Jackal Among Snakes, Book 7: A GameLit Fantasy by Nemorosus

Author:Nemorosus [Nemorosus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 33

“Grimalt, Bastal, Rasten—you have a very simple goal. I don’t want you to even think about advancing outside of the ranks. All that I want you to focus on is taking care of whatever slips past the front. My Brumesingers will be helping, too—I’ll demonstrate their power before the fight begins so there’s no confusion,” Argrave told the Veidimen officers. “Still, remember this: protect the Magisters above all.” He looked at the lone wood elf among them. “And you, Ganbaatar—I trust you to act independently in defense.”

All of the people that had come with him on this journey stood arrayed before him. Though the results of his scouring for traitors had disappointed him back then, now he felt content with an absolute trust in all of them. The Magisters, the Veidimen officers, Ganbaatar, Orion and Anneliese… the only people absent were Nikoletta and Mina, and they had gone in search of Duke Enrico.

He decided to send Artur with the ducal heir and Mina. The escort that Myriarch Purev sent was formidable—Anneliese had scrutinized all of them to watch for traitors, and one of them was an A-rank mage. Even still, he wanted one of his own men with his cousin, and Artur was still minorly depleted from protecting Argrave back then, alongside maintaining his enchanted gear. If Rovostar proved trouble… Artur would stop that.

“Orion, Anneliese, and I are going to be standing at the front of the action,” Argrave said, tapping his chest. “We have more endurance and power, combat-wise, than anyone else. Even still, I need to receive an immediate response if I call upon your magic,” he informed the Magisters. “If I yell your name, and then ‘S-rank spell, right side,’ I need an immediate action. Inform me about how much magic you have left after so I can make a judgment about who to call upon.”

“Done,” Vasilisa assured him.

“I’m a little spent. Can manage two S-rank spells at best.” Moriatran shrugged. “But… done, certainly. Let’s hope you’re not forgetful. And that we live through this…”

Argrave looked at Anneliese and Orion in turn. Objectively speaking, they were the perfect fits for the front of the action. Argrave now had power in spades, and had earned some endurance in the elven realm by creating hundreds of blood echoes—plus, he had a backlog of magic in the Blessing of Supersession. He hoped to preserve it, however. Anneliese would gain some magic back for every spell he cast near her, meaning her endurance was near as high as his. And Orion… he’d already proved his monstrous capability. That still didn’t put him at ease.

Argrave suppressed a sigh before those he led and focused back. “We get one small benefit, being at the rear of the formation… we don’t have to join the initial fighting. Instead, the elves have to do the complicated retreat.” He looked around at the redwood trees above them. “We wait here for their arrival. In time, all the forces in the northern Bloodwoods will be stirred, engaged in a life-or-death struggle.

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