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

man, with a Mona Lisa smile, was quietly observing the exchange, and now apparently had taken a greater interest in what was going on.

“What do you know of the Titans?” asked Tyler suddenly.

“Powerful prisoners of the deities of Hellas. Somewhere in a dimension? I heard those arrogant cow dung brought the key with them when they crossed over. From what I had learned, the Titans seemed to be my kind of crowd.”

“What would you say if I told you they’re now in league with Loki?” said the mage.

“Curse them! Not my crowd then. Who in their right mind would consort with that treacherous worm?” exclaimed the demon. “Morons.”

“Ladies.” Labiru’s disapproving voice reached their ears.

“Sorry, Labiru,” immediately replied Tyler. He knew the old man had been patient and they’ve taken up too much of his time already.

“Ah, old man. I just thought the lad had to know what’s he’s getting into,” casually added Asag.

‘Lad’. Another one. I thought I had my fill of the term from Tyndur.

“And inveigled yourself into his good graces in the process?” commented Labiru. “But I think the information was needed.”

“And as for you, young mage. It speaks highly of you considering you were willing to listen to a demon. To learn about the present and what the future might bring, one has to know the past. I know what you wanted to do with Asag, and I believe that for the nonce, my soon-to-be free ward fits the bill. You’d be surprised how few mages are willing to do what you just did. Some transact with demons for nefarious ends, of course, but to listen first before knowing what one wanted from the demonic spirit? That’s rare,” said the old man. “But your caution serves you well. Asag might be a possible ally, but his nature will always be the driving force of his actions and decisions. Knowing demons and their obsession with revenge, everything that he does under your guardianship, that is if you do agree to take him on, will be focused with extreme dedication to such an end.”

“I know,” replied Tyler. “Though the way Adar’s magic had affected him might be a disadvantage.”

“I am still trying to understand what happened myself. But rest assured, Asag is still a formidable entity, especially now that the greater measure of his strength had returned. But his deal with Loki left him stuck between a major deity and that of a minor one. Or he could be entirely something else. I don’t presume to understand demons of the First World – the same class as the dark ones we have here, but of a different species altogether.”

The mage looked as Asag gave him a hopeful grin. The hope for vengeance of the demon now rested with Tyler, and it was not a decision to be taken lightly. A demon will always be a demon, the mage knew that. The various deceitful dangers inherent in such a relationship would always be there. But something in the mage’s consciousness was emphatically telling him that time was running out. The instinct screamed its warning in the dark recesses of his mind, though he couldn’t determine why.

“Ready, First Mage?” asked Labiru.

“I am. I will take on Asag as my ward subject to these terms – not to raise his hand and magic, against me and those I consider as my allies, not to use his magic without my permission or direction, conduct himself as I direct, and obey me without hesitation or objection. Nor shall he start any of his schemes without my knowledge and consent or wittingly place my companions and me in danger. He can concoct such plans in his mind, of course. I can’t prevent that, but such nefarious ploys must be limited to his imagination. But feel free to share the details with me, it might be of use.”

“Such an encompassing contract, First Mage. I am starting to wonder where you learned to be so thorough?” asked Asag with a chuckle.

“My experience with Loki taught me that much. I was a lot more naïve then.”

“Ah, Loki. Honeyed words, a venomous snake’s charm, and brings you gifts which benefit him more, and a wily negotiator. Cruel even. The true Loki is cold and calculating, even when his marbles had fled to another kingdom. I agree to those terms,” said Asag.

“Bear in mind, Asag, that the geas I have laid on you still holds,” warned the old man.

“What geas?” It was Tyler’s turn to be surprised.

“Oh, something to keep him in line. Believe me, such constraints also serve you,” smiled Labiru. “Is that your choice, First Mage? Last chance to change your mind before I invoke this world’s power to seal your bargain.”

Tyler involuntarily gave the old a thumbs-up and then grasped the fact that the gesture might not exist or have negative connotations in the cultures the two entities were familiar with.

“Sorry, that meant yes in my culture. I didn’t know if it’s the same with you. Certain gestures in my society back in the First World could mean a totally different thing in other First World lands,” the mage explained.

“You’re right. I haven’t seen that one,” said Labiru. “Now to business. Let it be as you said.”

At his words, Tyler felt a sharp, rapid rise in the level of magic in the cave, all centered on Asag. It was not visible, even to his magically enhanced eyesight. But its strength was enormous and its complexity beyond his comprehension. It was a raw expression of Adar’s magic; one the mage hasn’t experienced before. But the locus of the immeasurably powerful and concentrated force was the demon. The mage heard Asag cry out in pain, a reaction which again surprised Tyler.

This binding must be a different kind, and I admit it’s a bit scary, he observed. No bells and whistles either. Just a brutally efficient way of using magic. Though I could see Asag’s form losing its cohesion under the impact of such power.

As quickly as it happened, it was over.