Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave turned his head back to Fellhorn’s assault. There, he witnessed three converging forces assail the retreating god of water and those he’d brought as auxiliary forces. Durran and his patron, Stout Heart Swan, valiantly battled the exposed deity. From behind, the god of space Raccomen brought in a wave of soldiers that marched across the mountains—Justiciars, freshly reborn after Law’s victory over Rook. There was nothing more for him to do, he was certain—Fellhorn was soon to fall.

With that established, Argrave turned back to Jaray. “So… you can’t hurt us, but we can’t hurt you? That’s the short of it?”

“Just so,” Jaray confirmed. “If you need more verification, the both of you, I’m standing right here.” He looked between them. “No? Then… let’s work something out.”

Argrave walked up to stand over him. “You’re insane if you think I’ll agree to any sort of armistice, any peace. Give you time to regroup? Give you time to marshal more forces? Nonsense. We work this out here, today. And as you’ve pointed out, I’m winning.” He waved. “Lorena—get back to the moon. We need eyes everywhere, in case this is just a distraction.”

Lorena shifted on her feet briefly, but she did heed his word. She began running, shifting her body into her draconic form before lifting into the air. With two powerful beats of her wings, she sped away with ridiculous speed, just as she’d come.

“I said that you’re winning… by all appearances,” Jaray clarified.

“The Shadowlanders? The Hopeful?” Argrave shook his head. “We’ve got plans. Listen… take your little under-the-table deal, crush it into a ball, and shove it down your throat. I don’t care if none of us can hurt you—somehow, you’ll die. This is going to end so poorly you’ll kill yourself before any of us have the chance.”

Jaray laughed. “That’s your plan? Sadden me until I quit voluntarily?”

“There’s a reason you’re here, now, only after I killed your damn vanguard.” Argrave looked around. “And it’s not because we’re on our last legs. It’s because you want to rattle us, have us make mistakes, have us act against our best interests. I know your playbook. I use it often myself. The difference between me and you, though, is that I’m fine getting my hands dirty because I believe what I preach.”

“Which friends would you like to say goodbye to? Which cities would you like to rebuild? Mateth? Relize? The whole of the Bloodwoods, perhaps?” Jaray pressed.

“As many as it takes,” Argrave said, then departed, carried away by teleportation to his blood echo back to Blackgard.

Once he’d arrived, he walked over to Elenore’s desk in a storm. “Where’s Sophia?”

“Sophia? What?” Elenore looked up at him with bloodshot eyes.

is the lynchpin to their entire operation,” Argrave walked around the room, feeling energized. “I’m going to ask her if she wants to help. And if she does… I’ll see if she can’t recreate Jaray

Sophia is safest here, in Blackgard. After the

than already have,” Argrave pointed out calmly.

be playing right into his hands.” Elenore walked around the table. “There has to be another way. Send out Raven to probe him, or… or Anneliese. Not Sophia. She’s only weeks away

is not rightfully on Amazon; if you

I know this will work. And I know that Sophia would want to help the people,

all, Argrave…” Elenore put her hands to her head, clutching the roots of her hair. Finally, she looked up, gray eyes

I’ll be sure of that,” Argrave promised his sister. “And if you’ve doubts

#####

leading to Sophia’s room, listening to Elenore all the

a lot of hardened hands at the battlefield,” Elenore said. “But hardened things won’t mean a damn thing against a trick. We don’t know Jaray’s ability.

doing. If Jaray could die, the threat of the Heralds would be ended forevermore. Sophia was the only surefire way he saw of eliminating the god

poison had to be uprooted. Millions of people

keep Sophia safe,” he told Elenore. “This ends today. Not tomorrow, not

door leading to Sophia’s room. He took a deep breath, gathering himself, then pushed it open. Sophia sat at her bed, and lifted her head up when he

said, staring up at him

paused

brother’s here, isn’t he? He’s… he’s hurting people? He’s coming for me? I

down. “It’s not your brother. But… yes, you’re right. That is why I came. There’s an awful person

lowered his head in shame, embarrassed to

can do it,” Sophia said proudly. “I can