Chronos and the Rogue Hunters

by Edward Eck

  Cyrus stared at Kallan and the newcomer. “How did you get out and back so fast? It took us almost a day to get here the first time.”

  “Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention, the elder dwarves stashed a mirror in a chamber not far from here. Give them a break, they’re over three hundred years old. It’s a long journey to and from the lower mines.”

  Cyrus quickly rolled up the new Gleipnir and stuffed it into his backpack before taking the arm of the quiet newcomer who appeared to be in his late twenties. Kallan then led the way to the mirror, then to a chamber in the royal palace of the dwarf king.

  Screams and cries of terror could be heard throughout the streets of Koldihr. The glow of fires raging in certain areas cast long dark shadows against the intricately carved stone of the great city. A sustained loud howl could be heard as more screams echoed through the cavern.

  Cyrus quickly pulled the magical ribbon from his pack and spread it out across the steps leading to the palace entrance. He held his hand over it. “Mimnalt nissa vari contra tru-viso.” The visage of Gleipnir was transformed into that of a long length of heavy chain. He bent down to retrieve it.

  “Don’t touch it,” called Meagan. “Hank warned Max that touching something with an illusion on it will break the spell.”

  Cyrus smiled as he lifted the chain with some effort. “This is a little more advanced spell. As I mentioned before, I have a talent for illusions. Now we just need to lure the beast here and convince him to let us put this chain on him.”

  Amber crossed her arms. “Oh, and what makes you think Fenrir is just going to let you bind him with a chain?”

  “Last time someone attempted that,” Kallan added, “he bit off the hand of Tyr. I have a feeling Fenrir’s going to be more cautious this time.”

  Cyrus smiled. “I figured as much. That’s why I invited our quiet friend here.” He pointed toward the young man Kallan had fetched from the mine entrance.

  Amber stepped closer to Cyrus and whispered. “Who is he?”

  “Our ringer.”

  Meagan stood on the opposite side of the chain. “And how exactly is this mute going to lure Fenrir over here and convince him to allow us to put the chain on him?”

  A voice from behind them replied, “Leave that to me.”

  Everyone turned to find Odin standing in golden full-body armor. He appeared bigger than when last they’d seen him. Though thin in the face, his armor provided the impression of a more muscular frame.

  Cyrus could tell the weight of the armor was all the man could bear, but Odin’s mere presence might be enough to entice Fenrir. After all, during Ragnarok, it was Fenrir who had challenged and defeated Odin… swallowing him whole. It was only later than Odin’s son Vidarr had set him free. Cyrus figured the wolf would have a score to settle with the king of the Norse gods.

  Odin lifted Mjolnir—the legendary hammer of Thor—high above his head. Thunder and lightning crackled forth from it, lighting up the palace entrance and grabbing the attention of everyone in the dwarven city, including Fenrir.

  Cyrus recognized the mighty stone hammer, the one he had previously attempted to lift. Yet even in Odin’s weakened state, the Asgardian immortal lifted it with little effort.

  After a brief pause, the commotion in the city flooded toward the palace. Dwarves ran from the streets followed closely by the fifty-foot-tall black wolf. Fenrir’s ears laid back. The snarl on his face revealed huge sharp teeth as saliva dripped from the edges of his mouth.

  Everyone at the palace entrance took a step back except Cyrus, the young newcomer and Odin who stood their ground waiting for the great wolf’s approach.

  Fenrir stalked the edges of the courtyard, examining the scene. His glare fixed on Odin. Cyrus couldn’t tell if the wolf was planning his attack or preparing for one from the ancient immortal. Fenrir crouched low to the ground and let out a loud howl.

  Odin called out, “Beast, you have once again broken your bonds. You are an exasperating annoyance. But since you are here, I once again propose a challenge.”

  To Cyrus’ surprise the wolf responded. “I have no need to prove myself to you, old man. I will eat you once more and this time no one will set you free.”

  Cyrus called out, “As I suspected, beast. You still fear the might of Odin.”

  Fenrir let out a low rumble, shifting an angered glance at Cyrus. “How dare a child such as yourself speak to me. Do you not know who I am?”

  “You’re the oversized and cowardly son of Loki,” Cyrus replied. Perhaps if they could make the wolf angry enough, he would accept the challenge without thinking.

  Fenrir took a step toward Cyrus, but a lightning bolt struck the ground at his feet. The wolf quickly drew back his paw and shifted his attention to Odin once again.

  “I challenge you,” Odin bellowed, “to a test of strength. Hundreds of years have passed. We wish to see how weak you’ve become.”

  “I have only grown stronger in captivity.”

  “Prove it.”

  Fenrir snarled. “Fine, but this time, I demand that someone stand inside my mouth while I endure your pathetic test. If I fail, I will eat that person alive. Should I succeed, I promise to eat that person last.”

  Cyrus called out, “We have a deal. My friend here has volunteered to meet your terms.”

  Fenrir sniffed the air in the direction of the newcomer, but made no gesture to back down. Fenrir merely laid at the base of the palace steps and opened his jaw wide. The newcomer climbed inside and took a seat within the mouth of Fenrir, while Cyrus and Kallan went about binding the legs and body of the monster.

  Once finished, they stepped back to watch Fenrir’s multiple attempts to break the chain.

  After enjoying the struggle, Cyrus waved a hand and the illusion was broken. The visage of the chain faded to reveal the glowing ribbon known as Gleipnir.

  The enraged wolf immediately bit down on the person seated in his mouth. A wave of water gushed from between his fangs.

  Fenrir leaned back his head to howl, but gurgled on the excessive amount of water. When the wolf finally opened his mouth, a single golden ring fell out, bouncing down the steps and landing at Cyrus’ feet.

  Cyrus picked up the ring and placed it in his pocket, He smiled at the successful completion of his plan. “For once, one of Vincent’s water automatons actually came in handy.”

  Kallan’s jaw dropped. “That was just a water automaton?”

  Cyrus smiled and admired his work… both in helping to create Gleipnir and in tricking Fenrir into his new bindings.

  Without warning, a fireball slammed into the ground a few feet in front of Cyrus. The wolf cried out, “Sorceress!”

  Out of the shadows ran a dark figure dressed in a black pantsuit and trench coat brandishing a sword. The movements of the sword were swift and accurate. With each slice, a section of the Gleipnir ribbon fell to the ground. Within seconds, Fenrir was once again free.

  As the great wolf stood, the figure stepped into the light, revealing herself to be Alexis Malkin, the dark sorceress.

  Alexis sheathed her sword. “This is becoming tiresome. Please try not to get captured again.”

  Fenrir immediately lunged for Odin who struck the wolf with Mjolnir. Lightning sparked and the wolf was knocked back, but so was Odin. Though he found the strength to once more lift the mighty hammer, it was all he could do. His strength was now gone and the hammer fell from his grip.

  Kallan, Meagan and Amber quickly dragged the limp form of Odin inside the palace while Cyrus tried to pick up Mjolnir, but with no luck. The hammer would not budge.

  Fenrir regained his bearings and pounced at Cyrus. Abandoning the great hammer, Cyrus ran for cover. With only a quick swat of Fenrir’s paw, Cyrus flew ten feet into the palace entrance and crashed to the floor. After shaking the cobwebs from his head, he regained his feet and joined the others tending to Odin.

  Fenrir pawed at the carved stone entrance to the palace. Fortunately the archway was too small for the giant
wolf. However, with each swipe, sections of stone were sundered from the building.

  Odin grabbed Cyrus’ arm. “You must wield Mjolnir to defeat Fenrir.”

  Cyrus shook his head. “I tried. I can’t lift it.”

  Odin undid his belt and pulled it from his waist. “This is Megingjord, Thor’s belt of strength.” He handed it to Cyrus. “It will give its wearer the strength to lift Mjolnir.”

  Cyrus eyed the belt with excitement. He placed it around his waist. He could immediately feel the swell of strength in his arms and legs. However, Fenrir stood between him and the place where Mjolnir had fallen.

  Looking out the palace entrance past Fenrir at the mighty hammer, Cyrus saw Alexis Malkin standing over Mjolnir.

  Odin whispered, “Call to it.”

  Cyrus did as Odin instructed. He reached out his hand toward the great stone hammer and called, “Mjolnir.”

  Odin let out a quiet groan. “No, you idiot. In your heart and mind. Speaking doesn’t do anything.”

  Cyrus tried again. He reached out his hand toward the hammer and closed his eyes. He thought about his desire to hold it. He could feel the need to wield the mighty hammer. He continued to focus on this thought. After a few seconds, Mjolnir first shuddered then flew from its resting place, tripping Alexis in the process, slamming into the side of Fenrir and straight into the palace to Cyrus’ outstretched hand.

  Alexis let out a curse, followed by Fenrir’s loud howl. The giant wolf clutched its ribcage.

  Meagan smiled. “Great. We have Mjolnir, but no Gleipnir. Now what are we going to do?”

  Cyrus replied, “We’ll need to find a new way to imprison the beast. Any suggestions?”

  Cyrus and the others thought for a moment while Fenrir continued to smash away at the palace entrance.

  Kallan eventually suggested, “In the lower mines, there is a two-mile shaft into the heart of the planet. At the bottom stands about a hundred feet of water. If we drop the beast into the mine shaft, he’ll tread water for all eternity since he can’t die, but at least he won’t be able to escape either.”

  Cyrus frowned at the thought. “Nice idea, but I doubt there’s a large enough mirror to transport Fenrir. It took us an entire day to travel there by foot. How do we get him there?”

  “The shrinking spell,” Amber called. “We shrink him down to puppy size, take him through the mirror then return him to normal. Even if he somehow finds his way out of the shaft, he won’t be able to leave the lower mines because the passages will be too small.”

  “Okay. So how do we get close enough to cast the spell?” asked Meagan.

  Odin pulled himself to his feet. “Use Mjolnir. Surround Fenrir with lightning. It will keep him stationary long enough to cast the spell.”

  Cyrus ran from the palace and raised the hammer above his head. He willed the lightning forth from Mjolnir. Bolts of energy streaked from the stone hammer. Arcs of lightning cascaded down around the giant wolf.

  Enraged, Fenrir reached out for one of the bolts. It singed his flesh. He howled and inched away from the sources of pain. “Release me, mortal, and I will spare your life. Do not and I will destroy all you hold dear.”

  Cyrus made no movement. He was focused on maintaining the lightning cage until someone could cast the shrinking spell.

  Alexis appeared at Cyrus’ side. “Finally someone powerful enough to wield Mjolnir. Why bother with the wolf? You and I could rule the world. Good sorcerers, evil sorcerers, it doesn’t matter. They will all bow down before us. Lower the hammer and come with me. We will be worshiped as gods.”

  The lightning stopped and Cyrus turned toward Alexis. “My… queen?”

  Meagan ran from the palace. With a clenched fist, she made an upper cut motion with her hand. A column of rock shot up from the ground and slammed into Alexis’ lower jaw.

  The shock knocked the dark sorceress to the ground, dazed and confused.

  Meagan extended open palm hands then closed her fingers into another fist. The rocky soil reached up and solidified into stone manacles holding the enchantress to the ground. A final strand of rock extended upward and encased her mouth… preventing her from further speech.

  Freed of her spell, Cyrus turned back toward Fenrir who now launched himself at the sorcerer. He raised Mjolnir once more and slammed it into the jaw of the giant wolf. Lightning shot through the body of the creature, singing fur and causing steam to emanate from its ears. The wolf collapsed to the ground unconscious.

  Amber moved to the beast and cast the shrink spell. “Mino zor-ti redu.” The wolf gradually shrank in size until it was only one foot long.

  Kallan grabbed the wolf cub and ran into the palace. He led them to the closest full body mirror and cast the transportation spell. “Mirtor tolanga se-atum.” The images in the mirror swirled around in a whirlpool of color.

  Amber knelt next to Odin and whispered to her brother, “You go on. I’ll stay with him.”

  Cyrus placed the hammer next to Odin and removed the belt. “He needs this more than I do.” Cyrus then jumped through the mirror, followed by Kallan and Meagan.

  Once they arrived in the lower mines, they returned to the chamber where they met Sturlin. “We need to get to the old vertical mine shaft,” called Kallan.

  Sturlin looked at the wolf cub then back to Kallan. “Follow me.”

  They raced through eight more tunnels until they arrived in a big circular room with a hundred-foot diameter hole in the center.

  The wolf cub awoke and bit Kallan on the hand.

  The dwarf prince dropped the wolf to the floor at the edge of the pit.

  Cyrus knew they couldn’t risk Fenrir escaping so he removed the shrinking spell. “Dim-tar mai secul.” Before the creature could reach the tunnel entrance, he grew and grew until he regained his full size.

  The dwarves ran from the room, followed by Meagan and Cyrus. Fenrir pawed at the tunnel, which only caused the entrance to partially collapse. Cyrus knew Fenrir was trapped in the room, but they needed to get him into the pit. “Meagan, use your earth elemental powers. Force him into the mine shaft.”

  As Meagan held out her hand toward the giant wolf, Cyrus watched through a gap in the rubble blocking access to the room. Fenrir scraped and pawed at the sides of the room while the floor gradually sloped downward into the mine shaft. He watched a few crates and tools around the edge of the room also slide toward the center, disappearing into the vast darkness of the pit.

  Eventually Fenrir too lost what little grip he had and slipped into the depths with a long echoing howl.

  Meagan continued to shift her palms. The ceiling of the room above the pit then lowered more and more until it came to rest on the top ledge of the opening. The hole was sealed.

  Cyrus collapsed against a wall and slid to the floor. Unfortunately, to his disappointment, Meagan didn’t follow suit. Instead she extended a hand and raised it up. As she did, the ground beneath him shoved him to a standing position. “We have to go. Nick just contacted me… the castle is under attack. We’re needed on Midgard.”

  39 Attack on Ravenicon Castle

  Gollnick ran into the library to find Vincent seated in front of the mirror. The reflection indicated Vincent was no longer in communication with anyone. “I’ve contacted Meagan and the others,” Gollnick announced. “They’ve captured Fenrir and are on their way home. Any word from our other friends?”

  Vincent’s long face was not so eager. “It seems in an attempt to keep our friends at bay, the dark sorcerers have launched attacks in major cities all around the world. I haven’t been able to reach anyone who can send aide—at least no one outside the Circle. I was able to reach Hank in Egypt, but no sooner had he spread the word than the dark sorcerers launched an attack near Karnack.”

  “Have you been able to reach Taryn or Max?”

  “Something was interfering with the communication spell, but Hank said he would get the word out to his contacts in the area. Hopefully one of them will be able to reach our
young friends.”

  Gollnick was not happy about this. When last he checked there were fifteen dark sorcerers searching Patterson Park in Baltimore, Maryland, blasting structures, trees, rocks and any other objects they could find. He knew what they were looking for, but hoped they wouldn’t find it until reinforcements could arrive. The ground rumbled slightly and Gollnick knew it meant they were getting closer. “As long as the castle remains in its pocket dimension, they won’t be able to see it.”

  Vincent stood from his chair. “Maybe we could cast some illusion spells, keep them occupied until help can get here.”

  Gollnick pursed his lips. “I doubt it will fool them for long. We’ll need to keep it simple and believable or they’ll just ignore it.”

  “How about Tiamat landing in the middle of the park?”

  Gollnick raised his eyebrows. “That wouldn’t be simple or believable. Not to mention it would scare half the population of Baltimore.”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  Gollnick thought for a moment. “As a matter of fact, yes. We create an illusion of ten sorcerers in the middle of the park and make it look like they are creating a protective shield around a pavilion or something. We’ll also need to actually create a shield too to make it look real.”

  Vincent tilted his head. “I don’t know if that qualifies as simple, but it might be believable.”

  Gollnick hobbled up the two flights of stairs to the balcony above the main entrance of the castle followed closely by Vincent. They looked out on the field of grass, walking paths and pavilions to find nearly thirty dark sorcerers wreaking havoc in the park. Several pavilions had already been destroyed and many more were in danger of collapse. “I’ll cast the shield spell. You cast the illusion.”

  Vincent held out his hands toward the center of the park. “Mimnalt nissa vari contra tru-viso.” Ten sorcerers in white robes stepped out of an undamaged pavilion near the center of the park, including figures who resembled Vincent and Gollnick. Raising their hands these white-garbed newcomers appeared to cast a spell.