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

“Can we get runes like that?” asked the alarmed Tyler.

“Yes, my lord. Though expensive.”

“Just remind me about it when we get back to the inn. I also need better armor

anyway. For the two of you also. Weapons too if we can find them.”

Jorund nodded. “Weapons and armor will be costly. The less expensive ones may be

out of stock.”

“Don’t worry about it. We will manage. Come on, let’s check the walls.”

The walls were a discouraging sight. The wooden fence on top of the stone walls

appeared dilapidated. Some posts were clearly rotten and some iron bands were heavily

rusted. Even the stone walls looked unmaintained. Gouges and marks from previous

battles have not been fixed. Considering the condition of the walls, Tyler didn’t expect

the barricades outside the walls to be well-maintained too. Moreover, the war-mage

was right. The number of men posted on the walls was a lot fewer than he expected.

With such a wide frontage to protect, a thousand warriors and a thousand poorly armed

and trained auxiliaries wouldn’t be enough.

Shit. A horde of half-blind Mongols could take this town. Without their horses.

Tyler knew he had his work cut out for him. Dispirited, he told Jorund to go back to the

inn. As they entered the inn, a recognizable figure was sitting and waiting for him.

“Greetings my friend Havard! How nice to see you here!

It was Farman. Better known as Loki.

CHAPTER LORE:

Chiton – Classical Greek. A simple linen tunic worn by men and women. Tubular in design, it is

secured by fasteners along the shoulders and upper arms. Typically reaching down to the ankles of the wearer though shorter chitons are also worn.

Goetes - Classical Greek. Refers to individuals who portray themselves as magoi but are actually mere parlor trick practitioners. Also means charlatan or fraud.

Valkyrie - from the old Norse valkyrja. Also called "Odin's shield-maidens." In Norse mythology, they choose those who die in battle and who may live. Half of those who die in battle go to Valhalla while the other half belong to the goddess Freyja.

Einherjar - Old Norse. In Norse mythology, these are the ones selected to go to Valhalla and fight as Odin's army when Ragnarok comes.

Heill og saell – Old Norse greeting. Literally meaning “healthy and happy”.

Havamal – Old Norse. A series of Norse poems. Deemed wisdom sayings attributed to Odin.

Seidr – Old Norse. A type of magic which deals with divination and the use of charms for

treating diseases.

Ergi – Old Norse. Meaning “unmanly.” A social taboo and an insult.

CHAPTER XII

Para Bellum

Tyler was alarmed. Of all the people or deities he knew, Loki was the last person he

expected to see in Scarburg. Loki rose and walked to greet him as he stood at the inn’s

entrance.

“Come, Havard! You look as if you’ve seen Ymir himself,” joked Loki.

Loki took him by his arm and steered him towards a table at the side of the inn’s main

area. Except the three of them, innkeeper excluded, the inn still remained empty.

Jorund followed after giving Loki a nod. By the time, they were seated, Tyler had

regained enough of his composure.

“I thought you were already back at Metwold.”

“Had to resolve some trade issues for the guild here. War and all that. I was the

nearest representative so……. Here I am!” Loki said with his arms spread wide.

“Let’s get some ale first,” Tyler replied. He needed the alcohol.

“Would you mind if we have time to ourselves?” the god requested, pointing with a

slight nod at Jorund’s presence.

“No problem.”

With that, he asked Jorund to move to another table with instructions to order ale for himself. The man moved to the other end of the hall but still sat facing them, with

battleaxe at his side.

“Sorry, been busy. I haven’t been able to bring you the gift I promised,” apologized

Loki.

What gift? Tyler’s mind went back to their last conversation. Ah, the gift he mentioned

for taking my time!

“But let’s speak in English. Nobody here understands it anyway. Let’s just say it’s a form

of secret trader-speak. But use the name Farman,” giggled the god.

He looked like a kid on a pranking mission. Hope I am not the one being pranked.

“Seriously, you’re here on a trade mission?” inquired the disbelieving Tyler.

“Yes, of course. I take my day job in earnest. This jotnar war is actually good for

business. Provided the other side don’t win. But the guild did have to take measures for

its interests in Scarburg.”

“Isn’t this just a fortress-town? I can understand the selling side but buying products

from Scarburg?”

“Ah, you do need to brush up on your trade knowledge, my apprentice friend.”

“There are two gold mines and several iron mines in this area. Near the mountains. Fur,

cured meat, and some lumber too. Seidr potions and runes. A brisk trade in weapons

and armor. Especially dokkalfr and nicer jotunn ones from skirmishes. Did you know

Scarburg-forged weapons and armor are in great demand? The supply side is also

excellent trade, selling necessities to a fortress-town is always good business.”

Tyler was flabbergasted. Loki as a trader? The idea boggles the mind!

“Anyway, I was going to give you your gift back in Maljen but you were nowhere to be

found. Then I had to take a brief and needed excursion to Cahokia, drop by Enki again,

and now I’m back! Though I do have to leave again to meet my friend Anansi. Busy,

busy!”

“How did you find me?” inquired the mystified Tyler. The name Enki was familiar, being

the subject of a story Loki regaled him with. But the terms Cahokia and Anansi were

unknown to him.

“Heh. If not for the surge in energy near Scarburg, I wouldn’t have found you. I am quite acquainted with the aura of my father’s magic. And putting two and two

together… I come up with three! You and those two guards of yours! Sensing my

father’s magic, it was a simple matter to manifest here and look around.”

“You can transport yourself like how your father did?”

“Of course. But here’s the trick. Two tricks, actually. One, you need a point of

reference. You can’t travel like that to a place you haven’t visited before. Second, the

amount of energy needed.