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JACKAL AMONG SNAKES-Chapter 540: Court of Law
R๐ad latest chapt๐rs at ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฟ๐๐ก.๐๐๐ถ Only
Many divine realms or places like the Shadowlands had specific rules to them. The realm that was host to the elven gods of the Bloodwoods ensured that all inside its boundaries had bounteous life springing from within them that would heal all of their wounds. Almazoraโs realm gave all within it magic without limit. There were exceptions like Erlebnisโ realm, but most did have such quirks. Lawโs Court was not one of the exceptions. As a matter of fact, it was one of the most noted examples.
โHow would Lawโs Court change the perspective of the gods?โ Annelieseโs curiosity interrupted Argraveโs deep thoughts as he weighed the pros and cons.
Argrave walked to the window of Elenoreโs office, watching the busy docks of Blackgard. โYou saw me place the Domain of Order over the whole of this city. It ensures a level of cooperation and peace that few other cities can compare to. To be frank, itโs the only reason why weโve been able to welcome refugees of such disparate cultures without massive unrest. It creates a uniform, unbiased authority. And best yet, the Domain of Order is only as strong as the people want it to be. If they hated the laws Iโve imposed, it would shatter. But they donโt, so itโs as strong as itโs ever been.โ He looked back to Elenore and Anneliese. โWhat does that tell you about Law?โfre enovelkiss.com
โItโs a rather neutral power. I believe youโve stated as much in the past.โ Anneliese leaned against Elenoreโs desk and crossed her arms.
โAnd thatโs somewhat how his divine realm is used. In Lawโs Court, different parties can enter into an agreement. While is his court, they will be bound by this agreement absolutely, compelled by his power to hold up their end of the arrangement. Whether god or mortalโeven if itโs Law himselfโthey must obey.โ Argrave turned around and stared intently to stress the importance of this fact.
He walked around the room as he continued to explain. โItโs the ideal place for many, many disputes to resolve themselves. Most often, itโs used for trials in massive organizations. If you promise to be fair, Law will compel you to be fair; if you promise not to deceive, the same. If you say that you wonโt leave until a matter is settled, you will be bound to that plane until you fulfill that vow or cease to be.โ
Elenore sighed and planted her arm on the desk. โA nightmarish place for someone like you, Argrave.โ
He laughed through his nose. โNo kidding.โ
โHow do you compel fairness? Thatโs rather subjective,โ Anneliese said, contemplating.
โThere are third parties one can rely onโand if none are suitable, Lawโs Court provides. Do you remember those knights we saw descend on the northern beaches? White-gold armor, rather featureless and resplendent?โ
Elenore hadnโt seen them, but Anneliese remembered and at once said, โThe Justiciars.โ
โThey fit their title, yes. Three or more Justiciars could preside over a trial, depending on how many parties are putting forth opposing ideasโone for each perspective represented, and one to remain neutral and observe facts impartially.โ Argrave gathered his thoughts as he ran his hand across his face, then continued, โIโll admit, theyโre well-suited for handling these things. They have millennia of experience. To that end, most rely upon Lawโs Justiciars. Itโs much easier than getting someone intimately acquainted with the situation and trusted by all parties.โ
โIt does present some dangers,โ Anneliese agreed, amber eyes rolling about as she thought hard. โLike Elenore saidโฆ a nightmare for you, Argrave. They could compel you to be honest. Even I have some trouble doing that.โ
Elenore nodded and stared up at Anneliese. โHe couldnโt even omit facts. Poor thing. Imagine how the stress would get to himโฆโ
โLook whoโs talking. Youโve got so many schemes going your brain would probably melt.โ Argrave shot at Elenore in good-nature, and the three of them shared a moment of amusement. โBut youโre not wrong. If we leak Sandelabara, or worse yet, Sophia, all of our efforts to do this subtly will turn to dust. Thatโs why Iโm wondering if thereโs not another way.โ
โWe can set the rules of engagement, canโt we?โ Elenore asked.
Argrave nodded. โYeah. But the thing Iโm worried aboutโ"
โIf we set rules that are too stringent, we risk giving something away, or worse yet, inspiring further distrust,โ Anneliese interrupted as she grasped what Argrave was thinking.
Elenore thought long and hard, then looked at Argrave. โCould we win without the other gods?โ
โYes?โ Argrave said, somewhat unsure. โWe could call in favors from the Bloodwoods and get the elven gods on board. We bring those from the Blackgard Union I know would be willing, and we just might winโassuming Sataistador and Emperor Ji Meng are kept firmly in line, which promises to be a lot to ask. But thatโs the thingโfrom the beginning, weโve wanted this to be a lot more than scraping by.โ
โMmm. We need a decisive victory if weโre to become the leaders of the bold new world that lacks the Qircassian Coalition and Erlebnisโฆโ Elenore scratched at her forehead. โWell, things are simple, arenโt they? We need to establish firm boundaries while not appearing to obfuscate anything.โ
Argrave raised his brows in surprise. โYou really think itโs worth it to go?โ
Elenore nodded. โAt worst, we can leave if they ask a hard question. It would severely damage relations, but I think that itโs something we can mend given time. The worst they can call us is an ambitious and ruthless conqueror hoping to defeat two ancient gods.โ
โThey may push to make it so we cannot leave before giving the information they desire,โ Anneliese argued. โI certainly would, in their shoes. I understand why we act as we do, but I cannot deny it would unease me if, say, Raccomen intended to invade someone with someone very untrustworthy, yet would not disclose the details. Am I alone in this?โ
Argrave looked at her. โGood point. Almost like youโre an empath or something.โ
โSoโฆ will we go?โ Elenore questioned.
โWant to consult the others, but Iโm leaning toward it. I think they will, too.โ
โWho will you bring?โ Anneliese asked. โFor something like thisโฆ smaller may be better. Fewer people means fewer points of weakness for the gods to prod.โ
Argrave pondered that. โIโm not sure. Melanie always seems to do something that works out in our favor, and sheโs proven able to tell gods to eat dirt. You and Elenore are probably the most persuasive people, though.โ
โMost persuasive perhaps after you,โ Elenore shook her head. โWhy not go alone? It would send a powerful message. And I am in your head, always.โ
โBut I like going with Anneliese,โ Argrave narrowed his eyes.๐ง๐๐๐๐ธ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐.๐ธ๐๐ฎ
โWould you like to die together, fighting Gerechtigkeit?โ his queen reminded him practically. โForgive me, but I wouldnโt.โ
The more that Argrave considered it, the more sense it seemed to make. As the last bit of resistance drained from his body, he sighed as a new burden settled upon his shoulders. โAlone, huh? Whatโs it they sayโฆ only a fool represents himself, or something to the effect? Well, fine. If you two are comfortable placing the fate of the world with me, I can only humbly bow and jump to the snap of the whip,โ he flourished his hands.
โJust go consult the others,โ Elenore huffed.
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Argrave stood alone in Merovin, the domain that Raccomen had claimed per their arrangement. It was a towering gateway constructed from the flesh of one of the godโs Architects. Argrave had been present when the creature quite literally tore itself apart to build this gateway, signing its name in blood upon the top. Thereafter, this land inherited his name, the great gothic gateway in the center of this vast steppe bearing โMerovinโ in bloody red.
He had consulted with the rest of his confidants, and most of them were in agreement that this was the ideal path forward for their goal. Argrave was frankly shocked how many of them enthusiastically agreed with the notion that he should go alone. He expected that sort of unilateral support from Orion, but nearly everyone expressed the same sentiment. If not for that, he probably would have brought Anneliese.
Word had been delivered to all of the other gods in the coalition using Liraโs exceptional ability of communication. She seemed pleased that Argrave had taken her up on the advice. Now, one of Raccomenโs servants would come to escort him through the realm of the god of space. Lawโs Court was not too far of a journey, he was told.
As Argrave watched, one of the gargantuan lizardmen that heโd seen before as Raccomenโs delegate emerged from the gateway. The divine servant took quick, heavy steps toward Argrave, and inclined his shark-like head in a polite bow once he came near.
โI have come to bring you and your party, Argrave. Am I to wait for others?โ His voice, as with the last, came from nowhere at all. It simply manifested in Argraveโs head.
โItโs me alone,โ Argrave gestured. โLead on.โ
The lizardman looked at him closely in what mightโve passed as surprise, then gave a word of affirmation and led him onward. Argrave felt his stomach whirl as nervousness brewed. He never felt nervous giving speeches in front of othersโinstead, he felt most nervous in the time before the speech. And now, that had come in full force.
When Argrave passed beneath the large stone gateway, he felt a strangely pleasant sensation as the force of gravity left him. Then, he was afloat in an infinite nothingness, his only companion the lizardman and distant, twinkling stars. Instinct told him to hold his breath, but he found the air still functioned here.
โSee you the golden star?โ The lizardman pointed. โThat is the gateway to Lawโs Court.โ
Argrave looked at him. โAre we to use spirits? Thatโsโฆโ
โOf course not,โ the lizardman shook his head. โSimply move there. I shall demonstrate.โ
The lizardman oriented his body, and then was gone. Argrave looked at the distant star, but saw nothing. Move there? How?
Despite his confusion, the moment Argrave tried to move, he did. The vastness of space compressed down into nothing more than a single step, and Argrave felt a wave of nausea assail him. He was complete certain he had travelled millions of miles in a second. Another gateway much the same as the one heโd come from stood before him. Beyond it, a world of gold awaited. Argrave drifted into this gateway, then felt the ordinary weight of the world return. His feet again met solid ground. He looked up and around, taking in this new divine realm.
Lawโs Court was a giant, complex building, that had neither entrance nor exit. There was order to itโstructure. If someone paid attention, they could find their way around this place without any trouble. That didnโt change the fact it was the single largest building Argrave had ever been in. It was stately, dignified, and the stone was all a rich gold that soothed any who looked. Written upon the walls, the floors, the ceilings, was a code.
This entire building was built of Lawโs Code. It served to restrain him in this realm, that he might never act against any who enter this plane without sufficient and codified reason. He was rather unlike most deities in that outside his realm, he was unrestrained, while within, he was bound tighter than any other. He was impartiality, neutrality.
He was Law.
Argrave could see the lizardman that came with him no longer, but soon felt pounding footsteps. Eight gargantuan suits of armor without occupants aside from a glowing gold inside walked through the halls of Lawโs Court. They bore swords that had their hilts fashioned in the image of a scale. Their mere presence was intimidating, but Argrave stood firm as they surrounded him.
โKing Argrave of Vasquer. You have been requested to participate in a trial,โ an even voice called out from all of them at once. โIf you desire, we shall escort you to the requester.โ
It seemed that the gods of the Blackgard Union had wasted no time in establishing the meaning of this visit. Argrave raised his hand and pointed down the hall. โLetโs go.โ