Tartarus Beckons by Edmund Batara (reading an ebook .TXT) 📕

transfer back to the beach was instantaneous. A blink, and he was back with Kobu and Ivar.

Just how powerful are these kraken? The shocked thought rose in his mind.

“You’re back!” exclaimed Ivar while Kobu merely nodded at him.

“And that was one… strange experience,” replied the mage. “Please don’t ask about the details, it still feels unreal to me.”

Tyler then briefed the Gothi on the terms of the kraken. Kobu stayed silent the whole time.

“So, the kraken doesn’t like gods, huh?” Ivar repeated what the mage mentioned.

“Doesn’t like is an understatement, Ivar. The kraken are like the elephants of the sea. Very long memories and they do not readily forgive,” he said.

“But one thing bothers me,” said the Gothi.

“And that is?”

“It would have been impossible for those who raised the island not to know that the spell might attract that entity. The question is why? Let’s assume that they knew you could handle the ensuing problem – which you handled admirably – but attracting a kraken to this place?”

“Beats me, Ivar. But you know deities and their games. I admit I am at a disadvantage, with my ignorance of the relationships of the beings of this world and its current lore. For example, I know a lot of gods were gone, but which ones? The mythical pantheons we knew back on Earth are not as powerful as they once were,” replied Tyler.

“Sire, another disturbance,” said Kobu.

Tyler whirled and stared at the sea. Several huge trails in the water could be seen. Not from the direction of the island, but from the left and the right side of the beach. Cries of alarm rose from the crew of the wrecked karve. The mage could see the ocean foam created by whatever were approaching were unusually turbulent, and V-shaped sprays were being produced in their wake. They were directly heading towards the beach.

“Run back again?” Ivar said.

“What else?” answered Tyler as he took to his heels.

Halfway up the beach, the trio paused and looked back. The approaching disturbances were closer now, and large fins now showed themselves above the waves. There were a lot of them and moving fast.

If they’re giant sharks, I’d say several schools of them, thought Tyler.

He turned to Ivar.

“I think you should go farther up. I suggest to the edge of the forest,” he told the Gothi. Tyler noticed the crew was already gone, having fled back to the depths of the forest.

Those guys must really be having a bad day. I doubt if they’ve experienced anything like today, he thought with pity. I don’t think we’ll be able to rent a ship ever again in Maljen.

As Ivar followed his instructions, Tyler readied himself and warned his guides.

If they’re sharks, they’ll be limited to staying in the water, won’t they? the mage told himself. Yet something in him told him it was not going to be that simple.

The first group abruptly surfaced. They did look like sharks, from the shoulder up anyway. Below that was also a fish’s body but with two clawed arms in addition to the flippers. Some had legs, but the others had serpentine or tentacled lower bodies. They were tall and large beings. Fully ten to twelve feet in height with the body bulk to match.

What the fuck are these things? thought Tyler. It was his first experience with sea monsters, aside from the kraken who seemed to be not a monster at all, and the sight mystified, rather than frightened, him. He thought of Birki. The ancient spirit might have an idea of what the creatures were.

“Hey, Birki. What are these half-sharks?” The creatures were already advancing towards them. Tyler noticed that they were feeling their way along the solid ground of the surf-washed beach, as if they were unfamiliar with the movement.

“Greek sea monsters. They’re called ketea. Or ketos in singular form. Could the wards practice with them?”

“You think the children could handle them? There’s more coming.”

“You worry too much, sire. These are ordinary beasts. There’s a lot of them, but not really a problem. Even Kobu could handle them, I think,” replied Birki.

“Wait for my instructions. If what you said is true, I fear this is but a test. It could be possible that somebody wants to see how I fight and what abilities I have.”

Tyler looked at Kobu.

“You sense anything from our flanks?”

“No, sire. But I’ll keep watch. Unless it’s a deity or one with similar powers, it won’t escape my attention. I surmise you want to deal with these… our… lunch and dinner.”

“Birki, tell them not to assume visible forms and do the task as fast as possible. I believe somebody is observing what will happen. If they can’t witness what occurs, the better it would be. A confounded opponent is a deceived one,” said Tyler.

“Hal? X? Check around for any hidden observers,” he added.

More and more ketea were joining those who had surfaced and continuing their movement up the beach. The mage estimated their number to be at least a hundred. The beach was full of the bizarre, silent creatures. Tyler noticed that the first ones to arrive were moving faster already, having gotten used to moving on land. But they were still a good forty to fifty feet away. The mage decided to wait until more arrived.

Suddenly, massive waves and geysers erupted offshore. It was a few miles away, but the roiling and turning sea water could clearly be seen.

What was that? Tyler asked his guides immediately. The thought of bigger and more fearsome creatures arriving came to his mind.

“It appeared the kraken didn’t like its sleep disturbed,” replied Hal. “We believe some got too close to it. Now that it’s awake, we doubt if more of these shark things would be showing up on the beach. But it also looked like that kraken is having a very early dinner.”

“Birki, I believe it’s playtime again. Have fun,” said Tyler.

He felt the waves of power as his wards left the staff and then bedlam erupted. Even his enhanced eyesight couldn’t keep up with what was happening. But one thing was sure, the children took to heart the instruction