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Jackal Among Snakes Chapter 408
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Jackal Among Snakes Chapter 408

Published at 31st of August 2023 07:34:07 AM


Chapter 408: Living Trust
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Sarikiz sat before Argrave, much of the tension in her shoulders drained. Her eyes did not wander from place to place so frantically, and she did not fear an attack from any direction. Indeed, it might be said that she seemed somewhat happy.

“Kirel Qircassia had made that rift. So long as he wills it, the thing will stay open,” Argrave explained to her. “More precisely, so long as he is willing and able to exert his divinity, it will stay open.”

“Do you intend me to bring my centaurs to act as warden of the land around this rift?” Sarikiz questioned, not fully pleased.

“Realms like this one we're in now…” Argrave turned his head, looking out across the endless sea of grass where the animals prowled without a care. “They're not like the mortal realm. Here, the rules are different. Here, you have true divinity. As you slept, this world was locked in frozen time,” he pointed at her to emphasize this point. “But just as it is here, so would it be there.”

Her back straightened as the point came to her. “You wish for me to pass through the rift, and enact my divinity to close the breach Kirel made.”

Argrave nodded. “You'd be leading a conquest of sorts. And it wouldn't be you, alone, passing through. The centaurs could come with you.”

“But Kirel Qircassia would still be there,” she pointed out. “I was a god born on the last cycle of judgment. I am nothing compared to him.”

“But it isn't the mortal realm,” Argrave shook his head. “You cannot die there, and nor can the centaurs if you decide to take them into your service. You have access to divinity far beyond anything you can muster on the mortal plane. You can fragment his realm, casting it adrift in the astral sea… and then, you and yours have a realm unto your own. No offense, but I imagine it'll be somewhat grander than this one,” Argrave looked around. “You'll still have to endure the cycle of judgment. We all will. But nonetheless, I think you'll be tremendously advantaged if you follow through.”

“This must be your plan,” Sarikiz looked to Ghan. “No mortal possesses knowledge of this caliber about the divine and their workings.”

“It was his, from the beginning. It was what he intended even before Erlebnis made his presence known.” Ghan shook his head, holding his hand near his wound. “He knows more of the divine than he ought. But you know as well as I do that what he says would work.”

“I do…” Sarikiz confirmed hazily, placing her hand below her chin. “Then what of you, of your family?”

Ghan pulled his hand from his wound and said, “I will surrender myself as spirits, bestowing them upon Argrave that he might call upon a potent shamanic magic.” He looked to the side, where his wife stood even now. “And then… my sweet Ujin, or whoever still lives, will close Erlebnis' breach.”

“Magic over divinity?” Sarikiz narrowed her eyes.

“I am wounded,” Ghan answered. “We were beaten by the thousands of spells Erlebnis summoned, and I was cut nearly in half by Chiteng. We were being hunted through the forests, and they would have overtaken us if not for that man,” he gestured towards Argrave. “My wound might heal, but it will take too long for me to be of real use. These spells… they might turn the tide. They combine the mortal and the immortal in a way I've never seen before. They were the work of Emperor Balzat, I'm told.”

A grim silence set over them as they confronted what was to happen. Sarikiz managed, “You elves always did seem keen to fight the strongest enemies, letting us take the easy pickings.”

Ghan laughed. “Well… it was the way things worked out.” He focused on Argrave. “I only hope that you can end the cycle of judgment better than we did, Argrave.”

Argrave lowered his head without words to say.

“And perhaps as more than a king,” Merata contributed.

“What do you mean?” Anneliese asked curiously, breaking her silence.

“That you act in this way… you're bound to catch the attention of the universe,” a saddened Ujin said. “If you carry on this path, wayward spirits will claim you, change you…”

“That won't happen,” Argrave shook his head certainly.

“How can you know?” Sarikiz asked him. “Do you think I intended for this form? At one point, the line between who I was and what I am blurred, and so I became the Holy Mother to the centaurs. If you are like me—”

“I know it won't happen, because this continent is Gerechtigkeit's point of contact,” Argrave interrupted. “Divinity cannot coalesce in his presence.”

“No one can predict Gerechtigkeit,” Gunlik shook his head, rising. “We waste time. We must make haste.”

“Indeed,” Sarikiz said, rising up. “Then… I believe it time to see my people once more.”

Though Argrave felt the conversation was settled, Anneliese still stared at him, her brows furrowed in thought. It seemed there was something that would not exit her mind. In the end, she shook her head to dismiss it, and then prepared for what was to come.

“Why does my hair have…?” Sarikiz said, touching a knobby, cut bit that Argrave remembered sawing through.

“First, we need to manifest you,” Argrave cut in hastily, getting to the point. “With the centaurs spectating from the Mother's Steppe, the process will be a little different… and I definitely need your good word.”

“Right,” Sarikiz nodded. “A final resistance, with my old allies at my side… what fun.”

#####

Argrave stood on Ghan's shoulders as the centaurs moved rampantly through the woods now free of impeding roots. There, at their front, Gunlik and Sarikiz proceeded to where Kirel's breach stood strong today. The Holy Mother had manifested a physical form on the mortal realm, true enough, but she was far from full strength by any stretch. To that end, Gunlik accompanied her. And if all went well, Orion and the elves would offer their aid.

“She trusted you rather quickly,” Argrave spoke to Ghan.

“Because she wanted dearly to trust them,” Anneliese answered Argrave before Ghan could speak. “It is easy to fall back into what you know.”

“Your queen speaks true,” Ghan answered. Argrave still felt it strange that he had been speaking with the god on relatively even terms not moments ago. Now, they were back here, and he stood on the shoulders of giants.

They marched solemnly towards the Bloodwoods, heading for the coast. Argrave had no specific information on where the breach might be, but the fact that Anneliese had learned from Onychinusa that it was underwater was good enough to find it.

“Are you comfortable with what you're doing?” Argrave asked.

“Dying to preserve my family?” Ghan questioned. “I do not think of that. All I see is giving them freedom to fight longer.”

The march continued, Argrave bracing against Ghan's scarred neck for stability. There was so much he wanted to ask the old patriarch—if he was satisfied, if there was more he wanted to do… but at the end of the day, Argrave knew it was in his best interests to stay silent. And though it bothered him, tore at him… he held his tongue.

“I thought soldiers were foolish, once,” Ghan said, not holding his. “Fighting, and likely dying, for something… a cause, a country, a belief… seemed so foreign to me. If they are fools, at the very least I understand that foolishness now, as I did in the last millennium.”

Argrave listened intently, wondering the god sought to impart a lesson.

“Build something you would die for, Argrave,” Ghan finished. “Then you will not think about death even unto the end.”

Ahead, Merata came to a stop, holding his crook wide to halt the other elven gods marching with them.

“Chiteng,” Merata said. One word, one name, but enough to stir them all.

Argrave felt the tension take root in his chest as all the gods slowly advanced forward. Merata stood at the front, but all the others watched elsewhere as if suspecting an ambush. Argrave was with them on that front. And ahead, standing with his menacing ivory sword leaning on his shoulder, Chiteng waited.

“You're here,” Chiteng said, staring them down. “What's changed?”

“That's not your concern,” Merata answered.

“You're right,” Chiteng nodded slowly, then paced around slowly as he thought of his next words. He paused abruptly, then asked, “Would you ever trust me again?”

“I'm afraid not, son,” Ghan shook his head.

“And if I offered to close Erlebnis' breach?” he broached hopefully.

“We couldn't leave that task to you,” Dairi said, holding her arms at attention cautiously.

“Why did you do it, son?” Ujin asked sadly.

Chiteng looked at her with his red eyes. Argrave had remembered him being fierce, terrifying, indomitable, sitting on his ivory throne in a sea of blood… but now, he looked broken, even with that sword by his shoulder.

“If I had not…” Chiteng closed his eyes. “They would have gone for the elves, first. Ambush them, wipe them out… I feared for them. I needed to secure their safety. Even had I not contacted Erlebnis, this would have happened. When I learned that, when I knew that…!” His voice grew in volume in tandem with his anger. “What could I have done? Abandon the Woodschildren? This was the only way to secure their safety!”

“But why turn against us?” Ghan asked, his voice hoarse. “Why turn your back to us?! You could have brought us into this!”

“Erlebnis did not care to keep you around,” Chiteng shook his head. “He only allowed what concessions I earned because I divulged Argrave's plans, promised betrayal. He sought to take all of what you were for himself. And I… did not think we could win.” He lifted his head to the sky. “I still find it difficult to think you will not fail. His emissaries are too powerful, and they are greater in number than they were before. Their power has waxed, even if yours has done the same. So… I tried, dad, mom. I did.”

“Son…” Ghan raised his hand up, rubbing at his face. “I cannot risk the same happening again. I can't believe you.”

Chiteng closed his eyes, accepting that fate. “I'm not giving you the option to doubt me, father. And I now realize what I should have from the beginning. I believe in you. And you will accept my help, one way or the other.”

Ghan took a step back, perhaps expecting an attack… but that was not what awaited them. Chiteng's blade, leaned up against his shoulder, spun fiercely as the god twisted his wrist. But rather than coming to attention to prepare for the fight, it cleaved straight through his neck.

Chiteng's head fell downwards as his body's knees gave, collapsing to the earth as though kneeling in a final show of filial piety. Dancing, corporeal spirits rose from his neck and from the bottom of his severed head like smoking rising from a urn. The humanoid spirits held hands as they rose to the sky, and Argrave thought briefly that they were singing… but the surprised screams of all the elven gods drowned out whatever sound they might have made.

Argrave and Anneliese both were tossed from Ghan's back as the father lunged toward his dying son in shock. The slowfall of Artur's enchantment took effect, gently lowering Argrave and Anneliese even as they were tossed to the air. He held his hand out, a spell at the edge of his mind even amidst the shock… but he hesitated. In the end, he gritted his teeth and cast the first of the shamanic spells one learned: [Lure of the Mortal].

The spirits that rose from Chiteng's wounds like smoke changed their direction, heading for Argrave. They surged around him, dancing wildly as they sought purchase in his being. He looked to Anneliese, saying, “Don't waste his sacrifice.”

Anneliese nodded, and though she seemed to have tears in her eyes, held her hand out and cast the same spell he did. Chiteng's body slowly fragmented bit by bit, partly joining with his crying family and partly coming to Argrave and Anneliese as they fell through the air. The first of the spirits joined with him, settling into his body where they were bound by the chains of his magic.

After an eternity, nothing remained of Chiteng barring his blade of ivory that had fallen to the ground after his suicide. There was silence as Anneliese and Argrave slowly alighted on the ground. The family grieved alone in this clearing, and as outsiders Argrave and Anneliese felt out of place.

But then… Ghan's fingers slipped over the blade of ivory. He rose up to his feet, his chest now unmarred by any wound after taking in Chiteng's spirits. He hefted his son's blade in his hand, and then looked back to Argrave.

“We will end this,” Ghan said simply.

Argrave nodded. “We will.”

#####

A single emissary stood on the coast of the Bloodwoods, while the North Sea battered mildly against the sandy shore. Its head turned from place to place, watching and waiting. Then, its head fixed ahead on something between the trees. In the far distance, the forest itself stirred. And with a nod, the emissary's eyes retracted within, conveying information to Erlebnis.

Then, it turned, its eyes returning. It seemed to speak to the sea as it said, “They come. Misfortune led us here… but fortune does not decide all. Let the Lord compensate for all else.”

The sea offered no answer. But still, the emissary turned back to the approaching elven gods. Ghan led at their head, his son's blade of ivory held firmly in hand. Both sides, defender and attacker, seemed to have the confidence of victory in their eyes.

Chapter end

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Chapter 478
Chapter 477
Chapter 476
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Chapter 474
Chapter 473
Chapter 472
Chapter 471
Chapter 470
Chapter 469
Chapter 468
Chapter 467
Chapter 466
Chapter 465
Chapter 464
Chapter 463
Chapter 462
Chapter 461
Chapter 460
Chapter 459
Chapter 458
Chapter 457
Chapter 456
Chapter 455
Chapter 454
Chapter 453
Chapter 452
Chapter 451
Chapter 450
Chapter 449
Chapter 448
Chapter 447
Chapter 446
Chapter 445
Chapter 444
Chapter 443
Chapter 442
Chapter 441
Chapter 440
Chapter 439
Chapter 438
Chapter 437
Chapter 436
Chapter 435
Chapter 434
Chapter 433
Chapter 432
Chapter 431
Chapter 430
Chapter 429
Chapter 428
Chapter 427
Chapter 426
Chapter 425
Chapter 424
Chapter 423
Chapter 422
Chapter 421
Chapter 420
Chapter 419
Chapter 418
Chapter 417
Chapter 416
Chapter 415
Chapter 414
Chapter 413
Chapter 412
Chapter 411
Chapter 410
Chapter 409
Chapter 408
Chapter 407
Chapter 406
Chapter 405
Chapter 404
Chapter 403
Chapter 402
Chapter 401
Chapter 400
Chapter 399
Chapter 398
Chapter 397
Chapter 396
Chapter 395
Chapter 394
Chapter 393
Chapter 392
Chapter 391
Chapter 390
Chapter 389
Chapter 388
Chapter 387
Chapter 386
Chapter 385
Chapter 384
Chapter 383
Chapter 382
Chapter 381
Chapter 380
Chapter 379
Chapter 378
Chapter 377
Chapter 376
Chapter 375
Chapter 374
Chapter 373
Chapter 372
Chapter 371
Chapter 370
Chapter 369
Chapter 368
Chapter 367
Chapter 366
Chapter 365
Chapter 364
Chapter 363
Chapter 362
Chapter 361
Chapter 360
Chapter 359
Chapter 358
Chapter 357
Chapter 356
Chapter 355
Chapter 354
Chapter 353
Chapter 352
Chapter 351
Chapter 350
Chapter 349
Chapter 348
Chapter 347
Chapter 346
Chapter 345
Chapter 344
Chapter 343
Chapter 342
Chapter 341
Chapter 340
Chapter 339
Chapter 338
Chapter 337
Chapter 336
Chapter 335
Chapter 334
Chapter 333
Chapter 332
Chapter 331
Chapter 330
Chapter 329
Chapter 328
Chapter 327
Chapter 326
Chapter 325
Chapter 324
Chapter 323
Chapter 322
Chapter 321
Chapter 320
Chapter 319
Chapter 318
Chapter 317
Chapter 316
Chapter 315
Chapter 314
Chapter 313
Chapter 312
Chapter 311
Chapter 310
Chapter 309
Chapter 308
Chapter 307
Chapter 306
Chapter 305
Chapter 304
Chapter 303
Chapter 302
Chapter 301
Chapter 300
Chapter 299
Chapter 298
Chapter 297
Chapter 296
Chapter 295
Chapter 294
Chapter 293
Chapter 292
Chapter 291
Chapter 290
Chapter 289
Chapter 288
Chapter 287
Chapter 286
Chapter 285
Chapter 284
Chapter 283
Chapter 282
Chapter 281
Chapter 280
Chapter 279
Chapter 278
Chapter 277
Chapter 276
Chapter 275
Chapter 274
Chapter 273
Chapter 272
Chapter 271
Chapter 270
Chapter 269
Chapter 268
Chapter 267
Chapter 266
Chapter 265
Chapter 264
Chapter 263
Chapter 262
Chapter 261
Chapter 260
Chapter 259
Chapter 258
Chapter 257
Chapter 256
Chapter 255
Chapter 254
Chapter 253
Chapter 252
Chapter 251
Chapter 250
Chapter 249
Chapter 248
Chapter 247
Chapter 246
Chapter 245
Chapter 244
Chapter 243
Chapter 242
Chapter 241
Chapter 240
Chapter 239
Chapter 238
Chapter 237
Chapter 236
Chapter 235
Chapter 234
Chapter 233
Chapter 232
Chapter 231
Chapter 230
Chapter 229
Chapter 228
Chapter 227
Chapter 226
Chapter 225
Chapter 224
Chapter 223
Chapter 222
Chapter 221
Chapter 220
Chapter 219
Chapter 218
Chapter 217
Chapter 216
Chapter 215
Chapter 214
Chapter 213
Chapter 212
Chapter 211
Chapter 210
Chapter 209
Chapter 208
Chapter 207
Chapter 206
Chapter 205
Chapter 204
Chapter 203
Chapter 202
Chapter 201
Chapter 200
Chapter 199
Chapter 198
Chapter 197
Chapter 196
Chapter 195
Chapter 194
Chapter 193
Chapter 192
Chapter 191
Chapter 190
Chapter 189
Chapter 188
Chapter 187
Chapter 186
Chapter 185
Chapter 184
Chapter 183
Chapter 182
Chapter 181
Chapter 180
Chapter 179
Chapter 178
Chapter 177
Chapter 176
Chapter 175
Chapter 174
Chapter 173
Chapter 172
Chapter 171
Chapter 170
Chapter 169
Chapter 168
Chapter 167
Chapter 166
Chapter 165
Chapter 164
Chapter 163
Chapter 162
Chapter 161
Chapter 160
Chapter 159
Chapter 158
Chapter 157
Chapter 156
Chapter 155
Chapter 154
Chapter 153
Chapter 152
Chapter 151
Chapter 150
Chapter 149
Chapter 148
Chapter 147
Chapter 146
Chapter 145
Chapter 144
Chapter 143
Chapter 142
Chapter 141
Chapter 140
Chapter 139
Chapter 138
Chapter 137
Chapter 136
Chapter 135
Chapter 134
Chapter 133
Chapter 132
Chapter 131
Chapter 130
Chapter 129
Chapter 128
Chapter 127
Chapter 126
Chapter 125
Chapter 124
Chapter 123
Chapter 122
Chapter 121
Chapter 120
Chapter 119
Chapter 118
Chapter 117
Chapter 116
Chapter 115
Chapter 114
Chapter 113
Chapter 112
Chapter 111
Chapter 110
Chapter 109
Chapter 108
Chapter 107
Chapter 106
Chapter 105
Chapter 104
Chapter 103
Chapter 102
Chapter 101
Chapter 100
Chapter 99
Chapter 98
Chapter 97
Chapter 96
Chapter 95
Chapter 94
Chapter 93
Chapter 92
Chapter 91
Chapter 90
Chapter 89
Chapter 88
Chapter 87
Chapter 86
Chapter 85
Chapter 84
Chapter 83
Chapter 82
Chapter 81
Chapter 80
Chapter 79
Chapter 78
Chapter 77
Chapter 76
Chapter 75
Chapter 74
Chapter 73
Chapter 72
Chapter 71
Chapter 70
Chapter 69
Chapter 68
Chapter 67
Chapter 66
Chapter 65
Chapter 64
Chapter 63
Chapter 62
Chapter 61
Chapter 60
Chapter 59
Chapter 58
Chapter 57
Chapter 56
Chapter 55
Chapter 54
Chapter 53
Chapter 52
Chapter 51
Chapter 50
Chapter 49
Chapter 48
Chapter 47
Chapter 46
Chapter 45
Chapter 44
Chapter 43
Chapter 42
Chapter 41
Chapter 40
Chapter 39
Chapter 38
Chapter 37
Chapter 36
Chapter 35
Chapter 34
Chapter 33
Chapter 32
Chapter 31
Chapter 30
Chapter 29
Chapter 28
Chapter 27
Chapter 26
Chapter 25
Chapter 24
Chapter 23
Chapter 22
Chapter 21
Chapter 20
Chapter 19
Chapter 18
Chapter 17
Chapter 16
Chapter 15
Chapter 14
Chapter 13
Chapter 12
Chapter 11
Chapter 10
Chapter 9
Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
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