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

circular ruin, the stones of which had become indistinguishable from those of the ground. Only strange runes at the edge of the circuit marked its existence as a creation of either the Alfar or humans. Then the mage noticed Tyndur was looking at them too.

“By the thrice-blessed balls of Father Odin! A terrestrial gate!” exclaimed the einherjar with a start after a few moments, a declaration which was followed by distant thunder. If the rumbling was a sign of a deity’s displeasure, Tyndur paid no heed.

“What’s a terrestrial gate?” asked Tyler curiously while keeping an eye on the dokkalfr group who were now huddled together, deep in discussion. From the looks of it, he didn’t think there would be a battle – the dokkalfr would have attacked the moment they got their wits together.

“Well, it’s like a portal, like what visitors come through. Only, this kind of enchantment had limited range and was used for travel between lands. But the knowledge and art of building them disappeared a long time ago,” explained Tyndur.

“So, they’re localized versions of portals?”

“Indeed. And don’t look surprised. After dimensional portals, local ones are easy,” said the einherjar.

“And they have the advantage of being permanent, though the transfer is only from one gate to another. But the magical energy needed to activate it is substantial. A Vanaheimr creation, at least that’s the lore in Skaney,” added Sford.

Tyler was surprised. Not only at the depth of knowledge the peculiar mage displayed, but also at the fact that he volunteered the information.

“Can we use this to go back?” Tyler asked immediately.

“If we have the power and the knowledge to activate it,” replied Sford, with a pointed look at the dokkalfr. “As I said, it is magic born out of Vanaheimr. I doubt if any human mage knows how to make this thing work.”

“Sire, somebody approaches,” warned Kobu.

Tyler looked at the dokkalfr. They had positioned themselves again in a line abreast formation, but the woman warrior with the faceplate was walking towards them. As she neared, the mage noticed the hilt of a sword protruding behind her back.

A greatsword? She must be quite strong to be able to handle that beast. But wouldn’t swords of that length be a disadvantage in fighting in deep caves and tunnels? noted the puzzled mage.

When the woman got within a few feet of Orm and Tyndur, she raised both hands as a gesture of peace.

“Greetings, warriors. I would like some words with the High Mage,” she said in a haughty tone, bordering on the arrogant.

Freaking noble, the observation crossed Tyler’s mind as he exchanged glances with the other companions. The mage saw they were in ready stances, though nobody had yet drawn a weapon. He walked forward past the two melee fighters in front, preempting any lewd comment from Tyndur. He didn’t know about Orm, but the warrior still appeared to be of the taciturn sort. Even the sudden change in the situation didn’t give rise to an expletive or a curse from him.

“That would be me. But your people’s treachery does not make me happy,” said Tyler in a matter-of-fact tone. He knew the dokkalfr warrior could easily draw her sword and strike him, considering the close distance between them, but he had every confidence in the strength of his shields.

“I will be frank, High Mage. I was against that course of action, but I had to follow the choice of my House.”

“Now let me guess, that motley group of ragged skunks was comprised of dokkalfr from clans and Houses who didn’t want me butting in and trying my best to save them,” said Tyler. He was in a Tyndur mood, hated the haughty tone of the woman, and he really didn’t like being tricked. Though he had to admit it was quite a show and they managed to take him by surprise.

The dokkalfr angrily stared at him, and Tyler could see the figure of the woman become tense.

She’s going to try me? he thought with surprise. Doesn’t she know they don’t give out High Mage titles on street corners.?

“Don’t,” Tyler advised. “To be frank with you too, my companions could have taken on your host and left none alive. And that’s with me standing aside.”

With visible effort, the woman finally managed to get herself under control.

“You sound so confident, human,” she said through clenched teeth, though the word human sounded like an epithet.

“That’s because it’s the truth. We’ve met larger and more powerful enemies than your horde of cowards.”

What am I doing? Provoking her? wondered Tyler, but he already had prepared a spell. Just in case.

Suddenly, the woman swiftly drew her sword and swung an overhead slash at Tyler. It was fast and didn’t give the mage time to react, but the large blade merely bounced from the first shield protecting Tyler, and as strong as the strike was, the repulsing field of X returned an equivalent force to the attacker.

As she was thrown back, Tyler released a similar spell against the rest of the dokkalfr, though he controlled the released force of the enchantment. He wanted to teach them a lesson, not kill them. The mage knew they were brought along with the company for a reason and the dokkalfr won’t be able to answer him if they were dead. Nor did he want to walk a considerable distance just to talk to them again.

Immediately after the spell, Tyler held up his right hand to hold back his companions. Fortunately, they were all watching him as the discussion unfolded. Otherwise, Astrid’s speed alone would have sliced the other side to bits before they knew what happened. Instead, the company was treated to the spectacle of the woman bouncing twice as she landed, and her companions rolling and tumbling along the ground like leaves before a strong wind.

As he watched the comical sight, Tyler noticed the dust clouds he had seen earlier had increased in size. But before he could cast the spell to check the phenomenon, a glowing and scintillating orb appeared in the air a few feet from where he stood. Oddly, he could hear loud triumphant music accompanying its unexpected appearance.

What the