Tartarus Beckons

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  He ran.

  “Guys, how far?” Tyler asked his guides. The rumbling noise was already deafening.

  “It’s already close to shore, sire. We suggest stopping and creating a barrier,” X immediately replied.

  The mage immediately stopped and turned, forcing solid walls into existence around him.

  “Strengthen them!” he inwardly shouted.

  Tyler immediately felt the rush of more power leaving him.

  “We lowered the barrier above you, sire. It would be better if the initial force is absorbed by the treetops before it hits your wall,” said Hal. “Though an earthen barrier to the front would have helped.”

  Before Tyler could answer, the immense mass of seawater crashed into the woods. He staggered under the incredible impact, swaying on his feet. The mage could sense his guides pouring more power into the barriers which were starting to give way under the massive pressure.

  Suddenly, it was over. Tyler breathed a sigh of relief and discovered he was muddy all over. Bare and fallen trees met his sight as he looked around. Water was ebbing back into the sea and the karve was nowhere to be found.

  Kobu and the Gothi suddenly appeared at his side.

  “I apologize deeply, sire. I had believed you would magically transport yourself,” said the exile.

  “It’s okay, Kobu. You couldn’t have known that my movement would be limited to crossing clear terrain. Blindly teleporting would have resulted in being stuck within a tree trunk or two,” laughed Tyler. He was insanely giddy with the feeling of being alive. For a few seconds, his world was engulfed by crashing water, lots of it, and it was one of the most dreadful experiences Tyler had undergone. It was the closest thing to drowning, and an encounter the mage swore he won’t repeat again.

  “I sensed something massive, Ivar. Really huge. Bigger than the island. It was coming this way,” he told the Gothi. Tyler cast another spell to check where the entity was now positioned. It had stopped and was now closer to the island.

  “And it’s not moving anymore. The damned thing is staying near the island,” he added.

  “Oh, fuck. I think I know what it is,” said the Gothi in an alarmed tone.

  “Care to share that delightful insight with us?” asked Tyler.

  “A kraken. Not the Kraken, of course. But one of its offsprings. A rare occurrence. Kraken do not usually venture close to land. But they’re attracted to eruptions of magical energy. Those involving vast amounts of it. The magical creation of your island must have attracted the creature.”

  Offspring? There’s more?

  Chapter Two

  Blue Mountain

  “What do you mean by offspring? The seas are full of those massive things?”

  Ivar laughed merrily. Tyler didn’t think the question was that funny. Then he realized he must have looked ridiculous, covered with mud and leaves. An observation which was confirmed when the Gothi reached over and started removing leaves from Tyler’s dirt-encrusted hair.

  “I look like shit, don’t I?”

  “Nope, just like that swamp monster thing,” said Ivar as he sniggered, then louder as his self-control gave way.

  “You’re a jerk,” said Tyler as he pushed Ivar’s hand away, and walked towards the beach. “I’ll take a bath in the sea. How come you know so much about these things?”

  “I did tell you about engaging in foreign trade, using the sea routes to the south and west. Of course, I did my homework before deciding on that venture. A single monster could sink my entire investment,” Ivar explained as he followed the mage.

  “And the kraken?”

  “That was the first creature I looked up,” grinned the priest of Odin. “I’ve seen the movie, but the reality was worse than whatever Hollywood could cook up.”

  “You weren’t pulling my leg when you said there are more krakens?” asked Tyler, apprehension marking his tone.

  “Nope. But there’s only a few of them. Upon birth, they are pitted against each other, and only the strongest survive. Even as adults, they continue such unhealthy family relationships. No wonder they’re solitary creatures and tend to stay in the deepest parts of the ocean.”

  The trio had reached the sea and Tyler immediately dove into the surf. Upon surfacing, he started cleaning himself.

  “Do you think that creature would stay long? Even if it’s attracted to the energy which created the island, the remnant of the magical power used to raise the land is bound to dissipate sooner or later,” he asked the priest.

  “Well, that depends on how long the process would take. In the meantime, you might have a problem on your hands,” replied Ivar.

  Tyler stopped what he was doing and stared at him.

  “Problem? I don’t have plans of making use of that place as of now, so what’s the big issue?”

  “Well, all the priests of the Norse and Greek pantheons knew about the island. In fact, they’ve been warned against claiming it or even setting foot on it without your permission. If they were informed, then the rulers have also been told about it. But the presence of the kraken complicates matters. Trade will be greatly affected. And Maljen will be the first to feel its negative effects.”

  “Don’t tell me I have to handle the damned kraken, too! I still have to help the dokkalfr. I don’t want Freyr running after my head, he did keep his end of our bargain. Hedmark would have been our graves if not for him,” protested Tyler.

  “Don’t look at me, man. I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even expect a kraken to come and stick around these parts. Otherwise, I would have insisted on another site for the planned magical academy.”

  Tyler looked at the sky.

  “This stinks!” he shouted.

  “That’s deities for you. A gift and a burden at the same time,” Kobu laughed.

  “Wait. Can’t the pantheons handle this for once? I mean, there’s a task waiting for me, courtesy of a Vanir god, mind you, and this headache would unduly delay its completion,” blurted Tyler. Tangling with a gigantic entity bigger than the island was not on his to-do list.

  “Deities seem to avoid dealing with the Kraken and its kind. Stories abound about the likes of Thor and Poseidon regularly tangling with monsters of the deep, the hafgufa for one, but I still haven’t come across one which told of a battle between a kraken and a deity.”

  “What’s a hafgufa?” asked Tyler.

  “The word means sea mist. Another sea monster said to be as big as an island.”

  “Shit. I think I know why they avoid it. It has innate magical resistance. I discovered that interesting detail when I tried examining it utilizing a spell. And assuming that it has other magical abilities is one proposition likely to be proven true,” said Tyler. “What if I don’t do anything?”

  “Your choice, my friend. But you’ll be blamed for all the miseries Skaney would suffer. There are only two major trade ports in this realm, and both would be sorely affected, even if the port of Agder is some distance away. Being a powerful mage won’t protect you from rotten tomatoes all the time.”

  Tyler turned back to staring at the sky.

  “This really sucks!” he shouted again.

  Kobu guffawed, but the Gothi had an alarmed look on his face. The mage noticed it.

  “Worried about a lightning bolt or ten? Don’t worry, they still need me to do the dokkalfr a favor. But I am starting to suspect somebody knew the kraken was going to show up after the island was raised. Duck shit!” said Tyler, though the derogatory expression was loudly shouted in English.

  “For you guys maybe, but not me. I’m not part of your company,” advised the priest. “And the Greek pantheon also has deities fond of throwing lightning bolts.”

  Having cleaned himself, the wet mage noticed the crew of the ship emerging from the devastated edge of the forest.

  “Now, how the hell are we supposed to get back to town?” asked the mage. “No boat, no provisions, and atrocious luck so far. This has been a very bad day.”

  �
��Man, don’t say that. You know the belief back on Earth. You’ll make it worse!” Ivar said.

  “What do you mean? Two krakens and that hafgufa?” Tyler replied.

  Suddenly, a strong wave rushed to the shore and splashed over the trio. It arose out of nowhere, and left in its wake a small decorated box. Tyler and the Gothi looked at each other.

  “Told you,” said the priest of Odin.

  Tyler walked to the object and picked it up. Kobu looked on with narrowed eyes, his hand on his weapon.

  “I wonder who sent this?” said the mage idly, examining the unopened box.

  “Either the Norse deity Aegir or Poseidon?” said Ivar. “It did come from the sea.”

  “Aegir?”

  “A powerful sea jotunn friendly to the Norse pantheon. People consider him to be a sea god. Not that familiar to us First-Worlders.”

  Tyler carefully set the box down on the sand, some distance away from the water, and opened it. Inside, lying on a bed of the finest seaweed and tastefully surrounded by a few pearls, were two blue stones.

  Tyler drew back, magically examining the objects at the same time. They were glowing with power, but nothing indicated danger. He asked his guides to double-check.

  “Even though the color is different, the stones have the same magical pattern as the teleportation artifacts given by Odin, sire. We believe it has something to do with traveling to the island. Unfortunately, it appears only you are given that opportunity,” explained Hal.

  Tyler stared at Ivar who was already crouched, examining the open box. He noticed the priest was extremely careful avoided touching anything. He even tucked in the edges of his priestly robe.

  “What do you think, Ivar?” he asked.

  “The runes are Norse and show the sign of Aegir, but the energy pattern I sense indicated travel as their purpose.”

  “I guessed as much. The island, I presume,” the mage commented.

  “Highly probable,” replied Ivar as he stood up. “Though I don’t understand why there are only two such stones, unless you’re the only one intended to go to the island for now.”

  “How about you, Kobu? Impressions? Thoughts?”

  “The Gothi could be right. But I am not comfortable with you going alone. The distance involved also precludes the use of my ability. It’s too far,” commented the exile.

  Tyler thought about the situation and then came to a decision.

  “I think it’s best to do this now. The sudden appearance of these objects points to that course of action. And I don’t think the deities who raised that island didn’t expect this visitation by that creature. Or that there would be any serious danger to me if I go. They’ve invested too much in me already, and I still have promises to fulfill. Not to mention Zeus still owes me a favor,” explained the mage.

  “You’re sure about this, Tyler?” said Ivar, forgetting to use Tyler’s Norse name.

  The mage raised his eyebrow at the priest.

  “Oh, shit. Sorry, man. I tend to forget things when I am worried,” explained the embarrassed Gothi.

  “It’s fine, Ivar,” said Tyler as he picked up the two stones.

  “You’re going now?” asked the surprised priest.

  “Nothing like the present,” Tyler grinned. “I doubt if our patrons would choose this time to send this box without reason. Nor do I think they’d put me in harm’s way without considering the consequences. I hear Freyr’s one of the best warriors in the Norse pantheon.”

  “You guessed right. And he’s a package deal – one gets to fight his sister too. That is if the others don’t join the rumble. He’s a popular deity.”

  Inwardly, he instructed the two AIs to strengthen the shields. Birki was asked to get everybody ready for anything. Though the guardian just laughed when he learned it was a kraken.

  “That does eliminate a lot of possible spells of the children, lad. But we’ll come up with something. Why don’t you allow everybody to manifest themselves upon arrival? That way, we would all be ready. Of course, nobody would initiate the first move without your instructions.”

  “Do it,” Tyler said simply.

  “But here’s something for your consideration, sure. Rumpr’s memory does include the kraken and even remembers their arrival on Adar. But strangely, I don’t feel any animosity against them in such memory fragments. Only intense curiosity.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind while running for my life, Birki,” replied Tyler.

  The entity laughed as he faded from the mage’s mind.

  Tyler decided everybody should have the chance to fight for their survival – meaning through protecting him – if the worse happens. He had no idea on how to fight a gigantic sea creature bigger than anything he had the displeasure to face.

  “Instructions, sire?” asked Hal.

  “Any suggestions on fighting a kraken lite?”

  “None, sire.”

  “Then we’ll just have to wing it. But I do have something to confess, and I leave both of you to save my ass if it came to that.”

  “Yes, sire?” It was X this time.

  “I don’t know how to swim.”

  Fortunately, unlike humans, his AIs didn’t tease him.

  “That might be a concern, sire. But I believe we’ll be appearing on dry land. Even if we do reappear in water, your ability to create energy forms will remedy such a problem.”

  “Until I ran out of air or get squashed like a tomato,” commented Tyler drily. “But Ivar’s right. This is a concern that can’t wait. Every day with the trade routes blocked will contribute to the slow death of Maljen. It must not become a problem.”

  He knew he was being petty and negative, but as of that moment, Tyler’s level of nervousness was a lot higher than his self-confidence.

  “You’re sure about this, sire?” Kobu’s question brought him out of his reverie.

  “Of course not, Kobu. I mean how do you deal with a creature bigger than an island. That even deities avoid?”

  “I would say carefully and with a wagonful of prudence. But I am still unhappy with the plan.”

  “It’s okay, Kobu. Just wait for me here. There are only two of the stones, and I don’t want us to be swimming back if we go together.”

  The exile bowed to him.

  “My prayers go with you, sire. Don’t die. You are a far better master than that dead idiot I followed back in the lands of Wa. Or even his much wiser father, may his soul be at peace.”

  Tyler smiled and then crushed one stone in his hand.

  His world turned blue for a few moments. It was as if he was underwater. Abruptly, the vision faded and Tyler found himself standing on another beach, full of rocks and large boulders. He could hear the loud sound of the tumultuous surf as waves smashed against nearby rocks.

  Looking around, he could see the telltale energy signs of his wards as they deployed along his flanks.

  If this becomes a battle, I rather would have them out here fighting, than just dying in the staff because I failed,” thought the mage.

  But nothing happened. Only the sound of the surf continued to disturb their surroundings.

  Now what? he thought, followed by a whispered call to Birki.

  He felt the being appear at his side.

  “What do I do next?” he asked.

  “No idea, lad. I don’t recall any attempt similar to what you’re trying to do. Efforts by deities come to mind, but for some reason, the kraken hates them. But it’s a magical creature, try talking to it.”

  “How? I don’t even know how to call its attention. Attacking it will, but somehow I don’t believe that’s the right thing to do,” answered Tyler.

  “Right. They’re crankier than a dvergar deprived of drink for a year. Worse than a man-wolf with a toothache. Or a dokkalfr in a desert. Or Tyndur in…”

  “I get it, Birki. The orneriest beings in Adar. But what do we do now?”

  “You could try saying hello.”

  “How?”

  “I
don’t know. You’re the mage, you’ll figure something out,” said Birki nonchalantly.

  Tyler took a deep breath, trying to control his irritation. He knew he was expecting too much from Birki who was just learning about his own nature. But the nonchalant tone was so not helping. But having considerable magical abilities and yet not knowing how to use them was worthy of a facepalm, but he resisted making the gesture. Doing so would invariably invite questions about it and eventually his wards imitating him. A long period of annoyance waited for him down that path.

  Finally, he projected a scrying wave in the direction of the massive entity, but this time incorporating in the spell the Norse word for hello. Personally, he didn’t expect too much out of it. Abruptly, he saw a small disturbance in the water out in the open sea. A large whirlpool which suddenly moved in their direction. Tyler examined the incoming movement. Strangely, for an oceanic maelstrom, the speed of its eddies was slow and deliberate.

  It was an uncanny and unexpected reaction to his release of power. As the phenomenon neared the shore, it steadily became smaller and was finally reduced to an area of bubbling seawater. Tyler stood where was, feet braced against the rocky ground underneath his feet. He could sense the cloud of magical power which accompanied the occurrence. It was immensely powerful to the point of being suffocating, yet the mage couldn’t sense any animosity in it. Instead, a considerable curiosity accompanied the approaching nimbus of power.

  The huge mass of bubbles slowly started to disappear, and then a massive head abruptly broke through the surface of the water, followed by its gigantic body. It looked like a human, a colossus of one, yet almost everything about it was dark blue – hair, skin, beard, armor, and the trident it carried. Numerous clumps of seaweed slid off its form, though more clung to the body. The giant towered over his form, and Tyler believed the height was about three hundred feet.

  Emerald irises against a light blue backdrop stared at him. Yet the mountain form didn’t move or say anything. It looked as if it was waiting for him to make the first move.