JACKAL AMONG SNAKES

When Argrave again returned to the mortal realm, common sensations so long denied to him came rushing back in a wave that quickly translated into euphoria.

The location that Traugott had been using as his point of contact with the mortal world was an archipelago, evidently, deep out in the middle of nowhere. The sight of the sun and the clouds, far above, felt so pleasant and soothing. The sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks was robust, hearty—as was the smell of salt, lingering in the air so clearly. Never before had the sea smelled sweeter, nor its mists more pleasant.

Argrave and Anneliese walked about mutely while the Manumitter kneeled in stunned silence, taking it all in. This was the first time that he had seen this world. The other one had likely been frightening enough, but now this? It was like walking into the garden of Eden after being so long denied the basic realities of living. It might be said that he’d come out of the womb.

After a while, Argrave and Anneliese looked at each other, their eyes moving up and down. Their clothes were battered, torn, and broken—Argrave’s most of all. They were caked in blood in so many places, covered in dirt and dust in so many more. Their hair was greasy and matted, and even past the scent of the sea, an unpleasant stench came from them: death, and much else.

“You look utterly terrible,” she told him with a huge smile on her face. Argrave felt the deepest of joys simply from hearing her voice normal again. It was hoarse, ill-practiced, and cracked at multiple points… yet it sounded the sweetest it ever had. “You’re the worst I’ve ever seen you. It’s nauseating me.”

“So do you!” He countered, and they both began laughing like fools as they experienced yet another joy that had been lost to them—the simple pleasure of an embrace.

The melancholy of the Shadowlands had weighed heavily on them. It was a suppressing place, a weight constantly bearing down on them. But now they were free of it, and their largest issue had been more than captured alive—he’d been turned to the bright side, so to speak. Looking at him here, though… the Manumitter was a horror show, and looked ill-adapted to living in this world.

“This place…” he sputtered. “It’s… it’s terrifying. It’s so much,” he said, looking about in abject fear. “Do I have to leave that place? I think… I think I belong there,” he pleaded. “Take me back.”

Anneliese broke away from Argrave and kneeled down in front of the Manumitter sympathetically. “I told you that I would need to be rough with you for some time. That hasn’t changed, yet. Stay strong.”

He closed his eyes as if to block out sights and sounds.

“…Argrave?” came an uncertain voice in his head.

“Elenore!” he exploded back. “Good lord. I missed the sound of your voice so damn much. I missed all of you!”

“…alright, calm down,” she responded, but he could detect a tinge of flattered amusement on her tone. “Take your time. Collect yourself. When you’re ready, come back. There’s much to discuss.”

#####

The Great Cleansing of the Shadowlands came first—that is to say, cleaning themselves of all the pounds of muck and filth they’d accumulated in that hellish place where they couldn’t even tell that they were filthy. They jumped into the sea at first—after feeling its chill, they went to a geothermal spring near Vysenn. With the cleansing done, they delivered the Manumitter to Raven, explaining things thoroughly.

“Our hope is that you could install the same some of mark you did on Durran,” Argrave laid out, fiddling with the new clothes that they’d donned to maintain some basic level of decency before returning to Blackgard. “A killswitch.”

“Hmm. His flesh is different.” Raven studied the sleeping Manumitter. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“I may come by later. I want to see what information can be pried out from Traugott’s mind. I… I can restore him, you see.” Anneliese rubbed her hands together guiltily when Argrave looked at her in shock—she hadn’t mentioned that part. “I figured out how to imitate his methods.”

Raven studied her in some surprise. “You absorb information so quickly, so readily. It does always surprise me, to some extent. I will do as you ask. If I do not, then I will simply keep him in stasis until such a time as you need him. Have you spoken to the others about what happened at Blackgard?”

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Argrave clapped his hands together—ultimately, Anneliese had only done something good by preserving Traugott’s mind, so he was content to ignore it. “Did something exciting happen back home? A solution to a pressing problem, perhaps?”

“Exciting in a sense.” Raven looked to his right, where something silver shone brilliantly. It looked like a knight, from Argrave’s quick look, but he didn’t have time to solidify that before Raven looked back. “I would advise you to return and speak to your sister immediately.”

Argrave felt a grim premonition, and looked to Anneliese to see similar thoughts writ on her face.

#####

Argrave looked out across the devastated landscape beyond the mountains of Blackgard. By way of explaining things, Elenore had asked Argrave take them to the highest peak of the mountain. The wind whipped his face so high up, perched above it all. Elenore and Anneliese stood with him.

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“How could this happen?” He asked, though he knew the answer.

“How? Rather suddenly,” Elenore shouted above the wind. “Orion was warned, but… it’s complicated. The Gilderwatchers? Gerechtigkeit’s mastery over them? This is the fruit of that, I’m afraid.”

Argrave looked at her in dread, and Anneliese conjured a ward to block off the wind. His voice suddenly sounded all too clear as he asked, “Do you mean to say that more of those knights in Raven’s laboratory could be coming?” He looked back at the city. “Good lord… look at the streets, the buildings. How many people did we lose?”

“We did the best we could, Argrave. Orion… what he did… it’s…”

“I’m not reprimanding anyone. This is my fault,” he said, shaking his head. “I should’ve known better. Should’ve planned better. Should’ve had gods stationed near here, but I was just too afraid of them finding out about Sophia in some way…” Argrave clenched his forehead. “God damn it.”

“This knight direly injured Rook with one attack, and swatted away Law like he was his better.” Elenore touched his arm. “We did plan. It wouldn’t have mattered.”

Argrave blinked in stunned silence. “How the hell did the thing get…?” He gathered his thoughts, thinking hard. “If even ancient gods were so handily beaten back…”

“Like I said.” Elenore looked back at the scene. “Orion killed it. He… he was legendary, Argrave. There’s no better word for it.”

Argrave exhaled in awe. “The Fruit of Being. Did you give it to him?”

“No.” Elenore shook her head. “I was too afraid to. But while everyone else was fleeing, he rushed in, alone, and dueled that knight. On that note… here.”

Elenore grabbed at his hand, and he resisted for half a second before surrendering meekly. She tried a ring on his different fingers until she found one that fit—the pinky. Argrave felt a strange stirring inside of his body.

“Your soul…” Anneliese said in surprise as she looked at him, evidently seeing something with [Truesight]. Elenore walked to her, too, and did the same ring-fitting maneuver.

Once they were on, Elenore stepped back and looked at the two of them, holding up her own hand. It had a ring as well. “The results of the research team. Druidic magic was expanded into soul magic, whatever that means… and as a result, Artur’s been hammering out these rings en masse. I’ve been distributing them to protect against mental attack, but it’s insufficient considering the scope of people we might need to protect. A larger solution will be needed, I’m certain.”

Argrave fiddled with the ring in wonder. “Meaning… the research team, Llewellen… they did it?”

“Weeks ago, yes.” Elenore nodded.

Argrave flexed his hand, admiring the simple craftsmanship of the ring containing such a complex enchantment. “It seems I have tons of commendations to give out, national heroes to name.”

“Orion is taking it easy, and I won’t let you overstrain him,” Elenore said firmly. “Llewellen is missing.”

“Missing?” Argrave repeated.

“That’s what I said. Your ears work.”

Argrave looked at Anneliese, then back at his sister. “Any more details?”

“Onychinusa may have kidnapped him,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m told she got into a very large fight with him. She wasn’t willing to accept his inevitable death, despite his relaxed attitude about the subject. The day after, he was simply gone. Her as well.”

Anneliese nodded. “It sounds… very like her.”

“Oh, and the Bloodwoods requested to be named a Vasquer protectorate,” Elenore said as if it was an off-hand remark, easily forgotten. freёnovelkiss.com

“What?” Argrave gaped.

“You know as much as I do,” Elenore sighed. “It came out of the blue. After this incident, I do wonder if they’re as stalwartly committed… but there’s been no retraction. Nor have I given an answer.” She looked at him. “And you? Was this expedition as important as you predicted?”

Argrave bowed. “The lady of honor shall report her triumph, I think. Anneliese?” He flourished.

“Traugott was gathering an army, attempting a coup on the Shadowlands. Long-term, I think he planned to take the fight to us. I erased his mind, and now we can use his powers to stop any Shadowlanders that may come. Raven is looking after him,” she summarized.

Elenore blinked for a few moments. “Oh.”

“Long-term, we may have allies there,” Argrave continued. “It’s a… shot in the dark, you might say… but the possibility exists. We do need to garrison a location. An island, out in the middle of nowhere. It’s a point of contact between the rebels and our forces.”

“Allies? With them? The same species of creature that ravaged Dirracha?” Elenore looked more than skeptical.

“It baffles me too, but I saw what I saw.” Argrave looked back to the scene of utter devastation. “After seeing this, I’m not sure if they’d even be sufficient.”

For the first time, he was getting a sense of the scale of the calamity he’d invoked pulling Sophia from her eternal prison in Sandelabara. Gerechtigkeit was not as he was. The ancient calamity that Argrave remembered seemed like a chihuahua by comparison—a lot of noise and barking, but not at all the same scale of devastation.

They were nearing the summit that many had tried to climb before, but none had ever succeeded in cresting.

“You’re mostly caught up,” Elenore said. “I’ve been trying to hold this place together as best I can. There is someone that I believe you need to speak to, however.” Argrave looked at her, seeing the seriousness in her face as she said, “Sophia.”

“Is she well?” Argrave stepped in. “Was she harmed, somehow?”

“Not harmed, no. But… she did have some more dreams. She’s clinging to Orion, fortunately, and he’s being very gentle with her… but she asks about you, often. I think she has something to say.” Elenore shook her head with a sigh. “I’m not sure. I worry for her. That knight was definitely coming for her. And I can’t help but think this won’t be the end of it.”

Argrave nodded. “I’ll speak to her right away.”