Tartarus Beckons, Edmund Batara [bts book recommendations .TXT] 📗

Chapter Six

Finding the Dokkalfr

The mage and the priest sat in the middle of the clearing made by the demon lord. The damage to the forest was substantial, but fortunately, it was localized in the immediate area. Nabu-sin had quickly left after his conversation with Tyler, and his departure freed Kobu and Ivar from the stasis spell. The two didn’t have questions. Though immobilized, they apparently could still hear everything that was discussed.

The exile immediately left in search of the missing crewmen, while Tyler recalled Birki and his wards back to the staff. The guardian was undeniably sulking. He came back without saying anything to the mage.

“A strange day,” commented Ivar, breaking the silence. The two were still feeling bewildered by the just concluded incident.

“The understatement of the week. Or the year,” replied Tyler. He was trying to absorb and consider the implications of what happened.

“Your take on what happened, if I may ask?”

“For the kraken, whoever created the island knew the consequences of the act. For some reason, they wanted the entity in that spot and confident enough that I would be able to settle the issue. Must be deities. They’re the ones who couldn’t approach it. I got used again. I hope it was for a good cause. You don’t think the arrival of those shiny blue pebbles was mere coincidence?” said Tyler with a shrug.

“And the gallu?”

“Now that I half-expected. Not that it would be that creature. Our enemies were bound to test me. Draw me out and examine what I can do. Given what someone had told me – that I foiled most of his schemes – he really must be curious about what I can do.”

“He?”

“Some old guy living in a hole underground, absurd as that might sound.”

Tyler watched the growing evening fog through the window of his room in the Gothi’s house. The tiring trek back was uneventful, though Kobu was only able to find eleven of the twelve men of the crew. But Ivar promised to organize a search party once they got back to town. The evening haze usually comes in early at this time of the year, according to Ivar, helped by the town’s proximity to the forests of Maljen and Fossegrim. As he watched, the mage idly observed that the fog was thicker than what he remembered them to be back on Earth. This one has a seemingly solid consistency to it and the lights from neighboring houses could barely be seen through its thinner sections.

Now having bathed, eaten his fill, and wearing clean clothes, the mage found he couldn’t sleep. He should have been at ease after Ivar found a message waiting for him saying that Tyndur and Habrok were already on their way back and expected to arrive the following day. That was indeed welcome news. Tyler was starting to worry.

Yet something disturbed him now, and it came from a distinct, faint wave of magic being directed at his room.  It was not threatening nor did he sense any danger. For his peace of mind, he cast a scrying spell. The report didn’t show any dangerous monsters about, but it indicated strong magical emanations in the neighborhood, and a particularly powerful one was right in front of the house. Concealed by the fog, it was alone and merely stood in the darkness. Though the structures around the Gothi’s house, the temple included, had night lights, the intruder managed to position itself in a location where no light could reach, and the thick fog helped in concealing any visible presence of the being.

Another one? thought the mage.

His irritation was rising, and even Tyler had already recognized the unusual instinctive reaction of his mind to strange or dangerous situations. He might get scared, frightened, or even terrified at the beginning, but then anger takes over, burning past any negative emotions. The problem was getting it back under control. A psychological coping mechanism, he had concluded, but given his abilities, it was a cure which had the possibility of becoming worse than the problem.

Tyler stared at the lone shape, assessing the situation. If they wanted to attack, they could have done so already, the mage concluded as he took into consideration the fact that there were at least ten magical emanations shown by his spell. Another examination revealed that the power sources were distributed in a specific pattern, one which led to the nearest city gate.

Definitely not an aggressive arrangement, more of a defensive one, geared towards escape, he noted. A visitor? Could be. If it’s not human, or a human with dark magic, then the protective runes of the Gothi’s house would prevent its entry. And Ivar also has armed guards. So, is it waiting for me?

The more Tyler thought about it, the notion made sense. But then again, it could be a trap. And he was really, really tired of traps.

Fuck this. No way I am going to get some sleep if this continued all night long, he thought crossly.

Having made his decision, the mage warned his AI guides and Birki on what he was going to do. He changed into his armor, a movement which woke Kobu. The exile didn’t say anything but followed Tyler’s lead.

“There’s somebody outside, Kobu. Apparently waiting for me. Let’s go check,” said Tyler as he went to the door. An involuntary glance was given to the spot where he left the things he had brought from Earth. The pack and its contents were now all in Ivar’s safekeeping. It all felt like a long time ago.

Has it really been that long? he mused.

“I did feel a faint uneasiness, sire. But no killing intent,” replied the exile, now in full armor.

“Let’s hope it’s not an insurance salesman,” joked the mage.

“What’s insurance?”

“A First World vendor, Kobu. More tenacious than any predator on Adar.”

The duo stepped out of the house, telling the guards they were going for a walk. Ivar’s huskarls knew better than to ask where they were