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

sins in life, and could even be considered cold and unfeeling, but one of my mentors did say that in war, casualties are to be expected, and if one couldn’t save people dear to you, then a savage retribution would be the best medicine. It won’t bring back the people you have lost, but it would make you feel immensely better. Or you could just sit there and accept or mull over what happened. That, to my unworthy mind, is simply idiotic.”

“I do plan to get her back, Kobu,” Tyler answer, his voice stronger this time.

“Excellent. And you have the best-mismatched collection of cut-throats this world had ever seen at your side. I could conquer the lands of Wa with Tyndur alone! What more if Habrok, Asem, and Astrid are with me? Not to mention the First Mage?” chuckled the exile, obviously glad to see Tyler recovering.

“A few minutes more, Kobu. I also have to think about what to do. I won’t be at my best unless I have something to hold on to – any plan or scheme to save Eira.”

“I understand, sire,” said Kobu as he stood up.

“And don’t let Alal do anything I wouldn’t allow. He’s more powerful and formidable than he looks,” added Tyler.

“I will, sire. First time I get to tell a demon how to wage war,” the exiled replied with alacrity.

As Kobu quickly strode in the direction of Alal, he found Magna and Hoenir in front of him.

“Yes?” he asked quickly.

“That’s the Great House Anari down there. Their ugly banners show it. The most fanatical and possibly strongest faction among the dokkalfr royal houses,” said Magna.

“Relatives of yours?”

“No, more like rivals in the usual politics of power among my people. They excel in the use of battle mages and heavy infantry. Thought you’d like to know.”

“Thanks, Magna. But I can’t decide what to do with both of you now. That rests in the First Mage’s hands. But when the fighting gets too close, feel free to fight with us or run away. We’ll understand,” answered Kobu.

His words resulted in a blow to his arm. It wasn’t that strong as Magna clearly refrained from using her full strength, but it still hurt. Kobu was astonished at the swiftness of the action, though he conceded that the unexpected nature of the strike helped the female dokkalfr.

“What was that for?” Kobu asked, mystified.

“I don’t run from a fight,” said Magna as she turned and left.

Walking to Alal, the exile believed he deserved the blow. He could have been more diplomatic or careful in his choice of words, but considering the situation, such niceties were the farthest from his mind.

“I heard what the mage said, your Excellency,” announced Alal as Kobu drew near.

At what the demon said, Kobu stopped and stared at Alal.

“What did you say?” asked Kobu, his voice sterner and colder now.

“Oh, come now. You obviously have some idea of who I am, and your aura, not to mention your demeanor, shows a man destined to rule. Or should I say, refused to rule?” whispered Alal. The words were spoken in a way to indicate that the speaker knew more than he let on.

“That’s a topic for another time, Alal, and I would appreciate it if you kept such nonsense to yourself,” replied the exile.

“Fine! To matters at hand then! The enemy down there just reformed their ranks under cover of their weensy excuses for spells. I could see bowmen preparing, and heavy infantry coming to up to the front. Glad to see the ways of warfare hasn’t changed a bit. What do you want me to do?”

“Defeat them, of course, what other objective is there? Whittle down their numbers before the leading ranks come within spear range. How long will your barrier keep arrows and spells at bay?”

“No idea. As long as I have the energy, I suppose. You’re sure about that delaying tactic? You don’t want them engaged, though crushed is actually the word I prefer, down there in the valley?” asked the puzzled Alal.

Kobu stared at the warrior. He couldn’t determine if Alal was joking. Remembering Tyler’s words, he held back a cutting reply and instead looked at Alal in the eyes. Yet the ancient warrior unmistakably meant what he said.

“You can play with them down there? Your magical abilities are that strong?”

Even as he asked the question, Kobu knew Alal could indeed wreak havoc among the dokkalfr, and he resolved never to look at Alal straight in the eyes again. There was something deeply dark and disturbingly frightening about those orbs. They hold your gaze, and then slowly try to carry one down into unknown and terrible depths. Kobu, versed in magic and exposed to the darker side of such arts, instinctively recoiled from the horrible experience. Somehow, he knew that beyond the gash of an opening the great black abyss had, something exceedingly terrible waited. The terrifying incident proved to him beyond the shadow of a doubt what kind of creature Alal was, and, unfortunately, the creature wasn’t a mere high-level fiend.

Alal slowly leered at him.

“Would you want to know, Kobu-sama?” the demon said in a low voice.

Kobu was stunned at the startling use of the honorific by Alal. It was an important suffix in his culture, one reserved for God and royalty. Again, he couldn’t tell if Alal was being sarcastic or was indirectly telling him that he knew something which the exile had long kept hidden. The exile shook his head at the demon and succeeded in maintaining his composure. Though the revelation startled him, he forced away the ensuing apprehension. Whatever Alal meant could wait, there was a battle to be fought.

“Let’s see what you can do, Alal. Impress me,” he said calmly.

At his reply, the expression on Alal’s face changed to a childlike glee. Kobu wouldn’t have been surprised if the entity started jumping up and down with delight. Like Tyler, Kobu was intrigued by the mercurial disposition of the demon. But unlike the mage, the exile didn’t know how long the entity