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

column, Tyler could see the cloud of arrows rising up like a

horde of insects. It was directed at the column. At that moment, all Tyler could think of

was how truly jinxed they were. And it was all Habrok’s fault.

“BAKHOLD! I KOMANDI!”

Tyler could hear Habrok shout the alarm. But his eyes were fixed on the incoming rain

of arrows. Ambush, incoming, his glazed mind translated. He was snatched from his

morbid fascination by the sudden movement of the carriage. Habrok was turning the

wagon, bringing the horses away from the deadly rain. As the wagon turned, he could

see the other wagons in front doing the same maneuver and similar shouts echoed all

along the column.

When the wagon came to a stop, Tyler jumped out and took cover under it. To his

front, he saw that the other wagons have started to form a circle, though theirs was

evidently not included. He could see some of the mercenary guards in the gloom,

moving back but within sight of the wagon. Jorund was nowhere to be seen. It

deceptively looked like a confused mess, with people running around amid loud

shouting. But he could see that the reaction of the other wagon drivers and their

helpers was fast and decisive. Though the panic in their voices was obvious.

Aside from the activity among the wagons, he couldn't see what was happening

elsewhere. He did observe several glowing areas in the distance, as if fires have been

lit. Habrok snuck beside him.

“I am glad your instincts are with you, my lord,” said the man.

“What do you mean?”

“To take cover under the wagon of course. Forgive me for my lateness in joining you. I

had to get the tools of my… ahem… profession.”

Oh, that’s what it is, Tyler understood, you thought I would be running and screaming

like a little girl! The man failed to realized he had jinxed the entire column. Tyler was

sorely tempted to box the man’s ears.

“What’s happening?” asked Tyler, trying to keep his voice as calm as he could,

steadfast in his determination not to let Habrok sense his rising panic.

“An ambush, my lord. Definitely not bandits. Too organized and too many, it would appear. Doubt if it’s another Jarl. Maljen is not at war and the neighbors know better to

start one with the jotnar acting up.” The unruffled tone in Habrok's voice surprised him.

Though he could sense that the word “obviously” was intentionally omitted from the

beginning of the answer.

An ambush. Hello, Mr. Obvious. “Where’s Jorund?”

“I saw him riding to the front with his shield up before I saw the arrows, my lord.”

“Wouldn’t he be in danger from those arrows?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, my lord. A warrior such as Jorund has a few tricks

left.”

Tyler could swear he felt the man wink. The noise had died down. He did notice that

the circled wagons had left a space enough for two more on the side facing them.

Habrok told him the gap was for the two leading front wagons. These carried the men’s

spears, javelins, wicker shields against arrows, and other equipment. The warriors

would have formed a shield wall by now and the distribution of the needed gear should

nearly be done.

Tyler wished he could see that, a shield wall battle in real life! Provided of course he

didn’t get involved and his neck was not on line. He did notice that there were no

arrows stuck in the ground in his immediate vicinity. This gave him some comfort in the

possibility that they were beyond the range of the enemy bowmen. But it also would

mean that the archers preferred to concentrate their fire on the Maljen warriors.

After a while, the two could hear the sound of nearing hooves. A sharp whistle rang

out. Habrok got out and walked to a position in front of Tyler. Tyler crawled closer to

the man and he could see Jorund on his horse talking quietly with Habrok and two of

the mercenaries. Thereafter, one of the mercenaries looked at the gathered guards at

the back of the wagon, gave an order and rode to the left of road, shortly followed by

more men. Jorund rode to the back. Habrok crawled back beside Tyler.

“It’s not good. The attack has yet to begin. It's arrows for now but Jorund says he

could see a lot of enemies, around three to four times more than what we have.

There’s probably a lot more coming. And it’s not only jotnar, also dokkalfr. Some men

have sent to guard the flank facing the forest but our guards have been asked to guard

the left flank. Horsemen would do better there. Open area and few trees.”

“What do we do now?”

“We wait and fight when needed. It’s a lost battle now unless the gods intervene.

There’s nowhere to run except in the direction of the hills. Moreover, it’s dark and the

land is flat. The dokkalfr are faster and see a lot better than us at night. If we have to

escape, we have to wait until the battle is fully joined. You are our charge and our

honor is bound to you.”

With that, Habrok left, saying he had to untether the horses and prepare. Glancing at

the man as he left, Tyler could see the outline of a bow and a quiver on Habrok’s back.

He had to admit he was impressed with the man's sense of honor. Or excuse for

survival. Whichever was the real Habrok.

All of a sudden, a distant horn sounded. Tyler could feel the ground tremble with the

onrushing feet or paws or hooves of whatever was attacking the shield wall. He could

now hear the answering shouts and roars of the Maljen warriors. Compared to the

sound of raised human voices, the attackers' response was a louder and unholy

cacophony of noises, shouts, barks, growls and other non-human utterances. The din

was unbelievable.

Even way out in the back, Tyler could feel the impact when the attackers hit the shield

wall. As the sounds of the battle raged, he got out and made his way to the horses,

now released from the wagon. Habrok was with the horses while the mounted Jorund,

together with the two remaining guards, kept watch.

Abrupt shouts from the direction of the circled wagons turned his head in