They’ve learned to work together, observed the mage. Birki’s training is paying off. Though the war brothers, Machi and Polemos, would have loved being in this battle.
A loud, booming sound caught the mage’s attention. Asag’s ridge shook violently, and large parts of it flew through the air or tumbled to the ground. Tyler now knew where Sutr’s additional infusion of power went. With such strength, the barrier wouldn’t last as long as he wanted. The expansion of the escarpment had stopped, and it appeared Asag was preoccupied with rebuilding what the jotnar monsters were destroying.
Tyler knew he had nothing left. Whatever energy he had regained had been quickly expended by his guides in their efforts to protect the rampaging spirits. Fear gripped him as he watched the shaking rocky barrier. There was only so much Asag could do against Sutr’s power, even if it was but a small part of what the fire lord could manifest. Elder energy could cut the cord of power, but the mage had none left.
His guides were silent even as they continued to protect the attacking spirits. They knew the grave problem facing them. The mage tried to calm himself, sheer dread clawing at his mind at what the terrible consequences would be if the pair of monsters broke through. He had staked everything on this throw of the dice.
***
Out of the blue, the face of Zeus appeared in his memory. A deity’s face which looked disgruntled at still owing Tyler a favor. Desperate hope flooded the mage’s mind.
“Zeus! Zeus! ZEUS! Hear me! I come to collect what’s promised me!” Tyler desperately called out to the ether, putting all his focus on the mental call, even as part of his mind rebuked him for being so grossly impolite. He might know Zeus, but the deity was the head of an entire pantheon. Some respect would have been called for. Yet, even as that thought arose, his fear and worries drove away such a consideration. He was desperate, and he admitted it.
He waited for a few seconds, and when nothing happened, started to call again, only to be stopped by the sudden appearance of the Greek god in their midst. Zeus wore the armor of a heavy hoplite, complete with a shield and closed helm. The only differences were the ornate and evidently magical nature of the armor, and the massive lightning bolt he held in his right hand.
So much for depictions showing this guy waging war wearing only a toga, thought the mage, even as enormous relief washed over him.
“That was loud and ill-timed, First Mage, and not in the proper form. Come on, what is it? That damned Hydra won’t die on its own. I didn’t think it would be this powerful when it revived,” complained the deity loudly, even as a steely gaze swept around his surroundings.
“Hello, and my blessing, Pythia. I am surprised to see you here. I am pleased to know you have returned to the land of the living,” Zeus greeted the Oracle.
“Thank you, my Lord Zeus. You honor me,” replied the woman as she bowed. “Though I call myself Thyma now.”
Sudden sadness crossed Zeus’s face.
“Ah, the past won’t change, you know. Even deities have to move forward, mindful of the mistakes of the past and careful of the future. Do visit me when you have the time. We have much to discuss,” said Zeus. Then his gaze fell on Gullin and on the battle below.
“You keep strange company, young mage, and it seems you find yourself in the middle of a battle. A worthy war, I might add. The dwarven race has always found favor in my eyes and that of Odin. Now, what do you want?” inquired the deity. “Though the battle seemed to be going your way so far, and…” suddenly his voice became stern, “You have a lot to explain. But not now. We’re both quite busy.”
He saw the spirits, thought the mage.
“The problem is the fire jotnar lord’s spell pumping power to his chieftains stalled over that high ridge. With the increased magical energy, the two leaders are bound to break through the barrier, wreaking havoc on the retreat plans of the dwarves. The stronghold of Sterkstein itself is safe and sealed,” explained Tyler quickly.
“A jotunn lord’s spell of power. You want me to cut it. I admit it will take some time for that firebrand to cast it again but breaking it would take a lot of my power too. You do know when to ask payment, First Mage. This is a… weighty matter and might even lead to war between us and his realm of fire,” answered Zeus, who then mused for a few moments.
“To Tartarus with it. We’ll be fighting him soon anyway, if what Lord Odin said is true. I’ll ask one of the lesser deities to help out with that multi-headed snake waiting for me,” grinned Zeus. “Let’s take this gamble. But I expect you to be on our side in this war after your quest.”
Another commitment. Another entanglement, inwardly sighed the mage. And the wily bastard got me in a two-for-one sale.
“Of course, Great Zeus,” said Tyler.
“Don’t Great Zeus me, you rascal. You already started a precedent. Now consider my debt paid, and you’d better take good care of my aunt,” said the Greek deity who suddenly disappeared.
Aunt? Ah, Thyma. The Pythia. She’s a Titan, so that makes her Zeus’s aunt. I do think he has a soft spot in his heart for her, realized the mage.
Then Tyler felt it. A sudden and palpable reduction in the energy drain in the area. Sutr’s spell had been cut. He looked down. Dwarves were already in retreat, following predetermined routes. Only a rearguard remained which cleaned up the small number of jotnar survivors near their lines.
Groups of enemies at the rear were already backing away, while others fled back toward Sutr’s domain. Even the assault on Asag’s ridge had stopped, though the mage could see more rocky formations being piled up on the already high crest. The daemon wasn’t leaving anything to chance.
Birki’s voice then sounded in his mind. The guardian suggested the surviving jotnar, or those who were near the shield wall, could be left to the dwarves. Those caught in islands crisscrossed by huge chasms didn’t pose a threat anymore.
“That would be good, Birki. Tell my children to come home. Kindly give them my utmost gratitude. Tell them I am proud of them,” said Tyler absentmindedly. His thoughts were still on what Zeus said.
You have a lot to explain.
The mage groaned to himself. It had been a long, tiring, stressful, and complicated day.
***
A day of hard travel later, difficult and arduous even with dwarven guides and assistance, the company and Otr’s personal guard of about five hundred warriors looked on a region pockmarked with geysers. Dvalin had gone with another column and was tasked with overseeing the general retreat.
“Nearly there,” said Otr. “This is land hinna mörgu hvera, or the land of a thousand smokes in your language. After we cross this area, we would be able to see the heights where that black pest resides. We call it Sá Blindi, the Eyeless One. I hope you can take care of that problem. It would help Sterkstein recover after this war. The ores there would be a boon to our kingdom.”
Tyler was genuinely surprised at the optimism of the dvergar prince. Sutr’s War had just started, and the first battle ended with a retreat. Asag’s ridge barrier would buy Dvalin and Sterkstein itself precious time, but there was no doubt the fire jotnar would try again.
From what the mage heard from Otr, the fire lord still had substantial forces available. What attacked Sterkstein’s Throat was merely the vanguard, and Sutr’s champions were formidable entities. If not for Zeus, the entire battle would have ended in a catastrophe, not only for the dwarves, but also for the company.
The dwarves lost a third of their forces as dead and injured. Many were due to the fire drakes. An ordinary magical shield could not withstand the sheer impact of a ton or more of crashing fire drake. And each gap created by the dead and dying flying drakes was ruthlessly exploited by the attacking jotnar. Those that directly attacked the shield wall were beaten off except for some sectors which found themselves facing only fire giants.
But Otr said it was a good battle. The dwarves fully expected to lose more than half of their warriors when they saw what was facing them. Now, they ha
d withdrawn in good order, and their numbers would be welcome additions to the second line of defense already being created.
Tyler gazed on the smoky landscape. He had been assured no predators or bizarre entities lived on the land. A few monsters had been found by the dwarves when they had first explored the area, but those had already been killed off.
“And the mining site?” asked Tyler.
“Empty by now. No sense continuing production when the war’s on, and Sterkstein’s closed,” replied the prince. “Come, Let’s get you to that foul creature. Sad to say, our mages and weapons couldn’t do anything to it. I hope you do better.”
“My apologies, First Mage. That was rude of me. I know you will deal with that slimy black shit,” continued Otr after a brief pause. “If it has a head, I’d be personally indebted if you could give it to me as a gift. It would be a nice addition to my hall.”
The dumbfounded mage nodded his head. Nice addition to his hall.
***
When the entire assembly reached the foot of the bluff, Tyler magically examined the area in front of them. Even if Otr said the place was safe, he wasn’t taking any chances. To his surprise, the return reflected numerous magical sparks, all centered on the waiting geysers. He quickly told Otr and then instructed the company to get ready for battle. Tyler wasn’t about to get ambushed. Not if he could help it. Energy started to build up around him as he prepared cold attack spells and his guides readied their own. The personal guard of the dvergar prince rushed to deploy in a shield wall formation.
“Stop!” Thyma shouted as she ran to the front of the entire group getting ready for battle. At the cry, everybody stopped and stared. The Oracle faced them.
“These are but ordinary fire spirits. They’re not jotnar, nor are they affiliated with that jotunn lord. They live among the underground lava flows and help maintain their heat. They’re the ones who make sure the cold does not overcome all northern lands. They’re nature’s fire elementals,” explained the Oracle.
The mage was puzzled. What he knew about fire spirits was that they were all related to Sutr. He asked Thyma to clarify while not letting his guard down.
“The jotunn lord of fire is but of the First World, First Mage. There are spirits of fire and ice living on Adar long before the Great Migration. They have their own role to play in this world’s natural systems. Beholden to no one except Adar, they help keep this world in equilibrium,” said Thyma.
“And what are they doing here?” demanded Tyler. “I might be mistaken, but their sudden presence doesn’t bode well for everyone.”
“An indirect result of Asag’s doing, I surmise. Our rock deity has greatly disturbed the landscape from Sterkstein up to the Plain of Fire. From what our favorite daemon described, he has blocked lava flows, diverted some, and as a whole, created mayhem and chaos under and above ground,” continued the Oracle.
“That’s me. Remember that, everybody,” beamed Asag.
Tyler held up his hand.
“Let me check,” declared the mage as he let loose a wave of energy which blanketed the area. Tyler didn’t feel any animosity or malice from the magical glimmers he had detected. If anything, curiosity prevailed. The creatures were sentient, at least to some degree. Then they noticed his scrutiny. A flurry of activity followed, the flickers began to move quickly, and the mage realized a number were gathering at a geyser near the group. Something was definitely happening, but the absence of hostile intent reassured him. Still, his shields were up, and the mage stood ready for any unwelcome surprises. From experience, he knew Adar was full of them.
A large ball of fire rose with the steaming geyser and then fell into the ground. As it landed, it quickly transformed into a humanoid figure made of fire. It walked toward the assembly at a deliberate pace and toward where the mage was positioned. Thyma walked back to the company and mysteriously grinned at Tyler. It stopped around ten feet away and then bowed. The mage broke ranks and strode forward, stopping just ahead of Tyndur. The figure in front held up a hand.
“Greetings, Archmage.” A susurrating voice sounded in his head.
“Hail and greetings too. Though your name escapes me,” replied Tyler verbally. Mental communication would lead to more tension if the rest of those around him had no idea of what was going on. At least, the entire group would realize he was talking to the being.
“This form has no name, Archmage. We are many and our Mother has not gifted us with any. But gathered in this form, our intellect grows, and we can communicate with one blessed as you,” said the entity.
“Is what Thyma said correct? That you have no hostile intent toward us?” asked Tyler. Blessed?
“Indeed. This place is but a waystation for such as us, until we find new homes again. We have our tasks to do and a purpose to fulfill,” came the reply.
“So, we may pass in peace?” clarified the mage.
“You may. The ways of the surface are strange to us and never could we understand such mindless savagery. Adar itself is a violent and turbulent world. Still, its seemingly chaotic nature has a meaning and innate order in it,” said the flaming entity.
“Thank you,” said a grateful Tyler, now relieved they wouldn’t have to fight their way through another hot place.
“Fare thee well, Archmage. You bear the Mother’s favor. Call on us if and when you need our help. But not in the ways of war, we beg,” answered the creature. Then it backed into the geyser where it had come from and went in.
“Whew! That was a relief,” said Habrok.
“Aye. My mind was set on meeting my kin, not another battle,” commented Otr.
“And I am starting to have an aversion to things with flames,” added Asag.
***
The companions were left at the opening leading to the cavern system. Otr left provisions with them, to Tyler’s grateful acknowledgment. The company had left everything behind and had relied on what the dwarves brought with them. Habrok’s hunting contributed to the food and the occasional brook, water. Now they were on their own amidst the remains of a dwarven mine site. The withdrawal of the miners appeared to be an orderly one. Structures had been carefully shuttered and tools properly stowed away. A dirt track led down into the depths of the underground system.
Without further discussion, the company walked down the path, accompanied by a lit construct leading the way, courtesy of Tyler. The track might have been recently used, but the torches on the walls had been extinguished, and the nature of the trail only showed the impermanence of the settlement. If the dwarves intended the outpost to be a permanent one, the road would already have been paved with stone, and barriers would have been built to protect miners from falling down into the darkness.
All along the path, they could see signs of mining. Cleared spaces on the side indicated where ore was found, and from time to time, the party came across spaces showing signs of being break areas. Smaller tracks led off the main trail as it continued downward. The company began to lose track of time and took note only of the number of rest periods they had, though Thyma said about fourteen hours had passed.
The nature of the track suddenly changed from a dirt-packed one to a trail that could barely be seen. Habrok commented that from what he could determine, the path they were using looked unused. Finally, they reached a fork along the trail. One continued downward, but the other led to an opening sealed off by wooden planks. Dwarven writing, now a bit faded, was on them. Tyndur said it was a warning not to proceed, and that beyond the sealed cavity awaited the Blind One.
“I guess this is the right place,” said Tyndur as his battleaxe smashed the wooden barrier to pieces.
Tyler felt something in the bond connecting him to the daemon, but it was gone as soon as it arose. Asag again knew something. It was a conclusion reinforced by the uncharacteristic silence of the daemon. The party moved inside and continued on. After an hour, the air began to stink horribly. It was a mixture of rotting meat, sulfur, and other repulsive odors. Everyone
, except for Gullin, started covering their noses. Thyma looked at the disgusted reaction of the others and gestured in the air. A wave of fresh air blew away the repellent smell and continued gusting toward the inner recesses of the cave. Grateful smiles thanked the Oracle.
Suddenly, Asag moved to the front, walking several steps ahead of the group.
“What’s wrong?” called out the mage from the rear.
“Ah. I think I recognize what’s waiting for us. I must have been a hasty one in my youth, I thought I had already squashed her flat. It’s a demon. Not a daemon, but a demon. Formerly mortal, a powerful kassaptu, or witch-hag, who consorted with Labartu, also known as Lamashtu, a mother of demons. She apparently found favor with the bitch and become one of her pets,” said Asag, twirling his warhammer. It was now whole, though a few tiny fractures remained.
“And you two have a history?” asked Tyndur, grinning like a cat. “What’s her name?”
“I won’t mention her name. Names have power, and using it might give her more, especially if I’m the one saying it. And if you could call trying to suck out what she thought was my soul a relationship, then we do have a history. I used to disguise myself as a mortal and fell into her clutches. A perfidious plot, I might add, otherwise, she would not have gotten the chance. I forgot the name of the place, but I remember reducing it to rubble. It was an atrocity of a city, tolerating creatures like that,” replied the daemon casually.
“And you thought it was your good looks,” mercilessly prodded Astrid, to Gullin’s stifled laughter. The perfidious plot remark clearly didn’t convince anyone.
Asag disregarded the joke made at his expense and gave a summary of what happened. Tyler knew a lot had been changed or omitted, but the gist was what the demonic witch-hag got from Asag was a tiny bit of the daemon’s true nature, and it burned her inside out. Then the daemon brought out his warhammer and smashed her to the ground, recovering what had been taken.
The Accidental Archmage: Book Seven (Dragons and Demons) Page 29