“Excellent, sire! Sufficiently murderous!” exclaimed Tyndur.
Tyler gave the einherjar a weary grin in reply. Then he remembered the call which nearly prevented him from casting the spells. Tyler looked back. Two figures had already reached the wall and were carefully making their way towards him.
One was Maherpa, escorting a nicely dressed figure. Farman. Known to the mage as Loki.
Tyler stared at Farman. It was unbelievable. Never in his wildest imagination did he expect Loki to appear now, right in the middle of a battle. Maherpa, the Egyptian Brave, hurried to him, still crouching and making sure his head was not above the broken top of the ancient wall, parts of which only reach up to chest level. Some portions have eroded into nothing, but fortunately, those open sections were few and far between. Whatever magical protection it had was obviously battle-oriented and not against the ravages of nature.
Moreover, the Aztecah scorpions were still on the attack, being positioned away from the massed groups of men and creatures now taking the brunt of Tyler’s quake and lightning spells. The enemy certainly doesn’t lack men and ammunition, Tyler observed when he noticed that the crash of ballista projectiles against the wall continued despite his magical attack on the Aztecah assault groupings. The mage’s back was against the wall, and he could hear the thunder and crash of the lethal coruscations of his spell as they rained down on the enemy. It was louder than the sound of the ground heaving and churning – the result of the quake spell. Tyler knew the lightning clouds would exact a hefty price on the waiting Aztecah warriors but was unsure about the Yahui. But with their High Mage gone, the spells were wreaking widespread terminal havoc. The ordinary priests and mages of the Aztecah army could do little to prevent or mitigate the bloody harvest on their forces. Some mages have even fallen to the savage magical onslaught.
“My apologies, High Mage. But this fellow says you wanted to see him. He just appeared out of nowhere, and my men spotted him coming from the direction of the temple,” explained Maherpa.
“Thanks, Maherpa. I was indeed looking for him. I sent a message through a mutual friend. Not that I expected to see him here,” the mage slowly answered. He was still in disbelief. Tyler would have pinched himself if the action didn’t look ridiculous.
Tyler looked at Farman. The being was nearing where he sat. The mage noticed that despite the mud and the churned-up soil resulting from the movements of the thousands of fighting men now taking cover behind the wall, Farman’s attire remained immaculately clean. The disguised deity had already reached Tyler’s position. A knowing smile and a nod from Loki greeted him.
“Hello, Havard. An old bird told me you wanted to see me. Good thing I was in southern climes. Odin’s orders, if I may add. You’ve probably heard of the bizarre goings-on in Skaney. Aptrganga, wolfmen, draugr, and other distasteful creatures. Even haugbui are now able to leave their cursed mounds and prey on the living. We don’t know why. Even Hela is having problems in her domain. Thor’s there now. Permanently, I hope. Hence, my vision-challenged father had talked me into checking if there’s more to the dark plague. No pantheon nor Ymir seem to be involved, but the problem has got old One-Eyed stumped. How about you? Playing at war?” explained Loki, his voice sounding inside Tyler’s. The deity carefully sat down beside him.
“Greetings, Havard,” said Loki out loud. “You were looking for me?”
Tyler suddenly realized that he had to come up with a believable explanation for Loki’s arrival. As usual, the trickster god won’t help at all. He’ll go along with it, but that’s the extent he would help out.
“I am, friend Farman. Though your appearance has Maherpa mystified,” answered Tyler.
“Maherpa, Farman is a trader, a friend of mine. He has a magical ability which enables him to travel short distances personally,” explained the mage to the warrior.
Maherpa looked at Farman/Loki, a skeptical expression on his face.
“A trader, High Mage?” the Brave repeated.
“Yes, a trader from Skaney. His ability to travel magically does make him a very rich one. A powerful amulet inherited from his father,” Tyler explained further.
“From Odin? It’s my own magic, mind you,” protested Loki in Tyler’s mind.
“It’s what I could what I could think of right now. I have to explain your arrival,” Tyler replied.
“I know. Just… what’s your world’s expression about this situation? Ah, ‘pushing your buttons,’” laughed Loki.
How the hell did this guy learn about that expression? Tyler considered after recovering from a quick, startled reaction to Loki’s words.
Loki noticed Tyler’s shock. He grinned. The handsome face displaying an amused and meaningful look.
Freak me! He wanted me to hear that! But no, I won’t go there. Yet.
“So, demoted yourself, haven’t you? Last time I heard, the young man named Havard was the First Mage,” Loki’s voice sounded again in Tyler’s mind, amusement still apparent in the tone.
“It’s a subterfuge. Being the First Mage openly might lead to challenges and unwarranted interest from other mages. I don’t have the time to be hounded by such stupidity,” Tyler replied.
Loki laughed louder. “A deception! Right up my alley! Love it when you display such devious traits! I’ll make a trickster out of you yet!”
“Excuse me, High Mage, but since Farman is expected, I have to go back to my men. Your magic had brought us more time and a welcome respite,” said Maherpa.
“Thanks, Maherpa. I’ll try to see what else I can do,” said Tyler. The warrior bowed and left.
The mage stole a glance at Tyndur and then at Apu Rumi, wondering if they could see through Loki’s disguise. Both were quiet, but Apu Rumi was usually silent, and the being was looking at the temple in the distance. Tyndur, on the other hand, was trying hard not to notice the new arrival. The men along the wall lost interest in Farman when Maherpa left.
He could see Loki, thought Tyler. I hope Loki doesn’t recognize him. Though there’s a high chance of that, from what I know, only Odin and Thor were interested in finding Tyndur.
“Now that I am here, how may I be of service?” verbally said Loki. But at the same time, the deity’s voice rang in his head.
“You ARE playing at war! Why else would the First Mage be cowering behind a wall? Powerful magic in this rampart by the way, ancient and unfamiliar. Feels Inkan but not quite.”
Leave it to Loki to be off on a different tangent in his second statement, mused Tyler.
“We can talk about that later, Farman,” the mage spoke in reply. “As you can see, we’re trapped by our uninvited guests on the other side.”
Loki nodded, but Tyler’s mind heard his next remark.
“You’re the First Mage, for my sake! Can’t you just wave your hands and kill, sorry about that, get rid of all of them?” Loki’s tone sounded insulted.
“It doesn’t work that way, Loki. It appears that mortal magic, even how powerful, have rules to follow. Deities also have rules governing their actions, if I remember correctly,” replied Tyler.
“Phhht. Rules. A modicum of those fangled things would be fine, but an overabundance would be stifling. Me, I see them as weeds. Too many and they kill. On the other hand, I never did find the time or the inclination to learn about mortal magic. Didn’t have champions, adherents, acolytes, crazy rites, or temples. I don’t need hangers-on, sycophants, or flimsy structures. Though there’s much to be said about crazy rites. But there’s one important fact you overlooked, First Mage.”
“Huh?”
“True, deities are limited in their actions by commandments laid down by… those who came before. Deadly laws, in fact. Ingrained in a god’s being. Some of those imperatives have to do with how deities use their powers on mortals. But no such limitation exists for mortals and their use of this world’s magical energy.”
Chapter Lore:
Aptrganga – Old Norse. The terms “aptrganga” and “aptrgangr”
are used interchangeably for a class of undead. Use of the term “aptrganga” in this story is as the plural form of the word.
Book III Notes – Norse. Meaning “again-walker.” More commonly known as draugr (plural form “draugar”), it refers to a kind of undead creature in Norse mythology. There are sea and land aptrgangr (plural form). The modern equivalent of the term would be a revenant since they are known to stay in tombs to guard wealth interred with the dead though the creatures are said to have the ability to venture from such places. Some beliefs hold that a bite from an aptrgangr will turn the victim into one of them.
Haugbui – Old Norse. Undead similar to “aptrganga” but these creatures are limited in their movements to the burial mound or area they were tasked or cursed to protect.
Chapter Nine
Tatsu, Yokai, and Henge
Tyler regarded Loki with a skeptical eye. The words of Viracocha were still fresh in his mind.
“Easy enough for you to say. If you remember, I was dumped on this world without my consent. Somewhere along the way, I got barely controlled abilities I am still trying to understand. Nearly killed myself twice in the process of learning how they work. Somebody told me mages here undertake years of study to hone their mastery of magic at their particular levels. How long has it been since I got here? Two, three months? And now a First Mage? I won’t even mention what I have been through in this tourist trap of a world. Forced into dangerous situations. By deities of this world, no less. And your father’s devious plan almost became the death of me,” Tyler furiously answered, his rising anger triggered by Loki’s nonchalant attitude towards what he had undergone since he arrived. “There’s nothing more I would like than to wave my hand and get rid of all my problems. And my problems tend to want me dead.”
Tyler’s ears were getting warm as his angry reaction gathered steam, his blood was racing, and the mage knew he would have punched the wall if some part of his brain didn’t remind him of the protective magic in the structure. Mad as he might be, broken bones in his right fist would be the last thing he needed in the middle of a battle. He knew Loki had learned about what he had to go through in Scarburg. The deity was there before Ymir’s legions tried to force their way to the fortress. The mage even strongly suspected that the trickster deity heard about the events in Akrotiri. That brawl with Ares and his sons was a close thing, and sure to attract gossip among the pantheons. Not to mention the time when the Incan death God Supay almost broke all the bones in his body. If not for that mysterious savior, Tyler knew his soul would have been a tortured guest in Supay’s dimensional hell. If the Incan deity didn’t consume him first. A shiver passed through him as he recalled the experience.
“Oh, stop whining, Havard. I hate it when people do that. Use that brilliant brain of yours and end this joke of a stalemate quickly. We still have more urgent matters to discuss. Tell you what, I’ll go back to the temple grounds and wait for you. Unfortunately, Viracocha didn’t give me leave to enter the structure, so I’ll be at the top of his temple and watch the entertainment from there.”
The mage calmed down when he heard Loki’s reply. He remembered he still had a siege on his hands.
“Any chance of help from you in ending this battle?” he asked hopefully, though Tyler already expected Loki’s answer.
“By the tiny brains of my hammer-obsessed brother! And that’s a phallic reference, by the way, if you didn’t notice! Don’t tell me you have forgotten what would happen to a deity who involved himself in a purely mortal battle! No, no, no. And a final no! I had already experienced the warning signs telling me of being too close to the edges of our limitations. Several times in fact. Not a pleasant experience. Intentions matter in this world, First Mage. The magic reads it. And even if there’s an opposing deity on the other side, I don’t think the old man would wish to be involved in this war right now. Not with the problem Skaney is facing. And why do you need my help? As I said, this battle is such a minor thing for a First Mage. Don’t waste your time playing with them. Finish this joke of a battle. I still have other matters to finish. Plots and schemes await me! While doing father’s bidding, of course.”
An annoyed protest against Loki’s reply nearly escaped Tyler’s lips before he stopped himself.
He’ll see it as another whining answer, thought the mage. But he’s right. I better try to end this siege as quickly. It should be easier now, with that High Mage out of the way.
“Wait for me back at the temple, Farman. We’ll finish this affair soon. We got rid of their High Mage already,” he loudly replied, laying the basis for Farman’s departure and at the same time, indirectly giving the defenders a morale boost. Tyler knew his words would quickly travel down the line of defending warriors – mercenaries and soldiers alike. The news about the defeat of an Aztecah High Mage would do wonders for the flagging spirits of exhausted fighting men crouched under cover, unable to respond to the constant barrage of magical spells and ballista bolts.
With a smile, Loki left the mage’s side, stood up, and walked towards the temple, across the open field where the Aztecah ballistae had a field day with Tyler.
Oh, for the love of…! He really doesn’t want to make it easy for me! The arrogant bastard is walking across the fucking field! No, not walking. Strolling towards the temple! Right where the ballistae can get at him, and people could see what would happen. They’ll probably bounce off him or be vaporized before the bolts get near! And how am I going to explain those to the men?
Tyler looked at the Tyndur and then at the men taking cover behind the wall. All eyes were on Loki/Farman. He could hear curses and worried words from Loki’s audience. The young mage was staring at the strutting figure, continuing to curse Loki under his breath. The einherjar noticed his irate attention and went to his side.
“Oh, don’t worry, sire. He knows what he’s doing,” said the einherjar.
“The men will see!” Tyler replied in a concerned voice.
“Don’t mind him. He knows your concern. He’s playing with your apprehensions. The bast… trickster knows he’s giving you apoplexy. And a good laugh at your expense.”
True enough, nothing happened until the deity disappeared from view. No ballista bolt or magical attack flew against Loki.
He really is a son of a bitch. Probably made himself invisible to the Aztecah, thought Tyler. He then turned to Tyndur.
“Yahui are climbing up the ravine. I’ll take care of them in a while. My guess is they’re supposed to attack first and throw us all into disarray while the main group and the diversionary forces simultaneously attempt to force crossings. There are also more warriors hidden behind the massed clusters we see, and Yahui buried in the ground. Probably trying to get us to underestimate their strength or acting as a reserve,” said Tyler, “I suggest you make arrangements to inform the men, or at least the leaders.”
“Will do, sire. I knew there was something fishy about their dispositions. Too obvious. But I couldn’t find the hidden trick in the game they’re playing,” replied Tyndur. “Anyway, now we know. By your leave, sire. I have to send messengers to the rest of our forces.”
Tyler nodded and turned around, facing the enemy positions. The mage cast a questing spell again, a narrow field directed at their side of the gorge. He wanted a clearer idea of how the Yahui were going to attack. A slightly exhausting drain accompanied his release of the energy, warning him of the deleterious effects of the continued use of magical power. His scrying confirmed a large number of figures grouped right under the destroyed bridge. Some were already starting to climb up the cliff. A few more were spread throughout the ravine. Possibly to assist in the diversionary attacks, he observed.
Well, that settles it. Tyndur was right. The main attack will be made through here. I think I am good for a few more spells before magical exhaustion kicks in, the mage concluded. It wouldn’t do for me to be unable to use my abilities when the main attack comes. There’s no Jorund to warn or catch me if I overexert myself.
>
“Sire?” A voice called out from his left side. He turned and saw it was Habrok.
“Perfect timing, Habrok,” Tyler said. “Stay by my side. You do know about magical exhaustion, right?”
“Only rumors and what I overheard from Jorund,” Habrok answered.
“Good enough. If I reach that point, you are to protect me.”
“The ‘losing consciousness’ part I can manage. The burning-like-a-bonfire portion would be difficult. There’s no mage nor water nearby. Though I could use dirt in a pinch,” came the reply.
Jorund was right. Habrok really has no understanding of magic, Tyler decided.
“And sire? Could I have some men with me? If you’re unconscious and those weird man-sized mockeries of dogs pay a visit, I doubt if I could handle them by myself. Arrows in their eyes I could easily manage but…”
“There’s Apu Rumi,” said the mage.
“Well, having him on my side is encouraging. But we are talking about a horde of Yahui here. I’d rather be prepared when it comes to saying hello to ten or twenty of them. I doubt if the temple guardian and myself could handle that many all at once.”
“I understand, Habrok. This could be a close-quarters fight if I fail to stop them,” Tyler answered. Then his eyes fell on Kobu. The exiled warrior of Wa was sitting in a crossed-legged position, eyes closed, sword on his lap, and his spear leaning against the wall. Two of his countrymen were positioned on the sides, each warrior also having mismatched armor. The two were three feet away from Kobu and adopted the same position though their watchful eyes scanned the surroundings. An exile, maybe. But his men consider him as still their lord, Tyler observed. As Kobu’s contingent had requested their way to the front of the line, the arrangement also left more space between Tyler and the rest of the defending army.
The moment Tyler’s gaze fell on the foreign warrior, the man’s eyes opened and looked in the mage’s direction. He gave the mage a low bow. Tyler was surprised at Kobu’s quick reaction. Either the man has some magical abilities or finely-honed warrior instincts, observed the startled Tyler. That was fast. The mage gestured for Kobu to come forward. Kobu crouched and upon reaching the mage, fell on one knee and bowed again, his body bent at the waist.
The Accidental Archmage Page 10