“A piece of advice, First Mage, if I may.”
Tyler stopped.
“Let’s keep this realm and the energies within the staff a secret. In time, those boys and girls are bound to be very powerful spirits. Especially with your adventures now and in the future. I daresay you have the seeds of a new pantheon inside that hall.”
Bragi spake:
14. "Now were I without | as I am within,
And here in Ægir's hall,
Thine head would I bear | in mine hands away,
And pay thee the price of thy lies."
Loki spake:
15. "In thy seat art thou bold, | not so are thy deeds,
Bragi, adorner of benches!
Go out and fight | if angered thou feelest,
No hero such forethought has."
Chapter Six
Old Greyskin
The mage stared at Birki, unable to say anything. The thought never crossed Tyler’s mind. Now that the obvious had been pointed out to him, it did make sense.
“I didn’t think of it that way, Birki,” he sputtered.
“I know, First Mage. But sometimes things happen. Usually for a reason. But only time will tell.”
“Is there any place we can talk privately? There are a few matters I would like to clarify,” asked Tyler, still deeply affected by Birki's remark.
I placed little importance on deities and now I am in a position to create new ones? An entire pantheon? A powerful one at that, thought Tyler. Fate really is a bitch. Uncommonly fond of ironies too.
The observation crossed his mind that such an extraordinary collection of gods, one reaching across different cultural divides, represented some of the strongest energies of Adar. But right now, he didn’t want to talk or think about it. He needed time to consider what happened and its implications.
“There’s a private room this way,” answered Birki.
Tyler followed the entity as Birki turned left and followed a narrow corridor. The workmanship of the place was indeed exquisite. The mage didn’t even notice that a corridor was there. To the naked eye, the wall appeared seamless.
“You know, it would be good to get Hrun to contribute to populating the staff. Though I hope the ill-conceived inclination toward prose does not accompany any contributed energy. He was one of Adar’s first children and his power over stone would enhance your own abilities. Three more elementals are of the same level of power and represent water, fire, and wind - the eldest of their respective clans. But you’ll have your work cut out if you venture that way. Fire has a poor relationship with Rumpr and the water elemental. Wind dislikes Rumpr. Other dislikes might have formed, but that’s family for you.”
“What are their names?” asked the mage.
“Ah. Extremely bad manners for me to give you their names without their consent. Let them tell you themselves. That is, if you do come across them,” replied the being.
The two entered an enclosed room looking more like a study. With a wave of Birki’s hand, a window appeared on the wall, giving a view of the landscape below the keep.
“Nice touch, huh? Windows at one’s command. But it only works for Vathys. And you and me, obviously,” said Birki as he sat down. Tyler followed suit. The mage was tempted to experiment with what his companion mentioned – the power over the keep and its very form – but he controlled his childish impulse.
Another time, Tyler promised himself.
“Your questions?” the being started.
“It’s about the nature of this world within an artifact. Is this common?” asked Tyler. “Adar being what it is, I am bound to run into similar items and really wouldn’t want to be drawn into an unwanted reality.”
“Artifacts are focal points of power, First Mage. Usually, the situation you’re worried about happens only on a limited scale—a dark and dank cave, a large room, a blasted wasteland, or a ruined city. Differences abound. But never on the scale you see now. This reality is a world, possibly the size of a small moon. We haven’t done any exploring yet. Building the keep, training the little terrors, breaking up fights before chunks of the land start flying - well, it’s been a busy time. But with enough power—and that means the immeasurable kind—you might even be able to manifest it in your reality. Though I wouldn’t suggest it. A lot of pantheons and empires won’t be happy.”
“You mean this event, this present situation, is unique?”
“I believe so. This is not a normal result. Though under the right ritual and the wrong hand, artifacts also find use in this world as a gateway to somewhere else.”
“Wrong hand?” asked the mystified mage.
“You heard right. There is presently no god nor mage on Adar who could direct where such openings will lead, and such gates are usually two-way. The Void Lands would be an excellent example of what I am saying. Rumpr’s memory thankfully does not show any such successful venture. Though it appears a lot of mages, mad or otherwise, have tried to twist powerful arcane objects to their own ends. All such attempts ended dramatically. In a lethal manner, of course.”
“But why this particular staff?”
Birki looked at him and smirked.
“Good thing my sole allegiance is to you, First Mage. The weapon, magical as it is, started as one of the many powerful artifacts in this world. But something in you changed its very nature, imbuing it with the power of creation. Though that’s not enough. To give effect to such a power, a different, vastly greater energy was required. It appeared you had both. Though I personally doubt if the deities knew that. Rumpr, Hrun, and Wilan might have suspected, but it didn’t matter to them. Gullen could have suspected it too.”
Tyler’s mind was furiously racing.
I did keep the staff close at hand. Some Elder energies could have entered it. But for some reason, it prevented Hal and X from detecting the existence of the world inside the staff. At least for now, it serves me and provides shelter for the young energies under my wing. And what did Birki say about the possibility of the staff being corrupted?
“Given what you told me, we do have to keep the staff inviolate and avoid the entry of beings of an opposite alignment. Correct?” he asked Birki. I sound like I'm talking about an RPG game.
“I believe that’s what I told you earlier, First Mage.”
“You think you have enough power now to prevent such an occurrence?”
“I am young in matters of power. Above the level of a minor deity, I would find it difficult to fend off such an assault, even with the help of my young wards.”
“Now that’s a problem. The kind of foes we have encountered are already beyond that level. What do you need?”
“Energy. Only magical energy would help us grow,” said Birki.
“Can I give you some from my reserves? And if I can, how do I do that?” quickly replied Tyler.
“You have reserves? That’s quite a trick. I don’t think any entity on Adar could say the same. But about your question, it’s quite simple, really. Focus on the energy and throw it at me. Just energy, mind you. Don’t include anything else. Otherwise, I’ll be burned, decapitated, melted, or incinerated where I sit,” warned the small being.
“X? You heard?” asked Tyler.
“Yes, sire.”
“How much do you think should we give Birki?”
“A quarter of one of our reserve compartments, sire. He has to get used to the sudden increase in his power. We’ll add to it incrementally every time you visit,” answered X. It's never a good idea to grant power to a hand that cannot handle it, or to a mind which does not understand what had been given.
“How about the younger energies?”
“Too soon, sire. The correct handling of power also requires a degree of maturity. Let Birki teach them first and then we can improve their energy levels.”
“Right as usual, X. Thanks,” replied Tyler.
“As usual only?” teased the guide.
“Yes. As usual. Saying ‘always’ would be tempting fate.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if Fate is indeed an entity in this world,” the mage laughed.
“Get ready, Birki. I’ll be giving you a bit more power,” he told the waiting being.
“Do it, X.” For such a simple task, Tyler knew the AI could perfectly manage it once the command was given.
A bright light momentarily filled the space between Tyler and Birki.
“By the smelly mountains of Banna! If that was a bit, then I doubt if I could handle a tiny amount!” exclaimed Birki after he got his breathing back. The energy had pushed into him, leaving him pale. For a second, Tyler was even worried the amount was too much as Birki appeared to have stopped breathing and the eyes had closed. Then Birki started hyperventilating.
That removes any possibility of using my energy on the children. It appears it's too strong for them.
“Let’s cut down on the dose next time,” advised the mage. “Though what’s Banna?”
“Yes! Let’s lower the amount of energy next time! That was a bit much. I thought it was the end of me. My thanks, First Mage! This means a lot to me. Not only as a being of power, but also in my ability to handle my brethren. Good thing I still have hair to pull out. About Banna, it’s that large forbidden island north of Skaney and Ymir’s Domain. Though I doubt if one could call land almost as big as Skaney an island. Even Ymir’s minions don’t set foot there.”
“Rumpr has visited it, I presume?” inquired Tyler, though he admitted to himself that he wouldn't be surprised if that was true. The elemental predated the pantheons of Adar, and his affinity for earth would, in all likelihood, have given him an urge to explore.
“Yes. But my memory tells me he didn’t stay long. Many of its mountains are active volcanoes. Though I think Rumpr appeared in one of the active zones on his first trip. That’s why his memory of the place is the smell of rotten eggs.”
“You do look bigger now and there’s a glow around you,” observed Tyler.
“The glow will disappear, but I do feel much, much stronger and my magic has grown by a few levels,” Birki beamed, pleased with himself.
“That's done. I guess I should be leaving. I have a lot of questions, but I’ll try to come back when the party is not in an exposed area,” said Tyler.
“You’ve been away for the equivalent of a minute or so, First Mage. We have time for your surprise,” said Birki with a knowing smile.
“Surprise? What surprise?” asked the baffled mage.
“Oh, something which just happened and we all decided to keep it as a surprise for you,” Birki mysteriously answered. “I was going to bring you there in a round-about way while the young ones gathered to meet us there. But our talk served the same purpose. Come, let’s meet them.”
Tyler again followed Birki, genuinely interested. But he found the hallways and the optical illusions they provided a challenge to the senses.
I'll quickly get lost here. It’s very difficult to determine the locations of the corridors. I’ll ask for a map next time, thought Tyler, though he admired Vathys’s work. The boy is a genius.
The duo finally reached a door. From Tyler’s observation, the room it led to must have been adjacent to the meeting hall. As they entered the chamber, the young energies were all there, standing and clearly waiting for them. Repressed smiles marked their faces. Vivindel was even clapping her hands in happy excitement. That mystified Tyler even more. In front of the children was another door, smaller in dimensions, which to the mage meant it opened to a very small space.
Birki gestured for Tyler to join the waiting crowd as he moved toward the small metal gates. The children were all looking at the mage expectantly. The mage wanted to ask what it was all about but knew such a query would be disappointing his charges.
They must be waiting to see my expression when Birki opens the door, Tyler inwardly smiled. As if anything in this world could surprise me anymore.
The small door was slowly moved aside in a dramatic fashion. Birki clearly has a sense of the dramatic. He knows how to draw out the suspense, the mage thought. Then it was suddenly thrown wide open.
Inside was a black oblong object, about a foot and a half in height.
It was an egg. Obviously not an ordinary one.
***
Tyler stared at the large egg, unable to say anything, his mind racing through all the consequences and complications it entailed. Especially for him. The room was deathly quiet as everybody waited for a visible reaction from the mage. Finally, Vivindel broke free of the waiting crowd and ran to his side. The little girl urgently pulled at his right arm.
“Can we keep it? Please?” requested the small, melodious voice. The ethereal flow of the small girl’s tone greatly reminded him of Eira, and as such, immediately started breaking down the barriers his psyche had promptly put up when he recognized the round object.
Dammit. Of all beings to ask for it, he thought resignedly. Tyler knelt and held the little girl’s hands.
“We’ll see, Vivindel. Let me make sure no harm results from its presence,” he softly told the girl.
Vivindel nodded but finally got the courage to speak.
“I know he’ll be a nice companion to all of us. We all pitched in to give it form!” excitedly whispered the forest spirit.
“Oh, is that so? Let me ask your elder brother Birki,” he answered.
“How did this come about?” he asked, keeping his voice calm. Inwardly, he wanted to shout the question. Great, uncomfortable knots of fear had already colonized his stomach and muscles.
A freaking dragon! A drake! A wyrm! One of the most, if not the most dangerous, creatures on Adar. With a host of fucking powers I can’t even begin to imagine, Tyler’s mind yelled as the image of Gullen came to the fore.
“Your armor, lad. Despite being the cast-off scales of Old Greyskin, one of the oldest among already ancient dragons, it still retains a faint vestige of the old one’s power. And you’re wearing a full suit made from his scales,” replied Birki.
A memory suddenly imposed itself on Tyler’s mind, an uninvited recollection of Rumpr’s words while they were in the mountains above Scarburg, a statement Hrun found very funny, for better or for worse:
“A simple favor, laddies. If you run into any draken, they’ll probably smell your armor. If they ask, say it’s from Hrun.”
And from what he remembered about the comments on Old Greyskin, the drakon or dragon was the most cantankerous and tetchy among the lot. Tyler doubted if the damned drake would wait for an explanation if ever he blundered into the old coot.
It's from Old Greyskin's energy? That Old Greyskin? As large as a mountain, crabbier than the worst troll, and feared by deities? I've got another Old Greyskin in here?
“You’ve gone a bit pale, lad. I guess it’s your concerns about that giant of a drakon. Highly irritable, very possessive, and dangerously temperamental. Even heads of pantheons fear to rouse that grouchy wyrm’s enmity. Come to think of it, they go to great lengths to avoid Old Greyskin.”
“Stop, Birki. You’re not helping,” commented Tyler testily, rubbing the temples of his head in anticipation of another headache. It didn’t come, but his knees now felt rubbery.
“From my armor you say, but it’s but cast-off scales,” Tyler continued, desperately trying to understand how the hell a dragon’s egg was now inside the staff.
“I agree. The ensuing energy wasn’t conducive to creating an energy form. It lacked a spark, a living one. Apulli and Vivindel shaped it into what it should be; their field involves life and creation anyway. The others helped. Everybody was excited. Its nest was Vathys's idea, a fiery cradle to make it comfortable as a necessary prelude to birth. The twins’ magical energy gave it its final form. Seier facilitated the magical process by which the egg came into existence. War and victory do form part of its energy matrix; it was an experiment of the children,” explained Birki, matter-of-factly.
“Where did the spark come from?” asked Tyler. An experiment? War and victory? A warlike mou
ntain of an already temperamental wyrm?
“Ah, you remember when that golden drake repaired your armor? Gullen, was it? That small bit of energy directly from a live drakon was the final touch. You should have seen the children when that happened and the egg became alive,” answered the small being.
“How about you? Did you contribute anything?” asked the mage, not knowing what to do or ask next. His mind was swirling with a lot of future possibilities. All bad.
“Of course, I did. An energy drake, born out of such varied powers, is a unique and extremely powerful being. I don’t think such a thing had been done by anyone,” answered Birki with a touch of pride.
“A chair, please. I think I need to sit down,” was Tyler’s only response.
A metal chair rose from the floor and the mage thankfully sank into it.
“Oh, the drakon’s color will be black. The source of the primary energy usually determines that aspect, but I guess some small coloration will be present because of the children’s powers,” added Birki.
Tyler barely heard what Birki said. His imagination was now filled with the terrible image of a black dragon as big as a massif with an open mouth displaying all its fanged glory. An angry, gigantic, powerful beyond comprehension, black drake.
“Why is he called Old Greyskin?” the mage asked, still trying to get his thoughts in order after the mental assault of fear and terror.
“Rumpr’s memory is not certain on that point. But some accounts mentioned that its skin turns dark gray for a while after a blast is let loose by the wyrm.”
“What kind of blast? Fire?” Tyler asked.
“Nothing so ordinary, First Mage. Apparently, it’s a combination of elemental attacks with an immensely powerful magical spell intended to shred any defense. Claws and fangs are but secondary weapons. Though a swipe of those giant claws was enough to level a small peak. But this one is going to be a lot more powerful,” replied Birki as he pointed to the egg
Shit.
Ithun spake:
16. "Well, prithee, Bragi, | his kinship weigh,
Since chosen as wish-son he was;
The Accidental Archmage - Book Five: Loki's Gambit Page 7