Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 388: Rules of the Game

When Dimocles suggested a private conversation and a second offer from Erlebnis, caution flared. He wanted nothing further to do with the ancient god of knowledge. At the same time… this couldn’t be ignored, not when things were like this. He reasoned out the situation.

Argrave’s paranoia subsided with the dousing hose of logic, and he finally accepted that this was no murder plot. Onychinusa would be better suited for murder, or perhaps even Erlebnis’ countless emissaries. Argrave walked forward, joined by Anneliese.

“Hang on for a moment,” Argrave told everyone. “I’m going to have a talk with Dimocles. This shouldn’t take too long. Just… keep watch for anything suspicious.”

Everyone looked terribly confused about this development. Orion tried to follow, but Argrave stopped him, shaking his head. He was more worried about what might approach them as they talked than Dimocles himself. Argrave could handle an A-rank mage with polymorphism, without a doubt.

Once they walked near, Anneliese cast a ward to encircle them. As soon as all other sounds faded, Argrave asked, “Hurry this up, Dimocles. I don’t have all the time in the world to waste.”

“That might not be true. Your schedule has been cleared up a great deal, I should think. You won’t need to visit Sarikiz. You won’t need to rouse her, and you won’t need to draw the ire of Kirel Qircassia in doing so. A lot of things that were true are no longer so, Argrave.” Dimocles clasped his hands together, dropping his respectful address of ‘Your Majesty’ now that they spoke in private.

Argrave’s gray eyes hardened as Dimocles said more and more.

Before he could speak, Anneliese said, “We never mentioned what our specific plot with Sarikiz was to anyone beyond Orion. He cannot be your informant. That narrows it down to the elven gods alone.”

When she finished, Argrave realized she spoke as much to him as she did to Dimocles. One of the elven gods… betrayed us? But…

As Argrave’s thought coalesced, he spoke his conclusion aloud. “And given that no others knew of Erlebnis’ existence, of the Blessing of Supersession within me… it was Chiteng. He contacted Erlebnis, told him everything.”

Things that felt out of place fell into place. Chiteng had not insisted Argrave inform the other elven gods about the Blessing of Supersession. When pressed, he seemed to avoid that question. Argrave’s tie to Erlebnis was a point of vulnerability, so he had not tried to escalate things further back then… but because of that, he’d missed a crucial detail. He’d even avoided the elven gods, when they were the source of this trouble. All of it because he was too foolish to think the gods as fallible as mortals.

Dimocles tsk-tsked. “Me and my tongue. I talk to you in person for a few moments, and you figure things out!” He held his arms out. “But it’s fine, it’s fine. I was going to tell you everything right now. After all, there are no secrets between friends. And fate has ordained that we shall walk this path together.”

“What path?” Argrave stared him down, suppressing the rising unease. “What’s Erlebnis’ gambit? Don’t dance around this.”

Dimocles’ unfading smile slowly became a bitter one. “Alright. The last thing I would wish to do is make this meeting unduly combative.” He straightened his back and put his hands behind him. “I will lay out the facts. When Chiteng saw my Lord Erlebnis’ Blessing of Supersession on you, he thought you an envoy, perhaps even an unwitting one. With the threat of Kirel Qircassia looming overhead, he reached out. We established contact with Chiteng a short time after you ascended to A-rank.”

Argrave’s mouth parted as Dimocles continued, “You were looking very desperately for an informant, weren’t you? You seemed to think that Erlebnis knew your plans exactly. Well, you would be wrong in where you searched. Rest easy—not a one of your men or women have betrayed you. The Lord would not so callously invade your privacy.”

“But why did you claim I wouldn’t need to call upon Sarikiz? That implies something is happening,” Argrave insisted, trying dually to keep his patience and divert the subject back to what mattered.

Dimocles focused on Argrave, sobered. “Chiteng and my Lord will slaughter all of the elven gods. They will be broken into spirits and consumed. This will be done as a favor to Kirel Qircassia to earn the alliance of his coalition and his good grace in the fight ahead. Kirel is rather angry at you and your elven gods, and he does not forget faces. However… since you’re on our side, Argrave, Erlebnis will make Kirel’s wrath go away. Indeed, you will become his benefactor and friend.”

Argrave took a deep breath. “Bullshit,” he said.

Dimocles laughed. “What? Do you think I’m doing some comedy routine? I don’t…” the man laughed again, and then shook his head. “It’s all true, Argrave. But as I candidly outlined for you, it’s not your issue. We’re friends, you and I, you and us, as I established.” The man raised his hand up. “When I came to Artur back then—told you to leave now that the fire was started—Erlebnis already had this friendly plan in motion. All you had to do was step away, and everything would have gone swimmingly. I’m just here to loop you in, give you a giftbox, and send you home… seeing as you’ve persisted.”

“But Chiteng… he’s their family. He wouldn’t do this,” Argrave shook his head.

“People have prices, high or low, Argrave,” Dimocles’ eyes shifted as he spoke.

“You mean to say that Chiteng turned on his family… for what, exactly?” Argrave questioned.

“Survival,” Dimocles answered. “For betrayal, he received survival.”

“I have difficulty accepting that.” Anneliese stepped forward.

“Then… accept it. Check, Anneliese,” Dimocles urged her. “I saw that bird of yours. A Starsparrow, was it? I keep some in my mountain villa. Fascinating creatures, and able scouts. They could examine the battlefield. Would that satisfy you, Anneliese?”

Anneliese looked to Argrave for guidance, and he nodded to give her the go-ahead. Anneliese was rattled enough she nearly sent her Starsparrow into the ward she’d conjured to block their conversation. After dispelling it, she let the bird go free and Argrave recreated the ward.

Argrave watched Dimocles. The confidence with which the man acted gave him the strong impression he wasn’t bluffing. Argrave turned his head to the side, looking to where the Starsparrow just left. “Do you mean to tell me Erlebnis is going to aid Kirel Qircassia in butchering everything living here? He’s going to ally with that… invader? Do you even know why I came here?”

“Argrave, my friend, haven’t you been listening?” Dimocles smiled. “You are on our side. Those elves—though inconsequential to Him, they’re a valuable resource to your kingdom, and the Lord knows this. Measures have been taken—like I said, things will go swimmingly even if you do nothing. The Supreme Myriarch will die when the elven gods are slaughtered. One of His servants, the Myriarch Altan, will seize command. She will retreat, and she will ask her steadfast ally, King Argrave, to shelter her people. You will accept, kind-hearted sovereign that you are.”

“So long as I leave the elven gods to die,” Argrave stepped forward.

Dimocles looked up at Argrave, the two very close to each other. “Leaving? They’re likely already dead. It was an unavoidable tragedy. Please, don’t feel guilty, Argrave.” He sighed. “Let me put it this way. At the end of all of this, Argrave, you will gain many powerful allies. Though you are poised to make enemies of the Qircassian Coalition, all of that unpleasantness will simply go away. Kirel Qircassia will call you his friend and seize nothing more than the Bloodwoods.

“All surviving elves will immigrate to your kingdom, strengthening it further,” Dimocles continued. “Are you worried about how people might take it? I implore you, think no further,” he raised a finger. “You’re a good king, Argrave. Everyone will know that. A variable appeared that you weren’t expecting, did things you couldn’t anticipate. They’ll know it’s not your fault. Altan will help them understand. From the moment you set foot in the Bloodwoods, you had no idea what you were walking into. You didn’t know the rules of the game you played.” Dimocles gave a consoling smile. “But I’m here to tell you that you aren’t playing alone. Isn’t it wonderful to have our Lord, Erlebnis, watching your back? He knows the rules of this game in and out.”

“And a relationship founded like this—it just exudes trustworthiness,” Argrave said sarcastically, glancing at Anneliese as she scouted. He desperately wanted her answer.

Dimocles looked at Argrave. “Hmm. May I please have a moment to think about how to respond to that?”

Argrave nodded hesitantly.

Dimocles closed his eyes, thinking deeply. Then, he opened them again, focusing. “You agree that stealing is wrong, Argrave, yes? Yet you stole Margrave Reinhardt’s horse to escape him, and then sold it for profit. I do not argue you are immoral, but rather that you are moral. You did these things to service a higher cause—putting an end to the Veidimen invasion of Mateth. And your journey in the Burnt Desert, too. Masquerading yourself in service of the Lord of Copper was deceitful and dishonorable, but it was all in the service of the greater good.

“And your sister, Elenore…” Dimocles stepped forward. “I don’t think you would be surprised if I told you she’s killed hundreds for nothing more than profit. But you turn the other cheek, don’t you? Why? Because it’s all in the service of something right, something good. You’re fine with a little dishonesty. You can lie to make what you want happen, because you’re doing the right thing… and you know best.” He shrugged. “I say that not as a joke. You recognize me on sight. You know so much about this world. That’s why you expect people to suffer your dishonesty and even praise you for it afterwards. You know things, Argrave. You know things that make your opinion matter more than everyone else’s. And though you may disagree, you certainly act like it’s true.”

“All of that is a gross distortion of what truly happened,” Argrave defended himself, though his words felt hollow.

“Is it? I apologize,” Dimocles answered, though his gaze didn’t stray from Argrave. “Erlebnis wants one thing alone, Argrave. He wants the continued existence of this world. And he knows so much about this world, and all of what comes…” Dimocles closed his eyes, and what seemed like true exaltation rose to the front. “By all I hold holy, he knows so much. Much and more. I have had but tastes of his insight, but with the small nugget vested upon me, I came to realize how ignorant I truly was.”

The man refocused on Argrave. “I suggest you call Erlebnis friend. I suggest you accept his gift. I suggest that you rub elbows with two of the most powerful deities in every realm imaginable. Because Erlebnis knows things… and he acts in your best interest, Argrave.”

Dimocles held his hand out for a handshake, almost as though to make a deal.