He turned his attention to his two companions now engaging the giant undead beast. Two of Astrid’s javelins protruded from its eyes, rendering it blind. At least that’s what the mage hoped. He could see Tyndur gripping the battleaxe with both hands. Astrid suddenly darted forward, the twin xiphoi flashing and cutting through the front leg of the creature. As it was brought down on that leg, Tyndur moved and quickly hacked through the other one.
Both warriors took positions on opposite sides of the beast. The enormous puma growled and moved its head to the left and then to the right, snapping its fangs. It was already helpless, but it tried to use its stumps to turn in the direction of Tyndur. As it moved, the Valkyrie was again a blur and pruned its left rear leg from its body. It snarled and tried to turn to Astrid. A change in focus which cost it its remaining leg as the einherjar chopped it off.
“Hey, Valkyrie!” shouted Tyndur. “Mind if I do the honors?”
“Oh, just get rid of it, einherjar. Mind that you cut off the head,” came the reply.
In a flash, the einherjar ran and leapt, battleaxe held high.
“Jorund’s Justice!” he shouted as the blade sliced through the thick neck of the beast, neatly separating it from its body. The puma immediately stopped moving.
“Found a new battle cry, I see,” said Astrid as the two walked back to Tyler.
“The least I could do for a brave mortal, now a fellow einherjar. He’ll feel the victory every time I shout it.”
“Stop playing you two. There are still three more Naguals. And all the undead warriors you want,” said Tyler as he watched two massive jaguars and another puma, a smaller one, closing in on them. The army of Aztecah dead warriors had already reformed and continued their way towards them.
Then from the back of the mass of undead, coming from the collapsed remains of the low hills, came a cloud of arrows. Each had a fiery tip and was directed at the army of revenants.
The unexpected shower of shafts startled Tyler. From what Viracocha told him, the Incan force was still a few miles out. Figures appeared on the remains of the hill, silhouetted against the sky. Arrows kept on striking the back of the Aztecah army of the undead. Warriors were starting to form in clumps in front of the archers. But not in a single line as is usual in a fighting formation such as the one he saw back in the sanctuary battle. Tyler observed that the small groups, comprising two or three fighters and positioned on the lower ground about ten feet in front of the bowmen, gathered around a spearman.
Some of the creatures already swiftly running towards the new arrivals. But whatever the humans were using, it was undeniably effective. The fire arrows burned the revenants quickly whenever they hit their mark. A few fireballs started exploding among the Aztecah. At least they have some mages with them, observed the mage.
And they have used some potion to coat their arrows against the undead. Whatever it was, it worked, thought Tyler. He turned his gaze on the incoming Naguals.
“You get first pick, Astrid. Which shall it be? Asem can take care of the warriors,” said the mage.
“The jaguar on the right, sire. Tyndur can play with the one on the left.” The Valkyrie hefted her recovered javelins.
“Sounds good,” came the einherjar’s reply.
“That leaves me the puma in the middle,” commented Tyler.
The three Naguals were now speedily closing in. Apparently, their focus was on the two companions in front, giving them back their speed. As they reached a distance of thirty to forty feet from the group, the huge beasts suddenly leapt. Their fanged mouths were all open, ready to tear and kill. Their undead nature was on graphic display as they sprang to the attack. All had partially damaged facial features, exposing the skull and fangs underneath. Bodies exhibited missing masses of muscle, the puma, in particular, had dangling intestines. It was a grotesque show of animated bones partially covered with decomposing flesh, with their innards poking through exposed ribcages and dead muscles. The smell was way past stomach-churning. Three times worse than the giant puma Tyndur and Astrid dispatched a few minutes earlier.
Though caught by surprise, the instinctive reaction of the mage was to manifest a barrier in front of the massive vaulting cats. Tyler could feel the crushing impact as the beasts hit the shield. Loud cracking sounds reached their ears. If the monsters were ordinary animals, the strength of the collision would have broken their necks, even if they were giant versions of the jungle predators. As the three crashed to the ground, Tyler could see they were not even stunned. Alarmingly, they were scrambling to get back on their feet. He immediately caused a fireball to burn the puma, keeping the fire burning. Some of the flames caught on the bodies on the two jaguars alongside it. At the same time, the mage erected an energy block on top of the three undead beasts, squeezing it downwards as much as he could, preventing them from getting up.
“Hurry, while they’re down,” he called out to Tyndur and Astrid. “They’re quite strong.”
Astrid was the first to act. Her speed is truly incredible, thought Tyler as the Valkyrie’s figure blurred. Her target, the rightmost jaguar now lying on its side, suddenly had two javelins transfixing its neck and head, nailing it to the ground. The twin xiphoi did the rest, butchering the head from the body. She darted back and just as quickly got back her javelins. Tyndur ran and swiftly approached his prey at an oblique angle. A quick hacking motion and the jaguar’s head violently separated from its body. The two companions quickly ran back to Tyler’s side.
That leaves me, thought Tyler. He bent the barrier to enclose the puma, now that the jaguars were dead. When the energy form had thoroughly trapped the undead beast, the mage pumped it with fire but didn’t detonate it. He doubted if that method would work on a giant undead creature. Instead, the fire-filled form directed its flames inside, burning the Nagual. The fire increased in intensity until the companions had to turn their heads from the blinding glare of the pyre. Finally, Tyler stopped the spell and removed the barrier. Only the complete skeleton of a giant puma with mutated fangs remained on the ground. Then it moved.
“Aw, fuck this!” exclaimed Tyler. In English.
Chapter Lore:
The Vaults of Zin – Lovecraft. Mentioned in his work “The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath.” Public domain. To quote one of the passages –
The Gugs, hairy and gigantic, once reared stone circles in that wood and made strange sacrifices to the Other Gods and the crawling chaos Nyarlathotep, until one night an abomination of theirs reached the ears of earth’s gods and they were banished to caverns below. Only a great trap door of stone with an iron ring connects the abyss of the earth-ghouls with the enchanted wood, and this the Gugs are afraid to open because of a curse. That a mortal dreamer could traverse their cavern realm and leave by that door is inconceivable; for mortal dreamers were their former food, and they have legends of the toothsomeness of such dreamers even though banishment has restricted their diet to the ghasts, those repulsive beings which die in the light, and which live in the vaults of Zin and leap on long hind legs like kangaroos.
Chapter XV
Regime Change
He heard the priestess laugh.
“Sire, either cut off the head or disintegrate it. Including the bones.”
Tyler clamped a roll-shaped force form on the neck of the skeletal creature and followed it with three more spaced along its spine. Then he hurriedly detonated them. Shards of bone flew through the air.
Me and my thick head, he cursed inwardly as he quickly threw a high frontal barrier in front of them. The mage could sense the numerous impacts of small and lethal pieces smashing against the shield. A final section was the bony head of the creature as it sailed forward and crashed into it. White pieces of the skeletal remains of the monster littered the landscape. He lifted the spell.
“That was one tough Nagual,” he commented as he turned to look at the field in front of the priestess.
“To tell you the truth, sire, it was easy for us with your help,” comment
ed Tyndur. Astrid grinned happily.
“Glad to be of service, Tyndur,” he wryly replied. “I can’t lose any of you.”
With that comment hanging in the air, the three watched as the Aztecah force was split into two. A small group was making its way towards the newcomers while most of the undead army continued advancing towards them. Tyler could see the priestess starting to cast another purifying spell.
The familiar glow emerged and covered the densest part of the revenants with same results. A few burning revenants while the rest tumbled to the ground. The mage noticed that Asem’s ability appeared to be limited in coverage. But even then, it was one hell of an efficient way of handling masses of the undead. The priestess had to cast the same spell three more times to eliminate all those marching towards them, helpfully slowed by the bracer of Hephaestus.
They watched the fighting on the far side of the clearing. Only around fifty to sixty revenants managed to reach the warriors waiting for them. They were methodically dispatched by the front ranks, the bowmen, and the mages. Watching the warriors take down an undead Aztecah explained the unusual battle formation they had adopted. Evidently, this was not the first time for them to face the undead. A spearman would stab the charging creature and hold it in place and then his companions would swiftly move in, hacking limbs, and finally cutting off the head. Then they would move on to the next revenant. The entire process took them less than a minute to perform. But Tyler noted that such a tactic might not work against numbers vastly greater than the defenders.
The battle was over in less than thirty minutes, by Tyler’s reckoning. He could see the defenders checking the beheaded attackers for useful items. At that sight, he walked towards them. The mage noticed that three warriors, accompanied by a familiar figure, had left their ranks and were also headed their way.
“Isn’t that Wilan?” asked Astrid.
“It is,” answered the mage.
“For an old man, he gets around quickly,” commented Tyndur.
“That he does, Tyndur. That he does,” Tyler replied. The mage didn’t bother with shields. Viracocha’s presence was enough.
The other group first reached the middle of the field and waited for them. As Tyler neared, he noticed that the standing armed and armored warriors had removed their helmets. One was an Incan, another Egyptian, and the third, a blond-haired and tall Caucasian.
Rimaykullayki! The Incan called out. Viracocha, again in his Wilan guise, stepped forward.
“Welcome my friends, as Kamayuk Uturuncu Atoc mentioned,” said Viracocha. “The Kamayuk heads the scouting force you see on the hills, well, former hills. Beside him are Maherpa, the leader of our Egyptian mercenaries, and Drust, a battle leader of our Keltoi volunteers.”
“Greetings. I am Havard, High Mage. I guess the mage Wilan had already told you about me. Behind me are the einherjar Tyndur, the Valkyrie Astrid, and the Lady Asem, High Priestess of Thaut.”
At the mention of Asem’s name and rank, the Egyptian quickly prostrated himself before her.
“Rise, Maherpa. I didn’t know a distinguished Brave of the Pharaoh would be found in these lands. Much less leading a company of mercenaries,” said Asem.
Curiously, the man didn’t know how to respond to the comment. Conflicting emotions were evident on his face. Finally, he gave up.
“I was ordered to join the mercenaries, my Lady of the Temple. Of the three-thousand-strong group which had reached this kingdom, only a thousand were real mercenaries. Another group of five thousand warriors is on its way. More may be coming.”
“The world spins and matters become more entangled,” commented Asem.
“You are right, my lady,” spoke the Celt with a deep bow. “Peoples around the Inka Kingdom are starting to realize that their fates may well be decided here. Like Maherpa, we have sent warriors to help in the fight against the empire. I have heard the Bastjan tribal alliance will also be sending some aid. However, like Maherpa here, we have been ordered to listen only to the Apuskispay, or the head of the Inka army. Though we welcome the advice of the mage Wilan, long known to us for his assistance and valued advice.”
“Your help against the undead is much appreciated, warriors,” said Tyler.
The Kamayuk smiled.
“You had matters well in hand, High Mage. The few we fought were a welcome diversion for our combined warriors. A test to see how well they work together. Though if we had to fight those monster beasts, I doubt if our numbers would be enough.”
“You visited the Keltoi?” Tyler mentally asked Viracocha.
“Well, as a wandering god, what did you expect me to do? I couldn’t just stay in one place and tear my body hair out,” joked the deity. “I was a lot younger then. Went through several guises. And they had very friendly and beautiful demigoddesses. Don’t tell Dionysus. I can’t have him disturbing a good thing. I would invite you there, but I would hate to break Eira’s heart.”
“Talking about Eira, how is she? Heard any news?”
“She’s doing fine, Havard. You have Dionysus and very powerful elementals watching over her. Not to mention the forest itself, an ancient and primordial spirit.”
“I am beginning to suspect you’re all on her side,” jested Tyler.
“You suspect that only now? My lad, you are really a bit dense,” came the succinct reply.
Tyler could only shake his head. A question entered his mind.
“May I ask something, Kamayuk?” he asked.
“I will try to answer, High Mage.”
“I noticed your company has Incan, Keltoi, and Egyptian warriors. If my memory serves me right, each group has its own way of fighting.”
“Ah, you want to know how we can fight as an army. As a single mailed fist. Having a common objective is the primary consideration, then an experienced commander tries to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the forces under his command, disparate they may seem. The Keltoi and Egyptians excel at melee while our Incan warriors, with their spears and missile weapons, provide the wall and the distance killing. It does help when the commanders of the mingled forces are all experienced and can get along,” came the answer.
“We have to get going,” said Viracocha. “These lads have a job to do and so do we.”
Farewells were said, with Maherpa prostrating himself again. The two others also bowed to the group. As the warriors left, Tyler couldn’t help but think how unique and powerful their group had become. An einherjar, a Valkyrie, a ranger of almost supernatural skill with his bow, a demigoddess, and a First Mage. No wonder mortal warriors tend to be in awe. But deities? That would be another matter. In many instances, for minor gods at least, Tyler believed that lesson would have to be beaten deep into their skulls.
“Gather around, it’s time to go,” said Viracocha.
“The Aztecah won’t be there anymore when they reach the sanctuary area,” said Tyler as he drew near.
“They know. A sealed temple and an empty settlement except for the few who managed to escape. But the kingdom needs them to be present there, if only to reassure our wavering Etruscan ally. Our neighbor is already hard-pressed with multiple Aztecah incursions. It had lost territory. Its pantheon decimated. But that area has a significant symbolic meaning for the two lands. Losing it to the Aztecah or leaving it without Incan presence is politically inconceivable.”
“You lost me at politically. Never wanted to have anything to do with politics, much less politicians,” answered the mage.
“Then you’re a lucky man,” Viracocha commented and then chuckled.
“Deities do play politics, you know. It’s just that so far, you may have avoided the mortal version of it since your involvement had been in a different arena. Unfortunately, politics do have a way of finding people who refuse its deceitful entreaties. Close your eyes please.”
With that statement, a glow surrounded the group, they felt the earthen ground shift and then found themselves standing on a stone floor.
“Welcome to t
he temple of Viracocha,” announced the deity.
Tyler looked around. They were in a small room with a closed door.
“You can appear before mortals here? In your temple?” inwardly asked Tyler.
“They know me as the old mage Wilan. The voice of the gods. A bit mad and eccentric. But that’s what people expect in the godly messenger business. I don’t directly interfere, if that’s what you’re thinking. As I said before, my status is more of a gray area when it comes to the geas of the Elders. I still haven’t rejoined the pantheon, but I do have to be careful.”
“Come,” said the deity to the group, “the head of the temple is waiting.”
Viracocha walked out, followed by the group. It was a temple complex. Three temples connected by stone walkways and bordered by gardens. Viracocha’s temple did have a relaxing ambiance.
“Wilan, except for the design of temples and the attire of the people, I seem to notice a lot of foreign influences in the civilizations here. You’re well traveled and probably had seen more of Adar than anybody.”
“Cross-cultural adaptations, trade, and expediency. A lot of that had been going on back in the First World, limited only by distance. So you find striking similarities between Incan, Aztecah, Olmec, and other peoples coming from areas close to each other. Here on Adar, the process is accelerated. You have Norse, Greek, Roman, and others within reach. Trade inevitably rises between civilizations so there you are – an Incan wearing Greek armor or weapons. A Roman with Norse jewelry. A Norse getting drunk on Dionysus’s wine. Give it a few more thousand years and you probably would see not much difference among the civilizations in this part of Adar. The western side is another matter. Too dangerous and too far. Though a trickle of goods and ideas still persist in going both ways. But not much to make a difference in the development of the human civilizations found in this world. Some tribes and civilizations are actually xenophobic, you have to remember that.”
The Accidental Archmage_Book Three_Blood Wars Page 23