The Accidental Archmage - Book Five

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  “Oh, lad. Haven’t you learned anything? Balance is key to this world. The extinction of the dokkalfr would just be a prelude to a greater atrocity. Remember, nothing is really permanent when it comes to war and politics. Mind the old saying; the enemy of my enemy…”

  “Is my friend,” Tyler finished Rumpr’s sentence. “But they’re so vicious. They hate mortals, dwarves, and their Alfar kin.”

  “I already said I don’t like them either, lad. But that still wouldn’t be enough excuse for the annihilation of their entire race, as what will happen when those two murderous and paranoid jotunn lords finally march south,” remarked the being.

  “I have to save them too? Now that really is… is…” Tyler stumbled, trying to find the appropriate word.

  “Just say unbelievable, lad, and be done with it.”

  “That would do until I come up with something more descriptive. But do I really have to save them?” Acute disbelief colored Tyler’s words.

  “They’ve been played, First Mage. To their extreme disadvantage. I wonder if you noticed the bulk of the forces on the field were dokkalfr, especially in Scarburg,” advised Rumpr.

  “Come to think of it, I only saw those ice elves on the plains outside Bildsfell. None in the Scarburg attack. Though there were jotnar in that assault,” answered the mage.

  “Ice elves. Ymir’s special pets. I also told you the dokkalfr and Ymir also have a history of conflict and that not all jotnar in his realm hold him as their lord. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn the jotnar used in the Scarburg siege were those newly-pledged to his service. A test of loyalty, one could say. But it provided that paranoid jotunn lord the perfect excuse to get rid of those who might turn against him in the future. For a challenged intellect, it was a brilliant cold-blooded strategy,” said the elemental.

  “If that was an intentional pun, it’s not funny,” remarked Tyler.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Le Déluge

  Byggvir spake:

  45. “Byggvir my name, | and nimble am I,

  As gods and men do grant;

  And here am I proud | that the children of Hropt

  Together all drink ale.”

  Loki spake:

  46. “Be silent, Byggvir! | thou never couldst set

  Their shares of the meat for men;

  Hid in straw on the floor, | they found thee not

  When heroes were fain to fight.”

  When Rumpr left, the mage remained in the clearing for a time. The meeting with the elemental was necessary. He had to be sure the three powerful beings–Rumpr, Gullen, and Dionysus–had nothing to do with Sutr’s deadly tantrum, the spark which started it all. It only left Loki, though that conclusion could only be arrived at by inference.

  For all the mage knew, the blasted squids were behind the present chaos. But he requested Rumpr to send Eira a message about where he was and what he intended to do after Hedmark. It’d be an upbeat message too–he didn’t want Eira to be worried. Tyler knew the forest spirit must also be facing a lot of problems with the undead.

  “Guys? Have you analyzed the weird field which created the revenants?” he asked his guides.

  “No, sire. Though we told you it was energy filtered through an unfamiliar dimensional medium,” X replied.

  “Please check and try to reference it against the database you have. Somehow, the idea of a First World entity—with the exception of the Elders—having access to dimensional rifts sounds preposterous. They wouldn’t be stuck here on Adar otherwise. The various pantheons would be scattered all over the dimensional universe, each with their own world.”

  The mage slowly walked back to the keep, still immensely worried about the numbers they would be facing. The mere fact that the forester and the jarl didn’t volunteer a specific estimate didn’t bode well.

  As he neared his room, Tyler felt two commanding aurae coming from within. One was known to the mage.

  Odin again? Talk about Norse deities bearing burdens. But the other one is unfamiliar, the mage thought with trepidation. By now, he was accustomed to equating Odin’s appearance with additional headaches. At least he didn’t sense any hostility or anger. Instead, worry and apprehension predominated.

  He entered the room and found Odin and one other deity waiting for him. He didn’t need to request a barrier spell for the area; it was second nature for deities of such power to cast such enchantments for meetings of confidence. Considering he’d just talked with Odin, a second encounter was clearly not a social affair.

  “First Mage, this is Lord Freyr. He has heard of you, but never had the opportunity to meet you in person. He rules Vanaheimr, one of the nine worlds closely allied with Asgard,” introduced Odin.

  “My pleasure, Lord Freyr,” the mage bowed slightly. “May I ask what his field of lore is? I beg your pardon, but I am not that familiar with the different specializations of deities.”

  “Fertility, wisdom, and precognition,” replied the deity.

  “He’d be more popular with men, if not for the fact that he grew up in Asgard and therefore, under my lordship,” added Odin. “We decided to wait here for you since I sensed you were busy in discussion with your elemental friend.”

  “Some queries related to what’s going on,” answered Tyler.

  “You’re lucky. He and his brethren tend to avoid deities,” commented Odin.

  “How goes the war? You both look a little worse for wear,” the mage said, shifting the topic. The two did look battle-scarred. Odin’s fancy armor had dents in places and lost its luster. Freyr was more conventionally armored, though in a heavy cuirass, gauntlets, and greaves. It also bore the hallmarks of savage battles fought. His aventail though was loosened, revealing the youthful face of a beardless middle-aged man. Blond hair streamed out of his helmet. Odin still had the mace, and Freyr had a sheathed sword clipped to his belt. But Tyler’s question made the two deities look at each other.

  “It’s a hard struggle, First Mage.” It was all Odin would say.

  Damn. It’s not going well.

  “Asgard’s defenses are also being tested. We still haven’t determined how they were able to access the dimension entrance to Bifrost,” Odin continued.

  “Where’s Asgard, by the way?” asked Tyler.

  “Neither here nor there. It exists between dimensions, the same as the other seven magical worlds. An ancient agreement, made possible by the power of all rulers of the worlds, excepting Midgard. Midgard has its own place in the universe. Though Vanaheimr and Alfheimr have the peculiar characteristic of being ruled by Freyr and his sister, Freya.”

  Something in Odin’s statement made Tyler ask, “What kind of magic created such an arrangement?”

  “The sort which shall not be seen again. When the nine worlds were created, knowledge about the magic that made them was fractured and divided among the worlds. One reason why Midgard remained where it is now. Nobody knows where Midgard’s share was sent,” remarked Freyr.

  “Earth was created by Norse legends?” came Tyler’s disbelieving comment.

  “It’s a legend, my boy. Except for that part about the other Norse worlds. Midgard existed a long time before we came into being. But you know mortals. If they wanted us to be the center of their universe during their early years – who were we to argue?” answered Odin. “Anyway, we’re here because of a request from Freyr. It’s about the elves.”

  “The Alfar are helping Skaney now. They’re taking on the role of clearing Viken, though open fields are really not conducive to their way of warfare. They’re also engaged in heavy fighting near the Dry Plains, an area of contention in the years before Skaney came into being. It was a forested area once, but the enormous expenditure of magical energy in battles and campaigns severely affected the region. But there, they’re are assisting the towns of Toten, Karsfell, and the fortress-town of Lade guarding the trade route through the region. The Alfar can hold their own. For now,” explained Freyr.

  “Freyr’s worried ab
out the dokkalfr. They’re part of his… flock. And I understand his apprehensions,” added Odin, cutting through the preliminaries. “We want you to go and see what you can do to help them.”

  Again, the dokkalfr. Second time today, thought the mage. It does appear I can’t wriggle out of the added complication. Let’s see what help I can get in return.

  “Freyr’s followers did try to take my head in Scarburg before. You know that, Allfather. And can’t you see I’ll be a bit busy here in a day or two? We’ve got undead visitors deciding to hold their festivities here,” remarked Tyler.

  “We know. But I am that confident you can deal with them, First Mage,” offered Odin. “That war would be between mortal beings and the undead. No godly intervention is allowed. The deities of the race are going to be busy defending their own domain against their arisen foes. We’ll be hard-pressed against Sutr’s legions when and if that jotunn presents himself, and right now we are also facing other creatures.”

  “It’s a wave of revenants, Odin! No, scratch that. Waves of uncounted undead. Everything and everyone who died in the struggle to wrest Hedmark is going to come visiting! Including some of your old enemies! With abilities intact, fueled by hatred of living things! The only beings they hate more than mere mortals would be the deities and magical beings aligned with them!” exclaimed Tyler. “We could all die here. There’s a limit to what a partially educated and hopelessly untrained First Mage could do!”

  Freyr was shocked by the outburst, more so that Odin allowed it to happen without punishment. But the Vanir deity held his peace.

  “I know you’re under a lot of pressure, lad. But don’t let it get to you. Tell you what, I’ll send you two companies of einherji to help you out. But you’ve got to promise to try to help out Freyr in return,” offered Odin.

  “It’s not enough. Even ten companies wouldn’t be enough. The weight of dead over millennia is a heavy burden indeed,” answered the mage despondently.

  “I can’t force you, First Mage. You know that. But the annihilation of the dokkalfr is unacceptable. Of course, it could also mean stopping Ymir himself in his tracks if he shows himself,” warned the old man with the eye-patch.

  “Getting into a fight with a mighty jotunn lord? One who personifies ice giants, extreme coldness, and irrational thinking? That’s assuming we survive Hedmark. This is becoming a very long list of concerns, Odin. It’s already full of matters concerning the southern lands,” said Tyler, using his hands to massage his temples. He could feel a headache coming on.

  “We’ll see what we can prepare before you take on Ymir. The pantheon is weakened right now. With my missing spear, the lessened number of einherji, Thor’s misplaced hammer, and the ongoing probing attacks on Asgard, we find ourselves stretched to our limits. Not to mention the enormous expenditure of magical energy the present struggle against the undead plague had demanded from us. If ever Asgard falls, then Vanaheimr and Alfheimr would be next on that plane of struggle. Hela could be asked to help, but she has problems of her own,” said Odin.

  “Your spear is missing? As well as Thor’s hammer?” exclaimed the mage.

  “I have also heard that legendary and godly weapons wielded by deities of various pantheons are nowhere to be found,” added Freyr.

  “Quite convenient for whoever is our enemy. Such an incredible event happening across the pantheons during a crisis as big as this one. The friend you mentioned just told me fighting had stopped, but jotnar forces are now facing southward.”

  “I know. No other conclusion but invasion. The pantheon of the Dual Monarchy is already preparing. But here in Skaney, we are in a precarious situation – the blight and the continuing assault on Asgard are severely weakening us. Kemet, an ally, also has concerns in the south. And the Aztecah war continues. I have heard of a new threat, a new dark power rising among them, but only rumors so far,” remarked Odin.

  “Oh, this day gets better and better,” replied Tyler sarcastically. “Reminds me of that folk tale, How to Tell Bad News.”

  The faces of the deities looked blank.

  “Would you like to hear it?” asked the mage with a wry smile.

  “Please do. Sounds intriguing,” said Freyr.

  “There are many versions, but one of them goes like this –

  A wealthy planter returning from a trip, and greeting the faithful retainer at the carriage station with a “Well, you old rascal, anything happen at the estate while I was gone?” “Nuthin wuth mentionin’, boss,” answers the retainer cheerily, “‘Cept, of course, de two hands what died fum eatin’ all dat burnt hoss flesh.”

  “Where on earth did they get hold of burnt horse flesh?”

  “Dat was when de stables caught fire, boss.”

  “The stables?”

  “Yassuh! Sparks fum de big house, dey figger.”

  “The big house! Sparks! How did the fire start?”

  “Fum de candles round de coffin, suh. Place burned to de groun’ afore we could do a thing.”

  “Good heavens, man! Whose coffin?”

  “Your ma, boss. I s’pect she died fum de shock.”

  “What shock?”

  “Yo’ wife, boss. She done run away wid de butler.”

  The deities grinned at the joke. Then Freyr asked what butler meant. The mage had to explain the concept.

  Damn. At least they got the idea of the joke.

  “A butler might be a good idea,” said Odin. “I believe I have some candidates in mind already.”

  Shit. The discussion is veering off-topic already, thought Tyler.

  “Here’s the deal. Get the einherji to lure the undead army in the Barrens away from this region, preferably toward Ymir’s domain or until they get embroiled in a battle with Ymir’s legions. There’s no way we can withstand the strength of two massive undead armies. My guess is they’re still gathering more forces. If the one in the Barrens joins the one nearer Hedmark, they’ll crush this fortress, and with such an immense force, proceed to roll over Namdalen and even the Alfar,” said the mage.

  “The two groups must not combine into one gargantuan undead army. Advise me when the army in the Barrens is lured away as that would mean the other army will start to move to the attack. Then advise Thor to be ready when I call on him. Even without his hammer, he still would be a great help,” continued Tyler. “But that army in the Barrens really needs to be drawn from the battle. That’s the only way we have a chance to survive this attack.”

  Odin didn’t answer immediately and instead looked at Freyr. The other deity nodded.

  “I’ll lead the einherji myself,” said Freyr.

  “You mentioned something about a rising dark power among the Aztecah, Gangari,” asked Tyler. “Haven’t we settled that matter with the elimination of their patrons?”

  A new dark power. Fuck this. Just when I thought that problem was over and done with. It couldn’t be the Followers of Zin. They got owned by somebody or another group.

  “No other details, except it’s one from the First World. Asleep, now awakened.”

  “This entire thing is like playing Whack-A-Mole. A game back on the First World – you hit a wooden mole as it pops out of a hole and another comes out from another opening. You told me you sent Loki north. Any word from him?” asked Tyler, not mentioning he already knew the answer.

  “None. I can’t even get hold of him. I know what you’re thinking, First Mage, and I am trying hard to come up with excuses for him. I don’t intend to make a colossal mistake again.”

  “All the circumstances do point to him,” said Freyr.

  “But what gain would he get from a continent half-covered by fire and ice?” asked Odin.

  “Or an Asgard overrun by ice and fire jotnar? But who truly knows what’s in that mind of his?” added Tyler. “And there is such a thing as overcompensating for the mistakes of the past.”

  “Ah, First Mage. Only you of all mortals could say such a thing straight to my face.”

  “Sometimes, t
he obvious needs to be said out loud.”

  ***

  Tyler stared at where the two deities had stood a few seconds ago, wondering what he had bitten off this time. But one thing was certain; if Freyr would be able to pull off the diversion move, then Hedmark had a chance. A slim one, but better than facing the combined might of two massive armies of undead. Then his staff grew warm.

  “Yes, Birki?” he asked.

  “I thought you’d like to know the aurae of those two were quite helpful. Especially the one from Freyr,” the guardian of the staff answered.

  “Well, his magical domain includes fertility. Which means if he’s attentive to his followers, the little blue pill won’t find a market here,” commented the mage.

  “What little blue pill?” asked Birki immediately, his curiosity piqued.

  “A First World thing. Something to help males regain their combative abilities in bed.”

  “Ah. I was right. Females of your race have always been the stronger sex,” commented the being.

  Tyler laughed as he went to his bed. It was one of those lessons he took to heart – rest while you can. Jorund had taught him a lot of things, the mage admitted, wondering how the huskarl-turned-einherjar was doing.

  Dinner was in their quarters. It seemed everybody was busy with the fortifications, even the servants of the jarl. Work continued even during the night. Tyler could see bonfires all over the trelleborg. He turned to Kobu.

  “What did you tell them to do? They all seem busier than usual,” asked the mage.

  “More barriers to funnel enemies into killing grounds, more stakes, spears, arrows, stones, and a few other toys. The key is to keep them away from the walls as much as possible or at least delay the inevitable close combat. It’s a battle of numbers, and we’re on the far side of the losing end,” replied the exile.

  “Just give me time to unravel the spell which animated them. It is a strange one, but once I determine its components, we could cut the strings keeping these puppets animated,” said Tyler.