesitant to initiate battle, seeing him like that, and he was right to do so.

“Have a seat,” Raven called out.

Argrave couldn’t remember a single time where Raven had ever suggested such a formal thing. He stalked forth out of his fortified warzone cautiously, but did heed the man’s words, sitting down across from him. There was nothing in between them—just each other, face-to-face. The tension was palpable. Argrave kept Lorena’s knowledge close at hand, prepared to call upon it at a moment’s notice.

“I spoke to Hause,” Raven began, staring down at Argrave. “I spoke to all of them. My old… friends,” he said strangely, as if he didn’t think the word could come from his mouth. “Even Sonia.”

With much of the tension dissolved with that greeting, Argrave sat cross-legged and placed both of his hands on his knees. “I think… maybe… I shouldn’t have acted against your wishes like that,” he admitted, seeing some fault with his actions. “But I wanted to win. And I wanted to have Hause’s followers put pressure on her to use her ability again. I’m still not clear on what ‘unlocking potential’ truly entails, but if we make good use of it, it could make or break our coming victory. I hoped to force her followers to persuade her to change her mind.”

“I see the reasons. It was the pragmatic thing to do,” Raven pointed out. “An unrelated party with my utilitarian disposition would’ve suggested you to follow this course.”

Argrave relaxed his tense body fully. “So… what are we doing here, exactly?”

“We’re here because I suspect Lorena told you important information that may weaken me, and because I was being deliberately stubborn out of paranoia.” He looked back to the carcass of the Smiling Raven, still chained. “That beast yet has its uses. I cannot yet allow you to kill it.”

“Why not?” Argrave asked, somewhat passionately. He truly did have hope for Raven.

“Because I intend to follow your journey to the suns,” Raven said. “You will not see me, but I will intercept foes and ensure you are never overwhelmed. If you degrade that part of me, I weaken myself.” He shook his huge head. “I must admit that I have been overprotective. You will not be facing Gerechtigkeit—you will be facing his puppets alone. His power is such that they will very rapidly die from his mere presence, like flame chewing through dry grass. You saw that man’s head explode, if you’ll think back. If you faced his own soul, I would be justified in what I do… but you do not, and I am not.”

“So… this is over?” Argrave swallowed nervously. “No more fighting.”

“None from me. I believe you are more than ready to travel to the suns.”

“Just when I start to win, you decide to walk away, undefeated?” Argrave crossed his arms to express his disapproval, yet despite it all, felt some strong feeling of relief.

“No one likes to lose.” Raven didn’t quite smile, but Argrave couldn’t shake the feeling there might be one hidden, somewhere—perhaps he’d grown a mouth on the back of his head to grin to his heart’s content. “Besides, there’s something else I’d like to speak to you about.”

“Go on.”

will come into contact with Gerechtigkeit,” Raven said. “You need to probe for information, and if possible, secure

agreement?” Argrave repeated. “How would that be any different from what the He—" he trailed off as he came to a word that put everything into light. “Oh. I think I

with the Heralds before.” Raven shook his head. “If that happens again, I get the impression that no defeat could be more certain. The benefit we have, however, is that Gerechtigkeit seems as much an enemy to them

at least. But how am I to trust anything

Heralds are the enemies of us all. He knows all that you know, and more than likely, he’s felt the sting of their betrayal before. Above all, I’m certain that he realizes they’re the cause of all his misfortune. They were directly responsible for his present miserable situation—his struggle against the millennia, of such a magnitude that only he’s aware of the extent

“Make the key issue our self-determination. Insist that we should be the only ones deciding the fate of the

Royal Road;

said. “I’m

scoffed. “Interesting. Right. That’s one way to put it. Though,

little grimmer. “What about

quick to give up the fight as I am,” Argrave insinuated. “She’s taken a bit of an interest in

I read her lips—some of the words she said. I didn’t get it all, but I saw

that? More than that—you

it when I exert the effort. It’s amusing how

to know,” Argrave suggested. “I could tell you what she

scowl with his hand. “Vexing. I’ll speak to her when I choose, if only to better figure out her intents. Is

raised

Return.” He waved his head. “Go. Get ready. Prepare

#####

big fight?” Argrave asked as he looked at Anneliese. “You’re my coach in the corner, at this moment.

some way. Apparently, I’m part of your army.

Argrave

haven’t already?” She shook her head as she stared down at him affectionately. “How many of the same conversation can we have before I learn

you’re making me

on his