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

“But that army in the Barrens really needs to be drawn from the battle. That’s the only way we have a chance to survive this attack.”

Odin didn’t answer immediately and instead looked at Freyr. The other deity nodded.

“I’ll lead the einherji myself,” said Freyr.

“You mentioned something about a rising dark power among the Aztecah, Gangari,” asked Tyler. “Haven’t we settled that matter with the elimination of their patrons?”

A new dark power. Fuck this. Just when I thought that problem was over and done with. It couldn’t be the Followers of Zin. They got owned by somebody or another group.

“No other details, except it’s one from the First World. Asleep, now awakened.”

“This entire thing is like playing Whack-A-Mole. A game back on the First World – you hit a wooden mole as it pops out of a hole and another comes out from another opening. You told me you sent Loki north. Any word from him?” asked Tyler, not mentioning he already knew the answer.

“None. I can’t even get hold of him. I know what you’re thinking, First Mage, and I am trying hard to come up with excuses for him. I don’t intend to make a colossal mistake again.”

“All the circumstances do point to him,” said Freyr.

“But what gain would he get from a continent half-covered by fire and ice?” asked Odin.

“Or an Asgard overrun by ice and fire jotnar? But who truly knows what’s in that mind of his?” added Tyler. “And there is such a thing as overcompensating for the mistakes of the past.”

“Ah, First Mage. Only you of all mortals could say such a thing straight to my face.”

“Sometimes, the obvious needs to be said out loud.”

***

Tyler stared at where the two deities had stood a few seconds ago, wondering what he had bitten off this time. But one thing was certain; if Freyr would be able to pull off the diversion move, then Hedmark had a chance. A slim one, but better than facing the combined might of two massive armies of undead. Then his staff grew warm.

“Yes, Birki?” he asked.

“I thought you’d like to know the aurae of those two were quite helpful. Especially the one from Freyr,” the guardian of the staff answered.

“Well, his magical domain includes fertility. Which means if he’s attentive to his followers, the little blue pill won’t find a market here,” commented the mage.

“What little blue pill?” asked Birki immediately, his curiosity piqued.

“A First World thing. Something to help males regain their combative abilities in bed.”

“Ah. I was right. Females of your race have always been the stronger sex,” commented the being.

Tyler laughed as he went to his bed. It was one of those lessons he took to heart – rest while you can. Jorund had taught him a lot of things, the mage admitted, wondering how the huskarl-turned-einherjar was doing.

Dinner was in their quarters. It seemed everybody was busy with the fortifications, even the servants of the jarl. Work continued even during the night. Tyler could see bonfires all over the trelleborg. He turned to Kobu.

“What did you tell them to do? They all seem busier than usual,” asked the mage.

“More barriers to funnel enemies into killing grounds, more stakes, spears, arrows, stones, and a few other toys. The key is to keep them away from the walls as much as possible or at least delay the inevitable close combat. It’s a battle of numbers, and we’re on the far side of the losing end,” replied the exile.

“Just give me time to unravel the spell which animated them. It is a strange one, but once I determine its components, we could cut the strings keeping these puppets animated,” said Tyler.

“We’ll try our best, sire. It’s unfortunate these are undead; otherwise, we could have incendiary defenses too,” remarked the exile.

“Why not?”

“The human body takes a lot of time to burn to ashes. Even considering we’re fighting undead with some flesh on them, I doubt if fire would kill them. We’ll be facing burning skeletons instead. More dangerous enemies. Crushing their heads will kill them, as we have discovered.”

“Damn. But I guess you’ve improvised something,” said the mage.

“Yes, sire. Though the woods around the fort would sadly be denuded.”

“We can replant later. But as long as I can unravel the animating spell, our troubles would be over in an instant,” commented Tyler.

“If anybody could do it, sire, it would be you. Deities are notoriously short-sighted, they couldn’t think themselves out of a simple maze,” said Kobu with a chuckle.

I think my irreverence is contagious, observed Tyler.

A knock on the door caught their attention. It was again Aage, with Tyndur and Habrok in tow. It was time for the dwarven meeting. As they walked along the hallways, the mage realized that the size of the jarl’s keep, seen from the outside, was indeed deceptively small. Given the length of the corridors they were walking through, it was a sizable structure. A final turn led them into an open courtyard filled with dwarven warriors, neatly divided into two groups facing each other. A path was between the two assemblies, leading directly to a double door.

“It appears each brought their entire complement, less the injured, of course,” murmured Tyndur.

Habrok grinned widely at the comment. It looked like the ranger had something to add but wisely refrained from speaking out loud.

Then Tyndur whispered to the mage, “I am going to be more famous than usual.”

“Huh? How come?”

“I went to the inn the jarl mentioned. There were a lot of bards there. Crawling with them, in fact. Talked to some. Hell, all of those within earshot. They’re now coming up with individual versions of the story of how Tyndur the Grim crossed the Barrens. Not our journey, but my first trip. Slipped a few gold to those who sounded more promising and my road to immortality in song was assured!”

“What if they don’t deliver?” asked Tyler. “Many do that you know, they’ll take your gold and run.”

“No chance of that, sire. I made it very clear I’ll hunt each and every one down