The Accidental Archmage - Book Five: Loki's Gambit

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  “That is if there’s any relationship left. I knew he wanted the seat of Hedmark vacant so he can appoint one of his toadies here. I know that, and the people know that. Though I don’t think any such proxy ruler would live long. The inhabitants of Hedmark don't suffer fools. But he does have a long line of flunkies,” replied the jarl with a grin. “That, my friend, is politics. Though his narrow, myopic mind failed to appreciate the fact that if Hedmark falls, then Hirdburg would follow in short order even with its greater number of heavily armored warriors and cavalry. His prized fortress is closer to Hedmark than the westernmost border of the realm.”

  “I guess you didn’t tell him to stick his order up his sensitive lower orifice.”

  “No. Not yet. After this battle, if we do survive, Hedmark would be weakened and won’t be able to withstand an attack from Hirdburg.”

  “Does that happen a lot? The fighting among jarls? The High King is but the first among equals from the lore I remember,” asked Tyler.

  “It does happen. Jarls are very jealous of their territory. Land and its people are sources of taxes, trade, and fighting men. I don’t hold with such attitude. I keep my borders intact and try to expand in the direction of the Barrens. Claiming more of that zone would also decrease the number of raids made by its creatures. Some of the land there is now usable, though colonization of the area still gives men pause.”

  “Good thing I abhor politics. Though surprisingly, it manages to entangle me at times. Such complicated plans and schemes, and for petty gain,” said Tyler.

  “Me too. I never thought I'd be the jarl. But being the ruler, I do have to protect my people and their interests. And so, I am forced to play the game. Even against Hirdburg.”

  A glance at the horizon told Tyler the flyers were closing in. His vision now revealed them in their complete skeletal glory. He noticed they looked different from the ones they had encountered deep on the Barrens. From the exposed skeletal structure, they appeared to be of the more common draken species usually encountered in unfriendly or unexplored territory. But like their brethren, they were fast movers.

  He quickly turned to the jarl.

  “They’ll be here soon,” he advised.

  At his words, Aage and some warriors from the hird moved forward and flanked the jarl.

  “Ah, my minders. I do understand their concern, High Mage, and humbly apologize for not being able to join you in the coming merriment.”

  “You’re leaving the platform?” Tyler asked.

  “They would like me to, but I was able to wrangle a compromise. I can stay here under their protection, but can’t participate,” answered the jarl in a resigned tone.

  Tyndur immediately moved forward.

  “Since the jarl is out of the fight, can I have one of the big ones? I am not greedy. Habrok or Kobu can have the other,” requested the einherjar.

  “Of course, Tyndur. Work it out with them. I’ll focus on the smaller ones,” replied Tyler, his stoic tone echoing that of the jarl.

  “Habrok! You can have some of the smaller bony chickens. Two or more if you want. The High Mage is in a gracious mood!” shouted Tyndur.

  “I am not greedy too. You and Kobu can have a large one each. I’ll take four or five of the stunted ones,” replied the ranger.

  Stunted? They’re the size of a horse!

  “Agreed,” he heard Kobu’s consent.

  What’s with these guys? It’s as if they’re going on an ordinary hunt!

  Then he backed away from that line of thinking.

  Considering everything they have faced, singly or together, from Wilan’s temple up to now, this is but an ordinary encounter to them.

  He sighed.

  “Tell you what, warriors. You can have whatever is left after the ballistae have thrown their nets. I’ll just make sure none of the men are hurt. I'll eliminate some,” Tyler finally decided and then added, "Only a few, don't worry."

  He walked back to where the jarl was positioned, well away from the edge of the platform. The mage could hear Kobu giving orders to the ballista crews to leave the big drakes alone. Though he understood the reasoning behind the command – avoidance of wasted nets the big ones could easily rip apart – Tyler could only shake his head.

  “Your men sound eager,” remarked the jarl as the mage stood beside him.

  “Kids. In adult bodies,” came Tyler’s terse reply.

  ***

  As they were waiting, Birki came back to the staff.

  “All done, First Mage, including the front.”

  Tyler stared at the unbroken field beyond the thick and overlapping barricades, stakes, and other fieldworks of the immediate layer of defense protecting the ramparts.

  “You sure? I don’t see any change in front of the fortress.”

  “Learned a trick last night. How to create channels with just a thin cover of topsoil. I told you the practice would come in handy,” responded the entity, clearly pleased with himself. “Quite a good job, if I may say so.”

  “It is, Birki. An outstanding job. Please give Vathys and Apulli my thanks. I am proud of you all,” praised Tyler.

  Birki might be the guardian, but in the scheme of things, he was also a very young being just learning about his powers. Approval of the mage in the things Birki did was needed not only to confirm that the task was done right, but more importantly, as positive reinforcement. The mage didn't intend to forget that small but vital detail. His concern about Apulli’s training could be discussed later with Birki.

  Finally, the bony undead avians came into view of the fort. The rising hubbub, marked by loud cries of consternation and curses, revealed the defenders had never seen anything like the predatory monsters before. The mage did have to admit the size of each arrival was dangerously impressive. And the companions made it look like a game.

  Tyler expected the show, but the jarl and the other warriors didn’t. As soon as they arrived, the skeletal creatures increased their speed and dived toward the three towers of the North Gate, led by the two large ones. The ballistae near the bastions fired as soon as they were in range, but a lot of weighted nets missed or entangled the same target. Those caught crashed to the ground, but with their skulls still intact, tried to rip their way out of the metal lattices. Three beams lanced out of the mage, blowing apart the craniums of a trio of the smaller ones. Tyler had to give specific instructions to his guides to avoid the two bony leaders and leave some of the rest for the companions.

  Habrok’s shafts destroyed another pair and then suddenly, the two largest were upon them, having outflown their smaller companions. Even the mage was amazed at their speed before he grasped that the attack was made with a dive, increasing the velocity of the monsters. But he also noticed with distaste that the creatures also had the same green glow in their sunken skeletal eyeholes. Tyler was started to dislike that particular shade of green – a sickly and repugnant hue, in his opinion.

  Kobu swiftly appeared standing on the neck of one and with unbelievable speed, crushed the head with his kanabo. Shards of bone flew through the air from the explosive blow, dropping the monster and showering the onlookers with cartilage fragments. Some hit the outer energy barrier of the mage, and others clinked against the grouped shields of the warriors deployed in front of the jarl. The mage saw the ranger destroy two more at the rear of the formation and considering the speed of his targets, he was again awestruck by the man’s phenomenal accuracy.

  Then Tyndur entered his field of vision. The einherjar had used the edge of the platform to jump off, meeting the other large monster head-on. But the warrior was not employing his battleaxe, Tyler could see it strapped to Tyndur’s back. Instead, he had a huge maul, and the mage could only guess he borrowed – hopefully – the weapon from the dwarves. The large hammer-like head of the maul smashed the head of the creature, violently shattering it to pieces. Then the einherjar also vanished and quickly reappeared among the downed drakes, crushing skulls one after the other at a run. In the middle
of it was Kobu, disappearing and rematerializing among the remaining smaller ones in the air, leaving a shower of bony fragments in his wake. Tyler was impressed by the teamwork among the trio, noticing that after Habrok got the two in the rear of the formation, he put away his bow.

  It was all over in less than a minute. The watching dwarven and human warriors of the fortress were dumbstruck. Silence reigned for several seconds. Then a thunderous and deafening roar erupted from every throat on the battlements.

  An impressive show for morale, thought Tyler. The good Lord knows we all need the boost. Fighting such creatures at night, in vast numbers, will be a pain.

  Then came Thor forth, and spake:

  57. "Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer,

  Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;

  Thy shoulder-cliff | shall I cleave from thy neck,

  And so shall thy life be lost."

  Loki spake:

  58. "Lo, in has come | the son of Earth:

  Why threaten so loudly, Thor?

  Less fierce thou shalt go | to fight with the wolf

  When he swallows Sigfather up."

  Thor spake:

  59. "Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer,

  Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;

  I shall hurl thee up | and out in the East,

  Where men shall see thee no more."

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  An Ocean of Repulsive Green Eyes

  The party stood on the platform, watching the darkness in front of the gate. At their back was the jarl’s group. A large flag showing Hedmark's symbol and colors was already raised on a tall pole behind the hird. For some reason, the expected probing attack by undead warriors and creatures didn’t happen. The last report of the scouts said the advance party of the horde had stopped. The mage thought it must have been because of the destruction of the skeletal drakes. Somebody must have reported back to the leader of the army of ghouls. Tyler swore, believing he should have expected that and done a scrying of the area around the fortress. Unfortunately, he had been fixated on the approaching bony flock, and his magical examination directed toward the incoming drakes.

  Right now, they were all waiting for the arrival of the revenant horde. The defenders were as prepared as they could be under the circumstances. Tyler had instructed the mages to keep well away from the walls and focus on illumination spells. Barrier spells too if they were to see a break in the defending ranks atop the ramparts. Those who knew the healing arts were advised to stay in the safe area near the jarl’s keep designated for the wounded.

  Loud clatter disturbed the stillness of the night. The mage, followed by Kobu, walked to the edge of the bastion and looked down on the city. Two-wheeled carts were being hauled into position near the gate and various crossroads.

  “Mobile roadblocks, sire. A contingency. A mass of long sharp knives is arranged in front. If one removes the wheels, it becomes a deadly obstacle. Or a group of men could use it as a battering ram against exposed flesh. It also easily penetrates light armor. We learned of it, and a few other siege toys, from the Zhong. I believe they call it the Sai Men Dao Che but we call it the Ajisai No Hoyo. It means the embrace of a flower which to us also symbolizes coldness,” said the exile. “I was only able to get a few Chikyu Ni Fureru made, those are what we call file axes, used to cut off hands and fingers of attackers once they start gripping the stone of the battlements. Those dwarves took over most of the good forges. But we got a lot of Wolf’s Teeth built. They’ll be perfect as killing weapons for the defense. Though with the absence of siege machinery, I gather their leader expects to use his casualties as a siege ramp to assault the walls. The key would be to prevent the build-up of bodies beside the ramparts.”

  “I hear you. But what does that name mean, the one referring to what you called file axes? And the Wolf’s Teeth?” the mage asked.

  “Touch of the Earth, sire. Quite appropriate since the attacker falls to his death once his hands or fingers are cut off. Though for this siege, it will be used to relieve the pressure of the defenders. The fewer attackers on the ramparts, the better. Wolf’s Teeth was an innovation brought over by arrivals about 100 years ago. It was something they learned during their invasion of a land called Goryeo in the First World. It’s a large square made of heavy timber, with iron teeth attached. A vertical version of the Ajisai No Hoyo. Raised by a large winch on top of the wall and then released to kill men underneath it.”

  “Terrible things. Shows that man’s imagination when it comes to killing his fellow men knows no bounds. Though I can’t understand why the apparently poetic names for those dreadful killing machines,” observed Tyler.

  “There is a school of thought in my homeland which believes war is an art. Following their logic, so too is killing an art. In the end, they give poetic names to these killing tools. If you ask me, it’s just a way of ensuring the mind does not crumble under the weight of its conscience.”

  “How about you, Kobu? I know you have been a warlord,” said Tyler, his mouth getting ahead of his mind. Shit. What a question to ask.

  The exile looked into the distance, his taciturn mien belied by the sad expression in his eyes. It was clear Kobu was disturbed by the sudden resurgence of long-repressed memories.

  “I had my share of killing, sire. More than any sane man’s share. Though it was duty, war, or self-defense. Or a combination of those deceptively innocent concepts. And sometimes, decisions had to be made which churned the stomach and repulsed the soul. I have regretted a few and wondered if things could have been resolved in a less violent manner. The rest was war,” whispered Kobu in a calm voice. “Especially in my younger years, when I lived only for duty. The blood flowed. There were no innocents in my mind, only my lord’s commands.”

  “I apologize I asked, Kobu. There are matters not meant to be shared,” said Tyler.

  “No need to apologize, sire. You are my liege lord, after all. And it feels good to be able to talk, even indirectly, about the past, the burden on one’s mind, once in a while.”

  “A report from Ivar the scout, Lord High Mage,” a man’s voice called out from behind the pair.

  Tyler turned. The jarl looked at him, surprised as he was. The mage couldn’t understand why Ivar wanted to report to him.

  Isn’t he the jarl’s scout? Should he report to the jarl first?

  The mage waited for forest ranger to approach. Kobu stood in front of him, slightly to his left.

  “Yes, Ivar?” Tyler asked as the scout stopped a few feet from him. Not that the platform was spacious, to begin with.

  “My Lord High Mage. One of my men just reported back. He was carrying an artifact which he found on the field of last night’s battle. It’s a knife which clearly looks ancient, with ornate runes and symbols. It feels hot to the touch. Obviously magical. With your permission?” said the scout.

  The mage nodded. If true, it was an interesting magical find. His curiosity had been aroused. Aside from rings and rune plates, other artifacts had been few and far between.

  The scout quickly rifled through the leather bag slung at his side and brought out an object wrapped in thick sackcloth. He held it up in his left hand and gingerly unwrapped it. It was a beautifully-crafted long knife, as described by Ivar. The blade was slightly curved, though strangely, it had a greenish tinge to the metal. Tyler could sense the odd energy radiated by the weapon. The aura was similar to what he perceived back in the Barrens. It was obviously a magical item and the mage doubted any civilization now on Adar could have made such a weapon.

  Must be an object left behind by the long-dead mysterious people living in that cursed land. Dug up by the undead, no doubt.

  As he examined the weapon, refusing to touch it as it lay in the proffered hand of Ivar, things abruptly exploded into action.

  Ivar grabbed the knife with unbelievable speed, jumped at the mage, and viciously stabbed. Kobu also reacted swiftly and was able to knock the scout aside but not before the blade of the
knife got into an inch of Tyler’s body.

  Incredibly, the mysterious weapon was able to penetrate the repulsing field and the first personal energy barrier. Only the final shield, the one projected by the mage’s staff, stopped the deadly edge from continuing on its fatal journey — and only because Kobu disrupted Ivar’s momentum. Tyler didn’t know whether the knife would have pierced right through the dragon armor, but that was another thing he didn’t want to discover.

  As Ivar was caught off-balance, three arrows struck him in quick succession, two through his ankle muscles, pinning him to the floor and another through his hand, making him drop the knife. Tyndur materialized in front of the mage, battleaxe in hand, preventing any further attempts. Kobu swiftly moved forward and grabbed Ivar by the back of his neck. The scout muttered an incantation and the knife immediately jumped to his left hand. Ivar quickly stabbed himself, the curved blade entering his head under the jaw. It was all over before the jarl’s guards could even shout a warning.

  The companions all looked at each other, disbelief finally registering in their minds. Everything was done instinctively and without a moment’s thought or hesitation. Tyler looked at Ivar’s corpse. The strange knife had inexplicably slid out of the fatal wound and was now lying on the floor, blade as pristine as ever.

  “Tyndur, get that accursed knife back in its covering and give it to me. Don’t touch it with your fingers,” the mage instructed.

  A fucking assassination attempt? And with such a powerful tool too!

  By instinct, the mage’s eyes looked toward the primary suspect for the attempt on his life. Though it was still dark, Tyler’s eyesight could now see countless glowing green dots in the far distance. An ocean of them. The enemy had arrived.

  “They’re here,” said Tyler. He thought back to his speculation on when the green radiance became visible. And clearly ‘motivated’.

  The jarl walked to him, still surrounded by his guards. The mage found himself inside the protective circle of Jarl Geir. It was good security, but inordinately stifling, not only physically but also on the mind. It reduced one’s awareness of his or her surroundings.