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

“Well, the first question would be why, then how and what, and finally the question of where?” replied the mage.

“Huh?”

“Why did they do it, how are we going to get there and build whatever we want to establish, what’s the purpose of such a place, and where’s the catch?” explained Tyler with a sardonic grin.

The mage heard the sound of a suppressed laugh escape from Kobu.

“A rose may be a beautiful gift, but one still has to look out for its thorns,” commented the exile with a grin.

Ivar looked towards the island, deep in thought.

“I never thought of it that way, Havard. But twists and turns of such schemes are beyond me. But you know what I thought when I saw the island,” remarked the priest. “A big, fucking island! All yours!”

“I know, Ivar. It’s flattering in a sense, that I have to admit,” replied Tyler. Secretly, he was extremely flattered and impressed. Who wouldn’t be?

“No wonder I was asked to tell you that the dwarves might have a solution to the issue of traveling between here and the island.”

“It only means they want me to go to the dwarven heartlands to solve one of their problems,” laughed Tyler.

“I don’t have any objection to such a visit, sire, as long as you leave me out of any ceremonies. Tyndur’s comments were discouraging. More of warnings, I think,” commented Kobu. “But I believe it would be an extremely informative adventure. Though as far as this unexpected and impressive gift is concerned, there’s also that advice about keeping your enemies closer than your friends.”

The young mage didn’t reply, staring at the island. And the longer he gazed, the more he felt the tug of an approaching magical source. It was coming from the open sea. Curious, he cast a scrying spell. The resulting magical feedback staggered him. A tremendous shape, so massive that his magical examination couldn’t give him an idea about the size of it, was in the water, close to the island.

“What the hell is coming towards us?” Tyler exclaimed as he involuntarily stepped back, quickly shaking his head as he did so.

Ivar looked at him with shocked surprised.

“Something’s coming?” the Gothi asked.

“Humongously massive, man!” cried out Tyler. “Get those men out of the boat!”

The Gothi immediately ran to the karve, a small trade ship fortunately designed to be moored close to shore. Tyler stood where he was, watching the far horizon. Already, he could see the massive disturbances the incoming creature was making. It wasn’t moving that fast, but the young mage knew that large waves would arrive well ahead of the monster.

Glancing at the disembarking men, Tyler saw that the crew and the Gothi were already running for the safety of the woods. He turned his attention back to the sea. The tsunami-like wave was well on its way, spanning across the visible horizon.

“Let’s run for it, Kobu. I don’t think I could manage to stop that massive a wave,” he told the man. As one, they followed on the heels of the fleeing crew. Tyler briefly thought of using his teleportation ability, but decided against it. Kobu did have a similar skill, but he preferred being at the rear to block any immediate threat. He couldn’t stop the entire tidal surge, but Tyler believed he could manage mitigating its effect on their immediate area. Then he changed his mind.

That’s an incredible amount of water, man. Tons of it.

When the two reached the edge of the woods, Tyler found everyone else taking cover behind trees.

“Move farther back!” he shouted. “That wave is going to reach this far!”

The rest, except for the pair and the Gothi, ran deeper into the woods while Tyler looked back at the incoming threat. Even at a considerable distance, he could already see the wall of water ominously rising from the ocean.

Shit. That must be at least twenty feet high, and bound to gain strength as it heads inland.

He quickly looked back. The fleeing men couldn’t be seen anymore. To his surprise, Tyler found the Gothi standing beside him.

“You’re still here?” he asked Ivar.

“Well, you’re supposed to be a great and mighty mage. I guess you can handle it,” replied the Gothi. “Though my knees are shaking.”

“It is not only your knees, Gothi,” observed Kobu with amusement. “Your voice is cracking.”

“Yep. And my pucker, stomach and balls are so tightly wound up that I don’t think I could fart.”

The three could now hear the deep and continuous rumble of the approaching mountain of water. Strangely, it reminded Tyler of the sound of a freight train.

He cast another scrying spell. The only reason Tyler stayed was for the chance to find out what exactly was creating such a vast oceanic disturbance. The mage had hoped that the closer distance would reveal more. But the magical tendrils revealed nothing, except what he already knew – its incredible size.

Fuck. It must have an innate resistance to magical spells. The mage turned to his companions.

“Time to run, gents.”

Kobu grabbed the Gothi and vanished. Tyler turned to do the same and immediately realized his problem. Unlike Kobu, he could only teleport in a horizontal direction, and needed to see where he wanted to go. Large trees blocked his vision, and he knew that magically transporting in such unfamiliar terrain would be a dumb and last mistake.

He ran.

“Guys, how far?” Tyler asked his guides. The rumbling noise was already deafening.

“It’s already close to shore, sire. We suggest stopping and creating a barrier,” X immediately replied.

The mage immediately stopped and turned, forcing solid walls into existence around him.

“Strengthen them!” he inwardly shouted.

Tyler immediately felt the rush of more power leaving him.

“We lowered the barrier above you, sire. It would be better if the initial force is absorbed by the treetops before it hits your wall,” said Hal. “Though an earthen barrier to the front would have helped.”

Before Tyler could answer, the immense mass of seawater crashed into the woods. He staggered under the incredible impact, swaying on his feet. The mage could sense his guides pouring more power into the barriers which were starting to