Tartarus Beckons
Page 24
“That is a problem,” answered Tyler as he watched the two gigantic entities exchange blows. No magic this time, only the pure, unadulterated pleasure of trying to beat the other to pieces.
“Understatement. You are fond of those things,” said the deity.
Tyler glanced at Kobu, looked at the pair of formidable entities battling in the sky, and shook his head. The exile nodded and gave the rest of the companions a hand signal, resulting in lowered weapons.
“It seems we’ll all be in for a show,” commented Kobu.
“Not if I can help it. Those two are ready to fight to the death,” replied Tyler in a concerned voice.
A sizeable magical barrier suddenly emerged between the two combatants. It was supposed to be invisible, but the magic around the lion and the dragon gave it visible form. The rectangular shield increased in size and strength as it slowly separated the two. But the pair were not to be denied. Blows immediately struck the block between them as each tried to get at the other. The magical construct dissipated after a few hits from each side.
“Nice attempt, but not enough,” observed Dionysus.
“Why don’t you stop them?” asked Tyler hurriedly.
“And be squeezed like a gnat between two manic and formidable entities intent on destroying each other? I am not crazy nor powerful enough. Even Zeus would be hard-pressed to get those two to settle down,” said the deity, disbelief evident at the suggestion.
Tyler briefly glanced at his friend for a moment, irritated at the running commentary. He wouldn’t have minded if Dionysus came up with a helpful suggestion, but it looked like even the wine god saw the conflict as way above his level of power. Next came an attempt to encase each entity in a sphere, with worse results. A single blow destroyed the mage’s construction. Lacks imagination, commented Dionysus. The mage belatedly realized that trying to hold in place two separate spells invariably weakened both.
Another barrier between the two was created, this time a lot stronger and with all the magical energy he could spare. The spell lasted longer than the first one by around five seconds. Another fence? came the deity’s remark. The mage was now infuriated. Dionysus’s biting stabs at his efforts worsened his already irritated state of mind.
The mage looked at the two magical creatures intent on destroying each other, their colossal forms blotting out part of the sky. The fighting had already brought Gullen and Asag near the company’s location. Dust, branches, and rocks engulfed the company, the mage included. Dionysus was unperturbed – a large sphere of calm surrounded him. Hrun just stood on one side watching the battle, unmindful of the storm of dirt and forest detritus. Then Tyler saw Habrok get hit on the head by a large rock. The ranger was bowled over and lay still. The rest of the companions struggled to get to the fallen man, but were deterred by the increasing strength of the wind and the danger of larger rocks flying in the air.
At the sight of the fallen Habrok and the futile struggles of his friends to rescue him, the mage’s vision dimmed with fury. He looked at the two powerful entities battling to their hearts’ content. Tyler could see that Gullen and Asag were oblivious to everything else, and the danger of a fatal injury to the mortals below them was increasing by the second. The mage could create a barrier protecting his friends, but there was no assurance that it would be effective against the kind of magic the two had shown so far. And Tyler knew the moment the duo get tired of exchanging blows, use of immensely powered spells would come next.
And these two stupid beings are going to destroy Eira’s forest in the process! My home! The thought erupted in his mind.
That sudden realization was the final point which made Tyler snap. An abrupt golden glow erupted from the mage’s body, and the orbs of his eyes were replaced by a blinding blaze of incredible energy. The deity beside him jumped back in alarm, calling out the mage’s name to unheeding ears. Kobu stepped back, unable to withstand the magic emanating from Tyler. Then Tyler’s arms rose to the sky even as the companions finally noticed the dramatic change in the First Mage.
The companions were speechless, and watched with dread and fascination as the expression on Tyler’s face changed to one of cold fury. With jaws clenched, the muscles of the mage’s arms bulged with an apparent exertion of strength. The hands reached out in the direction of Gullen and Asag who were single-mindedly focused on tearing each other apart. If they sensed the colossal eruption of power below them, the two gave no sign of minding what it was or what it meant to them.
A stream of dazzling energy burst from each hand and engulfed the two massive airborne creatures, forming two spherical shapes in the sky. A second after, the orbs quickly and noiselessly exploded, and as they disappeared, the human forms of the ancient dragon and dark entity were left hanging in mid-air for a second.
Then the two figures dropped like stones to the ground below.
Epilogue
The Savior of the Mortal and the Divine
Eira looked out the balcony. Before her was a vast forest, just beyond the manicured lawns and carefully tended plants of a spacious garden of the palace. The design of the structure was strange, one the forest spirit had never seen before, she had to admit.
The stone edifice had three levels with numerous large windows and small balconies. When Eira entered the place, an enormous hall greeted her past the huge door. Gold filigree covered the massive columns, and marble statues filled the arrival room, though she could see a raised dais with a simple stone chair at the end of the space, flanked by two wide, hardwood stairwells leading to the upper floors.
It was, despite the unfamiliar design, a dwelling fit for a king or an emperor. The thick carpets blanketing areas of the floor and the richly appointed furniture only emphasized that fact. But it gave the impression of being human in scale and décor, avoiding the sometimes garish and ostentatious ornamentation that accompanied the structural creations of deities. One would have thought a mortal lived in the place.
And now, the garden and an untouched forest greeted her eyes. It looked utterly beautiful, like a magnificent painting made by a god of nature, and yet it looked and felt just like that – a collection of shapes and colors. Eira couldn’t sense any life from the greenery which had attracted her at first.
“Greetings, my Lady.”
Eira knew the voice. It was Iapetus, her captor. She glanced at the ancient being as he entered the room. This time, Iapetus was accompanied by a warrior of an indeterminate age wearing majestic yet frightful armor. The new visitor wore a full and closed helm which hid his features, though two red slits peered out.
“So nice to see a reminder of my present unfortunate circumstances,” said Eira mockingly. “What brought you out from under your rock, old man?
“Such words, my Lady. I am hurt,” said Iapetus, though he had a smirk on his face.
“Why take me? I am but a forest spirit whose mere concern is Fossegrim Forest,” demanded Eira. But she already knew what the answer would be.
“And the wife of a very troublesome human mage,” said Iapetus, whose grin became wider.
“He’ll come for me. You know that.”
“I am counting on it, my Lady. Though I do hope he’ll consider my offer.”
“What offer? What’s on your mind, you horrid little old god?”
“Please, Eira, let’s not stoop to name-calling here. But you’re his wife, and I believe you have the right to hear our assembly’s proposal.”
Assembly. So, it’s not only Iapetus, thought Eira.
The first part of the offer was simple, and she expected it – stop interfering, and Eira won’t be hurt, and the First Mage would even be free to roam Adar, provided he doesn’t involve himself in the ongoing war between Tartarus and the deities of the surface world. Typical bully behavior, thought the spirit. But the second part was extraordinary – if Havard plays his role -merely by not involving himself – then he becomes the First Mage of a new world, overseen by the victors, and Eira will have dominion over all th
e forests of Adar. The shock must have been evident on Eira’s face as Iapetus chuckled.
“A more than generous offer, don’t you think?” he told Eira.
Eira didn’t answer his question but instead stared at him, confusion apparent in her gaze.
“But why all these conflicts? A lot of deities, even from your side, will be dead and gone by the time your war is over.”
“The cost of the future, my Lady. A future where man will rule supreme over his own fate under our guidance.”
“I don’t think it is as simple as that, Iapetus. Some of your sons might be altruistic, but you are not them,” Eira spat back.
“Ah, a perceptive and thinking deity. Quite the change. The magic of a world doesn’t last forever, Eira. It can regenerate itself, though slowly. Too many deities and magical beings will deplete what is available. The idiotic Divine Wars had affected what was then a plentiful reservoir of magic. A lesser number of gods and magical beings would ensure that what happened in the First World won’t happen here. Those surface idiots fail to realize that after Adar, we have nowhere else to go,” smoothly explained Iapetus.
“But you’re unleashing a war yourself!” cried out Eira in disbelief.
“There are a lesser number of gods now. And the demise of each will return whatever energy they have into the web of magic which shrouds this world. True, the magical energy available might be depleted for a while, but with the pantheons gone, it will be back to full strength in no time.”
Eira stared unbelievingly at Iapetus. The entity before her sounded more like a human, with a rational train of thought unaffected by whatever belief attended Iapetus’s creation. But the deity was casually talking about divine genocide.
Survival might be at the core of the belief, but the manner of its execution was plain bloodthirsty madness. What’s worse was Iapetus based his grand plan on the assumption that Adar was exactly like the First World. From what Tyler had told her, that wasn’t the situation. Eira wasn’t about to tell Iapetus that bit of information – she didn’t fully understand it herself.
“You do plan on leaving Tartarus!” said Eira.
“Of course, how else could we rule? Did the pantheons really expect us to stand by as they waste the magic of this world? Unchecked, the magic would eventually be exhausted and the bastards above gone with it. Where would that leave those in prison dimensions and similar places where access is controlled by the surface deities? All of us would be trapped forever or reduced to watching ourselves waste away because of the arrogant stupidity of your so-called pantheons.”
Eira found herself unable to answer Iapetus. She had not been privy to the workings of the deities of Skaney, much less those of other lands. Contending with the arguably insane deity, or even asking the appropriate questions in an attempt meant to make him think twice was beyond her, she thought. Tyler probably could, but he wasn’t around.
“Typhoeus, the First Mage will be on his way here. Please make sure he’s admitted through the gates. Better yet, make it easy for him to reach Tartarus,” Iapetus told his companion.
“We’ve lost track of him after he entered that cave in the Dokkalfr Mountains,” replied the armored being, the voice echoing cavernously in the room.
“No matter, he’ll show up before our gates soon.”
“And his companions?”
“We only need the First Mage.”
“Understood.”
Glossary of Notes and Definitions by Chapter
CHAPTER ONE
Karve – A type of Norse ship, primarily used for coastal or shallow waters.
(Please refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karve_(ship))
Skit – A Swedish profanity, meaning shit or damn.
CHAPTER THREE
Nereids -Greek mythology. Sea nymphs.
CHAPTER FOUR
Zmei – Slavic mythology. Dragon-like magical creatures and the subject of many a folk tale.
CHAPTER FIVE
Gallu – Mesopotamian mythology. Plural – gallas or gallus. Extremely powerful demons, usually portrayed to be formless beings.
Nabu-sin – The story of Nabu-sin is in the companion book, Stories of Adar: Tales from the Abyss.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Glima – The ancient Nordic art of wrestling.
CHAPTER NINE
Thegn – Old Norse. An ancient title, the origin of the English word ‘thane.’
Hersir – Old Norse. Also an ancient title, usually used to denote the commander of an army under the king’s orders.
Hafna – Old Norse. A unit of territory used to divide the land among those close to the king or jarl. Each hafna was assessed an amount needed to arm and man a ship. For the dokkalfr in this story, the purpose is to maintain a set number of armed and armored warriors.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Arm of the Poor Society – First mentioned in the story “Orm, Kadir, and Sford” in the companion book “Stories of Adar: Tales from the Abyss.” Link provided: https://www.amazon.com/Stories-Adar-Tales-Abyss-Book-ebook/dp/B07DYSQPLS
Asag – A Sumerian demon believed to have power over rocks and stone. Usually accompanied by an army of creatures made of rock when he goes out to fight.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Chase -The story of the battle between Asag and Ninurta is told in the Sumerian mythological poem ‘Lugal-e’.
Dimme- A powerful Sumerian demoness who is deemed to be the most terrible among female demons. Daughter of the sky-god Anu and known in Akkadian mythology as Lamashtu.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Freyja – Sister of the Vanir god, Freyr. Though known to be a goddess of love, fertility, and death, she’s also associated with gold, war, and magic. The contradictory nature of Freyja is best exemplified by the myth that half of those who died in battle belongs to her. They go to her own hall, Sessrumnir in the field of Folkvangr, as opposed to Valhalla. Known to be very promiscuous, probably because her husband is frequently absent.
About the Author
Active Member, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
A Goodreads Author.
Writer of the following fantasy and science fiction series –
The ACCIDENTAL ARCHMAGE, ARCANUM ASTRAY, PLANAR WARS, MANUS DEI, and ANCIENT FANGS.
Soloflyte Worlds
https://soloflyte.blog/
Soloflyte Worlds on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/embatara/
emb.iwrite@gmail.com
Soloflyte Worlds on Patreon
Fantasy and science fiction have always been my favorites, especially those stories from the era of dime novels and genre magazines, the time when both were still deemed fringe. Those stories spark the imagination and bring a reader to worlds and concepts beyond his reality—though I have to admit, reality is fast catching up with science fiction. Fantasy, on the other hand, is being enriched by today’s gaming and movie technology.
My writing preference is fiction anchored on a familiar fact – be it mythology, historical events, or even a physical feature, something one knows exists in the real world. It makes immersion in the grand adventure easier and more enjoyable.
A book may be an author’s creation, but it doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a common point of reference between the writer’s story and the reader’s experience. Or even between readers.
Writing started as a hobby on free serialized novel websites, for the pleasure of writing and sharing one’s stories. Mostly, it was a stress-relief exercise. I was fortunate that other people found them engaging and enjoyable.
Publication then followed. To my readers; thanks!
I still write on the free websites, but unlike with full-length books, readers do have to wait for periodic installments. And I welcome constructive feedback and engage readers in discussions about the mythos as the comments and discussion sections of such serialized stories will show. But I do try to avoid spoilers.
There are innumerable worlds out there.
Explore,
let your imagination fly. Unlike for the protagonists in the stories, there is no dark Elder god, no tentacled monstrosity, no stabby assassin, or a vengeful deity waiting outside your door. Nor will opening a book suck you into a separate dimension. Well, hopefully not.
Finally, a note about my Patreon account. There are and will be original stories posted there, in a serialized format. I am still thinking about whether to eventually publish them on Amazon.
Enjoy the journey. Have fun.
And thanks again.
Published Books
The ACCIDENTAL ARCHMAGE Series
Stories of Adar
A Companion Book to the Accidental Archmage Series
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LATEST RELEASE
ANCIENT FANGS Series
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ARCANUM ASTRAY Series
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The PLANAR WARS Series
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The MANUS DEI Series
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Humor and Satire
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Children’s Books
Short Story:
The Ring
(Writer’s Note: This story happened before the events narrated in the Prologue of Book Five.)
Arn stopped hoeing the ground and looked at his brother coming back from the edge of the forest. Garth’s hunt appeared successful. A fawn was on his shoulders.
He’s really a lucky bastard. No apologies to our dead parents, especially the old man who beat me black and blue every day. But Garth? The apple of the old man’s eye. Passably handsome. Popular among women. Gets everything he desires. Except for that girl, Arn giggled to himself. I had fun with her before a large stone destroyed that pretty face.