The Accidental Archmage by Edmund Batara (read out loud books .TXT) 📕

the chairs near the

door. Similarly armored as Jorund, but one had a spear in hand and both have swords

hanging on belts from their hips. Both wore armbands on their upper right arm. Colored

dark blue and red, he guessed these are more of the Gothi’s huskarls. They definitely

looked like the Vikings of Earth’s movies. No horned helmets, he noticed. Damn, he

wanted to see one although he knew that was too much to expect. Horned helms are

all Hollywood. One stood up.

“Good morning, my lord. Do you need anything?”

“Uhh… what time is it? I couldn’t sleep after waking up.”

“A few hours after midnight, my lord.”

“Is Jorund around? I would like to give him something.”

“He will be here at daybreak, my lord, unless the master of the house had given him

other orders.”

“I may be still asleep by that time. Could you give this to him? Tell him it’s a gift for

being my guide yesterday.”

“I will, my lord. He is supposed to be one of those replacing us for the day guard.” The

huskarl took the wooden figurine.

Tyler asked for the guard’s name and found out it was Asmund. He looked around and

saw another guard in an alcove, which makes three for the main hall.

“Tell me Asmund, does the Gothi usually have these many guards at home?”

“No, my lord. But since the forest ambush by the bandits, it had been decided to

increase our presence. There are other guards about.”

“I hope nothing disturbs us all. My thanks, Asmund. Be well.”

“As with you, my lord.” The man gave a quick bow and returned to his place.

Tyler went back to his room, reassured by the presence of the guards. He felt a lot better by the removal of the statue from the room. He wanted to go back to sleep but

was apprehensive about another encounter with the supernatural minx. But his

drooping eyes won the battle.

He slept like a baby.

Knocking woke Tyler up. Calling out why, he was informed that the master of the house

has requested his presence at the early morning meal.

Early morning meal? Tyler mused while changing. Ah, BREAKFAST!

"Good morning! You slept well, I trust?" inquired the priest.

He answered that he did but asked leave to first go to the baths. The Gothi said he'd

wait. When Tyler came back, his bleariness was gone. He sat down to eat.

"Thanks for the breakfast, Ivar. I thought it was going to be another two-meal day."

"Not if I can help it. We grew up with breakfasts and breakfast we will have."

Both men laughed.

The food was again good. The priest was trying to approximate Earth breakfasts to the

full extent he was able as the modern sausages and cheese omelet on the table show.

"If there any coffee in this world?" asked Tyler, "some caffeine would be extremely welcome as of now."

"You said it. Been trying to find it in this world. Have tried through trade contacts

asking them to find any evidence of a drink called qahwah or bunchum. Doubt if they've

heard of the word coffee, the modern term is Dutch in origin anyway. Have also tried to

find some word on cultivated or even wild coffee trees. No such luck so far."

"A pity but I pray that coffee does exist in this world. It would be a dull world

otherwise."

The Gothi laughed again.

"So what's your plan today?"

"Some "me" time probably. Started on the book. Thanks, by the way. I also have to take a break from all the excitement of the past few days. A staycation for the day will

be nice. Though I intend to pay a visit to the temple later to give my thanks to your employer."

“Sounds like a plan. Anything you need, just ask the servants.”

On that note, Tyler was left to his own for the day. He then went to the bathroom and

grabbed a chew stick which served as a disposable toothbrush. A toothbrush with a

tube of toothpaste was one modern amenity he really missed. He didn’t think the state

of technology of Adar was going to come up with an acceptable alternative soon.

Finishing up, he went to find Jorund. He found him posted outside the main door, along

with another huskarl named Gunnar.

Jorund thanked him for the gift and in turn, gave Tyler a small leather scroll case.

“My thanks, Jorund, but you didn’t have to return the favor.” Tyler was feeling a bit

guilty about foisting off to Jorund the wooden statue of Sigyn. Though he didn’t think

Sigyn would bother with Jorund.

“It’s merely one of my first maps, my lord. I heard that you are an apprentice trader

and noticed that you are not that familiar with the far towns of Skaney. I believe it

would be of help to you.”

After thanking Jorund again, he took his leave. He did intend to ask Jorund to get him a

map but this map would do. He needed information. Information being half the battle

was one of his personal mantras. The map, old as it may be, would answer the

question of where exactly in Adar had he found himself. He went back up to his room

and spread the thick parchment scroll on the small table. It was a bit faded, clearly

well-used.

He found that he was in the Principality of Maljen. Apparently the only principality in

Skaney, the rest being fiefdoms with a central territory called Ahrensburg. The city

commanding the area is Hirdburg. From the name he figured it to be the seat of some

sort of High King among the Norse. The symbol for the city did appear bigger than

those for the rest of the settlements.

Skaney appeared to be isolated with only one land route going outside its territory,

through a southern area called the Dry Plains. It was hemmed in the North by two

expanses. One being the Barren Lands which was separated by a mountain range from

the other expanse ominously called Ymir’s Domain. The dearth of settlements in those

areas indicated that these lands are unexplored and dangerous. He did notice that his

ostensible town of Barholm was indeed far from Maljen. Even farther away than

Hirdburg.

Skaney also looked to have a lot of forested areas and lakes. Fossegrim Forest and its lake appeared on