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

to experienced hands. The defense preparations I leave to Kobu, with the assistance of Habrok and Tyndur. How many mages do you have?” asked Tyler.

“Around ten as of today. I don’t know if more would be arriving. But a moment, High Mage. Something about Tyndur makes me curious. I sense something different about him,” said the jarl as he stared at the einherjar.

This jarl is sensitive to magical matters. He must have some innate though undiscovered ability. But I can’t have him following Tyndur around trying to determine what the man is, thought Tyler. Then he quickly decided to get it out in the open so the jarl could focus on what he should be doing.

“He’s an einherjar, Jarl Geir. A peculiar one. Gave Odin constipation during his stay in Valhaĺla. So, he got sent down to assist me,” answered the mage.

“An einherjar! I never thought I’d see one in the flesh. Tell me, Tyndur, is it everything the tales say?” asked the jarl eagerly.

“Quite overrated, but more or less close to what the skalds sing. Which reminds me, are there any skalds about by any chance?” Tyndur asked the jarl.

“I believe there are a few who insisted on remaining in town, demanding the right to stay and get stories from the coming struggle. New material, that’s how they described it. They better hope their new material doesn’t bite or slash them to bloody pieces. They’re billeted in the Ogre’s Head Inn,” said the Jarl.

“Good! My thanks, Jarl Geir. I intend to visit them when I have time,” beamed the einherjar.

Now, what is this guy up to again? But the mage thought it better not to ask. Inquiring about a man’s private business would be intrusive and disrespectful. Knowing the einherjar, the warrior would tell them himself when he was ready. It was not as if it was only the einherjar keeping secrets.

“Then it’s settled. The three companions will prepare the men and oversee the outer defenses. I get to discuss matters with your mages,” remarked Tyler.

“And how about me?” asked the jarl, his voice rising.

Damn it. I should have started with him, thought Tyler. Pride and all that shit.

“There is a second line of defense. I was going to suggest you oversee its construction. Prepare for attacks from within. Is the town’s cemetery inside or outside the fort?”

“About two miles from the east entrance,” said the jarl.

“Then there could be an assault from that direction and a high possibility of some revenants within the town itself. The second defense ring, the internal defense of the town, and the East Gate I leave to you.”

“That’s a relief. The way people had been acting around me lately, one would think they’re taking care of a child,” commented the jarl.

Oh, the extra precautions of his men to protect him, remembered the mage.

They heard somebody knock on the door. A large man walked in, a bow strapped to his back. Mostly clad in leather armor, it appeared the warrior was a scout, a ranger like Habrok.

“My jarl. Reports have come in and I believe they’re significant enough to warrant your attention.”

“Take a seat, Hendrik,” the jarl ordered. Then he looked at the party. “My head forester, Hendrik. Hendrik, meet our guests – Habrok, Tyndur, Kobu, and His Excellency, the High Mage, Havard of Fossegrim. How exactly does one address a High Mage?”

“High Mage would be enough, Jarl Geir. I am not cantankerous enough,” grinned Tyler.

The man nodded respectfully to the members of the party and turned to the jarl.

“Scouts report two large formations. One near the Barrens and the other about thirty miles from us. They’re not doing anything at the moment, but it looked like they were gathering their strength, waiting for more undead to join them.”

“Numbers?” asked the jarl.

“Too vast to count. The entire valley is full of them. Not only caricatures of men, but also other creatures and races. Scouts trying to observe the force near the Barrens had to leave in a hurry. Too little cover in that part of the region. But they say it’s a bigger force.”

“It might be Valhalla for all of us after all,” remarked the jarl.

“There’s something else, jarl. My men witnessed tattered banners being carried by the dead. They appear to be the flags of your ancestors, though desecrated with large runes marked in red paint.”

“What do the marks show?”

“They appeared to be insults to the gods, sire. And there’s more. The group in the Barrens seemed to be led by the founder of your line, Jarl Sigurd, and the second army nearer to us is led by the body of your eldest brother. The use of their personal battle flags leaves no doubt about their presence.”

Tyler saw the pale face of the jarl who was in shock, unable to say anything. The First Mage quickly spoke up.

“Your brother and ancestors are dead, jarl. Foul spirits now animate their bodies. Either that or their spirits have been enslaved and twisted by dark magic. The best way to save and honor them is to return them to the peace of the grave.”

The jarl released the breath caught in his throat.

“Good thing my father and other brother were sent off the traditional way – a funeral pyre. The body of our eldest brother was never recovered. As to the founder of our ruling line, lore mentioned he went missing with an army in a foolhardy attempt to clear the edges of the Barrens even before Hedmark was secured,” explained the jarl.

“We better warn the men, jarl,” said Tyndur. “No telling if some will have to face the rotting bodies of their mothers in battle.”

“That… is a distinct possibility,” replied the jarl.

“Once they start moving, how long would it take the undead nearest to Hedmark to reach us?” asked Tyler.

“With no logistical train and no need to rest, around a day. They’ve got two roads to use,” replied the forester. “I’ve got men watching them, but if the group nearer to us starts to move, we have