The Accidental Archmage: Book Nine: The Dragon Houses
Page 23
“Is he alright?” He heard the seer ask Habrok.
“He desperately needs to rest. Whatever he had experienced in losing the staff inflicted an injury of the soul. I’ve seen such incidents before, and they sap a person’s mind and strength far more than a physical wound. It’s not an injury that a spell or medicinal elixirs can remedy. Worse, his continued use of healing spells had drained his vitality,” replied Habrok. “We’ll see in the morning if the matter has improved.”
“In the morning then,” said Thyma. “Keep watch to the west. I felt a great strength change its course in this direction right after that release of energy. It’s still some distance away, but we can’t be sure when or if it would arrive.”
“Going toward us?” the ranger asked, concern in his voice.
“I can’t tell. It could be a coincidence. If it’s searching for the source of the magical outburst, finding us would depend on its abilities and power. Whatever energy the Archmage had released is gone by now.”
“Another one of those we encountered in Sigtuna? That repulsive monster? An Old One?” continued Habrok.
“I can’t tell when it’s this far. It’s powerful, that I have to admit, since I felt it when it reacted. Daylight would tell us what we’re facing. It could be nothing, a mere happenstance coinciding with what happened.”
Tyler wanted to get up and join the trio. The matter sounded too important to ignore. But his body betrayed him. The softness of the sheet under him called out and drew his exhausted consciousness to welcome sleep. A long-missed nothingness smothered his desire to move, much less think. As an obsidian curtain closed off his mind, he saw a white feather slowly dropping, appearing from nothing. Tyler was still wondering about how it appeared when slumber finally claimed him.
***
Daylight shone through a small opening in the tent when Tyler woke up. His muscles ached as he sat up slowly. Two things immediately came to his awareness. The first was the smell of roasting food, and the second was the frigid air. Small, misty clouds made themselves visible as he exhaled. The strangeness of the temperature was almost as odd as the fact that everyone let him sleep well into the morning.
He vigorously rubbed his face and did some stretching to get some warmth. Free from the confines of his fur blanket, the frigid air had made itself felt. Tyler quickly went out of the tent, eager to get to the campfire as much as he wanted to learn why the air became so cold. In his hand was an ordinary stave. Habrok had left it for him. The mage smiled. The ranger knew him well. He’d feel naked without a familiar weapon in his hands.
A snowed bivouac met his eyes. White clumps perched on the tents, and the ivory field stretched as far as he could see. As the mage stood in stunned amazement at the sight, a pair of ghostly runes abruptly manifested to his front. It was the īsaz and thurisaz runes. Letters that also stand for ice and giant. They flashed once and then vanished. Together with their disappearance, the snow engulfing the camp also swiftly melted away. Unusually, the snow didn’t leave any melted puddles behind.
Skrymir. The name arose in Tyler’s mind. It was a none-too-subtle way of reminding him about the ruler of Jotunheim’s request, though with the magical display, it looked more like a demand. He could only mumble a litany of curses. Overbearing doesn’t even begin to describe the entity. Worse than Odin. Even Zeus was polite. Hell, Loki had better manners outwardly.
His gaze swept over the collection of tents. His wards were still reacting to the snow’s disappearance, but his companions had already glanced at him and continued with what they were doing. The distance between the situational awareness of the youthful spirits and the experienced companions was evident. The former were but pups compared to the alpha wolves around them. Being around the companions would be good for his wards. Then, he saw Kobu move to a few paces ahead of him. The exile was at his guard position and stood up the minute he came out. If the man noticed the magical runes, he said nothing.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” he amusedly asked the warlord.
“Nothing surprises me anymore, Sire. Considering our luck, chances are it’s a yokai,” snorted Kobu.
“Yokai?”
“Evil spirits. Some with godlike attributes.,” explained the exile.
“Are there many in your homeland?” asked the curious mage.
“As many as fleas on a mangy dog of the alleys.”
Tyler laughed. It was a scornful yet interesting observation. Suddenly, he saw Thyma hurriedly stand up and throw a barrier to the north of their position. The rest of the companions swiftly spread out, and Birki cried out as he rushed to gather the spirits. A mass of different magical energies erupted into the air, ready to be released. His wards had quick reflexes. Battle training was clearly included in Birki’s instructions.
A teleportation spell brought the Archmage to the front, just inside the seer’s barrier. His perennial shadow quickly followed. Whoever intruded into the campsite had powerful skills to avoid early detection. Yet nobody appeared as the magical shield shimmered into existence. The only consolation was that Tyler didn’t sense any malignant intent. Thyma arrived in a short while and stood beside the mage. Instead of being furious or being prepared for a skirmish, the mage found the seer to be mildly annoyed.
“Perses! Show yourself! You should be ashamed of yourself,” she shouted to the empty air, pre-empting the casting of Tyler’s scrying spell.
A burst of amused laughter met the seer’s words. A giant hoplite manifested before them. An incredibly warlike aura spread as the intruder released his suppressed nature. Though the colossus stood with sword drawn and a shield on the arm, The mage didn’t sense any killing intent. The warrior’s build was similar to Ares, but lacked the arrogance with which the defeated Olympian carried with him. Yet, it felt ancient and much more powerful. Tyler sensed that Kobu took a ready stance, forcing him to adopt the same attitude. The mage felt confident despite losing the barrier given by his staff. His access to abundant Elder energy more than made up for the loss. Still, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that a true killer lay in wait behind the friendly veneer.
“Kalimera, sister. I haven’t seen you in a long while. You’re a long way from home,” said the giant casually.
“So are you, you big buffoon. I thought you were still in Tartarus, though I am surprised at not seeing you there when we visited.”
“You went to the dark realm? I was on an errand on the surface. Though with that traitorous Typhoeus now ruling the Titans, I see nothing good in returning,” said Perses.
“You did hate each other’s guts,” chuckled the seer. “So, you’re now a vagabond?”
“A god of battle bereft of cause, of war, of realm,” smiled the Titan wryly. “I can’t return to Hellas. The Olympians wouldn’t welcome me because of our bloody past. Nor am I willing to be returned to Tartarus or imprisoned in some damp cell in Olympus. But I am satisfied with exploring the surface world for now. It’s been a long while since I’ve done some exploring, and there’s a lot of fierce and unholy creatures around. Even unfamiliar ones. I don’t think I’d lack for enemies to practice my skills.”
“What brings you here?” ventured Tyler finally. At least the Titan wasn’t of the gang they’ve left behind. The giant turned his attention to the mage.
“A mortal mage. The smell of Tartarus on you and yours. That dark realm leaves its mark on anyone foolish enough to dare its depths. You don’t look like a madman,” said Perses. Tyler didn’t know whether it was faint praise or an insult.
“We are companions bound to a quest,” answered the mage calmly. To his mind, Perses didn’t warrant an explanation.
“Ah, that’s different. Quests are manipulations of fate. Who am I to intrude on the destinies of others? No matter, I’ll enjoy what my sister described as a vagabond existence first. Who knows? I might decide to tie my fate to your quest. It looks interesting enough. Even my power can’t glimpse a whisper of what it holds. Farewell then, mortal mage. I won’
t keep your time anymore,” smiled the Titan as he vanished.
“Don’t mind him,” groused Thyma as she executed a complex gesture to dissolve the barrier. “He knows you’re an Archmage. That mortal mage part was a test to see if you’re arrogant. If you bit, then he’d have his morning exercise.”
Tyler chuckled and shook his head. He was about to walk back to the campsite when his surroundings turned dark. He felt being drawn somewhere at an incredible speed.
Again. This shit again? When it rains…
Unfortunately, Tyler wasn’t able to finish his train of thought. He had arrived.
A Titan Comes Visiting
Epilogue
Tribulation
His first sensation was fear beyond belief. Insanely incredible terror. Layers and layers of it. Then came the overwhelming weight of immense pressure. A lot of it bearing down on his body. Even breathing was a struggle. Tyler couldn’t lift his head. The temperature abruptly rose. A glance at what he could see through desperately opened eyes revealed a wall of bluish flames surrounding him.
Sweat poured down his brow, contrasting with the frigid stream caressing his bones. He knew he had to fight back at whoever or whatever was punishing him. Yet it was an indistinct thought when he realized his mind was strangely clouded and his body was locked in place.
“Enough, Lord of the Mušḫuššu. We have gathered to judge, not to render a sentence,” a deep, gravelly voice rumbled. The reverberations blasted through the air, hurting Tyler’s ears.
“As you wish, Honorable Jade Emperor of the Red House,” thundered the reply.
Tyler could only listen. His dread increased when he recognized that what he was hearing were unnatural savage growls and snarls, yet the mage was able to understand the language.
Dragons? Fricking dragons? And not only one? realized Tyler as his terror leaped to a mind-numbing level.
“Look what you’ve done. You nearly broke him,” spat the one called Jade Emperor. The mage dimly remembered the title though he couldn’t recall where he heard it.
“Suppress our auras. Otherwise, we’ll never be able to finish this proceeding. We all have battles to lead. I’ve heard Vrtra has reappeared, and I believe his fellow traitor Apep won’t be far behind,” another spoke up calmly. Tyler recognized the voice. It was Grastein. It looked as if there were at least three ancient dragons before the mage. Not that the knowledge was of any help. His teeth were still uncontrollably clacking in fright.
“Agreed. Be it so,” declared the first speaker.
A great deal of the pressure and fear afflicting Tyler suddenly vanished. He took several deep breaths thankfully and vigorously shook his head. Cobwebs of confusion still clung to his awareness. He steeled himself and lifted his head.
He was dumbfounded at what he saw. The incredibly frightening sight of several ancient draconic forms swirling above him staggered his mind. All of them were looking at him, and a world of fangs made his acquaintance.
The Dragon Houses
“Scourge of the North. You know this mortal. Should he speak in his defense?” said the ancient dragon in the middle.
“Let him speak. He’s not of the likes of that brat, Loki. Stubborn and with a sense of right and wrong. Yet apt to leave destruction in his wake,” a huge one at the rear answered. From the voice, the mage guessed it was Grastein in his draconic form. But Tyler couldn’t help but feel slighted by the last part of the description.
“Very well. Mortal. You’re not dragon born or dragonkin. Yet, a dragon has been born from your power. A pure lineage at that. This event has no precedence in our long history. Anemothýella’s gift wouldn’t be enough for such an occurrence. To our eyes, you are an abomination. There are consequences for such impudence,” declared the colossal serpentine form called the Jade Emperor.
“Unless he proves himself,” countered Grastein.
Tyler noticed that the white dragon or any of his race was absent. A sudden inexplicable fear stabbed into his already terror-stricken heart. The absence of the Ismenian race in such a gathering didn’t bode well.
“He could be a demon in disguise or a devious entity from another plane. It has happened before,” one of the dragons ventured.
Despite the overwhelming fear, Tyler threw an angry look at the one who spoke and inwardly cursed. He was dragged into this assembly without notice or his consent, and they had the gall to call him a demon. Still, his fury wasn’t enough to overcome the terror drowning him.
“That’s possible. But his worthiness could only be determined by our ancient laws. If he’s a demon or an evil entity masquerading as a mortal, the rites of our kind will destroy him,” answered the Jade Emperor. The enigmatic eyes turned to Tyler.
“You choose. The Heavenly Tribulations or The Test of the Underworld of Irkalla?” said the ancient being.
The only thought Tyler had was that whatever he selected, it was bound to be a monster of a paternity test.
Lore and Definitions by Chapter
Prologue
Blot – Old Norse. A heathen.
Bacraut – Old Norse. An asshole.
Mušḫuššu – An ancient Mesopotamian myth. A scaly dragon with hind legs like the talons of an eagle, feline forelegs, a long neck and tail, a horned head, a snake-like tongue, and a crest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu%C5%A1%E1%B8%ABu%C5%A1%C5%A1u).
Ušumgallu – In Akkadian myth, a lion-dragon demon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U%C5%A1umgallu)
Pakhangba – A primordial serpentine dragon god in Meitei mythology and religion. The Meitei ruled the Manipur Kingdom of India and the Pakhangba was present in its former heraldry ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakhangba ).
Zhōngguó– A common Chinese name for China. It originated during the Warring States period (481/403 BCE – 221 BCE). Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_China
Druwids – A member of the high-ranking class in ancient Celtic cultures. Kindly refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid
Apep – A mythological Egyptian dragon. In this story, he isn’t a deity, but the patriarch of ancient Dragon House from Kemet. For more information about Apep – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apep
House of the West Sea – The term Kingdoms of the Western Sea usually refer to the ancient Korean Kingdoms of Goguryeo (Goryeo), Baekje, and Silla. However, at this point in history, there were also several smaller tribal states and larger principalities in the geographical area of what we now know as South and North Korea. The realm of the Dragon House referred to in the story covered the entire region ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Kingdoms_of_Korea ).
Dzongka – The Sino-Tibetan language of Bhutan. Dragons were referred to as the Druk or thunder dragon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druk).
Japanese dragon – Japanese dragons, or the Nihon no ryu, were diverse and either benevolent or downright hostile. Some trace their origins to Chinese draconic myths ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_dragon ).
Kulshedra – The kulshedra is an Albanian mythological dragon closely linked to Slavic myths ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulshedra ).
Reiði Elds – Icelandic, meaning Anger of Fire.
Chapter Five
Keltoi – The term Keltoi was given by the Greeks to the Gallic tribes. It meant “barbarian” and reflected the sufferings of the Greek tribes at the hands of invading Gauls (https://www.livius.org/sources/content/pausanias-periegete/the-invasion-of-the-gauls/).
Aetolian – The Gallic invasions fell on the Greek city-states which were part of the Aetolian League. There was no one country then, only a disparate collection of tribes that, more often than not, waged war on each other (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aetolian_League).
Toutâ – A Gallic word for tribe (from http://polytheist.com/segomaros/2015/12/24/toutodewas/).
Trēueri – Also referred to as the Treveri, it was a Celtic tribe that settled part of present-day France (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treveri).
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Aerouant – Celtic (Breton) word for dragon.
Arach – Gaelic for dragon.
Chapter Nine
Valhǫll – Old Norse. Vahalla.
Kendo – Kobu’s stance mirrored jōdan-no-kamae, the most aggressive stance in kendo, the Japanese martial art.
Yggdrasill – The generally accepted meaning of Old Norse Yggdrasill is “Odin’s horse”, meaning “gallows”. This interpretation comes about because drasill means “horse” and Ygg(r) is one of Odin’s many names (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yggdrasil).
Útgarða-Loki – In Norse mythology, Útgarða-Loki (Anglicized as Utgarda-Loki, Utgard-Loki, and Utgardsloki) was the ruler of the castle Útgarðr in Jötunheimr. He was one of the Jötnar and his name means literally “Loki of the Outyards”, to distinguish him from Loki, the companion of Thor. He was also known as Skrýmir or Skrymir ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Atgar%C3%B0a-Loki ).
Chūdan-no-kamae – Kobu’s defensive posture is the Chūdan-no-kamae, a stance which balances offense and defense (https://www.martialartswords.com/blogs/articles/exploring-the-5-guard-postures-of-kenjutsu).
Chapter Ten
Thrymr – Nordic myth credits him as the King of the Jotnar or Jotunheim. In Norse mythology, Þrymr (Thrymr, Thrym; “uproar”) was king of the jǫtnar. In one legend, he stole Mjǫlnir, Thor’s hammer, to extort the gods into giving him Freyja as his wife. His kingdom was called Jötunheimr, but according to Hversu Noregr byggðist, it was the Swedish province Värmland, then a part of Norway (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Erymr).
Thurssar – Fictional. Adapted from þursar or þurs (pronounced thurss), another name for Norse giants ( https://sonsofvikings.com/blogs/history/giants-the-anti-gods-of-viking-norse-mythology#:~:text=In%20Norse%20mythology%2C%20giants%20are,)%20or%20J%C3%B6tnar%20(plural) ).