Jackal Among Snakes

Galamon said to Traugott, “We have no need for your tricks. The Veidimen are more than a match for this Palace of Heaven. We have no fear of death.”

Argrave reeled from the two voices with opposite suggestions, but stared at the shell of Norman bound by druidic magic without saying a word.

Traugott rebutted, “Many have tried to take the Palace of Heaven before. Hordes of divine servants, without free will enough to fear death, have fallen—and you think allegedly fearless mortals stand a better chance? Fortunately for me, I’m not offering this to you. You may be a rather unique specimen, Galamon, having abandoned vampirism… but you lack the certain insight that makes Argrave such an interesting conversational partner.”

Galamon looked ready to lash out, but the Alchemist placed one of his huge hands on the snow elf’s shoulder.

“Why in the world do you want an Undying Soul?” Argrave asked.

“There are few things more interesting in the natural world. Souls that can persist forever—that can move from body to body, or become eternal ghosts with power beyond imagination… it would have tremendous uses for me. You’ve seen what I’ve been working on, I trust? It would be quite interesting to create the perfect specimen.”

Argrave hesitated to bring up his own use of his Undying Soul. The Alchemist conjectured it was a large part of the reason that he was able to come here, to this realm—to the world of Heroes of Berendar. And furthermore, it was the crux of their plan with Sophia. Theoretically, only with his Undying Soul and her ability of creation could they transfer his physical form to where Gerechtigkeit’s true essence rested.

The idea of giving something that had such a capability to Traugott was frightening, especially when he toyed with a fragment of Sophia’s power.

Elenore’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Refusing to tell him doesn’t mean that he won’t learn. He’s said that he chose to come to you before Erlebnis, meaning his next conversation would likely be with Erlebnis, who would give him a target that we couldn’t possibly know. Who knows—perhaps Erlebnis has an Undying Soul of his own, tucked away in storage. Either way, if we don’t tell him… it’s pointless.”

“What if he’s just bluffing? He’s using a druidic bond, not his actual body—Anneliese’s empathy won’t work. He could get the keys to the kingdom if we’re incautious.”

“Which would you prefer to bet on—that Traugott managed to infiltrate the opera house without Erlebnis’ help, or that he’s bluffing? He may be clever, but he lacks the connections in the Great Chu to pull something like that off alone.”

Elenore’s cold reason cut away Argrave’s doubt. He conveyed to her, “Inform Galamon why. He’s a little uneasy with this.”

“Alright.” Argrave nodded, shifting on his feet. “I can give you a location.”

“Oooh,” Traugott said excitedly. “That greatly eliminates complications. Tell me, then. I’m all ears.”

“How can I trust you won’t just leave once I do?” Argrave narrowed his eyes.

“Because it’s in my best interest for you to assault the Palace of Heaven. I made some… agreements with Erlebnis. I generally like to keep agreements I make, unless they inconvenience me—like the ones I made with him. I’m supposed to get him some things, perform some actions. But if he’s dead, he won’t have hands to receive, nor thoughts enough to comprehend my actions. That would be ideal for me. Even beyond that, I don’t intend on seeking out this Undying Soul until you’re in the middle of assaulting the fortress.”

“Why would you…?” Anneliese’s brows furrowed in contemplation, then relaxed as an uneasy revelation came to her. “No. I understand.”

“Yes, you should. I’m not naïve,” Traugott continued in a low tone. “I see the people you brought today—both the ones within my little workshop, and those without it. I understand what you intended for me. It stands to reason you’re going to try and kill me when I come for this soul. Very dastardly… not that I wouldn’t do the same in your shoes.” Traugott shook his head. “I won’t seek out the Undying Soul until you’re in the middle of assaulting the Palace of Heaven. You can’t afford to stretch your forces thin. They’d be too thin to catch me, and too thin to take the fortress. So… the calculus of power demands you choose to let me slip by.”

“You can see our people? So, you’re nearby,” Argrave deduced.

“Hmm.” Traugott smiled broadly. “I can’t say.”

Argrave considered Traugott’s implication. It was true that they’d need to bring all of their forces to bear to take the Palace of Heaven. But for Traugott… ostensibly, Anneliese alone would be sufficient. Yet the notion of allowing Traugott and Anneliese to clash while they assaulted the Palace of Heaven was frightening. Not only was Anneliese vital for Argrave’s main forces, Traugott was willing and able to mastermind all kinds of devious traps. He trusted Anneliese’s ability, but sending her alone was simply intolerable to him, logically and emotionally.

“Let me think,” Argrave held up his hand.

“As you wish.” Traugott folded his hands politely.

“He’s uncomfortably clever,” he told Elenore, then explained Traugott’s gambit to her. When he was finished, he concluded, “I don’t see a way to get ahead of him. He’s right. We can’t afford to chase after him while we’re assaulting the Palace of Heaven. Anneliese is our trump card against him, and she’s necessary here. Vital.”

“…he’s thought of all angles,” Elenore agreed after a while. “It still holds true that he’ll find out one way or another. Maybe…” she went silent for nearly a minute, then returned with a quiet voice. “Maybe we can call upon some reserve troops. A veteran, who’s been similarly clever.”

“Who?” Argrave questioned.

When she said the name, Argrave’s eyes lit up. Furthermore, various names of Undying Souls that he might offer to Traugott faded away, leaving him with only one offering. He turned around to look at Norman’s shell.

“Alright. I’ll give you what you want, you give me what I want,” he promised.

Traugott looked around until he spotted some paper, then picked it up. He grabbed a charcoal bar and began to write. “I’ll write it down for you,” he said, pausing to explain further. “A small portion of it. Then, after… I’ll give you the whole paper.” He continued to write, and Argrave waited with his arms crossed. After a time, Traugott ripped the paper in half, then handed it to Argrave.

Argrave looked between him and the paper—the man had already given them everything they needed by writing it down. If they just took it from him, now… but Elenore’s words rung true. Traugott was likely going to learn one way or another. He was resourceful, if anything.

“It’s in the Burnt Desert,” Argrave explained. “You can find a grand palace deep in the earth below Carlandian—it’s a coastal city on the eastern desert. You have to go into the town’s drained oasis to reach it. Though… since Durran’s killed the Vessels of Fellhorn in the region, perhaps that oasis isn’t drained anymore. In which case, you’ll have to swim down.”

“Is it a lich?” Traugott asked, tilting his head. “It must be, if it resides in such a place—an underground palace.”

“Yes. It’s his lair, his home. He used to be a southron elf, back when they were a meaningful force. Now… well, once you become a lich, you lose those distinctions. With Gerechtigkeit coming, he’s on the verge of insanity. The place is trapped, and crumbling.” Argrave held out his hand. “Now… your end of the bargain?”

“Of course.” Traugott smiled in Norman’s shell, then held out the paper. Argrave at once opened it to make sure that it wasn’t nonsense. Surprisingly, it wasn’t. Traugott had been honest. They’d need to verify his point of vulnerability to be sure he was entirely so.

“What now?” Argrave said.

“Now… I eagerly look forward to your attempt to take the Palace of Heaven.” Traugott offered Norman’s hand, as if to shake on the deal. Argrave stared at it contemptuously. Traugott retracted the hand. “Very well. Farewell, Argrave. And good luck.”

Norman’s shell closed its eyes… and the animal soul within it awoke, barking and backing away from them. Galamon lashed out, crushing the abomination’s neck. It crumpled to the ground, joining the dozens of other corpses.

“Is he gone?” Argrave looked at the Alchemist and Anneliese both. “For sure, this time.”

“Gone.” The Alchemist nodded. Anneliese agreed. “I was unable to trace him.”

“Was that wise, agreeing?” Galamon questioned.

“Not sure there was a wise answer. Then again, that’s what someone without wisdom would say.” Argrave looked around. “Let’s… let’s take care of this place. Then, we take care of this new problem. There’s someone we have to speak to. Galamon—can you look into this, decide if it’s worth the risk?”

“Of course.” Galamon took the paper. “I’ll scrutinize it better than anyone.”

#####

Argrave looked at a long, long row of ballistae. Then, he turned his head to the right. There, the black-haired, red-eyed Dario sat, looking up at Argrave almost as if he were a pest. Even still, this man who’d sabotaged their progress with the Heralds to such a degree remained unhealed, bound to crutches and afflicted with wobbly limbs.

“I don’t think we’ll ever be able to use all of these, even. You’re making them faster than we can make the batteries for them.” Argrave scratched his cheek, some embarrassment at this fact.

“Batteries?” Dario narrowed his eyes.

“The cores,” Argrave rephrased. “I do appreciate your good work. But I’m here about something else.”

“What?”

“Traugott,” Argrave said.

Dario scoffed. “Him?”

“He’s discovered how to imitate Sophia’s ability.” Argrave laid out the facts plainly, hoping it might ignite Dario’s vigilantism.

“No doubt thanks to you, largely,” Dario rebutted… but Argrave didn’t miss a twitch of unease in the man’s face.

“I’d like you to try and kill him when he tries to infiltrate somewhere,” Argrave continued.

Dario shook his head. “Would love to. My body is jelly, though. Even if I could get my metal frame working again without the Heralds’ power, I can’t even run without breaking something.”

“What if Sophia could change that?” Argrave kneeled down. “She’s gotten rather adroit at healing people. Severed limbs, broken minds… your bendy appendages aren’t such a big step up. Even more than that, what if you had a huge area to prepare for his coming? A palace, with plenty of nooks and crannies… and a scary lich at the center of it all, who’s trapped the place to hell and back.”

Dario stared at Argrave, then shook his head. “You don’t trust me enough for that. And I don’t want to be bound by the White Planes, or any other entity.”

“Don’t I trust you?” Argrave met his gaze. “You said it yourself. If Traugott could decide the fate of the world, that’s the scariest proposition. And you could end him, forever. Even without the Heralds washing your brain, you still have to believe that.”

Dario’s lip twitched. “Even if I could walk…”

Argrave nodded. “You will.”

“Traugott… won’t be easy, alone.” Dario scratched his forehead. “The one that caught me…”

“Melanie?” Argrave raised his brows.

“She helps… it could be doable.” Dario nodded.

Argrave tapped his shoulder gently. “Then let’s do it.”

“Now?” Dario looked at Argrave as he rose.

“Yeah, of course,” Argrave nodded as if it was obvious, making for the door. “I’ve got a schedule.”