The Accidental Archmage - Book Five: Loki's Gambit

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Shaolin spade – A weapon derived from the Chinese farmer’s spade. Carried by Shaolin monks for defense against wild animals, it was also used to bury any dead bodies they came across. It eventually developed into its present form – a flat spade on one end and a sickle on the other. It was also called “monk’s spade” and the “Zen spade.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Notes on Meluhha – From “The Indus Civilization” by Christian Violatti, published 30 October 2013.

  (https://www.ancient.eu/Indus_Valley_Civilization/)

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The Lady of the Spiked Throne – An undetermined piece of religious sculpture dating to the Indus Valley civilization. (Massimo Vidale, The Lady of the Spiked Throne: The Power of a Lost Ritual, Department of Asian and North African Studies, Gnutti EURAL, Rovato, Brescia / Trieste, 2011). (https://www.harappa.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Spiked-Throne.pdf)

  Unicorns – The unicorn is the most common motif on Indus seals and appears to represent a mythical animal that Greek and Roman sources trace back to the Indian subcontinent.

  (https://www.harappa.com/indus/25.html)

  Kanabo – An ancient Japanese weapon, considered part of the “bo” or Japanese quarterstaff family. It is also considered to be the favorite arm of the “Oni,” or a kind of Japanese demon.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Berserkr – The Norse origin of the word “berserker.” Contrary to popular belief, these fighting men are not regarded as mad or insane warriors. They are considered champions and experts in using weapons. Unfortunately, their advantage in a battle – battle lust and the ability to disregard crippling wounds – sometimes also work to the disadvantage of those who employ them. It is said King Olav Haraldsson’s berserkers lost the battle of Stiklestad (1030 A.D.) for him when, instead of holding the line, they attacked. A theory had been put forward that the state of being berserk resulted from eating fly agaric mushrooms, but this has never been proven. Considering how poisonous the plant is, one doubts if anybody would risk experimentation.

  (Please refer to https://www.historyextra.com/period/viking/the-truth-about-viking-berserkers/)

  Curavali – A Tamil word for cyclone or hurricane.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Alföðr – A Norse word meaning All-Father.

  House of Gimli – A Norse myth, not the dwarf. It is little known compared to the more popular Valhalla, where half of those who died in battle reside (the other half goes to the goddess Freyja). Valkyries select those who join the einherjar ranks. The House of Gimli, considered the most beautiful part of Asgard, is believed to be where the souls of righteous men reside. In another version, it is thought to be where the survivors of Ragnarok will live.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Swina bqllr – Old Norse swear phrase, meaning pig’s balls.

  Nodachi – A form of Japanese longsword, similar in function to a claymore. The length of the weapon meant its use relied on its length and power for downward cuts. Unfortunately, it also demanded a larger area around the warrior using the weapon.

  Ymirs frosteistna! – “By Ymir’s frosty balls.” Old Norse expression.

  Kenjutsu – A Japanese word usually applied as a general term to describe all the schools or arts of swordsmanship in ancient Japan.

  On glima and tricks – Glima is the ancient Norse of wrestling.

  Please refer to https://www.vikingmartialarts.com/history-of-glima/

  Góðan daginn – One of the traditional Norse greetings meaning ‘good day’. The phrase used by Jorund in Book One was more practiced by the ancient Norse.

  Trelleborg – Norse fortresses are known by this term. They are usually described as fortifications in the shape of a ring. However, in Adar, the mixture of cultures and introduction of trading among dissimilar civilizations also introduced new concepts in defensive structures, for example, the Scarburg fortress.

  Batur - Old Norse. Meaning "a boat." Also used to refer to a fighting unit of thirty-six to forty men. (TAA, I)

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Heruli – A term used by the Romans to describe a tribe found in Denmark today. Their warriors had been described as elite fighters. To quote –

  “The heruli are said to have had a kingdom on Fyn. This may have survived until into the sixth century, but more of them had previously been driven out of Scandinavia by the Danes. The heruli often took service as warrior bands in the Roman army. They appeared in the same way as the berserkers, in small groups in the service of chieftains or kings, and there is a possibility that the origins of the berserkers may be found among the mysterious heruli.”

  (Please refer to https://www.historyextra.com/period/viking/the-truth-about-viking-berserkers/)

  Drotten - Old Norse phrase meaning vigorous and warlike. Usually used to refer to young jarls or leaders.

  Frea - Old Norse phrase meaning wise and respected. Usually used to refer to old rulers and leaders.

  Hird - Old Norse. The term used to refer to the bodyguards of a ruler as a separate body of fighting men.

  Huskalar - The plural form of the Norse word huskarl (adopted as housecarl in the English language). The term refers to the armed retainers of a jarl.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Kush – An ancient land in Africa settled by what we now call the Nubians. Conquered by the Egyptians, they eventually freed themselves. Split into two kingdoms later in their history, one allied itself with the Hyksos when the latter invaded Egypt.

  Djenne-Djenno – A prehistoric realm arising in Africa, where Mali is now located. One of the first to smelt iron, engage in trade routes, and the domestication of animals and plants. The name literally means ‘ancient Djenne.’

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Dvergar – Old Norse word for dwarves (dvergr is the singular form). Norse mythology mentions dwarfs, or dwarves, as others might prefer it to be spelled, but lore indicates two kinds – the Svartálfar who reside in one of the Nordic nine worlds (Svartálfaheimr) and the Dvergar. Both long-lived kinds are exceptionally skilled metal craftsmen, said to exemplify wisdom, preferring residing underground, but unfortunately characterized by the greed for wealth, particularly gold.

  This story series considers them a related race – one prefers the old ways and the other believes in adapting to new realities – though most individuals of both kinds are cranky and difficult, worse than the orneriest mage.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Drottin – Old Norse meaning warband leader. Drott refers to the warband itself.

  Mia – An old Norse game involving dice usually made of bone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Pentekostyes - Greek/Spartan term. Refers to a military unit of 160 men. (TAA, Book I)

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Siege weapons - The Sai Men Dao Che and the Chikyu Ni Fureru are historical ancient Chinese siege weapons. The term Ajisai No Hoyo is fictional. The Wolf’s Teeth siege defense apparatus was first experienced by the Japanese during their invasion of Korea under Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

  Goryeo - one of the ancient names for the Korean peninsula.

  Kraken – Despite Hollywood’s efforts to the contrary, the Kraken was never a Greek mythological creature. It is a Norse myth.

  CHAPTER TWENTY -SEVEN

  Eldhúsfífl - Old Norse. A good-for-nothing.

  Fífl - Old Norse. An idiot.

  Hraumi - Old Norse. A braggart.

  Vámr - Old Norse. A disgusting person. Tyndur was being kind.

  Vígríðr – Old Norse. The field where the final battle of Ragnarok would be fought.

  Uff da – Norwegian/Nordic. An expression expressing surprise, dismay, or bafflement, depending on the situation.

  Járngreipr – Old Norse. According to the Gylfaginning, Thor wears gauntlets enabling him to handle Mjolnir.

  (Please refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A1rngreipr)

  Fenrisúlfr – Old Norse. One of the names of Fenrir, meaning Fenris-wolf.


  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Minhocao – A Southern American myth, described as either an enormous snake or worm with bony scales capable of dragging horses, men, and other large prey into a river or its feeding ground.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Lagmann – Old Norse term meaning a lawspeaker. An important office in Nordic societies. At Gamla Uppsala, 1018, Torgny the Lawspeaker forced King Olof Skötkonung not only to accept peace with his enemy, King Olaf the Stout of Norway, but also to give his daughter to him in marriage.

  (Please refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawspeaker)

  EPILOGUE

  Kerasti – Old Norse. Meaning “beloved.” (TAA, Book I)

  Dory - Ancient Greek. A spear. The singular form of dorata. The term "dorata" was also used by Homer in one of his epics. A "dory" is the typical phalanx spear, but it is shorter than the spear used in a Macedonian phalanx which is called a "sarissa". (TAA, II)

  A Look at Book Six of the Series

  PROLOGUE

  A Prelude to War

  Otr glanced at his battle line. Twenty thousand heavily armored and armed dvergar. All positioned on the rocky outcrops of the slopes of the mountains flanking the secret pass to the main dvergar stronghold in the Western Dvergar Mountains. Tall linked and embedded shields protected the infantry ranks. At their back, dwarven crossbowmen, armed with an improved version of the Zhong repeater crossbow. Further up were ballistae and catapults. Their mages were distributed all along the line.

  What a vacation, he thought to himself. You come to visit your father, and you end up in another battle. I should have brought that Dvalin fellow and his lads along, they didn’t seem to have enough fun back in Hedmark.

  Otr glanced at the ranks of warriors preparing for battle. Most were rubbing their shields and armor with a mixture of clay and vinegar, magically bonded together. Even spears and pikes got the same treatment. On the vast desolate plain below, the southern edges of the Plain of Fire, Otr could see Sutr’s advance legions moving into position.

  We might have a higher tolerance to fire than other races, but it doesn’t mean we're immune to it. On the bright side, the jotunn’s minions are definitely killable.

  The dwarven lord was curious about the big shapes he had seen ponderously proceeding forward. Such huge monsters have never been seen before though the distance was too great for him to pick out details. He walked to the ballistae commander standing a hundred feet away and gave out helpful comments to the preparing dwarves as he walked along the lines of defenders.

  “Quickly now, you bunch of lily-livered pansies! At this rate, we should be inviting those blasted offspring of Sutr to dinner instead! You call that preparing? I’ll get better results from dead drunk, half-blind, lame, and witless humans! Move your lazy, fat, and heavy asses! Are you sons of the mountains?” he shouted.

  A continuing loud shout from thousands of voices greeted his words. Battle drums sounded.

  “Good! For a moment, I thought I was fighting with the svartalfar!”

  Noisy laughter greeted his words. Otr reached the dwarven detachment leader.

  “How's it going, Nabbi?” Otr asked.

  “We’re still bringing up ammunition, my Prince. Though I see big ones at the rear of our enemies.”

  “I saw them too. Don’t mind them. The fire jotnar would be idiots to use them in the coming battle. They’re going to be used when they’ve forced the gate. Right now, those flying snakes are the ones which worry me,” replied Otr.

  “Some look familiar, the usual crop of fire drakes. Others are new,” observed the dwarf.

  “Nothing that tunneling stones won’t cure,” snorted Otr.

  “It does appear they brought a lot of their forces to the coming merriment,” commented Nabbi. “I estimate about forty thousand now on the field, with more coming in.”

  “More to kill, brother. Though the scouts did report the land of fire is indeed on the move. The battle won’t be today or even tomorrow. They’ll gather their hosts first before they attack,” grinned Otr. “That gives me time for some drinking tonight.”

  Then he thoughtfully looked at the gathering on the field.

  “I never thought I’d be happy to see normal enemies, even in those numbers. There’s something abominable about fighting swift undead who fight and think like the living back in Hedmark,” said Otr.

  “I did hear about that, my Prince. The warning about the jotunn lords had already been sent to the various dvergar realms. But I heard most are already fighting either Sutr or Ymir’s forces,” mentioned his companion.

  Otr grinned. “It’s going to be the worst and biggest crock of draken shit, Nabbi. And I am not talking about that cursed Fafnir either. The good news is we’re in the front seats! Imagine that!”

  ***

  The dokkalfr mage stood among his dead and dying brethren. The attack had been unexpected. They didn’t foresee that the jotnar knew about this particular entrance. The sudden impact of several magical offensive spells laid low most of the guard detachment, and the freezing spell which followed either immobilized the defenders or made it difficult to move.

  The quick onslaught of four-legged fanged terrors which ensued left no doubt as to the eventual fate of the dokkalfr outpost. Only the wounded mage remained, his magical barrier reduced almost to its breaking point. The small space before him quickly filled up with the deadly marauders. The mage raised his staff and grimly smiled.

  It’s going to cost them, the thought ran through his mind as he grasped the weapon with two hands and violently slammed it on the ground with all his remaining strength, breaking it in two.

  A whirlwind of flames erupted from the broken staff, savagely burning everything in the small space in an instant, reducing everything to piles of ash.

  More jotnar steamed into the opening and quickly fanned out, moving deeper into the Dokkalfr Mountains.

  ***

  The mercenary stumbled through the thick jungle undergrowth. A few hours before, he had been with his comrades at the large earthen fort on the borders of the Cahokian Dependency, a vassal state of Kemet.

  His company was left to reinforce the fort’s complement because of disturbing news about a rebellion in the kingdom. But they didn’t worry too much about it. They were stationed on the border, far from any conflict. Even if the rumors were true, it was but an internal matter for the Dependency. The winner will bow to Kemet after the dust had settled.

  The dawn assault came suddenly. Frightening man-spiders came out of the ground inside the fort and swiftly silenced the guards. What followed was a massacre in some of the barracks. Sleepy men were torn apart as they came out of the fort’s structures.

  Then the gates of the fort were opened and the horse-mounted rebels swooped in, with the distinctive Cahokian cavalry method of a rider and a javelin-armed warrior in medium armor. It gave the combination unparalleled mobility and attack power – the shield of the passenger protected the bow-armed rider and gave the option for the warrior to either dismount and engage a weakened enemy or continue with the harassing attacks. The horse itself was protected by cloth-and-metal armor designed to absorb or deflect arrows.

  This time, the co-riders dismounted and continued what the loathsome man-spiders started. The mercenary was lucky enough to have his bunk at the end of their quarters and after he saw what was happening, opted to use the window instead. Clambering down the wooden palisade, he was spotted by a rider. He ran, ditching whatever armor he was able to put on. Speed was key, and his sword was enough.

  He thankfully reached the forest and continued running, the torrent of sweat now with accompanied by tired breathing. Long minutes passed. He looked back, sword tightly gripped in his right hand. No sign of pursuit. He slumped his weary body back against a large tree. A few minutes to rest, his mind and exhausted muscles insisted.

  High above him, thick cobwebs were dropping on the weary warrior.

  ***

  The small pass facing n
orth was one of the Dual Monarchy’s openings towards the mountains bordering Muspelheim, the land of fire. Dwarven realms could be found under the vast mountain range and trading parties would sometimes venture forth to visit designated points earmarked for such profitable expeditions.

  Lately, two such trading caravans had returned empty-handed, to the disappointment of the border guards who had become accustomed to generous largesse from the happy merchants. Dwarven guards had told the traders that the realms are closed for now because of some disturbance coming from the Plain of Fire.

  The night shift was already doing the rounds, lighting the torches around the small outpost. For a small fortification, one would have thought the garrison to be commensurate with its size. But the stone wall enclosing the compound hid the better part of a thousand fighting men, two hundred cavalry, and twenty war chariots. The Empire knew well the benefits of trade with the dwarven realm and the peaceful co-existence that came with it. The army was more to protect the merchants than the border. And the Dual Monarchy had assiduously avoided establishing larger forts on the lands facing the Western Dvergar Mountains lest the action be interpreted as a prelude to war. That was the last thing those ruling the Empire wanted. The dwarven realms had provided a much-needed buffer against the incursions from Sutr’s domain.

  One of the two guards on top of one of the towers idly noticed that only half of the torches of the fort had been lit. He nudged his companion and pointed out the strange occurrence. As they watched, they saw a warrior come out from one of the rooms and walk towards the parapet. In the growing gloom, the pair saw clouds of mist appear at the back of the unsuspecting man, solidify, and pounce on him. One of the forms clearly had a scrawny hand over the warrior’s mouth. The stupefied duo looked at each other. Then one rushed to the large gong and started furiously beating it, ringing its alarm throughout the fort. Men on the enclosed field halted and looked up at the source of the loud noise.