Jackal Among Snakes - Chapter 404

When Argrave, Anneliese, and Orion made to return to the elven camp, Anneliese’s scouting discovered that it was simply gone.

...but further scouting showed that it had moved to another location, seeking an advantageous position in wake of the sudden shift of roots in the forest. With the ground cleared up, traveling was a much faster, if much stranger, thing. All of the soil was loose and unpacked, and felt a little squishy beneath their boots. Whatever the case, they made it to the elven camp where the rest of his company had prudently relocated alongside.

After a somewhat rough greeting by scouts watching for approaching enemies, Batbayar was the first to find them. They talked quietly as they walked back into camp.

“I’ve put people on the most likely suspect... Altan. These are good men, maybe the best I have. They’ll follow her every move,” the myriarch swore.

Argrave’s first reaction was not approval, but a question: “Altan, is it... the Acting Supreme Myriarch. I suppose it does make sense. These men of yours: you’re sure they’re not playing for the red team?”

“Red team...?” Batbayar repeated, then shook his head. “No. These men are faithful adherents to the elven gods, just like most in the Holy Army of the Wind.” He grew silent for a minute, then sought counsel once more, asking, “If things truly are as you say, do you have more direction for me to follow?”

Argrave considered his words, and as they walked they soon landed where the Veidimen had made camp. “Well... you should ask for Ganbaatar’s help. He’s been hunting vampires-- something like this will be no trouble for him at all. If he can sus out those that drink blood, he can find a few heretics in your ranks without trouble. And maybe you’ll trust his findings a little more than mine. Only go public if you have ample proof,” Argrave told him insistently.

“That was always the plan,” Batbayar responded a little angrily.

“I’m not joking. Do not act early if you want this to be effective. Erlebnis is the god of knowledge, and he’ll have something prepared if he catches even a whiff of this,” Argrvave told him insistently.

A bird’s cry split the air, and Argrave whipped his head to look at it. He saw a big black bird approaching him and stepped back by instinct, but moved forward again when he recognized it. Behind, Grimalt pursued Nikoletta’s druidic bond.

As it landed on his arm, the Veidimen officer explained, “This bird has been waiting for you for some time now, Your Majesty. None of us touched the parcel it had, and we made sure no one else did either.”

Batbayar came to his side and said quickly, “I’ll leave you be, let you catch up with your men. As you said, you’ll leave this to us,” the myriarch reminded Argrave firmly. “We can handle our own. I just hope... I hope you’re wrong about this, in all honesty. But...”

The myriarch shook his head and left, leaving Argrave to finish his statement. He hoped the myriarch meant to say, ‘but I know you’re right.’ After letting the elf go, he looked at the parcel on the bird’s leg.

“Thank you for this, Nicky...” Argrave muttered, untying the binding around the bird’s leg to free the package. “Say hello to your dad.”

With the parcel in hand, the bird gave a rather unbirdlike nod and lifted off, its claws leaving sight scratch marks on his duster’s sleeves.

“She sent something. Does that mean Elenore...?” Anneliese whispered quietly.

Argrave undid the exterior wrapping of the parcel, revealing what was within. He saw a quaint mini-cabinet. It had two little handle knobs made of diamonds, and the rest of it was a deep, rich black wood almost like mahogany. .

“Heheh...” Argrave looked at the cabinet fondly. “You smug, blue-eyed prick... let’s see if you can smile when the secret police just repossessed your property. Might need my own little gulag, just for you...”

Argrave was about to open up the cabinet to see if the most vital bit remained, but someone walked up to him. Grimalt stopped the man domineeringly, but Argrave said, “Let him by. He’s probably just a messenger.”

And indeed, the person said, “The Acting Supreme Myriarch would like to see you. She waits in the upper canopies.”

With the message delivered, the person departed just as quickly. Argrave stood there, clenching the miniature in his hand.

“Will you go?” Orion asked.

Argrave thought about it. He was hesitant, given that Batbayar might-- no, he definitely would-- see them meet. But as Argrave thought, he gave a slight smile.

“Grimalt... send someone over to find Batbayar. Tell him Altan wanted to meet me. Tell him... tell him that I’m expected to explain my absence to her, but that I have an excuse handy.” His eyes fell to the miniature cabinet.

#####

Immediately upon returning, Argrave was forced to climb up the giant redwood trees to meet with Altan. He brought Anneliese and Orion, both for safety reasons-- Anneliese to ensure Altan suspected nothing, and Orion to ensure that he would be protected from any unseemly acts of violence.

Upon arrival, he was greeted by an Altan who seemed somewhat worse for wear. She was pulling hairs... and quite literally, at that. He saw her coil a long blonde hair around her finger again and again until it wrenched free of her head. When she saw Argrave, she practically dove through the canopy to meet him.

“Did you have something to do with this?” Altan demanded at once. “The roots unwinding-- was this you?”

"No. But it sure ruined my damned plans. Do you think I wanted to come back with a miniature cabinet in my hands?" Argrave waved it before her face, feigning wrath. "Whole place almost collapsed. Absolute nightmare."

Altan's own fury waned before his acting. In time it reflared, and she insisted, "And Batbayar... what was that all about?"

"You wanted me to help you, no? I got a connection with him through my guy Ganbaatar. He'll be a proponent, I'm pretty sure." Argrave narrowed his eyes. "You seem a little stressed."

She sighed, then said, "I attempt to erode a centuries-old military structure from within. Pardon me for not skipping carefree."

"Is this going to be a problem?" Anneliese demanded coldly, like she was the cruelest manager in the world.

“I can handle it,” Altan raised both her hands up to stop them from assuming more.

When Argrave looked at Anneliese, he knew then that this Acting Supreme Myriarch likely didn’t suspect anything. That was sure to change in time, as word spread from Erlebnis out to all his agents... but it gave them time enough to prepare all that was needed.

“Well, you don’t need to pull anymore hairs,” Argrave said, acting like the kind assistant manager in contrast to Anneliese’s performance. “We’re here. We can help with the politicking. And with one more myriarch on our side, things should sail a fair bit smoother.”

“That’s good... that’s good,” Altan breathed a sigh of relief. “Still, you can only shovel so much into the abyss... this is challenging.”

“Update me on the happenings while I was absent. It wasn’t exactly a seven day vacation, but I surely missed some things in my brief absence... oh, and one other thing.”

Argrave braced the miniature cabinet with his left hand, and then pulled on one of the diamond knobs with his right. With a subtle snap, the knob came free.

“I’m gonna need for you to deliver this diamond to one of Erlebnis’ shrines, alongside a letter. Tell the emissary that it needs to reach Dimocles,” Argrave said with a subtle smile.

“I can’t deliver it, not personally,” Altan responded, aggrieved.

“One of your people, then,” Argrave changed his phrasing, deeming it unfortunate he could not be so lucky as to directly implicate her.

“Fine,” Altan agreed without much thought to the matter, clearly interested in changing the subject. “Here’s what I need your help with...”

#####

Argrave and Anneliese returned back to where the Veidimen and the rest of their party made camp, Orion acting as the diligent escort.

“How will Dimocles respond if that diamond knob reaches him?” Anneliese inquired.

“I said it was a housewarming gift for a friend in that letter I sent with it,” Argrave said flatly. “I think he’ll get the message. I’m certain he places more value on his collection than on his loyalty for Erlebnis... and this miniature of his is something he holds very dear. Whether he scampers back to his wrecked home, seeks us out... he won’t be providing immediate aid to Erlebnis. A minor victory, but a victory nonetheless.” Argrave looked to the sky. “It’s the divine side of things remaining unfinished.”

“We learned much... but we can still learn much more,” Anneliese told Argrave. “What do you intend to do next?”

“We take this time before Onychinusa’s fallout spreads far and wide to get ready for execution,” Argrave said decisively, placing his hands in his pockets where the Brumesingers still slept. “Prepare the troops, prepare the plan, and then head to battle.”

“Then it is imperative I grow our knowledge,” Anneliese extrapolated. “Would you prefer I scout with the Starsparrow, or devote my time to learning the tome of transportation?”

Argrave didn’t take long to answer, “Scouting. We won’t be able to use the tome of transportation until we get in contact with the elven gods, wherever they might’ve gone in the forest... it needs spirits, after all.”

“That... I should have thought of that,” Anneliese shook her head. “This feeling... the purposelessness does not fade. I want to do so much, but...” she sighed, then dismissed, “Never mind. What is your move while I scout?”

“I’m going to delegate tasks,” Argrave nodded, the plan coming together in his head. “There’s some of the original procedure that’s going to come back into play, provided you don’t learn anything distressing while you scout. I think... that we can tie everything up in one manuever. Kirel Qircassia, Sarikiz, Erlebnis, the elven gods, all entwined in a mess of a divinity. Beyond that, if I can learn how to use [Requite], that’ll sway things in our favor tremendously. I can do some last-minute cramming for the big test.”

In the camp for the Veidimen, Argrave laid eyes upon Vasilisa, Artur, and Moriatran, who waited for him after hearing of his return.

“Even if it’s shamanic magic... I think I have some decent tutors on hand,” he smiled. “It’s a big day, tomorrow. The decisive battle. Let’s hope we hit Erlebnis with half as many betrayals as he hit us.”