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

Hid in straw on the floor, | they found thee not

When heroes were fain to fight.”

When Rumpr left, the mage remained in the clearing for a time. The meeting with the elemental was necessary. He had to be sure the three powerful beings–Rumpr, Gullen, and Dionysus–had nothing to do with Sutr’s deadly tantrum, the spark which started it all. It only left Loki, though that conclusion could only be arrived at by inference.

For all the mage knew, the blasted squids were behind the present chaos. But he requested Rumpr to send Eira a message about where he was and what he intended to do after Hedmark. It’d be an upbeat message too–he didn’t want Eira to be worried. Tyler knew the forest spirit must also be facing a lot of problems with the undead.

“Guys? Have you analyzed the weird field which created the revenants?” he asked his guides.

“No, sire. Though we told you it was energy filtered through an unfamiliar dimensional medium,” X replied.

“Please check and try to reference it against the database you have. Somehow, the idea of a First World entity—with the exception of the Elders—having access to dimensional rifts sounds preposterous. They wouldn’t be stuck here on Adar otherwise. The various pantheons would be scattered all over the dimensional universe, each with their own world.”

The mage slowly walked back to the keep, still immensely worried about the numbers they would be facing. The mere fact that the forester and the jarl didn’t volunteer a specific estimate didn’t bode well.

As he neared his room, Tyler felt two commanding aurae coming from within. One was known to the mage.

Odin again? Talk about Norse deities bearing burdens. But the other one is unfamiliar, the mage thought with trepidation. By now, he was accustomed to equating Odin’s appearance with additional headaches. At least he didn’t sense any hostility or anger. Instead, worry and apprehension predominated.

He entered the room and found Odin and one other deity waiting for him. He didn’t need to request a barrier spell for the area; it was second nature for deities of such power to cast such enchantments for meetings of confidence. Considering he’d just talked with Odin, a second encounter was clearly not a social affair.

“First Mage, this is Lord Freyr. He has heard of you, but never had the opportunity to meet you in person. He rules Vanaheimr, one of the nine worlds closely allied with Asgard,” introduced Odin.

“My pleasure, Lord Freyr,” the mage bowed slightly. “May I ask what his field of lore is? I beg your pardon, but I am not that familiar with the different specializations of deities.”

“Fertility, wisdom, and precognition,” replied the deity.

“He’d be more popular with men, if not for the fact that he grew up in Asgard and therefore, under my lordship,” added Odin. “We decided to wait here for you since I sensed you were busy in discussion with your elemental friend.”

“Some queries related to what’s going on,” answered Tyler.

“You’re lucky. He and his brethren tend to avoid deities,” commented Odin.

“How goes the war? You both look a little worse for wear,” the mage said, shifting the topic. The two did look battle-scarred. Odin’s fancy armor had dents in places and lost its luster. Freyr was more conventionally armored, though in a heavy cuirass, gauntlets, and greaves. It also bore the hallmarks of savage battles fought. His aventail though was loosened, revealing the youthful face of a beardless middle-aged man. Blond hair streamed out of his helmet. Odin still had the mace, and Freyr had a sheathed sword clipped to his belt. But Tyler’s question made the two deities look at each other.

“It’s a hard struggle, First Mage.” It was all Odin would say.

Damn. It’s not going well.

“Asgard’s defenses are also being tested. We still haven’t determined how they were able to access the dimension entrance to Bifrost,” Odin continued.

“Where’s Asgard, by the way?” asked Tyler.

“Neither here nor there. It exists between dimensions, the same as the other seven magical worlds. An ancient agreement, made possible by the power of all rulers of the worlds, excepting Midgard. Midgard has its own place in the universe. Though Vanaheimr and Alfheimr have the peculiar characteristic of being ruled by Freyr and his sister, Freya.”

Something in Odin’s statement made Tyler ask, “What kind of magic created such an arrangement?”

“The sort which shall not be seen again. When the nine worlds were created, knowledge about the magic that made them was fractured and divided among the worlds. One reason why Midgard remained where it is now. Nobody knows where Midgard’s share was sent,” remarked Freyr.

“Earth was created by Norse legends?” came Tyler’s disbelieving comment.

“It’s a legend, my boy. Except for that part about the other Norse worlds. Midgard existed a long time before we came into being. But you know mortals. If they wanted us to be the center of their universe during their early years – who were we to argue?” answered Odin. “Anyway, we’re here because of a request from Freyr. It’s about the elves.”

“The Alfar are helping Skaney now. They’re taking on the role of clearing Viken, though open fields are really not conducive to their way of warfare. They’re also engaged in heavy fighting near the Dry Plains, an area of contention in the years before Skaney came into being. It was a forested area once, but the enormous expenditure of magical energy in battles and campaigns severely affected the region. But there, they’re are assisting the towns of Toten, Karsfell, and the fortress-town of Lade guarding the trade route through the region. The Alfar can hold their own. For now,” explained Freyr.

“Freyr’s worried about the dokkalfr. They’re part of his… flock. And I understand his apprehensions,” added Odin, cutting through the preliminaries. “We want you to go and see what you can do to help them.”

Again, the dokkalfr. Second time today, thought the mage. It does appear I can’t wriggle out of the added complication. Let’s see what help