jackal-among-snakes-16091326
chapter-416

Anneliese and Onychinusa sat on the rocks of the mountain peak. The ancient elf stared at the snow elf.

“Your braid is pretty,” Onychinusa said matter-of-factly. “I tried to copy it, but I couldn’t.”

Anneliese smiled at the sincerity as her fingers brushed the half-crown braid keeping her hair back. She suggested, “The dryads could braid your hair. I know they always miss seeing you.”

“They put wood and stuff in there. Something about dryad wood is special. It makes it harder for the spirits to carry me from place to place.” Onychinusa shook her head, and then looked to where Orion and Argrave conversed with the ancient serpent Vasquer. “Why did they come here?”

“Argrave is going to ask Vasquer to watch the underground near this area. And he has some important questions, too.” Anneliese explained succinctly. “Threats come from below. And on that front… you said you did what we wanted?”

“I’ve been warding all of Vasquer against divinity,” Onychinusa nodded, then rocked back and forth atop her seat. “Blackgard has enough spirits guarding it that divinity cannot enter without a link to the area. If they’re already manifested, they could force their way through. Spirits can’t pass, too, so unwanted people can’t teleport inside the mountains, anymore. Only you, me, and Argrave can. If anyone else tries, either in or out… they end up a few miles underwater. Hopefully, they’ll drown.”

Anneliese smiled broadly. “That is exceptional, Onychinusa.”

Onychinusa seemed to take the praise well as she rocked quicker. “Elsewhere… I made some spirits act as detectors. They’ll roam about the land, and whenever they detect divinity, they’ll return with that knowledge.”

“The spirits can communicate?” Anneliese tilted her head. “Argrave never mentioned that, and I certainly have never read that.”

“…no.” Onychinusa shook her head slowly. “But I make the spirit store the location the divinity was spotted, and then I can teleport to that spot.”

Anneliese exhaled loudly. “Shamanic magic is a wondrous thing. But I suppose that only happened because you were the one using it, right?”

“Erlebnis made these spells, I think. Maybe what I’m doing now was supposed to be my purpose,” Onychinusa suggested. “The emissaries can’t use shamanic magic. Nothing from divine realms can. It would make sense”

“That may be the case,” Anneliese conceded, rising from her seat to come near Onychinusa. “We have had this talk many times before. All I hope is that you are happier and freer, now.”

“Hmm,” came Onychinusa’s only response.

Anneliese looked down the mountain road. “Perhaps… someday, you might consider meeting more than merely us three.”

Onychinusa looked disgusted. “No. I don’t like people.”

“You don’t like people? Why not?” Anneliese inquired.

“I don’t like… their faces,” Onychinusa managed. “And they can talk. And… I don’t like their faces,” she finished, repeating herself.

“How am I different from them?” Anneliese asked.

“I don’t want to do it,” Onychinusa refused firmly. “I can do it. I just don’t want to. Talking to people… makes my head hurt.” She looked up at Anneliese. “Not you, but others. I have to learn their name, listen to what they think… bleh.” She stuck out her tongue.

Anneliese did look minutely disappointed. Still, she looked off elsewhere and said, “Okay. That’s fine.”

Onychinusa looked like a great weight had been taken off her shoulders, and settled back onto the uneven rocks of the mountain with a comfort that did not seem to match. “What are they asking about?” she inquired, her eyes on the distant ancient serpent.

“What else?” Anneliese sat down beside Onychinusa. “The cycle of judgment. More specifically… they hope to gain greater insight into what you’ve been working to prevent.”