The Accidental Archmage: Book One - Ragnarok Rising (MOBI EDITION)

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  Herakles? Ares?

  Erithizo had moved to the side of the armored figure. His clean-cut face was now smudged, his armor giving off wisps of smoke, and his now visible cape torn in several places.

  “Hah! Meet my uncle. THE WAR GOD ARES!”

  Ares looked at him and then looked at the youth.

  “You didn’t tell me he was a visitor. Or that he and his companions were Odin's Favored.” The bass voice of the Greek god echoed within the enclosed square.

  “Does it matter?”

  Ares cuffed the youth so hard he slammed into and broke a small tree.

  “You stupid insolent pup! This changes things! The rules matter!”

  The form of the war god blurred. Then he moved so fast that Tyler, even with his enhanced senses, couldn’t see him. All he felt was the cracking of his personal shield and then something hit him on the head. He fell off the wagon, facing the demigod.

  As he lost consciousness, he heard Ares' enraged shout.

  “THIS MEANS WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING HERE! WE HAVE TO BRING THEM ALL BACK TO HELLAS!”

  CHAPTER LORE:

  HELLAS - Ancient Greek. Refers to the homeland of the ancient Greeks. Taken from the mythological patriarch named Hellen from whom the ancient Greek tribes descended, such as the Aeolians, Dorians, Achaeans and Ionians.

  Author’s End Note:

  I hope you enjoyed the story. Tyler’s journey continues in Book II.

  Next Book in the Series:

  New misadventures, new friends, new foes, new skills, new knowledge. New encounters of the female kind.

  More deities become aware of Tyler as he continues his quest to survive, reach his potential, and carry out his burden.

  Amid convoluted plans and plots designed by divine acquaintances of old and newly met gods, what's an ordinary guy from Earth to do?

  (SAMPLE PAGES FROM BOOK TWO FOLLOW)

  THE ACCIDENTAL ARCHMAGE

  Book Two

  Δώρα των Ελλήνων

  GIFTS OF THE GREEKS

  A classical fantasy with a modern twist

  By

  Edmund A.M. Batara

  @ soloflyte

  AUTHOR’S NOTES

  Incidents of people disappearing in plain sight are well-known in recorded history. One of the earliest known accounts was in the 1700s. One of the most recent was in 2007. Various theories have been advanced to explain such disappearances. This story is not such a theory.

  It is a work of literary fiction and merely draws upon these mysterious disappearances as a starting point for the story. Incidentally, even flocks of birds have been known to disappear in plain sight.

  Endnotes appear at appropriate chapters. There are mythological terms and names used in the story. Footnotes are not appropriate for ebook formatting and I believe footnotes are more distracting than endnotes. Story immersion may also suffer if the reader is left to search by himself the meaning of the terms and names used.

  Greek translation is provided by Google Translate Version 5.13.0.RC07 (all rights reserved by Google, Inc.).

  Enjoy.

  That said, here’s the indispensable part of any book:

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, interactions, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, unless otherwise indicated. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All Rights Reserved by the Author. 2017.

  Oh Greeks

  When the Wolf comes

  Beware the Dog

  - disputed last prophecy

  of Kassandra of Troy, Seeress

  PROLOGOS

  Eisagogi

  Hellas. A land of myth and of magic. Of temperamental and contentious deities.

  Early migrants from the classical period of Greece found a land like their own. Hot and dry in summer but comfortable due to the sea and the winds blowing from the cold wastes of the north. In winter, the frigid weather was influenced by the tempering sea breezes. The land itself was reminiscent of their homeland. A coastal area, a lowland marked by plains and rolling hills, and the ever-present mountains. With this realization, these pioneers felt blessed and nurtured by their gods.

  To the north, through the Barren Wastes, was Skaney, the Nordic homeland. Though war between them marked the history of the two regions, relations have been buoyed by trade and the cordial relations between the involved pantheons. But with the occupation of the land came old alliances, rivalries, animosities, and as with human societies, ancient grievances. A realm of convoluted loyalties and relationships.

  While the Greeks followed a common pantheon, worldly concerns charted a familiar path. Blood, politics, and war marked their relationships with each other. Many small city-states dotted Hellas, with a few larger ones exercising dominance over their tribal kin. By the time of the Great Migration, the people of Hellas were loosely divided among four major groups: the Aeolians, the Ionians, the Dorians, and the Achaeans. Other peoples of Greek origin, but not akin to the four, formed minor city-states of their own. Conveniently allying themselves with one or more of the main tribes when circumstances need them to do so. The exception being the Pelasgoi, an ancient mountainous people, though most Greeks deny their Hellenic ancestry.

  Among these tribes, the Dorians proved to be the most warlike. Claiming descent from Dorus, one of the four sons of the mythological Greek patriarch Hellen, they called their territory “Kretes”, after their ancient homeland, with the city-state of Dori as its capital.

  The Temple of Ares in Dori stood on a lonely hill, surrounded by a grove. Located some distance from the city walls, it found its purpose during periods of war and internecine conflict. Its floor was red marble, while columns of the Doric style held up its roof. It was bare of decorations except for a massive statue of the deity, naked with only a helm and a spear. Before it was a block of black marble which served as a votive podium. It was normally tended to by three warrior-priests but at this particular time of this specific day, each found himself compelled to leave the temple and attend to other business in the city.

  Suddenly, the afternoon peace of the sanctuary was disturbed by a glimmering ball of light which appeared before the marble effigy of the god of war and battle. The sphere expanded, grew brighter, and as quickly as it appeared, dissolved into nothingness. It left behind five figures, three unconscious men lying on the floor while the two standing looked upon them.

  “Enualios.”

  A woman’s voice resounded throughout the temple. One of the two standing figures, armed and armored in red, looked around. Two shimmering shapes appeared to the side of the statue, slowly forming into the forms of an old man, clad in a dark blue robe with red trim, and a tall woman wearing ekdromos armor, sword on her hip, and a spear in her right hand.

  “Sister! What are you doing here?” cried out the armored figure.

  “Half-sister. Ares Enualios. And my question, in turn, would be, what have you done?”

  “Why? Erithizo told me these mortals insulted him! Him! A demigod!”

  “And you listened to that fool.”

  Erithizo was slowly edging away, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

  “Stay. Young fool of a demigod,” ordered the woman.

  “So what? We didn’t kill them in Skaney!” said Ares.

  “Now you admit to being in Skaney. You attacked them and brought them here.”

  “Why not? I didn’t break any rules in doing so!”

  “Erithizo was ordered not to involve himself further. And you, Enualios, went to Skaney and abducted a visitor. This is Odin, by the way, in case your thick head still refuses to work.”

  “We are in Hellas! Not Skaney! Norse gods have no power here!”

  “Erithizo. Stay.” The young demigod was still trying to hide at the back of a column. At the command of the woman, the youth found himself unable to move.

  “Enualios. You know that the
abduction of a visitor from another pantheon’s territory is forbidden. And to make things worse, your addled mind fell under the wiles of an imprudent and stupid youth. I know what happened between Erithizo and the visitor. I was there. Blameless, the son of Eris is not. But your involvement has now created a crisis where there was none.”

  “I am a god! The god of war! I do what I please!”

  “No, you can’t. My lord Odin, what is your pleasure in this matter?”

  “Athena, my dear, I leave it to your judgment,” answered the old man.

  “You can’t judge me! I am Ares!” shouted the war god.

  “I can and I will. In this matter, I carry the judgment of Zeus, our father.”

  Ares was at a loss on how to answer. His wide eyes and open mouth declared his surprise at Athena’s declaration.

  “Hear my judgment, Ares Enualios and Erethizo, son of Eris.

  Athena turned to the fearful youth.

  "Son of Eris. For disobeying the dictates of the gods, you are hereby banished to the house of your mother for a period of three years, there to remain a mortal for the same period, and not leave until your sentence is done.”

  “No! Not that!” cried Erithizo as he disappeared in a flash of light.

  “Ares Enualios. You have violated one of the oldest covenants entered into between the pantheons. You have dishonored yourself by attacking the mortal hero responsible for Ymir’s defeat. You have outdone yourself by being fooled by Erithizo. And in doing so, you have meddled in matters beyond your ken.”

  “What? This mortal? A hero? And you choose you to take his side? Instead of your brother’s?”

  “Half-brother. You have your uses, Ares Enualios. This is not one of those times. Hear the sentence of Zeus, our father, as rendered through me. You are hereby forbidden from leaving Hellas for three years. You are forbidden from taking any divine action against the mortal and his companions. And by way of recompense, you will give the mortal your divine ring.”

  “My divine ring? It will take Hephaestus a year to make a new one for me! And you know what he thinks of me!”

  “Your problem, not ours. The sentence having been declared, now let it be done.”

  “That mortal shall pay for this! Mark my words, Athena! He shall pay!”

  Ares disappeared. And in his place, a ring lay on the marble floor.

  Athena looked at Odin.

  “My lord, your thoughts?”

  “Oh, I am not worried about our young mage there, despite the threats of Ares. With that ring, he can handle Ares just fine. What concerns me is what will he be at the end of his journey?”

  “Wouldn’t it be better to deal with him right now?”

  “No. I have thought about it at first but didn’t choose that path. On hindsight, it was the right decision. You saw the creature in the Gap. No god can control or defeat it. We don’t know if it resides in our mage or if, by being alive, holds it in check. In this matter, a single mistake will destroy us all.”

  “The unknown always pose the worst problems.”

  “My worry is that knowledge about him may spread to the other pantheons and the hidden ones. If that happens...”

  “Then we best make sure it doesn’t happen.”

  “But Dori is not the best place for him right now. Nor bringing him back to Skaney. The web of fate is being written and I hesitate to interfere more than I have done so far.”

  “We do have to try to steer him to a path in our favor.”

  “True. But I will leave them in your capable hands. This is Hellas, anyway.”

  “There is a city not so far away. Dedicated to me. Though I have not visited it in a while. I will move them there, away from the worshipers of Ares.”

  “Don’t forget the ring. He needs it. That I foresee.”

  Ο Λύκος έρχεται

  CHAPTER LORE:

  Eisagogi - Greek. Meaning "introduction," or "insertion."

  Ekdromos - Greek. Ancient Greek light hoplite.

  Prequel Series

  of The Accidental Archmage

  Excerpts from

  The Chronicles of Adar:

  MIGRATION

  Synopsis:

  The Great Migration has begun. Magical entities, gods and creatures all escaping from an Earth losing its magical energy. Without magic and man’s belief, even gods will die.

  A new world beckons. Full of magic. Of new life. Of novel opportunities. Of war. Of death.

  Yet to cross over, a price needed to be paid. Magical energy. In a world fast losing its magic.

  This is the story of how the world of Adar came to be. And in the telling, the chronicle of the journey of an obscure war-god to escape to Adar with his people. Against all odds. Against nearly every magical deity.

  EXCERPTS:

  UR-KASDIM:

  The Chaldeans (c. 500 B.C.)

  The ruler of Ur-Kasdim, beloved of the gods, whose reign covers all he surveys, Lord of the Chaldees, of the warrior line of Arphaxad, looked upon the enemy besieging his city. The balcony of the palace was thankfully beyond the range of the enemy’s weapons.

  Negotiations with the Achaemenids had failed a month ago. Now the Persians are here. Their rise to Empire looked unstoppable. He would have preferred peace. Even to the extent of being a vassal state. But the terms were too onerous. Gold, levies and land he could forego. But to abandon their gods…

  As he watched, a wave of new attackers assaulted the walls and were beaten back again. Parts of the city were already destroyed, some buildings were burning. He could see the dead bodies of his people on the streets.

  But the besiegers were too many. And now, his spies have told him about massive reinforcements coming to the enemy’s aid. They were a day away. Ur-Kasdim is good as fallen.

  “My Lord, my King? A soft voice called for his attention.

  “Yes, Nabu-Ikbi?” He looked upon the wizened visage of his Chief Astronomer.

  A competent man, his field was more about magic than the stars. Though the two fields do mesh nicely. The man provided a covert alternative to the High Priest-Mage of the Temple of Anu, the father of the gods. True to his misgivings, the traitorous priest conveniently defected to the Persians at the first opportunity.

  “My King, we have been given a choice of life or death by the gods.”

  “Really? Tell me more.”

  “I had a vision last night. But not of the divine Anu. But of the deity Ereskigal.”

  “The goddess of the underworld? That seems to be dark tidings for us. What does Irkalla, the underworld, have to do with us?”

  “The goddess deigned to inform me that she acts for Great Anu in giving us a choice. Die here under the Persians or go to a new land.”

  “And how do we go to such a land? We are surrounded! More enemies will be arriving!”

  “I have been shown the way, O my Lord King. Through the temple of Anu. A portal shall emerge between the two columns behind his altar but…”

  “Why the hesitancy, Naku-Ikbi?”

  “A rite has been revealed to me to manifest the portal. And for it to appear, we need to sacrifice mortal lives.”

  “How many?” asked the King, now grasping at an unexpected lifeline.

  “For the city’s inhabitants, we need the equivalent of three sattu of sacrificed lives.”

  “Three years, huh? 1,080 sacrifices. Get them from the prisoners. If those are not enough, select from the most worthless of the slaves. Where does the portal lead?”

  “My Lord King, a new land prepared by the gods. But we may need four sattu as we cannot evacuate all the people and the remaining slaves at the same time. One sattu to activate the portal and the rest to keep it open for the time needed.”

  “I don’t care how many lives it takes! JUST PREPARE THE RITE! Order the head of the Palace to prepare everything we need to bring with us! I want us through the portal by mid-morning tomorrow. Tell my general to come and confer with me!”

  As you wish, O Exalted Kin
g.”

  ABDAL, White Hun

  (c. 558 A.D.)

  Abdal reined in his horse. He could see his mounted scouts returning. Behind him, the tents of his people. The remains of his clan. Part of the great Hephthalite Empire which had spanned the Asian mainland.

  Formerly great Empire, that is. He bitterly thought.

  Leave it to those traitorous Sassanid bastards to again stab us in the back. We helped them against their enemies. We even put their kings on their thrones. True, we ruled them with the sharp edge of our blades. Now, our Khan is dead. Our surviving brothers scattered to the four winds.

  The result of the disastrous battle was the death knell of the Empire. The Gokturk-Sassanid alliance mercilessly hunted down remnants of the White Huns. No quarter was given. Men, women, the old, the infirm, children, infants. All were killed when their enemies got hold of them. Few, if any, made it to the slave markets.