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

about it. The ranger replied that the settlements on this side of Hedmark must have already been cleared. The einherjar also pointed out there were actually few settlements near the old road, which had seen numerous battles and countless deaths over the history of the region. He also remarked that the inhabitants might be a tough and pugnacious people, but they were leery about wandering ghosts and vengeful spirits. Then the mage noticed the einherjar murmuring and kicking the stone pavement as they walked.

“Something wrong, Tyndur?” he asked.

“I just remembered something, sire. When I returned, I came over the blasted mountains! I couldn’t find the way to this area!”

“Was it a dangerous trek?” asked the curious Tyler.

“Not very. Deadly on the legs. Mostly animal predators, some undead, and dokkalfr patrols. Even a few hostile dvergar. Skilled with weapons, accomplished insulters. The view was very scenic though,” replied the einherjar casually.

As they walked, Tyler told the companions what Odin said about the undead plague afflicting the northern lands, including the part where the deities had taken an active part in trying to stop it. The news about Asem and other knowledge he kept to himself, deciding it wasn’t the proper time to break bad tidings. The other things the deity told him were also obviously to be held in strict confidence and he kept them to himself. Despite resenting the deity’s deft manipulations, Tyler had grown to respect the Odin he had met.

But it still doesn’t mean he can’t be an asshole, qualified the mage.

“About time they earned their keep,” muttered Tyndur by way of reply to the mage’s news. A lightning bolt flashed in the distance. Thunder loudly echoed through the air.

The rest of the party looked at Tyndur.

“I stand by what I said. Odin is busy enough with the rest being lazy bodies,” said Tyndur with emphasis as he glanced at the sky.

After an hour, the party rested beneath the boughs of the woods, several feet from the road. They couldn’t be seen from it, though Habrok took up a position where he could watch the road discretely. As he munched on dried beef and bread, Tyler noticed the forest sounds had disappeared. He glanced at his companions. The mage saw they were already grasping their weapons and had subtly adjusted their positions. Outwardly, it looked as if they were but resting.

Then somebody called from the road. Surprisingly, whoever they were, the newcomers had evaded the ranger’s watchful eye.

“Hail, fellow travelers,” came a strong male voice.

Tyler looked at Habrok. The man shook his head and motioned for the einherjar to take his place. The ranger quickly went to Tyler.

“Strange, sire. One moment, the road was clear. Then suddenly, those three appeared. Two men and one woman. All dressed as hunters,” reported the ranger.

“And they knew where we were,” chuckled Kobu. “I think I know what they are.”

“Your three ardent admirers?” asked Tyler with concern.

“With your permission, sire. Let me handle this intrusion. I believe it’s time for these creatures to remember who I am. One leaves home for a while, then everyone forgets what you are capable of,” said the exile with a grin.

“Tell me about it,” butted in the einherjar.

“Take care,” Tyler said as he nodded. He knew he couldn’t deny Kobu’s request. The man’s sense of honor demanded he faced this trial alone.

“Shouldn’t we help?” asked the ranger. “I could stick them all full with arrows at this range even before they had time to blink.”

“No, Habrok. I believe Kobu would be greatly insulted if we lifted even a finger to aid him. It is a matter of personal honor for our friend. I do believe he’s extremely offended by the fact that his enemies sent assassins after him,” replied Tyler in a voice loud enough for the einherjar to hear. He was concerned the warrior would take the opportunity to fight the new arrivals all by himself. The silly expectant grin on the einherjar’s face made it too possible.

Kobu had already reached the edge of the tree cover and his figure could now be seen from the path. The ranger shifted positions and guarded their rear, though in a place where he could observe the road.

“It is time, exile.” The rest of the party heard the male hunter speak.

The three remaining companions, including the mage, had moved closer to the road.

“If anything happens to Kobu, you know what to do,” whispered Tyler.

“Of course, sire. Fortunately, there’s one each for us,” murmured the einherjar.

Then they heard Kobu firmly reply in a loud and clear voice, tinged with a trace of grim amusement:

“Indeed, creature.

But it is also as they say,

The direction the wind carries you matters not,

Rather the way a person lets the breeze

Carry one to whatever fate awaits.”

Chapter Sixteen

The Heavenly Sword Art of Living Longer

Njorth spake:

35. “Great was my gain, | though long was I gone,

To the gods as a hostage given;

The son did I have | whom no man hates,

And foremost of gods is found.”

Loki spake:

36. “Give heed now, Njorth, | nor boast too high,

No longer I hold it hid;

With thy sister hadst thou | so fair a son,

Thus hadst thou no worse a hope.”

“Why didn’t they ambush him instead?” muttered the puzzled Habrok. “That’s what assassins do.”

“Doing that lessens their chance of success. An ambush or any stealthy attack would drag the rest of us into the fight. Considering they have avoided that approach, I have a feeling they could gauge the ability of their targets,” replied Tyler.

“Calling him out gives them a better chance?”

“It does. They know his sense of honor and outrage will demand his sole involvement. An excellent tactic,” said the mage, still watching Kobu stride toward the hunters. “But they’re professional assassins after all.”

The waiting hunters kept their human guise. The mage was waiting for them to change, intensely curious as to their real forms.

Kobu had stopped