Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 657: Harmony After Absence

When Argrave went to find Sophia, preparing himself for what he thought could be a serious and heart-wrenching conversation, he saw something that made him pause and watch. Orion was giving her a piggyback ride, and running around the courtyard very quickly as she screamed and laughed with pure joy. It was the closest thing to a rollercoaster that could be found in this world, he supposed. His brother seemed to be having just as much fun as she was, too.

When Argrave was finally spotted, their fun came to an early close—Orion hauled her from his back and set Sophia down, where she staggered uneasily. He moved her to a rock, said some words, then walked over to Argrave.

“Your Majesty,” Orion greeted, giving him a salute by putting his fist to his heart. He wore plainclothes, and evidence from the battle still persisted on his body at points. It must’ve been a tremendously close fight for even Orion to still bear scars long after its conclusion. “You’ve returned. I heard from Elenore what happened. Congratulations on your victory,” he said sincerely. “I apologize I was not better able to defend this place.”

Argrave narrowed his eyes. “You’re joking, right? You’re the only reason this place wasn’t entirely levelled.”

“Others like Durran contributed, but I won’t deny it as my proudest moment. I only wish I could have ended the battle earlier, before so many lives were lost.” He looked back to Sophia. “But enough of me. You came here to speak to Sophia, yes? I’ve been trying to keep her spirits up, in light of what she’s learned. Her spirits, and my own.”

Argrave watched Sophia as she regained her balance. She sat where Orion had left her, patiently waiting. “I came here to find you in equal measure. We have a lot to talk about. First, though… let me go talk to her. Elenore said it would best.”

“As she should. Sophia missed you dearly,” Orion agreed. “I will be nearby, should you need me.”

Orion walked away, and Argrave thought there was something that had changed about his brother’s demeanor. He seemed less… constricted, in a way. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Nevertheless, he turned and walked to Sophia, who still seemed dazed after travelling aback Orion.

Argrave came up just before Sophia and knelt down. “Hello, young lady.”

“Hello, Your Majesty,” she greeted, with an undeniable twinge of caution on her tone. Moreover, she used the formal address with him—was she taking cues from Orion, or was it something else?

“Are you alright, Sophia?” Argrave asked.

“I’m well. Annel—the queen. Is she…?”

“She’ll be coming in a moment—she just needs to resolve some matters before she does.” He scooted a little closer. “It seems like something’s bothering you, Sophia. Is anything wrong? Elenore said you wanted to speak to me about something.”

“I…” She looked down, closing her eyes. “I figured out some things. About who I am. About my brother.”

“I see.” Argrave nodded. He could tell that the revelations were weighing heavily on the girl’s mind. To finally connect the dots between this world-ending calamity that they’d been speaking of, and her own brother… he couldn’t imagine how a nine-year-old girl could cope with that especially easily. He said words he felt needed to be said. “I hope you know that it doesn’t change things between us, Sophia. And it certainly doesn’t change how much I missed you while I was gone. Did you not miss me?”

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Sophia opened her eyes again and looked up at him, cautiously assessing his features. Then, Argrave got what he’d been hoping for—Sophia lunged out and hugged him, and he stood up with her hanging from his neck.

“I’m scared,” she confessed at once, her torrent of emotions pouring out now that she knew it would be safe to do so. “Griffin… he’s changed. He looks like… he looks like my father.” She tightened her arms around him, trembling. “He told me he was coming to get me. I told him I didn’t want to leave, and then…”

Argrave gently patted her back. “Everything’s going to be alright, Sophia.”

“I want my brother back,” she said. “I miss him. I don’t want him to die. I tried to tell him not to fight, but he…” she sniffled. “He said it wasn’t his choice. That he had to do this, that it was the only way for us to be happy…” She sniffled again, holding back tears as best she could. “I just… I just want my brother back. Why can’t he just come back? Why does this have to happen to us?”

Argrave couldn’t give her answers now. Perhaps he couldn’t ever. All he could do was hold her, and give words of comfort.

#####

Anneliese came to join Argrave after she’d resolved the matter that required her attention—specifically, Elenore had need of her empathic and spellcasting abilities both. After a long while where both assuaged her guilts and fears, Sophia fell asleep in Argrave’s arms. They took her to her bed, set her there, then went outside. Orion waited for them both.

“I wouldn’t wish her life upon anyone. To grapple with the terrible notion that her brother is the very calamity that has ripped and torn through so many…” Orion shook his head. “Everyone has been telling tales of the monstrosities that Gerechtigkeit has wrought. Now, she can put a face to them all: her precious brother, the only one who protected her in that miscreant’s castle, the only other besides us who loved her. Her very definition of love and support was found through her brother… and now, she knows he’s killed billions, and promises to kill again.”

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Argrave said nothing, but found his brother’s profound description tragically true.

“She wishes for us to show mercy upon him, even if she cannot bring herself to ask it of you as a favor,” Orion continued. “But even supposing we can… the question remains if we should. Can such destruction and cruelty be forgiven, under any circumstances? I am uncertain. Yet… it’s hardly my choice.” His brother studied him. “In the end, the fate of her brother may well rest in your hands.”

Argrave felt some enormous burden set upon him when Orion said that, but only shook his head and said, “We’re far from that goal.”

“We’re the closest we’ve been. Months remain, no more.” Anneliese crossed her arms in solemn contemplation. “You look as though you’ve something serious to say, Orion.”

“That knight I fought was Lindon.” Orion jumped right to the heart of it, stirring Argrave’s mind in the process. “It was his enslaved will made manifest. I suspect Gerechtigkeit has the same intentions for the other Gilderwatchers, though it’ll manifest in a different manner—influence over the masses. Lindon, in his ingenuity, hid a message to us in the knight. He suggested that we endeavor to embrace the latent potential within our bloodline to influence the mind.” Orion touched his head. “He claimed I’d the most affinity, but I’m skeptical. No matter how hard I try, nothing comes of my efforts.”

“Lindon said this?” Argrave raised a brow. “You’re sure of that?”

“Not entirely. The point does remain; Gerechtigkeit has the Gilderwatchers under thrall. The White Planes march toward collapse, unless we can do something. With these two variables, he may possess the means to bring the entire world under thrall. The rings, while giving us an edge, are insufficient for the world. We must find a way to combat his influence through our own means. The Vasquer bloodline may be one such mean. The other, however, would be a total extermination of their species.”

“That…” Argrave sighed deeply. “That does put it into perspective. Frankly, I’ve no idea where to start. There’s not a large body of literature regarding the Gilderwatchers, even in what Erlebnis had. Presumably he was blocked by the treaty that Lindon kept mentioning. I would call upon Llewellen, but…”

“On the matter of Llewellen, that was one of the things that kept me away for so long—investigating what happened to him,” Anneliese cut in. “I have a lead on where to search for Onychinusa. We have a lot to take care of here, but could I…?”

Argrave nodded. “If you can find the time.” He looked to Orion. “But you’re right. I’m back. All of our other enemies—save perhaps the Heralds, who can do nothing directly—are smoke and ashes. Gerechtigkeit is the only one that remains. We have to dedicate our full attention toward him, and all his machinations. He’s the last remaining opponent.”

“And a worthy opponent he is.” Orion nodded.

“Thank you for telling us this, Orion,” Anneliese said kindly.

“Thank you for everything,” Argrave cut in. “I won’t forget what you did. Everyone I speak to tells me about how damned brave you are. I won’t let you forget it. I won’t let anyone in the whole nation.”

Orion laughed. Argrave expected a rigorous protest, but his brother only said, “Do as you wish. I only did what I felt I wanted to.”

Argrave looked at him, marveling at his transformation of mentality. He brushed past his surprise for now, saying only, “We have much more to discuss, but I’d prefer Elenore and a few others to be with us before we do. I’m going to go speak to another—we can continue this tomorrow, I hope.”

#####

With Orion and Sophia addressed, Argrave next headed to another that he wished to thank. When he’d heard that Garm would be picking out the souls that he resurrected, Argrave did have some doubts… but ultimately, the people that he brought proved to be the greatest of the great. It was in large part due to who he’d brought back that they’d won at all. He intended to thank Garm, to give him some commendation in person.

As it turns out, Argrave never had the chance.

Garm had died during the attack by the silver knight. It was frustratingly difficult to find the details of how, and after a while… Argrave simply gave up, defeated. He couldn’t tax his city’s already-thin resources to satisfy personal curiosity. In the end, he found himself visiting Durran, the man who was host to Garm’s mind.

“Don’t you knock?” Durran said in greeting when Argrave abruptly entered. He sat at a table by a window, resting his leg idly on a stool. “Elenore said you’d come back. Glad to see you’ve not forgotten about me.”

“Everyone said you did well in the battle.” Argrave walked within carrying a bitter smile. freewebnσvel.cøm

“Not well enough.” Durran took a drink of something from a tankard, then set it down firmly. “But you’re not here for me, right? You want to know about Garm.”

Argrave was taken a little off-balance by the pointed remark, but he recovered quickly and said, “Can’t it be both?”

Durran sighed. “It could be, but I doubt it is.”

“You certainly sound like Garm right now, being so damned cynical.” Argrave sat in the chair across from him.

Durran chuckled. “I’m sorry. I’m… a little bitter, defeated. It’s why I’m staying here.”

“What’s that you’re drinking?” Argrave asked.

“A disgusting alcohol brewed by some pig farmer in this little city of yours,” Durran said, looking inside his tankard. “I remember, ages ago… I used to pity you for being unable to drink. Now, I’m the same, ever since that Fruit of Being. Not weeks ago, this could put me on the ground. Now? Nothing.” He set it down, looking Argrave square in the eye. “Garm is gone.”

“He… we probably wouldn’t have won without him,” Argrave said distantly. “Only wish… that I had the chance to say more. More than last time. Instead, it’s just the same.”

“You said your goodbyes before you left, and you gave him as much peace of mind as he could accept,” Durran insisted. “You helped him at every turn. Whereas I…” He trailed off.

Argrave looked into his golden eyes. Durran seldom acted this moody. Perhaps something needed to be done.

“Pour me a drink,” Argrave suggested. “We’ll drink to him. I think that’s something Garm might appreciate.”

Durran smiled bitterly. “If you’d like to drink pisswater without getting drunk… I’ll gladly join you.”