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

removed. But Thaut must now have sufficient ground to suspect your access to an energy form which deities don’t know about.”

“Now that would be worrying. That god is a seeker of knowledge, and might pursue his inquiries further,” reflected Tyler.

“Sire?” Habrok’s voice brought him back.

“Yes, Habrok?”

“Does this mean Astrid can now join us?” asked the ranger.

Tyler smiled and turned his attention to Astrid.

“You feel like joining a venture to save a people who are most likely to stab us in the back?”

Astrid unexpectedly laughed so hard; her eyes started to water.

“Of course, sire! An interesting journey, to say the least. I was informed of Freyr’s request, but up to now, I am still wrestling with the idea of not drawing steel when we meet dokkalfr.”

“My sentiments exactly,” added Habrok. The einherjar followed with a loud grunt.

“Some factions will try something, that I expect. Hopefully, we can help them without being entangled in their internal politics. Or destroying an army. If ever it comes to that, remember that Freyr’s temples, priests, mages and champions are off limits,” replied Tyler.

“That would be better, sire. Thaut did mention something about them, one along the line of one hand trying to stab what the other is attempting to save,” commented Astrid.

“Exactly what that dokkalfr mage told me,” grinned Tyler.

“Wait? A dokkalfr mage met with you? He didn’t try to attack? Or curse you? Set a plague of spiders against…” asked the startled Valkyrie.

“Quite right,” said Tyler. “A relatively helpful fellow. I said relatively because of his stinginess with information. He did give us a map.”

“He gave a map? Without asking something in return? Now that’s strange,” commented Astrid, still trying to come to terms with what Tyler described. At the Valkyrie’s reaction, the mage could help but wonder how vicious the battles and skirmishes were between humans and the dokkalfr.

“I guess Freyr pushed him to do it. Actually, he didn’t look happy.”

“Now that I could understand,” she grinned. “And I do have something to share with the company. I wouldn’t feel comfortable without you knowing a part of me which I have discovered. You treated me like family, we all risked ourselves for one another, fought creatures even I didn’t know existed, and stood together against odds we thought were impossible.”

“Oh, you did miss a lot of fun while you were away,” said Tyndur.

The look on Astrid’s face was priceless. A child’s expression, when told she missed buying the last available sample of her dream toy, couldn’t compare.

“Battles against bizarre creatures of the Barrens, a lost civilization, endless hordes of the walking and flying undead, that sort of thing. Oh, and Kobu here was talking about a blue mountain, a kraken, a demon, a demon lord-hunter, beasties, and other things. I forgot the details. Habrok and I were away then,” he added casually.

Tyler leaned over to Ivar and whispered that the lost civilization part was a confidential matter, even to Odin if he could manage to keep it a secret from the deity. The Gothi nodded. He hoped that was enough to keep Ivar quiet about that unfortunate people. Then the mage intervened in the discussion before it got seriously off-track.

“These three could fill you in later, Astrid. And that includes what we have discussed so far. We still have the day anyway, as I was thinking of starting our journey tomorrow. So, what were you going to tell us?” said the mage.

“I found out who my real grandfather was,” smiled the Valkyrie. “It does explain some of my abilities and the strange titles I have been called.”

Nobody said anything. An expectant hush fell on the company as their attention was focused on the Valkyrie.

“He’s Aeolus, the Keeper of the Winds in the pantheon of Hellas. Eos, the Titan goddess of the dawn is my step-grandmother, though she wasn’t exactly happy when she learned about me. That makes the Anemoi, or the four wind gods of that pantheon, my uncles.”

“What are you looking at?”

Tyler turned his head. It was Astrid, clearly irritated at Habrok. The ranger started to answer, but the Valkyrie cut him off.

“Don’t deny it! You’ve been sneaking looks at me since we left Maljen. Now what is it?” demanded Astrid.

“Ah… you see… uhm…”

“Speak up, or I swear I’ll beat it out of you, even if you’re my brother-in-law!”

“Does this mean I married into a family of demi-goddesses?” asked Habrok immediately in an uncharacteristically subdued tone.

“What do you think? Though if you’re worried about my sister beating you up when she feels like it, don’t worry. The heritage manifested itself in me. But we do have to worry about grandma, she gave chase after grandfather fled. I don’t know what she’s thinking considering we’re living proof of her husband’s infidelity.”

“What now?” queried Habrok.

“We wait until things calm down and hope she doesn’t take it out on us. We are related by blood to Aeolus, but not to Eos.”

At the reply, Habrok paled and kept quiet.

Poor Habrok. No wonder he’s changed. From a carefree ranger to one who had encountered monsters and deities. Now, he just found out that he married into a family with divine roots. And an angry Titan in the mix, observed Tyler. Though I noticed Astrid’s personality had changed a bit. She’s more assertive and outspoken. More confident. I wonder what kind of training Thaut put her through?

But seeing the ranger’s concern, the mage felt he had to say something. It was obvious that the ranger was stressed out.

“Habrok, don’t worry too much about it. What will come, will come,” said Tyler.

“That scares me more, sire,” replied the ranger.

Habrok’s answer resulted in laughter. Tyler couldn’t stop himself from joining. Even Kobu was smiling.

“Our mage is right, Habrok. Don’t think about it too much. It’s still not clear if we’ll get to fight a Titan. Though by way of respect to Astrid, I’ll try not to cut off her head,” announced Tyndur.

“Oh no! Don’t do that. Or even think of doing it. She’s still my grandmother,” cried out the horrified Astrid. Tyndur guffawed in reply.

“Wait! What’s so funny? It’s scary,”