The Accidental Archmage - Book Five Edmund Batara (classic children's novels .TXT) 📖

among the kingdoms to be to our advantage. And to them, we are a vastly reduced people living in a few scattered villages, hardly worth conquering.”

“I heard the Pelasgians were favored by Hephaestus, and their products were highly regarded,” he replied.

“True. Good thing we are friends with them now. Most of the weapons and tools here come from them. The People do some forging, which I encouraged, to maintain and improve their skills. It’s still comparing the ability of a neophyte to that of a master craftsman. But such discussions can wait, somebody is waiting for you,” reminded the deity.

“Aren’t you coming?” asked Tyler, a bit surprised.

“The protective barriers of our friend can be fatal to beings such as me. An innate characteristic of the field, I was told. I’ll wait here.”

“Oh, sorry, I forgot that part,” apologized the mage.

“No need for that, First Mage. It’s even a good thing. The knowledge our friend has is one that should be kept from the impulsive and, may I say, short-sighted deities of this world. Though for mortals, I was informed of the reassuring fact that only a unique human could learn such knowledge,” said Sarva.

“Short-sightedness might be an understatement in that regard,” chuckled the mage as he turned and started to walk in the direction of the cave.

“First Mage,” Sarva’s voice softly called.

He looked back at Sarva. The mage noticed the deity had a sad smile on his face.

“I do know what is at stake. Our mutual friend had the good grace to tell me. I just want you to know that whatever you decide, my people and I will accept such a choice.”

“What do you mean?” asked the puzzled mage.

“Let’s leave the explanation to our friend. I believe I might have mentioned too much already. But what I said stands. You have my word on it.”

The mystified Tyler just nodded.

Now, what was that all about? he asked himself.

The mage momentarily paused before entering the cave. He could see the tell-tale shimmer of an energy wall. And it was not the normal sort of magical energy.

“Safe to enter?” he asked his guides.

“We believe so, sire,” said Hal.

“No attempts to disintegrate us? No beams, blasts, or similar welcome fireworks?

“Sire, we have already talked with the Elder intelligence within. It even sent the local deity to fetch and guide you, though that part we still don’t understand and we do expect a rational explanation for such an action,”X pointed out.

Tyler suddenly thrust his hand through the barrier. Finding the appendage still whole and reassured by the lack of pain, he went in.

He found himself back in the house he’d just left, though it was empty. It was as if he came through the door. Greatly startled, the mage glanced back. The familiar surroundings were there, but people were nowhere in sight.

“Greetings and peace be with you, First Mage,” a boy’s voice called to him. He looked at the table. There now stood a young lad, dressed in white chiton, waiting for him.

This is weird,he thought immediately. Well, weirder than the usual.

Chapter Eleven

A Choice

Frigg spake:

25. “Of the deeds ye two | of old have done

Ye should make no speech among men;

Whate’er ye have done | in days gone by,

Old tales should ne’er be told.”

Loki spake:

26. “Be silent, Frigg! | thou art Fjorgyn’s wife,

But ever lustful in love;

For Vili and Ve, | thou wife of Vithrir,

Both in thy bosom have lain.”

Tyler closely looked at the adolescent waiting for him. He looked like one of The People, though his face had a playful countenance.

“Come on, First Mage. You traveled all the way here and couldn’t even say a polite greeting?” smiled the being, eschewing mental communication.

“Sorry, just extremely surprised. I didn’t expect such an environment for discussion and a boy to be waiting for me. My greetings,” he replied.

“A showoff.” Tyler heard Hal comment.

Ah, Hal, as I said, you are becoming more and more human in your thinking. Though clearly a grouchy one, the mage inwardly laughed.

“A dark cave? An isolated temple? The top of a lonely hill? We could do that if you want, but the familiar would be more conducive to conversation and a much-needed reassurance for a mortal faced with the unknown. Come, sit down, please. Are you hungry? We can have food, if you’re hungry. Real food, of course, unlike the illusions you see outside.”

“Thanks, but I just had a heavy breakfast. The People have been very generous hosts so far,” said the mage as he declined the invitation.

“They are hospitable. Resilient, practical, and intelligent too. I find their attitude toward life quite refreshing and encouraging, considering the bloody history of humanity in the databanks I am permitted to see. Well, part of humanity’s history anyway; my records had not been updated in a while, and I can’t accept second-hand information,” said the Elder intelligence as he sat down after Tyler finally got to a chair.

“I am actually surprised to stumble upon an Elder shrine in these parts. It’s quite near the others I have discovered so far,” he remarked.

“There were a lot of sanctuaries, Elder. The creators were obsessed with redundancy. But many were destroyed – gone forever – as a result of natural calamities and the several Divine Wars which troubled this world during the infancy of its colonization by beings from the First World,” came the reply.

“I thought the temples were sturdy enough to withstand normal magical energy blasts,” commented Tyler.

“They are, but not against being buried by mountains or swallowed by the ground. A lava flow is extremely efficacious in destroying a sanctuary. But I have given your companions what information I have on Elder temple sites, though I am not sure if they are still in such locations. Those located outside of the continent would probably be still there. There’s even one up north,” said the being.

Please let it not be in Ymir’s or Sutr’s domain, thought Tyler, thinking about how extremely dangerous it would be looking for