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

the entity had also suppressed his magical aura, though, like Asag, a faint sense of overwhelming power still seeped through whatever magical spell was concealing it. Considering what he had done to Asag, and the terrible might that it indicated, Tyler could sense the wariness, tinged with anxiety, among his companions. Except for Kobu who stayed with him, the rest had begun to spread out in a semicircle facing the approaching old man. Labiru halted, looked at the forming skirmish line, and called out to Tyler.

“Call off your friends, First Mage. I don’t want any permanent accidents. Recalling a soul back from wherever humans go after they die is not among the things I can do.”

Tyler nodded at Kobu and at a signal, the companions backed off but stayed where they were. The level of tension on the mesa palpably decreased. Labiru quickly strode forward and upon reaching Tyler, sat on the usual stone chair which rose from the ground. This time, Tyler took his seat on the second one which the old man created. The two stared at Asag who didn’t make any move to extricate himself.

“Don’t be such a fool, Alal. Sit with us,” ordered Labiru.

At least he used Alal, not Asag. Not that the companions would be familiar with the name. Kobu probably, given the proximity of the lands of Wa to the Dual Monarchy, but it’s a long shot, the mage reflected.

The demon smiled, seemingly unaffected by the massive blow Labiru gave him, and instantly appeared standing before them. A third stone chair rose from the ground, and Asag took his place. Kobu, imperturbable as ever, remained standing at Tyler’s side. Labiru looked at the exile and then at the mage.

“He’s my shadow,” said Tyler, hoping that would explain everything. Labiru just nodded.

“You’ve been here all the time?” asked Asag of the old man. “Funny, I didn’t sense you at all.”

“You, of all entities not of this world, should know by now what I could do, whether such actions defy your power or not,” responded Labiru.

There. Entities. Asag’s cover is blown, thought Tyler. Though I doubt if what Asag said was true. It was impossible for one so powerful not to feel Labiru’s hidden presence.

“Doesn’t hurt to pry, old man,” smiled Asag with his peculiar grin.

“Now what seems to be the problem? And Alal, you’re becoming sloppy. End that battle now. It’s a distraction, or are you enjoying the prolonged suffering?” Labiru said as he impatiently stared at the demon.

“As you command, O great Guardian,” replied the demon irreverently. Asag stood up and walked to the crest of the rise.

“That fellow hasn’t changed a lot. Be wary about him, as I advised. He’s like a malevolent child given enormous powers,” said Labiru with a heavy sigh.

“I thought the long years would have made a significant difference, but it appears a wolf will always be a wolf, even if you shaved off its fur and filed off its fangs,” continued the old man.

“I heard that!” came Asag’s loud objection. “And I don’t have fur! Fangs, I have not worn for a while, but they’re so ordinary now. Too many upstarts have become fond of them. It’s so yesterday! I am thinking about horns! Tastefully decorated and intricately shaped.”

“Oh, shut up and finish your work so you can join us,” answered the old man testily. Millennia of being exposed to the demon must have frayed some of the old man’s nerves, thought the mage.

“It doesn’t bother you that Alal is wiping out an entire dokkalfr army? Thousands of warriors?” asked Tyler.

“Why should it? I have never bothered with mortal affairs, and since that fellow is now part of your company, it is not my business if he decides to destroy an army or two. On the other hand, he’s your responsibility now. And that’s an army almost 47,000 warriors strong.”

A tenth of House Anari’s forces. That means Anari has half a million warriors permanently under arms? Given reserves and militias, I’d say a million, thought the shocked mage.

“But let’s wait until he finishes his task. I suspect time is of the essence in your situation. No sense repeating ourselves. But be warned that Alal’s attention span leaves much to be deserved,” said Labiru.

After a few minutes, Asag came back and heavily dropped himself on the stone chair.

“Done!” exclaimed the demon.

“What did you do?” asked the curious mage.

“Artistically simple. I laid down a stone floor instead. The remnants were crowded near that old temple which I heard belongs to Freyr. He’d be happy to note that it’s now surrounded by a smooth and extensive stone surface.”

“You buried them all under that rock?” exclaimed Tyler.

“Of course. How else could I do the flooring? It did help that they were already gathered in clusters. Covering the entire valley floor with stone doesn’t appeal to me. Landscaping is a requisite for a good temple site, and I try to avoid destroying trees and plants as much as I could. It’s a promise I made to a friend a long time ago.”

Tyler stared at Asag. The odd quirks, beliefs, and views of the demon defied any attempt of the mage at understanding what made Asag tick. Just when he had the entity neatly prepared to fit in what he considered to be the proper hole, Asag shows another eccentricity which destroys the mold of perception the mage had arranged for the demon. He shrugged his undone attempt aside and focused on what he was going to ask of Labiru.

“Can my friends hear our discussion?” he asked first.

“Only your shadow here,” said the old man.

“I would appreciate it if they are allowed to hear us. I try not to hide anything from them, unless I am bound by a geas,” requested the mage.

“As you wish,” Labiru said, with the consequence of the attention of the companions being directed at them. The mage saw Tyndur give Habrok a hand signal, and the ranger moved to an overwatch position, though Habrok could still hear the conversation.

“Now, what do you want of me?” asked