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

own curiosity, but Sford’s hand immediately pulled back the rogue. Orm merely stood to one side, his narrowed gaze on Asag. The party’s dokkalfr charges stood at the small pool’s bank and didn’t join in the general bedlam.

Kobu was strangely quiet and immediately went to Tyler’s side. Yet like Orm, the exile’s wary eyes kept on looking at the Mesopotamian demon. The mage did note that Kobu picked a position between Asag and the mage. For his part, Asag stayed where he was, a few steps away from the mage, with an absurdly pleased countenance on his now surprisingly childlike face. The demonic entity was looking all over the place and at everyone. Asag also took time to minutely examine the attire and actions of the companions.

I’d be curious too, thought Tyler. But now it should be apparent to him that he’s an entity out of place and time. And I’m not talking about his attire and hairstyle.

“Wait, wait. All answers in good time. For now, we have a chance to get out of the mountain. The paths leading out of this place might have been blocked either by the ancient dokkalfr or by the spiders themselves. I wouldn’t dismiss that idea, they are intelligent. Rapaciously so. And again, I apologize. But it was a summons. Of a sort.”

“Summons from whom?” immediately asked the Valkyrie.

“I said all in good time, Astrid. But for now, the guardian of this mountain has agreed to help us get back on course,” replied the mage. Tyler hoped that the fierce demi-goddess would forget she ever asked that question. It was a difficult and inconvenient one to answer, and he didn’t want to lie to the companions.

“Guardian?” remarked Tyndur. The mage acted as if he didn’t hear the question.

On cue, two man-sized openings appeared on the opposite cave wall. Everybody, except for Asag who was still wearing a silly grin and examining everything and everyone, stared at the wall and then at Tyler. The mage then noticed that among the companions, Tyndur appeared more focused than Kobu on the new addition. Tyler could see the faint expression of distaste on the einherjar’s face. If the others had the same idea about Asag, they hid it well.

Or they’re not as sensitive as Sford, Kobu or Tyndur, thought the mage.

“There’s our way back. The one on the right. The left is for Sford and his friends. Sford! Yours will lead you back to the main road near Fargravik,” said Tyler. Then he noticed everyone was now staring at Asag.

“And this is Alal the Akkadian. He had been trapped in this mountain for a long time. He’s a being from the past, and I doubt if the world out there is the same one he remembers. Explanations later. Hurry. I don’t think those portals will be there forever,” the mage continued. For now, he wanted to avoid awkward inquiries about the newcomer.

“Our thanks, First Mage,” came Sford’s voice as the orange-clad mage pushed Orm and Kadir toward their opening. Then the tall mage quickly strode to Tyler.

“Well meet, First Mage. I only wish we had more time. It appears I have a lot to learn from you. Though the path you chose seemed quite interesting but extremely strange and dangerous,” said Sford as his gaze shifted meaningfully to Asag.

Then Sford whispered in a voice full of trepidation.

“You do know what that being is? He is an extremely powerful dark one. I could sense willful suppression of any emanations of his power, but my… unique abilities give me some idea of his magic. I admit it frightens me.”

“Thanks for the concern, Sford. I know what you mean about Alal. He’s a burden imposed on me. With the appropriate geas, of course. Beyond that, I cannot say anything else,” Tyler whispered back.

“Ah, good. A bound one. But be wary. Such dark creatures always try to test the limits of such precautions.”

“I know. It’s like carrying a venomous spider in your pocket all the time or carrying a double-edged sword by its blade. Though I have to admit I also would have preferred more time with you to learn more spells. That cage of lighting, for instance,” replied Tyler.

“That makes both of us then,” Sford laughed. “But as to the spell, it could be fire or whatever destructive element you wish. I could make it one of venom if I choose.”

“You’re one strong magic-wielder, Sford. Even I haven’t gone the poison, or even acid, route yet,” commented Tyler with disappointment in his tone.

Sford’s eyes widened with disbelief, and his eyebrows rose. The mage clearly thought Tyler was joking. When he saw Tyler was serious, Sford shook his head.

“Still on a journey of knowledge like me, First Mage? Sadly, such a path never ends. There’s always the next batch of eclectic spells to learn. But for the cage spells, it should be easy for you. It’s like creating a shield, only that the posts or frames of the magical manifestation would be made of the element you wish.”

“That’s all?” said the astounded First Mage.

The peculiar mage smiled at Tyler and then quickly left, increasing his pace to catch up to his friends who were already at the mouth of the opening. Tyler looked for his companions and found them, except for Kobu, waiting for him at their magical gate. Even Asag and the dokkalfr were already with them. The young mage looked at Kobu, nodded, and started walking towards the group.

“Sire, Sford is right, you know,” ventured Kobu suddenly. The exile had heard Sford’s warning.

“You could sense it too?” asked the astounded Tyler. Are all of the companions this magically-sensitive? I know Tyndur felt something by the way he was looking at Asag.

“Some. That powerful a creature could not entirely hide its true nature from those with more than a passing familiarity with magic. He stinks of dark energy. Like a skunk, I suppose.”

Passing familiarity. Kobu, that’s a freaking understatement, thought Tyler.

“Dark? Not evil?” asked the surprised mage when what the exile said sank into his mind. He still hasn’t learned the finer distinctions in the