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

of the entire clusterfuck.”

CHAPTER LORE:

Bileyg - Norse mythology. One of the names of Odin. Meaning "Flashing/Wavering Eye."

Sutr - Norse mythology. Believed to be the primordial giant of fire. A jotunn.

CHAPTER IV

Mischief in Person

Morning found Tyler in the main hall of the house holding a scroll and a pouch of

money. Given to him by a servant after his breakfast. It was obvious that the Gothi

believed in continuing the Earth tradition of having three square meals a day. A

welcome change, thought Tyler, and a better change would be if they could discover

coffee or even tea. The calming effects of healing are well and good but he could do

with some caffeine to start his day. Or his afternoon. If they did discover coffee, he’d

be the first to open Adar’s version of Starbucks.

The evening meal was good, really good. He pigged out despite continued warnings

and comments from the priest. The hell with his body’s ability to absorb solid food, he

had been suffering hunger pangs since he woke up in Eric’s house. Being sated and full

was a wonderful feeling. He also slept well. Reassured by the Gothi’s statement that the

house was protected by runic enchantments stronger than those found in the hunter’s

house. He did learn more during last night’s free flowing discussion. Of course, the

priest also started learning about the Earth of 2016.

He learned that the Gothi’s temple was beside the house, forming a religious complex

with three primary deities – Odin, Thor, and Frey. In Nordic belief, they are the King,

the Warrior, and the Farmer. Other Vanir and Aesir deities were also worshiped in the

temple but those three are the stars of the show, with Odin, of course, being the top

dog. He also learned that Odin is also the god of magic, not only of wisdom and

learning. It did make sense as magical practice in Adar was a learned skill, the level of

achievable learning dictated by one’s magical affinity.

Trade and banking seem to underdeveloped. Trading, mercenary, and other guilds were territorial in scope. Trading guilds exist but not found in every civilization. In this way, civilizations came to have some nascent form of financial and business arrangements

between them.

But not all civilizations were open to contact and trade with others. Some were

xenophobic and warlike. Others were bent on conquest. Some civilizations were limited

to a few cities or are a grouping of city-states. Others had a more traditional approach

to ruling, organized as kingdoms. Some considered themselves as empires. Other

humans remain as tribes, nomadic or otherwise, inhabiting the more inaccessible areas

of Adar. But the limited population of this world, as compared to Earth, together with

the immense distances involved have helped foster an insular outlook among such

cultures.

On military innovations, Adar remained at the sword and shield stage. Tyler was not

surprised. The deific proscription against non-magical scientific research made sure of

that. But he admitted that the use of magic added a new dimension to warfare. The

different ways by which cultures harness magical energies made matters more

interesting. Iron was the primary material of weaponry. The lore of iron or steel being

able to counter magical barriers and affect magical entities held true in Adar, crossing

cultural and mythological boundaries. Though steel, as was in early Earth history, was

both expensive and very difficult to forge.

On the source of magic, its nature and origins perplexed the Gothi. He did explain some

theories about it. One was that the magic was granted by the gods. Another was that

magic was a world resource peculiar to Adar. Still another theory was magic was

creation energy left over when Adar was created.

But magic was universally practiced. Nobody got burned at the stake for being a magic

practitioner. It’s when a magic practitioner starts casting hexes and curses against the

general population or important people when things start to get ugly. Being a follower

of a magical system at war with another culture would also grant bonfire privileges,

usually after being hung, beheaded, quartered or other such entertainment for the

masses.

Yet wars usually try to avoid pogroms and massacres of civilians. Except for a general

rule about killing off religious leaders and magical practitioners of a different religious belief. The Gothi explained that it had to do with the belief system. A living population

still offered the possibility of a change in religious affiliation. If successful, it increases the base of power of the winning deity or pantheon.

The inherent, though to some extent, rational, brutality practiced in Adar amazed and

startled Tyler. It reinforced his conviction that he had to step carefully in this nightmare of contrasting and in many instances, adversarial, cultural beliefs and practices. With his

newfound yet unexplained and disconcerting magical ability, the danger of becoming a fiery entertainment for the masses exponentially increased.

Tyler sighed as he remembered last night’s talks. The new knowledge and possible

implications swirling through his head. Trying to forget such thoughts for the time

being, he broke open the wax seal of the scroll and read it. It was a letter from the

Gothi. Written in English, it informed him that the priest will be busy that morning,

having to attend to the mercenary guild and other personal matters. Encouraged to

explore the town, the pouch was his spending money. The merchant district was highly

recommended as well as two named taverns and a brothel, if he was interested.

He also had a personal guard and guide waiting for him outside, a fellow named

Jorund. He was assured that Jorund can be trusted, the guy being a huskarl of the

Gothi. Finally, Tyler was asked to press a small written runic symbol at the bottom of

the scroll when he had finished reading. Pressing the symbol, the scroll started to

disintegrate.

“Freaking Mission Impossible!” cried out the startled Tyler. In his astonishment, his

hands let go of the scroll. He watched as the scroll disappeared even before it reached

the floor. At least it wasn’t fire, he thought, it may have burned my hands but then

again, that was AMAZING!

Putting on his cloak and tying on the money pouch, he made sure it was secure in his

belt and covered by the cape. Outside, a man in light armor, leather with some iron

plates on it,