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.

help. And if she does… I’ll see if she can’t recreate Jaray to be vulnerable. I know that bluster—I’ve employed it myself. Jaray is about to bring forth a last-ditch effort. I’d like to cut him in two before he

to do?” Elenore rose to her feet. “What if that’s precisely the move that he’d hoped you’d make? Sophia is safest here, in Blackgard. After the silver knight came through, we’ve redoubled the defenses—even an ancient god

until millions more died than already have,” Argrave pointed out calmly. “After

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 from reaching ten! She’s not

rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report

sending Raven or Anneliese would work.” Argrave nodded, closing his eyes. “Maybe. But I know this will work. And I know that Sophia would want to help the

roots of her hair. Finally, she looked up, gray eyes resolute.

if you’ve doubts about

#####

heavily-guarded corridor leading to Sophia’s room,

hardened hands at the battlefield,” Elenore said. “But hardened things won’t

risks, this was worth 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 of politics. Their sole advocate still on this planet would cease to be, and the only one remaining would be lurking in the Shadowlands—that is, if the Hopeful wasn’t shortly to make

Jaray’s poison had to be uprooted.

told Elenore. “This ends today.

deep breath, gathering himself, then pushed it open. Sophia sat at her bed, and lifted her head up when he opened the door. Her eyes hardened, and she got off the bed. She wore plain beige clothes well-suited for travelling—clothes she’d often worn when she’d travelled the countryside

staring up at

Argrave paused at

“So I got dressed. My brother’s here, isn’t he? He’s… he’s hurting people?

her bed, sitting down. “It’s not your brother. But… yes, you’re right. That is why I came. There’s an awful person outside the city—someone that I might not be able to beat back on my

head in shame, embarrassed to be putting this

do it,” Sophia said