The Accidental Archmage, Edmund Batara [read after TXT] 📗

Gates bar me well. The sights I have seen, and the Blessing I had felt. The pleasures

of this world now taste naught, and of faded color it does show. My world is but a

memory of visions granted and taken. To ascend and return is my dream, and though

Odin and others may stand in my way, they will bar me not.”

“But Odin says Thor may be adamant about you returning to Valhalla?”

“Thor. A being of power, of thunder and lightning. Great be his might, but greater still

is his inanity. He thinks of glory, a passing fancy in the minds of men. His worship will

fade when mortals find peace, and his time will be spent amid old tales, ale, and

whores.”

“How about Odin?”

“The All-Father knows but cannot speak. The All-Father speaks but cannot show. His

mighty wisdom bound by chains of his creators, tight and strong. So play the role he

must, for Asgard and pantheon’s sake. Only thy duty fulfilled and true, will hold at bay,

the true nemesis of the gods, the wolves of greed and disbelief.”

Man, that’s brutal. Good luck to the Norse gods trying to bring him back.

“A lot of times I have wished that things would be far simpler to understand.”

“So do I, young Havard. So do I.”

CHAPTER XX

When Greeks Come Calling

Tyndur stayed with them only for a while after his talk with Tyler. They did leave him

the rest of their provisions. Which for Tyler was a good trade-off for not combing the

mountain to look for him. He also suspected that the hermit had something to do with

the lack of jotnar or dokkalfr disturbing them.

The three had an early mid-day meal and packed everything for their journey back to

Scarburg. The three started to move out of the trees, Tyler and Habrok on the wagon

while Jorund was mounted on a chestnut horse.

As they approached the main road, a wind started to pick up. The dust smothered

them. Yet the wind grew in strength, making it a struggle just to see where they were

going.

Suddenly, the wind stopped. The dust started to settle down. Jorund had his battleaxe

out while Habrok was holding his bow, arrow at the ready. It was clear the wind was

unnatural. Magical in origin. A suspicion confirmed when Tyler could see the faint

shimmering of a strong barrier enclosing them. The size and power of it indicated a

very powerful high mage or a divine entity.

Two beams of light flashed, hitting Jorund and Habrok at the same time. Jorund fell off

his horse with a crash. Habrok lay sprawled on the wagon. Tyler already had his

personal barrier activated and he waited for the foe to show up. He had started

gathering magical energy.

Then the form of a young man coalesced from motes of light, finally forming a familiar haughty youthful face. Erithizo.

“We meet again, mage. Did you think I would forget you?”

Tyler immediately launched the biggest fireball he could manage at the arrogant

demigod. But the fireball exploded a few feet from Erithizo. As it detonated, Tyler saw

that the flames flowed around an invisible form in front of the youth.

But Erithizo didn’t escape the overflow of fire. Whatever barrier he had was not able to

cope with the effects of the massive explosion. He staggered and Tyler could see his

figure giving off wisps of smoke.

The figure who stood before the youth and deflected his spell stepped out of the

swirling smoke. He was wearing the classic heavy Greek hoplite armor, with a hoplon

shield. A long leaf bladed sword was in his right hand. Bizarrely, the huge size of the

ornate plumed crest on top of his Corinthian helmet reminded Tyler of a strutting

peacock. But his armor was all red. Deep red. Even the hilt of his sword and his

sandals.

Herakles? Ares?

Erithizo had moved to the side of the armored figure. His clean-cut face was now

smudged, his armor giving off wisps of smoke, and his now visible cape torn in several

places.

“Hah! Meet my uncle. THE WAR GOD ARES!”

Ares looked at him and then looked at the youth.

“You didn’t tell me he was a visitor. Or that he and his companions were Odin's

Favored.” The bass voice of the Greek god echoed within the enclosed square.

“Does it matter?”

Ares cuffed the youth so hard he slammed into and broke a small tree.

“You stupid insolent pup! This changes things! The rules matter!”

The form of the war god blurred. Then he moved so fast that Tyler, even with his

enhanced senses, couldn’t see him. All he felt was the cracking of his personal shield

and then something hit him on the head. He fell off the wagon, facing the demigod.

As he lost consciousness, he heard Ares' enraged shout.

“THIS MEANS WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING HERE! WE HAVE TO BRING THEM ALL BACK

TO HELLAS!”

CHAPTER LORE:

HELLAS - Ancient Greek. Refers to the homeland of the ancient Greeks. Taken from the

mythological patriarch named Hellen from whom the ancient Greek tribes descended, such as

the Aeolians, Dorians, Achaeans and Ionians.

Author’s End Note:

I hope you enjoyed the story. Tyler’s journey continues in Book II.

Next Book in the Series:

New misadventures, new friends, new foes, new skills, new knowledge.

New encounters of the female kind.

More deities become aware of Tyler as he continues his quest to survive,

reach his potential, and carry out his burden.

Amid convoluted plans and plots designed by divine acquaintances of old

and newly met gods, what's an ordinary guy from Earth to do?

(SAMPLE PAGES FROM BOOK TWO FOLLOW)

THE ACCIDENTAL ARCHMAGE

Book Two

Δώρα των Ελλήνων

GIFTS OF THE GREEKS

A classical fantasy with a modern twist

By

Edmund A.M. Batara

@ soloflyte

AUTHOR’S NOTES

Incidents of people disappearing in plain sight

are well-known in recorded history. One of the

earliest known accounts was in the 1700s. One

of the most recent was in 2007. Various

theories have been advanced to explain such

disappearances. This story is not such a