Tyler felt the ground shake violently. Emotionally drained, physically weak, with fear for Eira battling rising anger deep within him, the sudden disturbance shocked him out of his profound sense of despair. The mage glanced sideways just in time to see Asag wave his arms in the air. At the same time, he could sense his AIs were greatly agitated.
“Yes, guys?” he asked, yet even his mental voice carried his anguish.
“We heard what happened, sire, and we’re already looking into how to get into Tartarus. We do have our assumptions why the Lady Eira was kidnapped. We believe she’s being held as a bargaining piece against any interference by the First Mage in the plans of her abductors. From that perspective, she would be safe for now,” said Hal.
“I should have thought of that, but Rumpr’s demise also clouded my mind.”
“Grieving and despair are natural emotional consequences of being human, sire,” added X. “It is always better to let it out, the way you shared the news with the company. Such burdens are not meant to be borne alone. You have friends and family in the mortals around you. Let them help.”
“Though I fear excessive anger may have arisen among your party. I can’t even assess how your wards would react to the news, although I suspect they have learned about it by now. Your emotional state could be sensed by those inside your staff. It speaks highly of the guardian that he choose not to disturb you at this juncture,” continued the AI.
The children loved Eira. Their fury is one I need to attend to, thought Tyler. No telling what they would do and they’re already powerful for such young spirits.
Then he realized that the cave where Asag was imprisoned oozed with Adar’s magical energy, and the old man did show up. He couldn’t imagine the effect of such raw power on his wards, not to mention that Asag’s dark energy was also present. It was another significant concern the mage had to investigate.
This job never gets easier, the mage noted as he stood up shakily. Strength was returning to his limbs. Habrok saw him get and immediately went to his side, offering a shoulder to lean on.
“Thanks, Habrok. But let me check something first.”
Tyler tried calling out with his mind to Dionysus, wanting to know the condition of his friend. Even infused with what magical energy he could spare, nothing happened.
“X? I seem unable to contact Dionysus,” he told his AI.
“Maljen must be out of the usual range for a general spell of communication. At least for a mortal of your level of expertise. Try thinking of Maljen and the deity, and then direct the energy in that direction.”
“Havard?” The familiar voice finally responded. The sound so very welcome in his ears. It meant the deity was still alive, despite his wounds.
“How are you, Dio? I am sorry I can’t be there. Traveling such a great distance is a skill beyond me.”
“You’ll get it eventually, my friend. Don’t worry about me. Gullen is awake, though grievously hurt, and our magic will do the rest. But I am afraid we both won’t be able to help for a while. We’re both magically depleted, and what we have now is being used for healing.”
“About Eira…” started Tyler.
“She’s was unhurt, though unconscious, the last time I saw her. To assuage your concern, I believe they were very careful in not hurting her in any way throughout the battle,” clarified Dionysus.
“Didn’t you call upon the other deities?” asked the mage.
“I tried, but my magical power couldn’t get a message through. A single Greek deity is no match for a Titan’s power, much less three or four. I happened so fast one would have thought we were blindsided. Everything was over in several seconds. The rise of the Titans again is a matter of grave concern for us. And this time, they appear to have other powerful beings with them as allies.”
Several seconds. Dio, Gullen, and Rumpr must also have reacted in an unbelievably swift manner for them to be able to catch the Titans in the middle of what they were doing, thought Tyler.
“Rumpr arrived first, and I believe he bore the brunt of the attack. Then I came and then Gullen. We were each handled like children. But then again, it wasn’t just one Titan. One would have thought they were going after an entire pantheon,” said Dionysus.
“So, Tartarus?” ventured the mage.
“Highly probable. But the last time I heard, our pantheon was trying to break into Tartarus. The gates had been sealed from the inside.”
Shit.
“I’ll try to be there as soon as I can, Dio. But I also have a pressing problem here right now. Dokkalfr,” advised the mage.
“Can I see?” asked the deity.
“You can do that?”
“Of course! As long as you allow me to look through your eyes, though I’ll be able to see more than what mere visual sight offers.”
“Alright,” agreed Tyler as a warm sensation filled his head. Then the feeling quickly disappeared.
“Oh, that’s a huge army. And there’s a dark presence among you. An extremely powerful one. Be careful.”
“That would be Asag. Long story. I’ll be there as soon as I finish this and find transportation,” said the mage.
“Ah. I apologize for being unable to help you come here. Given my condition now, such an effort for so many people would probably be the end of me,” replied the deity apologetically.
“I’ll find a way, Dio. Don’t worry about it.”
And how the hell am I supposed to get to Maljen Forest with everybody? Tyler asked himself. Fuck this. One problem after another, and they come in droves.
“Feeling stronger now. Let’s go see what our guest is up to,” Tyler said to Habrok.
“Good to see you back, sire. And that Alal fellow is mad. Crazier than the maddest seidr hermit on these mountains. Fortunately, he’s on our side.”
“Huh? What has he done?” asked the curious mage.
“Doing, sire. The rocks down in the small valley are acting crazy. They’re rolling over to a certain spot and crushing the dokkalfr in the process, but it looks like Alal is creating something.”
When Tyler reached a point where he could see what was going on, the mage saw what Habrok described. Large rocks erupted from the ground and joined massive boulders rolling across the valley floor, all towards a central location where a small hill was already formed. Dokkalfr mages were trying to protect their army from being crushed, but the various directions from which the boulders rose or came made their job impossible. Apparently, only Tyler could create the many-sided barrier he had come to take for granted.
Lightning bolts angrily sizzled in some areas as mages tried to break into smaller pieces the large rocks mangling or crushing their brethren. Such spells did succeed yet only resulted in smaller but more numerous stone projectiles hurtling toward the hill. The dokkalfr army was in apparent disarray, but the mage could see they were well-disciplined. Formations tried to regroup, and others took the wiser course of trying to avoid the wave of boulders. The mage observed that if one thought about it, the rocks should be relatively easy to evade as they were all going toward one area.
A glance at Asag revealed the entity had a fixed grin on his bearded face. The mage half-expected a crazy cackle from the demon, but apparently, Asag had not reached that point of mad satisfaction yet. But the demon’s eyes fairly glowed with anticipation. Suddenly, Asag looked at Tyler and grinned from ear to ear.
Nearly mad, but not there yet, observed the mage with some apprehension.
Then the demon looked at Kobu.
“Like the show so far, Kobu-sama?”
Tyler was surprised to see anger flash across the exile’s face. It was but a momentary display, but the mage thought it was a strange reaction from the exile.
“Rolling stones?” commented Kobu. Tyler could see it was a question intended to divert attention from whatever significance Asag’s query had. But the comment was funny in a way only a First Worlder would understand – it was entertainment in a way. Bloody, gruesome, and brutal, bu
t still an event where the company looked on as a mesmerized audience.
“Ah, this is but the appetizer, my royal friend,” replied Asag. Another answer which merited another furious glance from Kobu. The mage couldn’t understand why Kobu was so pissed off. Everyone in the party knew the exile came from a noble lineage. He wouldn’t be the war leader of a noble house back in the lands of Wa otherwise. Kobu even spoke freely of such things.
“And now…” announced Asag. Loudly.
The pile of rocks of various sizes abruptly moved, and the dokkalfr instinctively ran away from it. The accumulation of boulders rose and started forming itself into a vaguely human form. But the rocky shape towered over them, almost equaling the nearest mountain in height. It stood immobile as its natural components swiftly moved to complete the shape, filling in empty spaces and finalizing roughly shaped extremities. The face was featureless, devoid of any human features. Instead, it had a smooth surface. The beginnings of a sharp, wild cackle from Asag startled the company, but the demon didn’t go full-throttle with his mad laughter. Instead, tittering, uncomfortable to the ears and mind, followed it.
Still the only thing missing, noted Tyler. The demented cackle was yet to make its appearance.
Down in the valley, the dokkalfr had started attacking the titanic monolith, and it appeared that Asag’s creation didn’t have the benefit of a magical shield. Pieces of rock blew off the body as lightning and other spells exploded against the stony mass. But as small parts of the monstrous golem were destroyed, they were immediately replaced by more rocks which were rolling up the giant shape.
It’s too big, thought the mage. It wouldn’t be able to move effectively in that space.
Tyler’s observation was accurate. Asag’s creation started moving, slowly at first, and then its speed increased. But considering its size, it was reduced to stamping out its opponents. Most of the dokkalfr were able to avoid being giant-kill at first, as the moving mountain was a slow starter, but when its foot did connect with a group of dokkalfr, the impact and finality of the stomp didn’t even leave injured behind. As it speeded up, the stone soles of the titanic entity became full of bloody gore. Even the company could see the evidence of how gruesome the process was – the footprints of the creature left red, messy marks on the valley floor. But the mage could see that the process, for a killing entity, was too slow and cumbersome. Its size greatly hobbled its effectiveness.
“Not a good way to do battle in a limited space,” Kobu’s voice sounded from behind the mage. The exile had joined them.
“I agree,” said Tyler. “I doubt if the giant could reach into those nooks and crannies most of the dokkalfr are now using as cover.”
“Ahem! I heard that,” cried out Asag. “Frankly, I am insulted. To be clear, I had fought numerous battles with hordes greater than that ridiculous number down in the valley they call an army. This magnificent display was just for my friend Kobu-sama’s benefit. Just to remove any doubt as to my abilities.”
So that’s the reason. Well, Kobu, you did pick the wrong string to pluck in a demon’s psyche. Arrogance is a by-word for these creatures, thought Tyler.
“We’re pressed for time, Alal. We still have a rescue to plan and a lesson in retribution to implement. Enemies have taken my wife and killed a dear friend,” Tyler bitterly told Asag, not without newly-awakened fury in his voice.
“Really? Now, that’s what I call a worthy cause. Go ahead, start planning. I’ll join you in a while. Time to clean up,” replied Asag gaily. A reaction which everybody else found uncomfortably peculiar.
The stone giant suddenly crumbled, the impact of the rain of boulders again violently shaking the ground. An enormous cloud of dust arose, concealing the field of battle. Asag noisily blew a breath of air into the mess, and the dust disappeared. Where Tyler expected to see large piles of rocks now stood an army consisting of smaller versions of the giant golem, if being twice the size of a human could be called smaller. The creatures were neatly arranged in a caricature of the orderly formations of the dokkalfr, and the mage could see that just below them, another line of the same creatures stood ready to defend access to the mesa itself. Asag clapped his hands, and the newly formed creations started to move against what remained of the dokkalfr host, though the mage could see that the Anari forces were still at a significant strength. Then he noticed more of the stone creatures were being created, this time from the direction of the ancient ruin at the end of the valley.
Ah, they’re screwed. They’d be lucky if any survive, concluded the mage.
“There! That would be sufficient. Now we have time for a council of war! Revenge! And Titans? I heard of them a long time ago. Powerful deities, from what I know. Better! A challenge! And much, much better – a war against powerful deities, with the First Mage at my side,” declared Asag. This time, his statement was followed by the mad cackle Tyler expected.
Chapter Twenty
The Judgment of a Lesser House
Everyone looked at Tyler. The mage was surprised by the suddenness of Asag’s suggestion. The battle was still going on, but even if it was an obviously one-sided conflict, it wasn’t over. He had never been in such a situation, and the mage was one who assumed that something had ended only when it’s clearly finished.
“You’re sure about the battle being over, Alal?” he asked Asag.
“You doubt me, too? I am so disheartened right now. There’s a fixed number of my rock followers down there. The enemy destroys one, and another takes its place. They’ve also got instructions not to let anyone escape,” explained Asag, though the ancient warrior’s face still bore the expression of one offended by the insinuation. Tyler couldn’t tell if the display was feigned or real as the gleeful twinkle in Alal’s eyes told a different story. The demon was proving to be more inscrutable than Kobu.
“If you say so, Alal. I did notice the line of rock creatures at the bottom of the rise. They’ll be able to protect us if anybody does try to reach this rise,” said Tyler, trying to mollify Asag in case the demon did feel offended.
The group, except the two dokkalfr who stayed where they were, huddled in a circle. Tyler gave the unburnished and dismaying news to them – that it was highly probable the Titans and their allies were responsible for the abduction of Eira and death of Rumpr, and that unfortunately, the gates to Tartarus were shut from the inside. All that bad news, in the face of an ongoing quest for the dokkalfr and no means of getting to Maljen.
“First time I’ve heard of prisoners refusing to open the gates to their prison. Though it’s an excellent situation. Better to catch all the rats in one place,” remarked Tyndur casually.
The rest of the companions stole glances at the einherjar. His singular display of sorrowful anger had not been forgotten. Typically, such a comment would have been accompanied by laughter or some form of levity, but this time, the words were uttered in a different, serious tone. Something had indeed changed in their einherjar. Tyler looked at the warrior. Only the mage knew of the plan of the einherjar to leave the company when they’ve left the cave behind. Did the comment mean Tyndur had changed his mind?
“Prison dimensions. Hah! Stupid Titans. Every place has its imperfections. Even the most perfect sword will have a defect somewhere if one looks long and hard enough. Though the proper magical skill and knowledge are essential for cutting down the time needed for such an examination. It’s not as if everyone has the longevity, or patience, to undertake such a task.”
It was Asag who spoke.
“Do you, by any chance, know of a way into Tartarus?” asked Tyler. He did know it was a long shot, considering Asag came from a far earlier time and a different magical system.
“No.”
This guy could be a pain at times. Why the freaking lecture on dimensional cracks?
“But find me dark, solitary creatures who live in shunned places of this world,” continued Asag. “Chances are they made their abodes in such openings. The energy coming through is usuall
y enough to sustain them, thus enabling such mad beings the capability of not needing to venture into the surface in search of sustenance, whatever form that might be.”
Mad. Takes one to know one, thought the mage.
“What are they? Parasites? Aren’t demons supposed to go out and try to rule the world?” This time, it was Habrok who pointed out the common belief about demonic creatures.
“Well, the rule the world desire is a given. But haven’t you wondered about the ones who weren’t sent back to the nether hells, but were able to slink away in defeat? They try to gather their lost strength in the darkest corners possible, away from any hero or deity. Renewing power or levels lost to beings armed with magical weapons is a lengthy process. Years turn into centuries, and into millennia. Madness slips in, dances its merry way into a demonic mind, and then some of them decide that they’re better off where they are,” answered Asag glibly. It was an uncharacteristically clear reply from him. Tyler expected a song-and-dance routine and yet wondered if Asag was partially describing what he had gone through.
“So, what are they? By what you described, they can’t be called demons in the usual sense of the word,” persisted the ranger.
“Barnacles,” replied Asag, who then laughed his heart out.
Suddenly, Asag stopped his mirthful howling, and looked at Tyler.
“A group of three dokkalfr approaches, with a white flag. What do you want me to do?” the demon said quickly.
“A truce?” commented Tyndur as he spat on the ground.
“Let them come.” The mage told Asag, who then left to fetch the dokkalfr delegation. Tyler turned to the einherjar and gave the warrior a wan smile. “Tyndur, behave. You’re more bloodthirsty than usual.”
“I noticed, sire. But it’s an improvement. I usually go berserk at the news you brought. The old me would have jumped right into the valley against that army. And that version of Tyndur is more powerful than my lucid, handsome self. Possibly quite deranged too.”
Tartarus Beckons Page 20