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

such things but for the guards, that would be enough.”

“You do know what will happen if you follow me, Jorund. You too, Habrok.” Tyler had

already guessed what the peculiar order of the old man was.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I will follow where Jorund goes, my lord.”

“No regrets? You may die while with me. My journey is more dangerous than you could

imagine. Last chance to change your minds.”

Surprisingly, it was Habrok who answered.

“The Havamal says a cowardly man thinks he will ever live, if warfare he avoids, but old

age will give him no peace, though spears may spare him. But this decision demands

some thought even if I remember my father with his club.”

“For me, none, my lord,” said Jorund, his voice firm, “and I do swear loyalty to my lord

Havard as he is known as such, to serve, obey and protect with my life, with my

allegiance to the All-Father now unto him, with the blessings of Odin the Wise.”

Habrok blanched. Apparently, he didn’t expect such a radical oath. Tyler and Jorund

both looked at him. Tyler for his part observed the that the wording of the oath seems

prepared. He concluded it must be of the old man’s own formulation.

Habrok was quiet for a while. The two gave him time.

“As do I, my lord Havard. I mean I may die horribly but it’s better than dying in bed or of old age. Do we still get to go to Valhalla?” he asked Jorund.

“Yes, Habrok. If we remain true and if needed, die like men. That much has been

revealed to me. Odin’s grace will remain with us.”

Then Jorund turned to Habrok. A stern face. And in a grave tone, he advised the

ranger.

“Habrok, with your oath, you now have a geas of silence on you on matters involving

Lord Havard. Remember that. The All-Father will be watching us. What we did was not

a simple matter for him to accept but his blessings go with us. Learn to keep your

mouth shut and your lust under control. You get to be too talkative around women.”

Habrok listened wide-eyed. A simple warrior, a ranger, now thrust into the world of

divine beings. Before, gods were kept at a distance in Habrok’s mind. Now they were

looking over his shoulder. Poor man. Tyler pitied him. But he loved the expression on

Habrok’s face.

After the three took their meal together, Tyler told Habrok to look for information about

a mad hermit named Starkad, with the advice that he may be called some other names

too. This penchant of gods and related beings having so many names was giving him

apoplexy. Two or three names he can understand, but a whole gamut of them?

Meanwhile, he wanted to rest after his journey. A normal bed now sounds very enticing,

he can do the rest of his tasks after a good rest.

He found that Jorund’s room adjoined his own. With the huskarl’s room deliberately

being before his when approaching through the hallway. His room was at a corner of

the inn, located on the second floor. Habrok’s room was in front of his room. He

wouldn’t be surprised if Jorund arranged it that way. Or that Jorund loosened the floor

boards to give advance warning of anybody walking near their rooms. The hallway floor

did sound noisy while Tyler was going to his room.

Tyler cleaned himself up and changed. Jorund had the presence of mind to get new

clothes for him which were already on top of a table. His armor and sword he left with

the man who said he’ll have it fixed first with the blacksmith. His short staff he kept

with him. No way he was going to let it out of his sight. Lying down on the bed, he

planned out his immediate tasks in Scarburg.

First, a courtesy call with the priest-librarian and then a visit to Scarburg's war-mage.

After that, an unobtrusive check of the town’s defenses. He’ll decide what to do after

these tasks. Considering the scout reports he heard from Habrok, a few days still

remained before any assault on the town will be made. The library is more of a

courtesy call. A means to keep up appearances. The war-mage visit is different matter

altogether. Though calling upon the man was also necessary to keep up appearances, with Tyler being ostensibly a mage, it will provide information on the actual status of

the town’s defenses. But to examine the defenses and prepare whatever he can think

of, he may have to scout the Gap. So, far no enemies have been seen in the area so

the venture is possible. Good thing he still had the letters the Gothi provided.

After a few hours of rest, Tyler and Jorund were on their way to Scarburg’s library.

Tyler noticed several separate encampments on an open field as they were nearing it.

The people there didn’t appear to be warriors though they had organized rows of tents

and each camp had guards.

“What are those?”

“Seidr mages, itinerant adepts and not too crazy hermits, my lord,” came the answer.

“Seidr mages?”

“It is a type of magic which deal with divination and related practices, sometimes even

healing. But it is usually practiced by women. Men who follow that path are ergi as that

kind of magic is deemed unmanly. As with those that you see, they usually live isolated

lives, keeping to the mountains. But the recent war with the dokkalfr forced them down

to Scarburg.”

“Even those adepts and crazy hermits?”

“Yes, my lord. It is impossible to live in their mountain caves if dokkalfr are hunting

humans. Nor can they get food from the traders who usually supply them. The routes

to the mountains are now closed and nobody wishes to chance the journey, even for

any price.”

“How come those adepts are also living in the mountains?”

“Magic sometimes claims its victims, my lord. Too much energy can kill a man or make

him not right in the head. That’s what happened to those adepts and hermits. To kill

them outright is not permitted in the eyes of the gods. But to allow them to live in

towns also pose a danger to its inhabitants. So, the best solution was to exile them. But

I guess recent circumstances made the Jarl and the