The Accidental Archmage: Book Eight (Where Titans Walk)

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  Tyler and Kobu swiftly stared at each other. The same thought had occurred to the pair, and it didn’t bode well for Eira.

  Typhoeus was attempting to take over.

  ***

  “Shit!” exclaimed a furious Tyler in a voice loud enough to call the attention of the rest of the group.

  “We do have to go in now,” said Kobu calmly.

  Somehow, the composed attitude of the exile dissipated some of the anger in the mage’s mind, enabling him to consider matters from a more lucid perspective. A red cloud had momentarily threatened to overcome his senses.

  “That means Asag, and the attention of the fortress,” replied Tyler. He still remembered the offer of Kapnos, but was worried about what the boy would do.

  “Hey! I told you I would help! See?” the boy pointed to the field. A straight, unbroken path now led directly to the wall. Gone were the traps, the barricades, and the moat was filled with solid earth.

  “I’ll open an entrance when we get there,” grinned Kapnos. “This is exciting!”

  Kobu stared at the mage uncomprehendingly. The warrior apparently didn’t expect such a radical shift in the terrain and the implication that the company had a potent magical force by their side. Tyler shook his head and, instead, pointed to the waiting walls of the stronghold. The company rushed to the waiting stone wall, running past the deadly field of fire and traps. The cleared route was about five feet wide enough for the group to move through as a whole and avoid the wide moat’s flames. As they huddled beside the stronghold’s stone wall, Kapnos went in to check the other side. Nobody was there. Apparently, every armed minion or Titan of each group was engaged in fighting each other.

  According to the boy, most of the fighting was in the corridors leading to the main hall. More information helped Tyler determine that the struggle was centered around the efforts to reach it, which meant it was the throne room. Kapnos evidently didn’t give importance to such trappings of power, much less notice them. He doesn’t need them, reflected the mage, being an avatar of Chaos was enough. In his true guise, the presence of Kapnos would get deities to wet themselves. Tyler nearly did, but that was another matter altogether. The mage briefly glanced at Asag and then decided to let the boy create their entrance. Kapnos deserved the unique experience, and Tyler wasn’t about to diminish the enjoyment of the entity. But once Eira was rescued, the mage was already thinking of asking the boy to practice some more by burying the fortress deep in the ground. An entrance formed in the wall and the assembly quickly filed inside, together with Kapnos who had a huge grin on his face.

  He’s enjoying this a lot, thought Tyler, and let’s try to make the most out of it.

  “Kapnos, do you know where my wife is held captive?” he whispered to the boy.

  “Of course. It’s a huge room at the end of a corridor of what you would describe as a throne room,” Kapnos whispered back.

  “Is it possible for us to get to the room without using the stronghold’s corridors?” continued Tyler.

  “Oh, sneaking!” the smile of Kapnos grew wider. “Like Odysseus escaping Polyphemus. Let’s do it! But first, let me determine the best route to take. The fighting is fierce and moves swiftly from one area to another. Don’t worry about your wife. The last time I looked, she was alone in the room.”

  As the boy again vanished, Tyler wondered why Khaos still had to do such exploring. The elder deity was incredibly powerful, after all. Then he remembered what Dionysus once said to him – a god may take the form of a mortal, but as a mortal, he or she should and could act.

  And think, added the mage inwardly. The wine god forgot that part.

  The entire structure suddenly shuddered, the enormous vibrations shaking pieces of stone from the walls and ceiling. Yet the mage considered himself already committed, and there was nothing to do except wait for the return of Kapnos. But he created a magical barrier around the group just the same. No point in getting buried alive even before they start the rescue. They’ve already come this far. Kapnos abruptly reappeared among them, startling everyone. The mage assumed his barrier didn’t pose an obstacle to the entity. He doubted if the boy even noticed its presence.

  “Kapnos, the entire fort might collapse on us any moment,” said Thyma with concern. It was an observation that Tyler shared. The magical fighting within the confines of the stronghold must be extensive and furious. The shuddering meant magical spells were being flung everywhere.

  “Don’t worry. It wouldn’t dare collapse on me,” grinned the boy, though it was a reply that drew quizzical looks. Tyler moved swiftly to divert the unexpected attention and asked about their detour. Kapnos gave a mischievous wink.

  “It’s ready. We could avoid the fighting unless you want to see some of the skirmishes. They’re very entertaining and colorful,” grinned the boy.

  Colorful? wondered the mage. Entertaining, he could understand, but colorful?

  “I believe we have to do away with the spectacles. This is a rescue, after all,” replied the mage.

  Tyndur was about to raise his hand, presumably to protest, but the Valkyrie’s reaction was faster. The einherjar found the ready hand pinned behind his back and a sturdy grip at the back of his throat. He kept quiet.

  ***

  The group made their way through narrow stairs and corridors. The passageways were surprisingly clean and the air within was fresh. Tyler suspected that they had been constructed for their benefit but kept his suspicion to himself. It wasn’t material to what they were going to do. A dim light guided their steps. The mage noticed the channels seemed to keep to the exterior walls and sometimes abruptly passed through a small, cramped space. Tyler could imagine that some rooms of the fortress suddenly became smaller as they gave way to newly created space behind stone partitions. The din of battle was becoming worse as the company went deeper into the hold. Even the thick stone barriers couldn’t totally keep the sound out, and the noise was accompanied by the terrible shaking of the fortress itself. But the company was quiet except for the sound of their hurrying steps. Only once was their silence broken.

  “I feel like a scurrying rat,” whispered Tyndur, only to be quickly shushed by Gullin.

  Finally, they reached a portion of the corridor which ended in a cramped space. Three of the company stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the front while the rest were squeezed together in pairs along the hidden hallway. Kapnos turned to the mage and pointed to the wall with his thumb.

  “Enemies?” whispered Tyler.

  “Still none. But the battle is nearing the throne room. The usurper is winning,” said the boy. “You want me to open a doorway?”

  Tyler glanced at the exile on the other side of Kapnos. Kobu heard everything and his weapon had already been transformed into a naginata. The man was ready. The mage could hear the rustle of the rest of the company preparing for battle behind him. A quick glance and he saw everybody in battle stances, all prepared to rush into the room. Tyler nodded at the boy. A wide rectangular door abruptly opened and the entire company hastened into the waiting space. Eira was standing with her back to them, facing the door and intently listening to the sounds of battle. The mage felt enormously relieved at the sight of his unharmed wife, yet felt happily lightheaded. His heart skipped several beats at the sight of Eira. It had been a long time since he had seen her and every step of the way to this point in time was an arduous mental exercise in trying not to worry himself into a dangerous state of mindless obsession. That way lay thoughtless decisions and dark judgments. The swirling mass of yet uncontrollable black destruction in his mind would quickly snuff out the light holding it at bay. Somehow, deep inside him, Tyler knew that if ever that happened, he’d be gone, and something terrible would take over his mortal shell.

  Startled, Eira turned around as the rest of the company hurried past her and took defensive positions facing the closed exit to the corridor. Kapnos stood at the rear of the room, smiling as he watched Tyler walk quickly to his wife and hug her tight. The p
air exchanged no words, needing none, reassured by the physical presence of each other. The two stood for a while in each other’s embrace, lost in the moment. That is, until Tyndur’s rough voice broke the emotional and touching mood.

  “Your pardon, sire, my lady, but what do we do now?” asked the einherjar, clearly embarrassed by having to interrupt the reunion.

  The young man slowly removed himself from Eira’s embrace and his wife moved to continue hugging him from the back. The mage looked at the door. The din had palpably increased, and deafeningly loud voices could now be heard. Iapetus dominated the exchange of insults and accusations, but a deep, cavernous voice was answering the Titan. Tyler could only assume the speaker was Typhoeus, or Typhon. The attackers wore his mark after all.

  “Traitor! Betrayer! You’ll pay for this!” screamed Iapetus.

  “Come now. Ironic words coming from one who participated in the killing of his own father. Do you think I would fully trust you? Look what you have wrought. Our plan is in disarray, our realm invaded. You’re incompetent, Iapetus. It’s time to change the banner of our forces,” replied Typhoeus.

  The mage heard a snicker from Kapnos. Tyler surmised that was triggered by our realm remark. Another round of furious struggle, marked by the reverberations of magical attacks, followed the exchange of words between the Titans. The mage noticed a rise in the aura emanating from Gullin. The dragoness was getting impatient and she was furious. Hate and anger combined in the sensations Tyler felt.

  “Gullin, hold your position. Let them fight it out. Then we move in on the survivor,” advised the mage.

  At those words, Kapnos walked towards the group, bowing slightly to Eira as he reached them. The boy looked over the company and then something in him changed. The form remained a boy, but a mass of incredible power emerged from him. It surrounded Kapnos and formed a terrifying outsized hooded cloak in the air.

  “You are not powerful enough. Even if you are, your enemy has the advantage of experience and numbers. It took time for Zeus to overcome him and not without the assistance of other gods. That Titan is more powerful now. Not for nothing is Typhoesus called the father of monsters,” the boy announced, the calm tone of the words now echoing in the minds of those present in the room. He spoke normally, in a low voice, but what he uttered resonated frightfully in the minds of the members of the company. The mage saw Gullin take a few steps backward. Thyma was trying to be serene and collected. Still, it was clear even the Oracle was affected by the action of the boy.

  “Iapetus will be dead. Your vengeance traitorously meted out by an erstwhile ally in his rogue cabal,” continued Kapnos. “It’s time for you to depart my domain. Leave the rest of the troubles here for me to resolve.”

  Confusion could now be seen in the faces of the companions, except for Thyma, who was visibly struggling with herself and was looking at the floor.

  A boy just told them he’d take care of the Titans and the ones attacking Tartarus, thought Tyler, I don’t blame them for having those bewildered expressions. Though I have to talk to Thyma, she’s feeling something different. I hope she’s not suffering.

  “How about me? The death of Rumpr and the injuries to Dionysus?” said Gullin finally, in a deadly serious tone. “I recognize that voice. He’s the one fighting that Iapetus. Though that bastard also deserved to die.”

  “I heard you let them out and play, Kapnos. Is that true?” asked Tyler. Now that almost everything was out in the open, he felt it was the proper time to pose the question, though he didn’t know how Khaos would react. But the mage held out his hand behind him with the palm out. It was a gesture for the rest to hold their places and their tongues. He hoped the small demonstration of power by Kapnos had been sufficient to warn them about the entity in their midst.

  “Yes, I guess. They were family of a sort. And it was boring, extremely boring when I woke up. Uncle wasn’t around and the others were terrified of me. How would you feel when you see Thanatos running away when he sees you taking on a form? I had nobody to talk to, Archmage,” replied the boy.

  “Did you show yourself to them?” inquired the mage, now extremely worried about the possibility that the rogue Titans, at least their leadership, had access to the power of Chaos.

  “Of course not. They’re full of hate, anger, and malice,” answered Kapnos. “Not nice at all. But they did call out to me, asking for some freedom and promised they’d stay in Tartarus. As I said, they’re family.”

  Thoughts flew in Tyler’s mind. He was trying to quickly make sense of what happened. He didn’t doubt Iapetus had been planning everything for millennia – finalizing plots, negotiating alliances, and searching for more sources of power. But the captive Titan couldn’t make a move if Hades was around.

  The war on Adar was meant to get Hades out of Tartarus? thought the mage. Iapetus must have found a means to connect with some other sect of dark Elders, hence the crystal. That bastard did tell me he had been busy searching the dark corners of Adar. Disruption of the pantheons and war has always been the goal of the different groups of rogue Elders if control couldn’t be achieved. Domination and control did happen in the Aztecha Empire. However, that attempt gave rise to the open enmity of another Elder cult. All these numerous schemes are giving me headaches. There appears to be no grandmaster pulling all the strings.

  “We still have to deal with the crystal in the throne room, Kapnos. It’s what’s preventing your uncle from returning,” said Tyler, reflecting that most of the problems now arose because of a bored elder god with strong filial feelings. Not that he could condemn Kapnos. His maturity was clearly that of a child.

  “And they broke their promise to you by going up to Adar and abducting my wife,” he added as an afterthought.

  “I know that now. No wonder Uncle kept reminding me that some relatives were not to be trusted,” mused Kapnos grimly. “A lesson learned in practice hurts more than one taught in mere words. I wish Uncle Hades was here. He’d know what to do.”

  “If you could destroy that crystal, then Hades would be able to return. But that leaves the matter of our vengeance against those who abducted my wife, killed a friend, and hurt Dionysus and Gullin,” said the mage.

  “Leave the crystal to me. It doesn’t belong here and nothing in the rules which govern my being prevents me from destroying it. The strangers would also have to go. After my experience with you, I grow weary of their displays. They’re so pedestrian in their actions. One would have thought that by now, they would have taken this fortress. But your vengeance will have to wait, unless you all wish to make Thanatos your permanent friend,” said Kapnos with an amused smile. “Revenge would have to be secured in another place and time. You’ll have that chance. Your enemies are too powerful in this realm. By then, you would only have Typhoeus to deal with, but I do plan to teach him a lesson. Wait.”

  At Kapnos’s word, everything in the room froze into immobility, except for Tyler and Eira. The mage was immediately worried and it showed on his face.

  “Don’t worry, Archmage. They’re conscious but can’t move. I wouldn’t want my surprise to be spoiled. I just want you to hear what happens after Iapetus is dead,” grinned the boy mysteriously. “Somebody’s waiting for what that fool would do once he won.”

  A loud cry of victory suddenly burst from the throne room, shaking the fortress. By the tone of the speaker, it was apparent that Typhoesus finally got his victory.

  “Mine! The world is mine! Those weaklings on Olympus would now pay the price! Change flags and markings! And bring me that prize, that forest spirit. Time to rest and enjoy myself. Deposing a king is a tiresome task,” laughed the Titan boisterously.

  The boy suddenly snickered, just as a massive blast rocked the citadel. The voice which had boasted triumphantly a few seconds ago could now be heard moaning in pain. Tyler looked at Kapnos, wondering what just happened.

  “It’s his wife, Echidna. If Hera was the jealous type, she’s a few degrees worse. Not that Typhoesus is
himself guiltless of such amorous escapades. Let’s get you all out before a furious wife destroys this place,” whispered the boy.

  The room promptly shimmered and the company found themselves outside the broken Gates of Tartarus. But Tyler and Eira weren’t with them. The pair could see the company but the boy kept them in whatever dimensional channel he used. Kapnos glanced at the mage.

  “Come visit if you have time. I enjoyed that little adventure. Bring that Dionysus with you. I heard he loves having fun. But use the Gates next time. I do have to fix it and a lot of other things before Uncle Hades arrives. I hope he won’t be angry at me,” said the boy.

  Just like a good boy. Puts away his toys after playing, thought the mage.

  “Simply explain things to him. I am sure he’ll understand. It’s not your fault anyway,” replied Tyler, trying to lift the boy’s spirits. The mage figured Kapnos needed the reassurance, even if Hades couldn’t do a thing if Kapnos threw a tantrum. The boy’s worried face showed the look of one caught doing something naughty. The boy meekly nodded and then stared at the mage.