The Accidental Archmage - Book Five by Edmund Batara (best e ink reader for manga .txt) 📕

me about the soil, so I avoided contact with it! Did I do good? Did I? Did I?”

Tyler laughed. Nehua’s joy was infectious. Her arms were all over the place, waving with excitement.

“You did good, Nehua. I am very proud of you,” said the smiling Tyler.

“Wait until I tell the others! They’ll be so jealous,” laughed the spirit.

The rest of the group had walked closer to the two. Nehua turned her attention to them and then curiously looked at Tyler.

“These are my companions, Nehua. We lack two, but we hope they’ll be back,” said Tyler, answering the spirit’s quizzical look. Then the mage introduced the three to the spirit.

“Oh, we’ve seen them before! We just didn’t know their names!”

Kobu bowed.

“My gratitude, Nehua, for the timely and very effective assistance,” said the exile.

“My thanks too, Nehua,” said Habrok, raising his bow.

“A show of might and will;

doth a child display,

Saving four good men,

and teaching damned worms

the error of their ways,” recited Tyndur who then gave a slight bow.

“I like him! He’s funny!” said the spirit enthusiastically.

Tyler laughed again.

“You don’t know how funny, Nehua. But prose is one thing Uncle Tyndur can’t teach you,” Tyler remarked with a smile. “Now go back home. You have an exciting story to tell.”

“That I do!” exclaimed Nehua as she vanished back into the staff.

“Still a child, but the power she displayed was considerable,” commented Kobu thoughtfully. “You are indeed fortunate, sire. As she matures, the spirit will become more powerful.”

“Well, the child has her heart in the right place though I resent the comment about my prose. I know it’s not that good but, sire, you didn’t need to tell the lass. I am her uncle after all! And you heard her – she likes me!” boomed Tyndur.

“Truth is important to children, Tyndur. You wouldn’t want us to lie to Nehua, would you?” Habrok butted in.

Tyndur stopped and stared at Habrok.

“You got me there, ranger,” he finally answered, followed by another bout of laughter.

“Let’s hurry and leave this place. Carrion attracts predators, and the Barrens appears to have an inordinate share of the unknown and lethal kind,” announced Tyler with a degree of urgency.

“I agree, sire. Blasted mutated worms! What’s next? Giant ants?” exclaimed the einherjar who was hurrying to take up his position on the right flank.

“Don’t talk like that, Tyndur,” promptly shushed Habrok. “For all we know, there could be giant ants in the Barrens.”

With that sobering thought, the party immediately hurried to leave the location. It was a foregone conclusion that the area would be swarming with predators, scavengers, and carrion-eaters in a short while. By unspoken agreement, members of the group didn’t want to see any more of the unique fauna of the Barrens. They could already observe flying specks in the distance coming their way.

“Sire, mind if I ask something?” said Tyndur.

“Of course not. Ask away,” replied Tyler.

“What did Nehua mean by others? There are more of her kind?”

Tyler thought about his answer. He didn’t want to lie to Tyndur. The einherjar had proven himself over and over again as a valued member of the party.

‘Yes, Tyndur. But still very young. Though I would prefer we keep their existence a secret,” Tyler answered.

“And that goes for everyone. I know you can hear me,” added the mage.

“Excellent, sire. I hope the others grow up fast. If we can do that kind of damage with one young energy spirit, imagine what we could do three or more! Our enemies will shit in their armor!” declared Tyndur.

“Then we just need to help and guide them,” answered Tyler. “They need energy to grow. But not tainted or dark. Such energy would corrupt or destroy them.”

‘Where can we find the energy they need?’ asked the excited warrior, obviously thinking about the devastating possibilities.

“From deities and magical beings. Even being around them for a while enables some of their aurae to enter the staff.”

“Hear that, guys? We need to find and bash some god’s head in,’ shouted Tyndur.

Tyler shook his head in resignation. The man was clearly addicted to battle. He’d prefer to fight for something even if what he wanted was being given to him on a silver platter.

“About the Elder signal, sire?” X suddenly spoke up.

“Yes, X?”

“It’s getting stronger and is coming from the direction where you’re going. A few more miles, and we’ll be able to communicate with it. From the kind of pulses we have received, the origin is clearly an Elder shrine. It appears to be an intact one.”

Chapter Nine

Elder Emanations

Othin spake:

21. “Mad art thou, Loki, | and little of wit,

The wrath of Gefjun to rouse;

For the fate that is set | for all she sees,

Even as I, methinks.”

Loki spake:

22. “Be silent, Othin! | not justly thou settest

The fate of the fight among men;

Oft gavst thou to him | who deserved not the gift,

To the baser, the battle’s prize.”

“Here’s to hoping it won’t be as nutty as H. Remember the first encounter with your… colleague?”

“Of course. But we’ll reinforce your shields just in case,” said X reassuringly.

“You know, viewed from a certain perspective, that doesn’t sound encouraging at all,” remarked the mage.

Tyler got no reply. He didn’t blame them. Nothing was certain as far as a future full of untested assumptions was concerned. He’d be a fool to think otherwise.

The miles quickly passed. Habrok had to get the companions to either hide or stop moving at times. They were beginning to see swarms of creatures, many unfamiliar, rapidly moving in the direction of the dead worms. The animal forms familiar to the group appeared either grotesquely misshapen or remarkably oversized. If any did notice them, the stench of freshly dead flesh was a more powerful call.

It quickly crossed Tyler’s mind that the field of dead creatures they left behind was bound to be bloodier as different beasts came across each other. The ensuing chaotic struggle would just result in additional dead meat