“Well, sire. You look like a seidr mage rolled in flour,” replied the ranger.
The two laughed.
“Now what, sire. We leave?”
“Yes, but I still have a promise to keep. Let me catch my breath and let me sit down. Here are some more of the mining stones. Distribute them inside the chamber. Make sure the resulting explosions will break all the orbs inside. Those are the remains of magical beings. We need to set them free and let them go back to where they were born. They’re just energy now.”
At the revelation, Habrok’s eyes went wide and as quickly became grim.
“Aye, sire. They may be only energy now, but even they need to find peace.”
The ranger took the pouch and went back to the room. Tyler noticed the man was limping. He cast a healing enchantment on Habrok. He then slumped to the floor again and tried to rest.
“X. I am weary beyond what I can take. My entire body hurts. And we still have to go back to the departure point. If there anything you guys can do?”
“We can help with the pain. At least minimize it. With your permission, we can again dampen the pain receptors in your brain. We can return them to normal when we arrive at a safe place. As to your fatigue, releasing more energy from our reserves to your body will work as a temporary boost. But be warned that some of your muscles have been torn and we have just finished healing them. They’re still raw and need time to heal fully.”
“Do it. To live through this experience, we need to leave the city. I will even risk teleporting for short ranges when we get to level ground just to get out faster.”
He suddenly felt a lot better. His tiredness was a faint throbbing at the back of his senses and the pain had almost disappeared. This has to suffice for the next hour or so, he told himself. Habrok came back and returned the pouch.
“Now to get down the stairs. You’re limping, Habrok. Major damage?”
“I think some minor bone issues, but I’ll make it. Going down is a lot easier than going up.”
“How did you survive being thrown by that creature?”
“Ranger, sire. One of the first things taught to us is how to fall and then how to minimize any damage when falling. Or crashing into a tree or the ground. It happens a lot to us woodsmen.”
The two waited and observed for a few seconds after they exited the entrance. Flashes could still be seen but were isolated instances now. The fighting had gone from the primary structure and instead appeared to be a running battle in the streets of the city. Thankfully, it is still on the far side of the temple. Damage seemed to be severe in that district. Tyler could see structures on fire and collapsed buildings from their vantage point up in the central ziggurat.
Hidden in an invisible cloak again, with a recreated dome of energy, they made their way down the stairs. The area around the central plaza appeared deserted. He concluded that either people had evacuated or are now huddled fearfully in their homes. The two went back to their original starting position. Once they reached it, Tyler halted.
With Habrok watching, he first created a massive earthquake spell centered on the main temple. It was a localized but fully powered enchantment. As the ground started to shake, he reached out, covered the area up to the main temple with a field of energy and then poured into it what power he could spare, using whatever reserves he could draw from his guides. The stones left in the central ziggurat were the first to explode as he concentrated the first enormous pouring of energy in that direction. Then the ones glued to the two major temples nearby followed and finally the ones left inside the four temples on their left. As he saw the upper half of the main temple spectacularly blow up, he knew it was time to go. Tyler knew it was useless to watch the effects of the other stones. The entire area will soon crumble. He didn’t expect those small rocks to be packing such destructive power in them. Each probably was the equivalent to a quarter of a ton of TNT. And he set two to four in each spot. Habrok most likely left more in the chamber of the primary ziggurat.
“Habrok. Closer and hold on to my hand. I am going to use a spell for the first time.”
“The first time?”
Tyler used the open street as his experimental field. No obstacles, except for the numerous bodies splayed along the way or trampled into unidentifiable piles in the panicked evacuation of the populace. In the blink of an eye, the mage was fifteen to twenty feet down the road.
“Hey, it worked!” he exclaimed.
Then he cast it again. The mage did hear Habrok’s question just before the spell transported them.
“What do you mean it worked?” asked Habrok.
Finally, after three more jumps, they were at the now empty gates. Another quick cast and they were on the road outside. They ran back to the thicket, still hidden from view by the cloaking spell. Tyler could see Habrok following, his limping now noticeable. He gave the ranger another healing boost. Reaching the spot where they had to climb up, Tyler could feel the fatigue and pain coming back.
Shit. That didn’t last.
Immediately, the mage clambered up the low rise and quickly made his way back to the thicket, not wishing to be caught still walking when the effects of what his guides did wear out. Tyndur met him halfway and he collapsed into the man’s arms. The einherjar looked past the mage and saw Habrok. The ranger waved. The three went back to the copse. The priestess immediately checked on Tyler. She didn’t allow the mage to lie down and instead propped him against a tree. Then she went to Habrok. Astrid continued to keep watch on the road while Tyndur guarded the back of the woods.
Tyler had closed his eyes and opened them to see where the priestess went. He saw Asem hold Habrok’s right foot, straighten it, and cast a spell. The ranger closed his eyes. Then Asem came back to him.
“You’re half-dead, sire,” said the priestess.
“I guess I am. Too tired and in pain,” he answered. It was all he could say. Asem got a small bottle from her belt and put it on Tyler’s mouth.
“Here, drink and rest a while. I believe we still could see fireworks above the city.”
Tyler closed his eyes again. Twenty minutes tops, he told himself, thinking of their rest time.
He woke up when Asem shook his shoulder. Tyler said the first thing that came to his mind.
“How long was I out?”
“An hour for you and Habrok, sire. We agreed it would be best for the two of you. The time was well-spent. Your conditions would have worsened.”
“We have to put more ground between us and the city,” Tyler insisted.
“Of course, sire. But only if Tyndur carries you and Habrok too. Even my healing skills have limits. You are both fine now. Recovering. But some things can’t be rushed.”
“How about the fighting in the city?”
“It has been quiet for about five to ten minutes so I guess the battle is over. But I wouldn’t worry if I were you, it will take time for the city’s rulers to poke their heads out. Right now, I guess the populace is in hiding and waiting to see if it’s really over. I’ll give it another hour or two before some brave lad comes out to check if the big bad predators are gone.”
Tyler laughed. Which gave him a coughing fit.
“They’ll probably blame those attacking beings. We flattened several temples on the central square. Including the upper half of the central ziggurat.”
Asem’s eyes widened.
“It will take them a lot of time to recover from that destruction.”
The priestess looked at Tyndur and then returned her attention to Tyler.
“Though Tyndur is a bit depressed by not being able to join you. During the height of the explosions and flares above the city, all we could hear from him was how good a time Habrok was having among the Aztecah.”
Tyler was about to crack a joke when a soft breeze ran through the trees. He could feel a strong sense of magic. It was coming. Suddenly, Nenetl was in the middle of the group.
“Greetings everyone. Especially to you, my lady, and elder s
ister,” she said as she also bowed to Asem and Astrid.
Tyler felt a bit put out.
“The magic shadowing the city, preventing entry and exit from its surroundings, is gone as of now. You have the opportunity to leave by magical means.”
She gave Asem five small stones.
“Each of you hold one stone and crush it. It will bring you back to the ruined shrine on top of the plateau. A circle will be glowing in the middle of the courtyard. Do as you did when you came here. Count to five, close your eyes, and you will be back where you came from.”
“Thank you, Nenetl.”
“You’re welcome, High Mage. But you’re still no fun at all,” the child pouted and then disappeared.
Tyler looked at his companions. They were all smiling at the discussion between him and Nenetl.
“All right, my merry band of tourists,” declared Tyler. “It’s time to go home.”
EPILOGUE
When they got to the plateau, a glowing circle indeed waited for them in the ruined courtyard. As the group walked towards it and in the case of Habrok, limped, Tyndur finally broke his unusually dour demeanor.
“Sire, can you promise me that I’ll be the one to go with you next time? Of course, if circumstances allow.”
Tyler smiled and slapped the big man’s back.
“You have my promise, Tyndur. I would have brought everyone if that were possible.”
Habrok piped up, knowingly needling the einherjar.
“You should have been there, Tyndur. Sneaking among those blood eaters and heart feeders. The explosions! Temples crumbling! A desperate fight with one ugly and powerful being! My special arrows couldn’t even penetrate his shield! A mass of shouting and panicking locals try to get us! Guards, a priestess, and a mage at one of the temples. And close by, groups of whatever they are fighting each other with powerful magic!”
“Hah. Next time, when I get to be with our lord here, there will be drakens. Huge ones! Skeletal ones,” he proclaimed and then turned to Tyler. “I heard those bony ones are really hard to kill.”
I really hope not, thought Tyler. Astrid and Asem just laughed at Tyndur’s antics.
As they stepped into the waiting magical circle, Habrok looked around and turned to the group.
“I hope we won’t be coming back here. I think my familiarity with woodlands ends at the border of Hellas.”
The circle shone and hid them with a momentary blinding flash. They found themselves back in the underground chamber at Viracocha’s temple complex. The Incan was waiting for them. As they appeared, Tyler could see the deity smile.
“I am glad we didn’t have any casualties,” he told Tyler as the mage stepped off the circle.
“Habrok may have some broken bones,” clarified the mage.
“Ah, let me see,” said the god as he raised his right hand, palm out, in the direction of the ranger.
This close to the disguised deity, Tyler could feel the surge of energy from Viracocha. Habrok visibly straightened up, his limp gone.
Asem watched the process but again stayed silent. The companions gathered around. Viracocha looked at Tyler.
“As for you, my friend, I believe you’re healed but need to rest and recuperate.”
“Thanks, Wilan.”
The god smiled again. “Now that’s thankfulness I can appreciate, seeing that all of you came back alive.”
“My thanks, mage,” Habrok offered.
Viracocha glanced at him. “You’re welcome, ranger. Though it is far easier to heal the living than the dead.”
Tyler brought out the small shining sphere and gave it to Viracocha. He had removed the force form encasing it. The Incan held the orb in his both hands.
“My deepest thanks, First Mage. You don’t know how much this means to me as a father. Inti was my protégé. My favorite child even. I know what he did. His betrayal. His failings as the head of the pantheon. But in the end, a father always grieves when a child of his departs this world ahead of him,” came the voice of Viracocha to Tyler’s mind. “Here, take it back. Hold on to it. It hurts too much to look at it, much less keep it in my hands. Once you use it to open the portal, my son’s essence will be freed.”
The mage took back the orb and put it back in his pocket, encasing it again with a protective shell.
“Now, let’s go back to your quarters. Food, drink, and stories,” Viracocha announced to the group. He looked back at Tyler. “I assume the stored magical spheres have all been broken?”
“I think Habrok should answer that,” Tyler commented.
“I think so, Wilan. We did blow up half of the main pyramid. The explosions started in the chamber where we found the flashing things. So, I guess that would answer your question. Our lord here did handle that weird entity and broke their shiny gate. All that in the middle of somebody attacking the central temple complex. Destroyed half the city in the process. But we were responsible for about seven of their demolished temples.”
Viracocha stared at the group.
“It appears there are a lot of tales to recount and relish then,” he said.
Habrok laughed. “And we got three of the biggest ones.”
Abruptly, a glow started to form at the right side of the group. It swiftly coalesced in the form of three figures, a bearded man armed with a greatsword and in dark armor, and two women, also in protective gear, though one held a large elaborate white bow and the other, a glowing spear. They were all very tall, heavily tattooed, and had predominantly blue war paint on some of their exposed skin. The man and one woman had black hair while the other female was a blond. Their sudden appearance surprised the company. But only for a few seconds. Immediately after recovering from the unexpected entry of the visitors, the companions spread out, weapons drawn. Tyndur was actually twirling the battleaxe in one hand like a toy. Tyler was the last one in the group to react. A solid barrier appeared. Only Viracocha seemed to be unperturbed.
“Oh, put those things down,” he told the company. “That’s no way to greet honored guests.”
Guests.
“Allow me to introduce our friends, a god and goddesses of the Keltoi. They specialize in war, mind you. Right up your area of expertise,” he added as he looked at the group.
The man walked quickly to Viracocha, paused, looked at the company and then at the deity. The two goddesses stayed at the back.
“Mage Wilan at your service, god and goddesses of the Keltoi. What can I do for you, great Camulus?”
Tyler, in turn, heard the Incan in his thoughts.
“No danger here. These are my old friends. I asked them to watch over my temple when I was in exile. Despite everything, Inti did order a temple complex to be built in my name. Only far away from the city.”
“War gods and goddesses?”
“Of course, you expect me to ask a god of fertility to guard my temple? I did tell you I spent some time with the Keltoi. Nemanja there is a dear friend. Intimate for a time, hated me for a longer time, but we finally reconciled. The blond, Andred, is a close friend too. Never did get to be more than that. But they are reliable friends and I am loyal to them too.”
“Ah.” That was all Tyler could say. Leave it to Viracocha to be able to conduct two conversations at the same time. And apparently more a kveldulfr than Habrok.
In the meantime, Camulus was caught off-guard by Viracocha’s statement. But he quickly recovered and picked up on what the Incan implied.
“Well, mage, there are three, maybe four, very angry Aztecah deities now looking over the temple complex. So far, they have kept their distance. Probably sizing things up. But that’s not going to stay that way for long.”
Viracocha turned to look at Tyler. A wry smile on his face. The deity’s words came to his thoughts.
“I guess they’re blaming me for the mess back in their plaza. Though we are to be partly credited for it, of course. Any deity who had a temple demolished in that central complex is going to find his or her power greatly reduced.
The fools anchored their strength in their temples, probably feeding on whatever energies their patrons could spare. Leeches.”
“What happens now?”
“A battle among deities of course. A long time coming. Though I don’t know if it’s a pantheon-wide conflict. The whole bunch didn’t show up.”
“How about us?”
“A slight delay in our small celebration. I do have to send your group away. It’s becoming too hot here and I figure it’s going to be a busy period for me also. Your choice – back to Hellas or Skaney, or to the ruins where the portal to the Elder site is located.”
“The portal. I think I should get that over with before anything else.”
“Done. Get your group together.”
Tyler quickly signaled the companions to gather. As they gathered, Viracocha pointed to some bags which appeared at the back of Tyndur’s legs.
“Einherjar, don’t forget your provisions.”
Tyndur turned and picked up the bags of food and waterskins. A shining circle appeared around the group. Before they disappeared, Tyler could hear the exchange between Viracocha and Camulus.
“Just like old times, old friend?” asked Viracocha.
“Yes, just like old times. My older and more ancient friend,” laughed Camulus. The two goddesses joined in the laughter.
Image and Quotation Credits
Illustrations: Aztec border, Aztec calendar, Aztec snake, Aztec god mural, Mayan relief, Aztec warriors, Ionic Frieze, antique watch, Odin on Sleipnir, Greek spear and shield, attacking Greek phalanx, warrior throwing an atlatl spear, ziggurat, kneeling Greek phalanx, Sumerian spearmen, Assyrian warriors, Viking longboat, primitive hunter, stone column monument – Public domain. CC0 Creative Commons. WPclipart and Pixabay
Edward Hirsch quote – Edward Hirsch. (n.d.). AZQuotes.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017, from AZQuotes.com website: http://www.azquotes.com/author/27390-Edward_Hirsch
Attribution for other quotations listed where they appear.
The Accidental Archmage_Book Three_Blood Wars Page 32
