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

Tyler went to the three guilty rogues. As he neared, he could hear Kadir chiding Sford for the weakness of his spells.

“You hear that? Only two dead, and I’ll bet Orm’s share of our future pay it was my lightning spell’s doing,” whispered the incorrigible rogue to the orange-clad mage. Tyler wanted to choke Kadir.

Sford didn’t reply and was instead continually shaking his head.

“Now, you three, they want blood payment for the deaths and injuries. And it seems you have dragged us into your mess,” accused Tyler.

“We don’t have money. But I doubt if they would accept Kadir in exchange instead,” Orm told him. The warrior was always direct in his answers, but this time Tyler wasn’t sure if he was joking about turning Kadir over to the dokkalfr.  Openmouthed, Kadir stared at Orm.

“Weregilds are always expensive. The deaths and injuries in this instance would translate to quite a hefty sum,” added Tyndur. “And they would exact more than humans would ask.”

“And we don’t have that kind of money, too,” said Tyler. Then he stared at Kadir. “And even if we did, we won’t pay for your mistakes. I’ll go and see what can be done. Orm, keep Kadir quiet.”

Tyler walked back, and the three dokkalfr came closer when they saw him returning. As they came near, he noticed the female still kept her helmet on, with her faceplate covering her features. A stark contrast to her two companions who openly displayed their faces.

“It appears we are at an impasse. Whatever the amount is, they don’t have money, nor do we,” said Tyler.

“Then a duel for honor would be the only recourse. There are eight of you, and we will choose an equal number from our ranks. If you win, then no weregild shall be demanded. You lose, and your lives are forfeit,” said Galar.

“Where and when?” asked Tyler.

“Now. Our force can’t stay long in this area. The battleground will be three miles in that direction,” Galar pointed east. “We expect you in two hours. Make peace with your gods.”

“You do know an ambush by your forces is a possibility,” replied Tyler.

“I know the thought would arise in your mind. But here’s the oath of a Hersir and a High Thegn – nobody among us, except for the champions selected to face you, will attack you by force of arms.”

With that, the three dokkalfr abruptly turned and went to their horses.

The companions and the three rogues who caused the entire situation watched as they rode away.

“A very tricky people, the dokkalfr,” Tyndur commented. The einherjar had stepped to his side.

Kobu laughed. Tyler saw the exile had moved to his left.

“By force of arms. He didn’t say anything about magic. Nor was he concerned that they’re facing a High Mage. You told him so yourself,” Kobu told Tyler. “There’s something we’re missing here.”

“Well, they might have their way of twisting words, but they do keep their oaths. But it is a trap, obviously,” continued Tyndur.

Tyler looked at their three unwelcome guests.

“You three are coming with us.”

“And we deserve a share of whatever payment you’re getting for your quest,” added Habrok loudly.

Kadir merely grunted in reply.

The party, the three included, had a quick meal before proceeding to the designated site of the duel. Kobu and Tyndur insisted on it. The pair came up with variations of there’s nothing worse than going to battle hungry. The young mage couldn’t agree more, the stress starved him. After eating, they moved down to flatter ground and turned east, leaving the road behind.

After some distance, the relatively open terrain changed, and they found that continuing with the carriage was impossible. The uneven ground and the thickening undergrowth made it a dicey proposition even for horses. They left the carriage and horses under some trees as a result. Sford asked permission to hide them, and after Tyler gave his consent, the orange-clad mage concentrated for a few seconds, and in a sudden burst of magical energy, their transportation disappeared from sight.

“How are we going to see them later? If you ever become a dead hero, we’re sunk,” Habrok sensibly asked Sford.

“The enchantment is only good for an hour,” answered Sford indifferently.

Tyler was impressed. He didn’t even know a rune existed for such a spell. The young mage had a cloaking ability, but Sford’s incantation dealt with other objects. Unlike Tyler, he didn’t even need to be around to maintain the magical effect.

I’ve got to talk to that guy. He’s not your ordinary mage, thought Tyler as he cast his usual scrying spell. The energy revealed a large group waiting for them in the distance, hidden among trees at the back of a clearing. He was surprised to find a strong magical field preventing him from a more detailed examination. The mage informed the group about what he had discovered.

“Something’s stopping me from examining them further. But I guess it’s to be expected, they’re waiting for us anyway,” he added, though as a precaution, Tyler strengthened the barriers protecting the company. He could also sense the existence of another shield overlapping what he created.

Must be Sford’s.

They continued walking, though the arrangement changed slightly. Orm and Tyndur were in front, Habrok and Astrid were on the flanks, and Kadir guarded their rear. Tyler, Sford, and Kobu were in the center of the formation.

“Tyndur, that dokkalfr said he was a High Thegn. Isn’t that also a term in the language of Skaney?” asked Tyler.

“I am not surprised, sire,” answered the einherjar. “Vanaheimr and Asgard were quite close, what with the Vanir gods living in Asgard. But some terms of Skaney were unique to it, being related to the sea. The dokkalfr, the Alfar, and even the dwarves used more archaic but still familiar terms. The term hersir, for example, is also being used in Skaney. The dokkalfr don’t have champions, or the bersekr, but they have jomsvikings – more disciplined and skilled, but still mad warriors. They don’t have jarls but have thegns. I do know they use the hafna unit of territory, same as in Skaney. But the dokkalfr and the dvergar were notorious for being