“Yes, my lord. It was strange. The only jotnar we encountered and fought were in ones or twos. No bands. I have been a scout for many years but even I was surprised that we evaded their patrols. It was as if we were hidden well as we moved through the forest,” interjected Habrok. “It was as if they couldn’t smell or hear us. A group even passed a few feet in front of my hiding place and they didn’t notice me.”
“Habrok. Adults are talking,” admonished the warrior.
The man shut his mouth.
“So, you see, my lord, with you, things are not what they appear to be. A huge drake picked you up and then you show up in Scarburg with nary a scratch. There’s more, my lord. A dream where an old man asked me a peculiar favor together with instructions to watch for your arrival.”
Gone is the taciturn Jorund, thought Tyler. Must have been the shock of the past few days. Welcome to my world.
“How about you, Habrok? Any dreams of that sort?” asked Tyler.
“No, my lord. Only a dream of my father, may he be in Valhalla, telling me to follow Jorund. And he had a very big club with him. He told me he’ll give me the beating of my life if I disobey,” answered Habrok with a shiver. “By Odin, I really fear that man.”
So, Odin stuck me with Jorund and the jinx, he thought. I have no problems with Jorund but Habrok… even with his skills as a ranger, is a jinx. Or could jinx everybody. Hope Odin knows what he is doing. Or maybe he loves a good laugh now and then at my expense.
“I suppose you haven’t told anybody about what happened? How about the guards with you?”
“The guards were positioned too far to the sides and at the back to see anything, my lord. The truth is they thought it was a really severe thunderstorm and hid their asses immediately. When we withdrew, we didn’t pass in view of the destroyed encampment. Though we explained you away as having been summoned somewhere else by your master. A magic which would also explain the thunderstorm anyway. Not that I know of such things but for the guards, that would be enough.”
“You do know what will happen if you follow me, Jorund. You too, Habrok.” Tyler had already guessed what the peculiar order of the old man was.
“Yes, my lord.”
“I will follow where Jorund goes, my lord.”
“No regrets? You may die while with me. My journey is more dangerous than you could imagine. Last chance to change your minds.”
Surprisingly, it was Habrok who answered.
“The Havamal says a cowardly man thinks he will ever live, if warfare he avoids, but old age will give him no peace, though spears may spare him. But this decision demands some thought even if I remember my father with his club.”
“For me, none, my lord,” said Jorund, his voice firm, “and I do swear loyalty to my lord Havard as he is known as such, to serve, obey and protect with my life, with my allegiance to the All-Father now unto him, with the blessings of Odin the Wise.”
Habrok blanched. Apparently, he didn’t expect such a radical oath. Tyler and Jorund both looked at him. Tyler for his part observed the that the wording of the oath seems prepared. He concluded it must be of the old man’s own formulation.
Habrok was quiet for a while. The two gave him time.
“As do I, my lord Havard. I mean I may die horribly but it’s better than dying in bed or of old age. Do we still get to go to Valhalla?” he asked Jorund.
“Yes, Habrok. If we remain true and if needed, die like men. That much has been revealed to me. Odin’s grace will remain with us.”
Then Jorund turned to Habrok. A stern face. And in a grave tone, he advised the ranger.
“Habrok, with your oath, you now have a geas of silence on you on matters involving Lord Havard. Remember that. The All-Father will be watching us. What we did was not a simple matter for him to accept but his blessings go with us. Learn to keep your mouth shut and your lust under control. You get to be too talkative around women.”
Habrok listened wide-eyed. A simple warrior, a ranger, now thrust into the world of divine beings. Before, gods were kept at a distance in Habrok’s mind. Now they were looking over his shoulder. Poor man. Tyler pitied him. But he loved the expression on Habrok’s face.
After the three took their meal together, Tyler told Habrok to look for information about a mad hermit named Starkad, with the advice that he may be called some other names too. This penchant of gods and related beings having so many names was giving him apoplexy. Two or three names he can understand, but a whole gamut of them? Meanwhile, he wanted to rest after his journey. A normal bed now sounds very enticing, he can do the rest of his tasks after a good rest.
He found that Jorund’s room adjoined his own. With the huskarl’s room deliberately being before his when approaching through the hallway. His room was at a corner of the inn, located on the second floor. Habrok’s room was in front of his room. He wouldn’t be surprised if Jorund arranged it that way. Or that Jorund loosened the floor boards to give advance warning of anybody walking near their rooms. The hallway floor did sound noisy while Tyler was going to his room.
Tyler cleaned himself up and changed. Jorund had the presence of mind to get new clothes for him which were already on top of a table. His armor and sword he left with the man who said he’ll have it fixed first with the blacksmith. His short staff he kept with him. No way he was going to let it out of his sight. Lying down on the bed, he planned out his immediate tasks in Scarburg.
First, a courtesy call with the priest-librarian and then a visit to Scarburg's war-mage. After that, an unobtrusive check of the town’s defenses. He’ll decide what to do after these tasks. Considering the scout reports he heard from Habrok, a few days still remained before any assault on the town will be made. The library is more of a courtesy call. A means to keep up appearances.
The war-mage visit is different matter altogether. Though calling upon the man was also necessary to keep up appearances, with Tyler being ostensibly a mage, it will provide information on the actual status of the town’s defenses. But to examine the defenses and prepare whatever he can think of, he may have to scout the Gap. So, far no enemies have been seen in the area so the venture is possible. Good thing he still had the letters the Gothi provided.
After a few hours of rest, Tyler and Jorund were on their way to Scarburg’s library. Tyler noticed several separate encampments on an open field as they were nearing it. The people there didn’t appear to be warriors though they had organized rows of tents and each camp had guards.
“What are those?”
“Seidr mages, itinerant adepts and not too crazy hermits, my lord,” came the answer.
“Seidr mages?”
“It is a type of magic which deal with divination and related practices, sometimes even healing. But it is usually practiced by women. Men who follow that path are ergi as that kind of magic is deemed unmanly. As with those that you see, they usually live isolated lives, keeping to the mountains. But the recent war with the dokkalfr forced them down to Scarburg.”
“Even those adepts and crazy hermits?”
“Yes, my lord. It is impossible to live in their mountain caves if dokkalfr are hunting humans. Nor can they get food from the traders who usually supply them. The routes to the mountains are now closed and nobody wishes to chance the journey, even for any price.”
“How come those adepts are also living in the mountains?”
“Magic sometimes claims its victims, my lord. Too much energy can kill a man or make him not right in the head. That’s what happened to those adepts and hermits. To kill them outright is not permitted in the eyes of the gods. But to allow them to live in towns also pose a danger to its inhabitants. So, the best solution was to exile them. But I guess recent circumstances made the Jarl and the war-mage give permission for them to stay in the town. They may yet serve some purpose in its defense.”
Tyler nodded his head. He did note that the laconic Jorund had been replaced by a more talkative one. It must be the shift in allegiance. Even Jorund reco
gnized the need for Tyler to have information. That means Jorund knows or had seen more than he lets on. Tyler now suspected that Jorund saw what he did to those attackers back during the ambush. If he did, he clearly kept it to himself. At least the man knows how to keep secrets. He prayed Mr. Jinx also could keep such confidences.
The visit to the library was a let-down. The priest, together with his assistants, was too busy packing books and other materials from the library for evacuation. He did apologize for not being able to render any help or allow the use of the library considering the mess. The war-mage, Snorri, was more attentive. Though he was busy examining a map when they visited, he still invited them into his study for some fruit wine. Jorund remained outside the door, resuming his guard role.
“I see Ivar sent you here. Right in the middle of a brewing war. Though to be honest, Havard, his request is unusual. He asked me to leave you to your devices and lend as much assistance as I can. Far it from me to question any request of a Favored of Odin but you have to agree the request seemed odd. Do I need to know anything more?”
“My esteemed war-mage, rest assured that my interest here is also for the defense of Scarburg. I have my reasons for acting the way I do. I would appreciate some background on how we stand now. And free rein to go in and out of the town.”
“You mean into the Gap? You can leave and enter the town anytime you want without special permission. The only exit needing approval is the gate leading to the Gap.”
“My work may lead me there, esteemed war-mage.”
The mage looked at Tyler for some time and with a sigh, finally answered.
“It’s your life, Havard. I don’t think you would throw it away needlessly. I do see that you are almost at the mage level so you may be able to take care of yourself. The blessings of the gods be with you if you do intend to leave for the Gap.”
“My thanks, esteemed war-mage.”
“While I am writing your pass for the gate, feel free to go to the balcony, you can see how we are poorly preparing for the jotnar and the dokkalfr. At least the view is memorable.”
Tyler went to the stone balcony. From there, he could see the expanse before him. The Gap of Telemark. Numerous barricades made of sharpened wooden poles dotted the landscape. There were crisscrossing deep pits. He didn’t doubt there were also a lot of hidden pit traps. The arrangements funneled into predetermined killing zones for arrows and javelins. Egress from the zones was again barred by buried but angled sharp wooden stakes and barricades. About forty feet from the wall was another wide and deep pit. He didn’t know whether the pit was filled with incendiary materials. But to his mind, it should be.
Looking around, he saw that the town was in the center of the narrowest part of the Gap. No exit leading to the wide expanse beyond existed in the town’s walls. The town walls however extended for around half a mile to each side through the town itself. Scarburg was also enclosed by its own walls. He could see the gate house for the Gap on the extended right wall. A few small fort-like defenses lined the wall at regular intervals. The walls stopped at the cliff faces of the mountains at both sides. The stone walls stood at ten feet in his estimation, with a walkway good for three people abreast. But he didn’t see any crenellations. A five-foot wooden fence with iron bracings stood on top of the walls. With spaces for archers, he assumed. He felt the war-mage move into the balcony.
“I am a bit surprised at the fortifications, esteemed war-mage. Why the wooden fence on top of the wall? Shouldn’t it be a higher stone wall with archer and javelin men positions?”
“Ah, there lies the rub. The svartalfar were the ones engaged to work on the fortifications long ago. The mountains on each side are now inaccessible from the front due to their work. But when they started on the walls and the town’s fortifications, the money ran out. I saw the original plans and it would have made for an impregnable defense. But as I said, money ran out and the succeeding Jarls didn’t think too much of it as they were able to beat back Ymir’s legions with what they had. But I fear what Ymir has amassed against us now will be too much for these unfinished walls.”
“Do we have enough men to defend the walls?”
“Less than I would like. Only around a thousand warriors and another thousand raised from the karls, the freemen. No reinforcements will now be coming from the east and those from Ahrensburg still have not arrived. I only have a few mages available. Though for healing, those seidr practitioners could help. I don’t know about those mad hermits and the adepts. They could be of help or a hindrance. But we couldn’t leave them up in the mountains to be killed by the dokkalfr.”
He gave the scroll to Tyler.
“As this is a matter for the temples, the Jarl doesn’t need to be involved. He wouldn’t understand anyway,” said Snorri.
Tyler gave his thanks and rejoined Jorund. He asked Jorund to pass by the defense wall so he could see up close the fortifications. A guard challenged him upon nearing the walls but the letter from the war-mage settled matters quickly. One thing he did notice was the number of dogs accompanying the guards. It seems there was a dog for every two guards, whether posted sentries or on patrol.
“Why so many dogs?” Tyler was curious.
“There are jotunn who look like humans, dokkalfr with their magics, and even shapeshifters. Runes can find them but dogs detect them faster and can attack. They’re trained that way.”
Human-looking jotunn? Shapeshifters? Nobody told me about them!
“Can we get runes like that?” asked the alarmed Tyler.
“Yes, my lord. Though expensive.”
“Just remind me about it when we get back to the inn. I also need better armor anyway. For the two of you also. Weapons too if we can find them.”
Jorund nodded. “Weapons and armor will be costly. The less expensive ones may be out of stock.”
“Don’t worry about it. We will manage. Come on, let’s check the walls.”
The walls were a discouraging sight. The wooden fence on top of the stone walls appeared dilapidated. Some posts were clearly rotten and some iron bands were heavily rusted. Even the stone walls looked unmaintained. Gouges and marks from previous battles have not been fixed. Considering the condition of the walls, Tyler didn’t expect the barricades outside the walls to be well-maintained too. Moreover, the war-mage was right. The number of men posted on the walls was a lot fewer than he expected. With such a wide frontage to protect, a thousand warriors and a thousand poorly armed and trained auxiliaries wouldn’t be enough.
Shit. A horde of half-blind Mongols could take this town. Without their horses.
Tyler knew he had his work cut out for him. Dispirited, he told Jorund to go back to the inn. As they entered the inn, a recognizable figure was sitting and waiting for him.
“Greetings my friend Havard! How nice to see you here!
It was Farman. Better known as Loki.
CHAPTER LORE:
Chiton – Classical Greek. A simple linen tunic worn by men and women. Tubular in design, it is secured by fasteners along the shoulders and upper arms. Typically reaching down to the ankles of the wearer though shorter chitons are also worn.
Goetes - Classical Greek. Refers to individuals who portray themselves as magoi but are actually mere parlor trick practitioners. Also means charlatan or fraud.
Valkyrie - from the old Norse valkyrja. Also called "Odin's shield-maidens." In Norse mythology, they choose those who die in battle and who may live. Half of those who die in battle go to Valhalla while the other half belong to the goddess Freyja.
Einherjar - Old Norse. In Norse mythology, these are the ones selected to go to Valhalla and fight as Odin's army when Ragnarok comes.
Heill og saell – Old Norse greeting. Literally meaning “healthy and happy”.
Havamal – Old Norse. A series of Norse poems. Deemed wisdom sayings attributed to Odin.
Seidr – Old Norse. A type of magic which deals with divination and the use of charms for treating diseases.
> Ergi – Old Norse. Meaning “unmanly.” A social taboo and an insult.
The Accidental Archmage: Book One - Ragnarok Rising (MOBI EDITION) Page 25
