Blood Wars

by Edmund A. M. Batara

“Okay, guys. Do your stuff. But this is how we’re going to do it. Hal, manage the smell and terror issues. Remember, this arrangement is temporary. X, field examination and investigation. Guard us and try to learn something. Hal, leave something for me to feel. I don’t like being numb.”

  “As you wish, Elder,” replied X.

  Tyler continued walking. He was careful when he had to cross mounds of the dead. A stumbling or falling human mage, splayed among the blood and gruesome remains, was an unacceptable comic relief. After passing through the beasts and creatures who fell during his welcome display, as Astrid described it, he stopped.

  Let them walk some more, he thought as he watched the sons of Ares approach.

  When the two brothers were about fifty feet away, Tyler infused his voice with power and shouted at them.

  “Stop there,” he commanded. “That’s close enough!”

  He could see the force resulting from his shout roiling through the air and hitting the twin sons of Ares. The two were visibly shaken. It was apparent they didn’t expect such power. One had to bend himself forward just to avoid being blown away. He looked at the two. Both were armored identically but with different colors.

  One was in black hoplite heavy armor with a dark gray crest atop his closed helm. The other one was in dark gray cuirass but with a black crested helm. The one in black was armed with a spear and a hoplon shield. The gray figure carried a long xiphos with his hoplon. But the emblems of their shields were different. The gray warrior had a plain round one. The black shield of his companion was adornedwith the illustrated face of a humanoid monster, its open mouth lined with fangs and with angry eyes colored red.

  Color coordinated bastards. Now which is which? he wondered. But even at a distance, he could slightly feel the mixed aura of fear and terror. But as the seconds passed, he could also sense a heaviness in the air surrounding him.

  The two must be overloading themselves emitting such aura, he thought. Tyler took quick glances to his sides. Astrid and Habrok were both pale with fear. He could see the ranger visibly trembling. But the two held their ground.

  “Elder,” he heard Hal speak.

  “The level of aura those two are projecting is becoming too powerful,” warned Hal. “Even with your significantly decreased sensitivity, it will soon be too much to prevent.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “We need to transfer or divert the energy directed at you.”

  “Where? It’s all around us,” replied Tyler.

  “A massive amount is being directed at you, Elder. We have left a minute opening in your defenses because of your request,” clarified X.

  “I think I understand,” answered the mage, “but where do we divert it?”

  “Your staff, Elder. Its capacity to hold energy is more than sufficient. Please hold it in front of you. It would make our task easier.”

  Tyler complied with X’s request. Immediately after he positioned the staff, the heaviness and the slight fear disappeared. But in return, the wood artifact felt a bit warm. He could sense the increase in the power within. He knew the aura of fear in the immediate area, the positions of Habrok and Astrid included, had been lifted or at least significantly decreased. The mage also realized that the two minor deities would soon see that fact. But first, he had to reassure himself about the staff.

  “Guys, this won’t blow up or have any adverse effects?”

  “No, Elder. Though we are currently analyzing the new addition and its effects. It may lead to new abilities.”

  “Does that mean that the staff has become more powerful?”

  “In a way, Elder. Exactly how powerful is a matter for us to study and analyze.”

  “Uh, thanks?”

  “Hail, mage!” shouted the figure in gray. “I am Deimos, the god of terror. This is my twin brother, Phobos, the god of fear.”

  “Hail, Deimos,” replied Tyler. “You do know me. Both of you were present when your father got dumped with a mountain of stone. It’s good that your treacherous dog of a brother showed himself. I wouldn’t want to be stabbed in the back.”

  “You insolent mortal! Know your place!” shouted Phobos who was cut off in his tirade when Deimos raised his hand.

  “Not my wish nor intent, mage. Your man was an excellent warrior. I believe he was also an honorable man. Never stooping to any perfidious moves. He was on his way to beating me, I have to admit,” remarked Deimos. An answer that greatly irritated Phobos.

  “Beat you? Defeat you? Do you know what you are saying, brother? Admitting that a human, A HUMAN, is better than you?”

  “Yes, brother. If I were defeated, then it would have been an honorable defeat. Now, your act has tainted my honor.”

  “Tainted? You would let a MERE HUMAN DEFEAT YOU?”

  Tyler watched the brothers bicker. This is going nowhere.

  “Sons of that battered coward. Couldn’t you stop for a while and decide how you’re going to defeat me?”

  “Coward? You dare call Father a coward?” shouted Phobos. In an instant, he hurled his spear at Tyler. But the mage was expecting something from the arrogant deity. He already had his shields in place, but he created a barrier in front of the thrown projectile. The spear bore through the energy block and quickly lost momentum. It stopped when its spearhead was halfway through the barrier. It dropped to the ground.

  “No challenge? No fair warning? I expected such cowardice from you, Phobos. Here, let me jog your memory about the rules of single combat,” Tyler acidly pronounced as a lifting spell grabbed the minor deity, lifted him up to the sky, and then dropped him. The mage did it again as soon as Phobos crashed to the ground. The god of fear groggily stood up. He had lost his helm and shield. Phobos drew his sword.

  “Phobos! You!” shouted Deimos.

  “Deimos!” called out Tyler. “Let’s make this easier. I’ll take on both of you. At the same time. Though Phobos appears to take after his father more than you.”

  Deimos took a step back. He was apparently shocked by Tyler’s offer.

  “What game are you playing, mage?” demanded Deimos.

  “No game, Deimos. These two companions of mine only have instructions to make sure your brother does not invite others to this spectacle. I just want to show both of you what happens when foolish deities tangle with my friends and me.”

  “You’re not a simple mage,” observed Deimos. “But I accept your challenge.”

  Phobos didn’t say anything. He immediately rushed to Tyler, xiphos raised for a downwards cut. Deimos was taken aback by his brother’s sudden action. But to the mage, he looked as if he was jogging.

  He does have some of the speed of his father. But apparently none of whatever skill Ares has. That attack form is amateurish.

  Tyler ran at Phobos, staff grasped in both hands. Closing with the attacking deity, he feinted with an overhead attack. As Phobos adjusted his sword to block the weapon, the mage quickly swung the pole past him, took a step to the side, turned around, and smashed the quarterstaff across the deity’s back. The cuirass cracked open and Phobos was thrown several feet away, hitting his head on the ground. Tyler stood and watched Deimos. Everything happened in an instant to an ordinary observer.

  Deimos drew his sword slowly, grasped his shield and took a fighting stance.

  “You know you’re outmatched, Deimos,” mentioned Tyler. He had to admire the bravery of the god of terror.

  “I know. But my honor demands I fight,” came the reply.

  “Even the best warrior knows when fighting is foolhardy and not worth any honor. But I’ll decide matters for you. It’s your brother who has to face my justice,” said Tyler.

  “X. Hit him with an Elder blast. Just enough to stun him and destroy his armor.”

  Tyler didn’t want to kill Deimos. From all accounts and what he had seen, the deity appeared to be an honorable warrior. Unlike his Judas of a brother.

  A powerful beam lanced towards Deimos. As it hit, it covered him with a flash
of green light. When it dissipated, the god of terror was down on the ground, pieces of his armor and xiphos beside him.

  Tyler now turned his attention to Phobos. The shifty fool finally recovered enough to stand shakily. But the god of fear appeared dazed. He created a roll form around Phobos, tightly gripping the god. He then infused the shape with fiery energy. A lot of power.

  Looking at Deimos, he saw the warrior was trying to stand. He cast a gravity spell on him.

  “Deimos. Look at me,” he called out.

  The god was again hugging the ground though he could move his head. The god of terror turned his head in Tyler’s direction. The mage looked at Phobos. The god of fear had recovered enough clarity to realize he couldn’t move.

  “Phobos. Look at me.”

  At his voice, the god of fear changed his attention from his predicament to the waiting Tyler. The mage could see the pale face of the deity. The wide eyes of Phobos betrayed the fear and panic tearing him apart.

  “What are you going to do?” asked the stammering deity.

  “Judge and sentence you, of course. Did you really think your spineless actions wouldn’t have any consequences? Even now, you have twice attacked me without warning. You’re a gutless, craven, and miserable excuse for a deity. You treacherously killed my huskarl, in the middle of an honorable fight.”

  “The hell I care! He was just a human!” Phobos finally gathered some courage to shout though his voice was still tinged with fear.

  “And I am also but a human. But here I am, about to pronounce judgment on your cowardice. Have you ever wondered how a deity feels when he or she is about to die, Phobos? Come. Tell me. Tell us,” sarcastically asked Tyler as he waved his hand in the direction of his companions.

  “No. You wouldn’t,” cried out Phobos in a panic-stricken voice.

  “Yes. I would.”

  Tyler turned to Deimos.

  “I am sorry about what will happen next. But justice must be done. May your next brother be better than this worm,” expressed the mage.

  Deimos just shook his head and closed his eyes.

  “Now, Phobos, formerly known as the god of fear, hear my judgment. You are guilty of cowardice. Of base treachery. Of violating the rules of honorable single combat, a tradition respected by men and gods alike. I won’t even mention what you tried to do to me a few minutes ago. By the rules of gods and men, you are, at this moment, sentenced to…”

  Tyler’s world disappeared. He found himself in the familiar temple of Zeus. He looked around, staff still in his right hand. The two minor gods also appeared with him. Deimos flat on the ground and Phobos was still wrapped in the tight clutches of Tyler’s lethal prison.

  But in front of Tyler was an assembly of beings. In front of him, sitting on three chairs were Zeus, Odin, and Viracocha. The crippled head of the Greek pantheon was in the middle. Standing on the left side were Athena, Dionysus, Hephaestus, a heavily bandaged Ares sitting on a chair, and a few other gods and goddesses. Greeks by the looks of their attire. On the right side of the three chairs were Loki, Thor, Thaut, and Pappo. Kneeling on the floor, bowed head facing the three chairs, was a woman dressed in Greek attire.

  Loki winked at him.

  It’s a multi-pantheon assembly! What do they want? And Loki here?

  Tyler was understandably confused. He was facing Greek, Nordic, Incan, and Egyptian deities. And three extremely powerful gods. Any of the three rendered his current abilities insignificant. He stood straight but kept his hold on the two minor gods tighter, infusing more energy into the gravity spell and Phobos’s execution chamber. He waited for word from any of the gathered beings.

  “Greetings, High Mage,” said Zeus, “welcome back to my temple. Don’t look so surprised. You are a Favored of the Greek and Norse Pantheons. A Champion of the Incans. For the deities of Kemet, suffice it to say they are interested in what is happening.”

  Tyler bowed but kept his eyes on the gathering. He was startled to see Dionysus and Hephaestus look on with amusement. The Egyptian deity kept to himself. Thor looked grumpy as ever and Loki by his side had a knowing smile on his face. Athena wore a distant expression as did the three seated major deities. He didn’t recognize the rest of the gods in the background except for one man who must be Hermes. The small decorative wings on his Ionian helm was a giveaway.

  “We ask your indulgence, High Mage. Major deities are not supposed to directly interfere with mortal conflicts though minor gods and demigods are allowed to participate. Within certain constraints, of course,” declared Zeus who then glanced at Viracocha and Odin.

  “Oh, tell him,” said Viracocha, “I suspect he knows anyway.”

  Odin nodded.

  “A geas on the major deities of all pantheons of Adar. A violation would be punished by the dissolution of the offender. We are not here to tell you what to do. We are here because of a mother’s plea. A mother’s lament. The goddess Aphrodite,” said Zeus as he waved at the woman kneeling before them.

  Chapter VI

  When Gods Beg

  “She begged me to intervene to save the life of her sons. The mother, I must point out. The father had not spoken out,” added Zeus. “To beg me in such a manner, knowing what it implies, I can excuse in this instance only. But she knows I cannot interfere with the skeins of fate nor will I court the ire of those who laid the geas upon all of us.”

  The woman began crying. Her face buried in her dress. The hall rang with the sobbing of the Greek goddess of love.

  Tyler continued to keep his silence, knowing the tableau was just starting. But his ears couldn’t ignore the pitiful sounds coming from Aphrodite.

  “The decision is ultimately yours, High Mage. You won against both. Despite the despicable actions exhibited by that lily-livered excuse for a god of fear. But the mother begs me to ask you to spare the lives of her sons,” said Zeus.

  The head of the Greek pantheon then looked at the crying goddess.

  “There, Aphrodite. I have said my piece. It now comes down to the High Mage’s judgment. And your sins have come full circle,” said Zeus, giving Hephaestus a slight glance.

  Shit, thought Tyler, I should have just blown Phobos apart. That Dionysus! Probably got me with his “forms have to be followed” speech. But they think I am going to punish and kill both. What to do? What to decide?

  He observed the gathering again. They were all waiting for him to make the decision. Only the Greek gods seemed tense. The rest apparently had already concluded what was going to happen. But why was Ares here if he has not asked for the lives of his sons? There’s more at stake here than the lives of two minor gods, the alarming thought crossed his mind.

  They think I am going through with it. Kill the twins. It’s what they would do. But to do it the way they would? That would make me no better than them. But I am going be judged by what I am going to decide, he suddenly realized. Then unbidden, Hrun’s words came to his mind.

  When clouds of fear

  Gather, tears of grief

  Abound; Though thy mind

  Is lost, amidst the mourning dark

  And red rage; Remember not the

  Pain, but the joy of having lived a Man.

  But justice must be served! his emotions raged. Kill them!

  Then he thought, how would Jorund act and decide on the matter? A begging mother. A bastard of a father. An honorable son. The other son a gutless coward.

  He took a deep breath and addressed the assemblage.

  “The sons of Ares. One, an honorable warrior. The other, a back-stabbing fool of a god. The father is not wholly blameless in this unfortunate play. I still remember his attempt to attack me when my back was turned. After I spared him.”

  Ares reacted by trying to get up but, with a gesture from Zeus, he dropped back to his chair.

  “Deimos is blameless. He acted as a warrior should, with honor and dignity. I don’t doubt that the father put them both up to what they did. Filial duty is an admirable trait, but cowardic
e is not,” declared Tyler, releasing the god of terror from the gravity spell. “Though let’s not forget that his spineless father never asked for his life nor for Phobos.”

  “My Lord Zeus, this is what I ask in return for my mercy. It is not only because of a mother’s request but also for the benefit of your pantheon,” he added.

  “Speak then, High Mage. Nobody will disturb you while speaking,” answered Zeus.

  “Ares the battle-god has been the personification of brutal war throughout millennia. I admit war is indeed brutal. Savage. Cruel. But do we have to encourage such traits in warfare? Despite Ares, mortals and deities have evolved the norms of honor, dignity, and bravery in war. Unfettered dark emotions, unless tempered, makes men and gods no better than animals. Are we not better than animals? Animals and fell creatures have no concept of honor or dignity in warfare. I would like to believe that we are all better beings. We all serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things. A perversion of such a purpose negates our reason for existing.”

  He stopped and looked at the agitated crowd of deities. Viracocha had the beginnings of a smile on his face. Odin still maintained a neutral expression, but Thor’s face wore a disturbed expression.

  “What do you propose, High Mage?” asked Zeus in a calm voice. The deity’s eyes showed Tyler that he knew where the discussion was going.

  “I say Ares has long forfeited his role as a god of battle. From Herakles to Troy, his arrogance and actions only emphasized what a coward he was and still is. Wounded by a mortal at Troy and what did he do? He ran to Olympus and complained. He was defeated by Herakles. The way I heard it he also had been captured by giants. The gathered gods here today probably know of numerous instances where Ares displayed cowardice, not bravery. With all due respect, my Lord Zeus, maintaining such a role for him does not bode well for the Greek pantheon.”

  “Go on,” said Zeus who now leaned forward in his chair.

  “Here is what I propose. Deimos be declared the new god of battle. He will learn the ways of war. There is no doubt about that. But more importantly, he exemplifies what a warrior should be – conscious of duty, honor, and dignity. Phobos, in turn, be punished by being sent to help Hades in the underworld. I wouldn’t be going beyond my place in saying that the Lord Hades will be happy to see him and get him to answer a few questions about the Keres. For Ares, being a god of cowardice will fit him better. After any punishment Lord Zeus deems proper for him, of course.”