***
Suddenly, the mage felt a surge of magical energy in the vicinity, specifically in the air overlooking the clearing. Out of thin air appeared a gigantic black dragon, its wings slowly moving in the wind. Nychta had arrived.
Tyler immediately noticed the ancient draken before him vanished the moment the rush of power erupted. At the same time, he also saw the companions start to move. Nobody said anything, but the group arrayed themselves near the mage. Asag and Thyma went to his side.
“Oh my.” It was all he could hear from the Oracle as she looked upon the new arrival. Tyler had to admit Nychta looked impressively terrifying. The drakon was aptly named – night, in Greek.
But there was something about the drakon which gave it its imperial grandeur, despite horns which looked underdeveloped. Not only its size, as the being appeared a lot smaller, almost the size of a mere tall human the last time they met, but Nychta gave off that aura of a truly ancient, powerful, and wise being. It humbled one just to gaze on the entity, forcing the mind to realize they were indeed, as Thyma said, the first-born.
And to think this one isn’t that old based on their standards. I’d guess even Gullin is older, observed the mage.
Then they saw Nychta quickly back away and bare its underbelly, while leisurely beating its wings. The next moment, a loud, throaty growling sound echoed throughout the mountains. Another dragon appeared in the air, with gray scales and two elaborately curved horns. If Nychta was a hill, then the newcomer was a majestic massif.
The pair blotted out the sky, and luckily, the mage was quick enough to create a strong shield in front of the company. Even then, dust and boulders came flying at them, driven by the massive wings of the new dragon. Tyler had no doubt it was Grastein, the color of the large, thick scales not leaving any doubt. The new one sinuously circled Nychta, who turned with the movement, continuously exposing his underbelly. The mage reflected that if it was a gesture of submission, then it was a dangerous one.
“That’s not their real size, you know,” suddenly volunteered the daemon as their sight became obstructed by the billowing dust cloud. The mage could sense the impact of large flying rocks as they stuck his barrier, and the noise of the chaotic mess drowned out whatever was being exchanged between the two dragons.
“What do you mean? They’re smaller and what we’re seeing is but an illusion?” replied Tyler, knowing of the legendary ability of dragons to cast such spells.
“It’s an illusion, but it just projects the relative strength of those two. Their actual sizes would be much, much bigger. Though it would depend on the age,” said Asag. “Ah, good. The air is clearing.”
The turbulent and deafening assault of dust and rocks had indeed abated. Tyler could see the duo still remained in their positions, and was exchanging a cacophony of growls, hisses, and grunts. The mage noticed Nychta maintained his open stance, still exposing his stomach area to Grastein, who was positioned below the younger dragon. If the ancient one were to attack, then he would have easy access to Nychta’s underbelly. It would be all over in a matter of seconds.
“What are they doing?” finally asked Tyler after several seconds more of the same exchange, though his query was addressed to no one in particular.
“No idea. Never learned dragon, draken, drakon, or whatever they’re called in any part of Adar,” replied Asag.
“It’s the draconic High Tongue, spoken by those belonging to the ancient houses. What we hear is not the language itself, which is a beautiful one, full of grace and grandeur. That noise is but magic disguising what they’re actually talking about,” explained Thyma.
“You understand it?” came the mage’s next question.
“A bit, and only what words I could glean through the magic which shields the language. Right now, it looks like the black one is addressing Grastein in the proper manner. Dragons are sticklers for protocols and rituals. I could pick out reference to titles and such,” said the Oracle.
“Then we’ll be here the whole day,” grumbled Asag. “I hear most of these folks are quite fond of long titles and elaborate descriptions.”
Then the mage noticed Tyndur had stepped up and was asking for instructions. The mage himself didn’t know what to do except wait out the result of the encounter. If the pair started fighting, then he’d be honor-bound to help Nychta, no matter how hopeless a battle that would be. Tyler merely told the einherjar to tell everybody to be ready for anything.
“You are brave, sire,” said the Oracle. “There are two ancient dragons in front of us, evidently from different houses. It’s something unheard of, and one was once known as the Scourge, the Terror, of the North. If the worst comes to pass, which side do we assist?”
“The black one.”
“Now, that is surprising. May I ask why?” inquired Thyma.
“He’s a… friend,” said the mage simply. No way he was going to say subject. It sounded so demeaning, and it’s a dragon he’s talking about.
The Oracle stared at him as Asag chuckled in the background. Then Thyma stared at the incredible sight before them and looked at the mage once more.
“You are full of surprises, young mage. A First Mage you may yet be, not only in name. A friend to an ancient dragon house. I know of no deity who could claim the same,” said the Oracle, wonder in her voice.
Tyler gave her a tight smile and turned to Kobu.
“You heard me?” he asked, and Kobu nodded. “Tell the rest on which side we’re going to be if the shit hits… the ground.”
The mage was going to say fan, but it was another Earthism which he’d rather avoid. Explaining how an electric fan worked would be a rather tiring task. The exile again nodded and went to inform the others. The mage went back to observing the pair of dragons. He saw Nychta now positioned below Grastein, but with his head lowered, and his long neck exposed.
“What’s happening now?” he asked Thyma again.
“Explanations, I guess. Something about apologies. A very long one, I believe. I don’t know why the black one is doing it,” she added.
Anemothýella’s absence, thought the mage. I pray he buys it.
The party continued to stand and watch the exchange for the better part of an hour. Tyler never thought draconic protocol could take so long, then he realized royal human ones could easily be longer. It was a wait not helped by Asag’s occasional complaint he was getting bored, when was the fighting going to start, or could they just leave the two dragons to their growling? The mage didn’t take notice of the daemon’s whining. It was typical Asag.
Then Nychta abruptly vanished. That startled the mage, an event made more alarming by the sudden appearance of the old man in their midst. The ancient draken still had an amused expression, a look which greatly relieved the young man. There wasn’t going to be any fighting to the death today; the welcome thought allayed Tyler’s fears.
“Well, well, well. That was something, wasn’t it, my young mage? It’s rare enough to see any of my house, but rarer still to have kin from another lineage come and visit me. I am satisfied, and amazed, I must admit. I honestly thought I’d have to roast a few mortals today,” said Grastein as he walked toward the mage.
“I am glad the misunderstanding has been cleared up, ancient one,” replied the mage.
“So! How I may be of assistance?” asked Grastein. It was a question the mage wanted to hear.
“Travel and time, ancient one,” Tyler replied. “The opportunity to reach the battlefield at Sterkstein as soon as possible, and if you could grace us with another favor, some time to give the defenses of the stronghold a breather. I know I can’t ask you to sweep away that fire jotunn’s minions. But time to rebuild what has been destroyed, and rest for the defenders, would be most welcome.”
“You know I can’t appear at Sterkstein. That would mean open war between my house and the lord of the Plain of Fire. That is not our duty and obligation. His time might come to face our strength, but that time is not now, nor has it be
en revealed to us,” replied Grastein. “But give me a moment to think.”
As he waited for the ancient draken to answer, the mage could feel the growing excitement of the daemon at the prospect of fighting. Glancing at Thyma, he also saw a change in the countenance of the deity. It was now the face of one gladly getting ready for battle. The Oracle clearly had a mercurial disposition, and the swings of her mood and emotions were frightening.
Like nature itself, Tyler realized. With her ever-changing state of mind, Thyma exemplified various aspects of her mother.
But Tyler wasn’t sure if it was a result of Gaia’s influence, or the Oracle’s traumatized history. Either way, he decided not to get on her wrong side. He didn’t even know what kind of powers and abilities she had.
“Fine, here’s what I’ll do for you, and don’t you dare let that daemon haggle. I will transport all of you, as you asked. As for your request for time, the best I could do is wreak havoc along the borders of that firebrand’s domain. Hopefully, that will slow down the flow of his forces. His servants did disturb me, and my presence will be interpreted as my anger at being awakened. This won’t be the first time I’ve shown my displeasure anyway,” offered Grastein.
“Thank you, ancient one,” replied the mage.
“And call me ancient one again, and I’ll bring you somewhere else. You just gave me a name, remember? Ancient one! I am not the oldest being in this world, if you want to know,” instructed the ancient draken.
“I am curious, Grastein. Many of that fire lord’s minions were also created from fire. Wouldn’t that make it difficult for a fire draken such as yourself?” asked the mage. At that point, Tyler realized he was the only one asking questions. The rest had clearly been intimidated or scared into keeping quiet.
“Who told you I am but a fire draken? I am of fire and ice, and a bit more. That’s one reason why I like it up here. The atmosphere of the lands of those two maladjusted jotnar does nicely for the gloss of my scales, and my health,” answered Grastein. “But my question, mage, before I send you on your way.”
Suddenly, the pause in time and space came back. The mage could feel it was stronger this time, an obvious precaution against Asag’s interference. Grastein stared at him for a few seconds.
“You have my aura, mage. Why is that?”
Shit in a blender, the expletive vented itself in his mind as Tyler scrambled to organize his thoughts. He knew the question was coming and more importantly, he couldn’t lie.
“Your power. Whatever remained in my armor was absorbed by my body,” explained Tyler. It was the truth and yet not the entire story. But no falsehood was involved.
“And you’re one bizarre Archmage or First Mage, whatever they call you now,” answered Grastein. “You’re lucky I sense no evil in you except for what is normal for humans.”
The momentary spatial hiatus ended. It was as if nothing had happened. Tyler wasn’t sure about Asag, given the unknown limits of his power. But if the daemon heard the exchange, he mercifully kept his mouth shut.
“Now, gather around. You’ll be there in a heartbeat,” called out Grastein. “Get moving. And Havard, bring your band of bandits closer.”
We’re now on a first-name basis? reflected the surprised mage.
After the companions had arranged themselves around Grastein, the ancient draken asked the mage if he was ready. Tyler looked around and saw grinning faces. He nodded.
Their surroundings started to disappear, and the last thing Tyler saw was Grastein grinning in a meaningfully mischievous way. Somehow, it struck Tyler as unusual, and then a vague sense of dread abruptly invaded his mind.
Chapter Nineteen:
A Draken Sense of Humor
Unlike other means of magical travel, Grastein’s was a smooth one, with none of the usual momentary side effects. Even their departure didn’t have any faint jarring or slight nausea that usually accompanied the release of such magic. The mage concluded it must be related to the amount of energy the ancient draken could bring into the spell.
It was instantaneous, comfortable, and when the company got to where Grastein sent them, incredibly dangerous. The strange and bizarre jotunn faces staring at them at their sudden appearance betrayed where exactly the ancient draken had dumped them. At first glance, the mage saw they appeared right in the middle of serried ranks of what looked like disciplined warriors and hordes of beasts and spirits, all waiting for their chance to take on the waiting dwarves. Those now lying on the ground or otherwise violently displaced by their arrival certainly weren’t happy about their arrival.
They were right in the middle of a dry, cracked, and dusty vast plain. Around them was the attacking host of Sutr’s forces. To their left, about two to three miles away, was a massive mountainside flanked with sheer cliffs. Even at a distance, the company could see the innumerable ant-like figures all trying to kill each, amidst a field of magic blasts and burning defense works. But the massive army now assaulting the dwarves made it foolhardy for the company to try to immediately fight their way toward the dwarven bulwark. Aside from the sheer numbers, there was no telling what kind of creatures they would be facing.
Tyler’s companions wasted no time in cutting down nearby enemies. Even the daemon and the Oracle started hewing left and right, trying to help clear space around the party. At knife-fighting range, magical spells, except for shields, would merely pose a danger to the defenders. It was down to weapons spraying blood and gore all over everybody involved in the unexpected savage and chaotic melee.
For several seconds, the mage stood dumbfounded, though part of him was thankful he had created a shield around them before they left the glade. Casting that spell had become a habit, and the current situation made him grateful for the ingrained practice. On reflex, Tyler released several fireballs all around their defensive circle, albeit some distance away.
“That was a beautiful spray of fireballs, sire,” said Asag calmly as a full swing of his warhammer decapitated a group of jotnar trying to rush the daemon. “It did well against those who had a shred of flesh in them, but unfortunately contributed to the growth of those created from pure magical energy. They now look healthier, though.”
Tyler could see the daemon was right, several of the opponents approaching them had grown, clearly fed by the mage’s attack. One couldn’t fail to see them as the flaming spirits now towered above their brethren. On the bright side, a clear space had been opened between Sutr’s forces and the company.
Crap, thought the mage as his eyes looked around. He saw a series of rocky mounds not far from their position. Fortunately, it was in the direction of the stronghold, and not the other way.
“Reposition to those mounds! Fighting retreat! Asag, do what you can to delay them. Hell, squash them flat!” shouted Tyler.
The mage thought he could see the daemon grin as Asag suddenly gained height and bulk. But Tyler didn’t have time to watch what the entity would do, as his mind was on keeping their shield intact. He had already shifted to casting lightning chains, eschewing the blade spell he preferred. Considering most of those approaching seemed to be on fire, he doubted if they would be of much help.
As they withdrew, Tyler noticed thick, thorny vines rapidly spreading along their way, hindering and entwining every creature they touched. They appeared to be fire-resistant, though not proof against a well-directed fire blast. Still, they swiftly spread, and the mage saw several motionless flame jotnar already lying on the ground, fully covered by the predator flora. In some places, the vines had formed a living wall, giving the companions more time.
“Thanks,” said the mage to Thyma when he caught his breath. His stamina was as pitiful as ever.
“It’s my life, too, mage, but it’s unfortunate that might be the only spell I can find worth using in this chaos. If they are of flesh and blood, then several poisonous varieties come to mind,” laughed the Oracle. Thyma’s reaction to the battle reassured the mage. The woman was obviously no stranger to fighting.
The enemy blocking their way was thinning. Astrid and Tyndur were making sure of it. The ranger had reverted to a supporting role while guarding a flank, and the Oracle took care of the other side. Kobu watched their backs, and as a result, the number of enemies following them had also been significantly reduced. The daemon probably was having the time of his life inflicting death and mayhem with his massive size. Even his warhammer had become gigantic. The party could feel the ground violently shake every time Asag used it to smash opponents to the ground.
Then Tyler sensed a change in the flow of the enemies surrounding them. Few now contested their passage. It appeared Asag had attracted the attention of the rest of Sutr’s army not yet involved in the assault on the dwarven defenses. He quickly looked back and saw the daemon had grown huge, as in almost mountain-huge.
Oh, fuck. I hope that doesn’t get Sutr out of his cave, thought the now worried mage, following the lead of their vanguard as they weaved through the numerous cracks defining the terrain of the battlefield.
“Oh, good. Flesh-and-blood warriors and beasts!” he heard Thyma exclaim. The group was halfway to their destination, but the mage didn’t see what the Oracle mentioned. It did come to him that whoever was leading the fire jotunn’s forces must be reserving purely magical jotnar for the time when the battle for Sterkstein went into the deep tunnels and roads of the dvergar. In those confined spaces, there was little that conventional traps and ambushes could do against such flame creatures.
“Be careful, Thyma. We don’t want to poison ourselves,” he warned. Unfortunately, it was a statement that got an angry retort from the woman.
“I am not an amateur! Nor am I sometimes stupid. Unlike a mage I know,” snapped the Oracle.
Ouch, thought Tyler, releasing another series of coruscations. Lightning did appear to work, though it was also at that point Tyler realized again how laughable was his repertoire of magical spells. The current situation already removed some of his more effective attacks – fireballs, the fire wave, and even Hephaestus’s ground eruptions. He could use the tiny bit of Elder energy he had stored away, but two things prevented him. One was how to use it effectively against this kind of opponent, and two, there was no telling if and when the situation would really call for its use. Anyway, he rationalized, they’d been coping so far.
The Accidental Archmage: Book Seven (Dragons and Demons) Page 22