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

As expected, the two were ecstatic about having forms even if it was just in an energy world, a reaction that made the mage curious about the figures they adopted. The duo had also shared notes with Birki and met the young energy beings who were delighted with meeting new energy entities.

“They called us their uncle and aunt,” said Hal. “Is that acceptable to you, sire?”

“Of course, it is,” replied Tyler. “How about their growth?”

“They depend on magical energy to develop, sire, the kind which have passed through a powerful magical medium, such as deities. They are, after all, patterned after or offshoots of gods and similar beings.”

“I thought so. We have to do this the hard way then. But I believe it’s a better way. It would give them time to properly grow into their abilities and learn how to handle what they are capable of,” replied Tyler.

“It is an extremely powerful group you have in your staff, sire. The way they are molded as they gain power and experience would determine who and what they are.”

“And I expect the two of you to help,” said the mage. “Any news about H?”

“He’s on his way back. We just received a short communication from him. He’ll be here in a day,” answered X.

The answer made the mage breathe easier. He was worried about the third guide, though he avoided telling the pair his concerns. Passing through the Barrens and then proceeding to the valley near the Void Lands was a perilous journey, even for one cloaked in an invisibility field. With the mutations of the Barrens, there was no telling what would be the abilities of those bizarre monsters, and it wasn’t impossible for one such creature to have the ability to see past cloaking energies.

“Can he handle the task of watching Sutr’s borders? The one facing south toward the Dual Monarchy,” asked Tyler. “I need to have an idea of what’s happening on that side.”

“Of course, sire. All we need is to send him a map of the area. We still need to advise him to keep to normal ground and avoid the Barrens. That way, we could communicate with him from time to time through a single powerful burst, enough to reach Skaney,” X explained.

“Do it. Things are moving fast, and we need to know what’s happening now on the borders of the lands of fire and ice,” said Tyler.

I never thought H could be so invaluable. But should I tell them about my encounter with the avatar?

Tyler finally decided to put off updating his guides about his experience. There were already plenty of concerns facing them. The group entered the room and took their seats. Aage shooed off Habrok from a particularly beautiful high-backed chair. It was the jarl’s seat.

“They’re intellectually brilliant, you know. I am not talking about the forging, metalcraft, stonework, and other arts they’re renowned for,” Tyndur commented suddenly.

“And by that, you mean what? I have never seen such a testy people in my entire life. That comparison includes the spiteful human form of an ulfhednar my band hunted in Viken. That cantankerous old man got us running around in circles until we got wise to him,” replied Habrok.

“My dear ranger, it takes innate intelligence and incredible imagination to come up with truly unique insults while leaping upon an enemy. Or it could be just sheer cussedness,” said the einherjar.

“I think it’s the latter,” volunteered Tyler.

Chapter Twenty

Après Nous

Byggvir spake:

43. “Had I birth so famous | as Ingunar-Freyr,

And sat in so lofty a seat,

I would crush to marrow | this croaker of ill,

And beat all his body to bits.”

Loki spake:

44. “What little creature | goes crawling there,

Snuffling and snapping about?

At Freyr’s ears ever | wilt thou be found,

Or muttering hard at the mill.”

Aage took leave of the group, saying he had to find servants to bring refreshments. When asked how long the audience of the dwarves would take, the mage mentioned around thirty minutes.

“Ha! I seriously doubt that,” remarked Tyndur with a dismissive snort. “Formal occasions require a recitation of the lineage of the representatives. And you’ve got two! No doubt each one will try to outdo each other in the greatness of their family lines.”

“How long do you think the audience would take, Tyndur?” asked Habrok, preempting Tyler who had the same question.

“It would depend on how hurt their ranks are. They still have to attend to the injured. In this instance, I guess Aage would be right in his estimate, give or take a few minutes. It would be distracting reciting the names and deeds of your forebears while your men are bleeding to death. My worst experience was three hours,” replied the einherjar.

“Three hours?” exclaimed Aage.

“They got carried away. So, the damned presentation included an impromptu reenactment, artistically, mind you, of some of the highlights. It was a blasted nightmare. And don’t let them start with their music! It’s designed to accompany such litanies and has a sonorous, monotonous tone. By Odin’s beard, I’d pay good money just to avoid another experience like that!”

Aage shook his head and left the room, muttering something about three hours of boring music accompanying a tedious recital of names.

“I believe you put the fright of dwarves in the battlemage, Tyndur,” said Kobu.

“I was kind. I didn’t mention the dancing,” replied the einherjar. “Though I really don’t understand the recital part. They also do that in set-piece battles between them, you know. It just provides more ammunition for the inevitable insults.”

“There are some serious matters you should know,” declared Tyler, breaking the flow of the ongoing conversation. “I’ll take advantage of Aage’s absence.”

The mage then told them of the strange cessation of fighting between the forces of Sutr and Ymir right after Loki was sent to mediate a truce, about the fact that the two jotunn were now amassing additional strong forces, Loki’s absence in the