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

horses, provisions for at least four days and any utility runes you think we will need.

Please make sure we get two woodcutter’s axes and other equipment for field work.

With what’s left over, we’ll go look for better armor and weapons. Will that be enough

or you need more?”

“I think this would be more than enough. Selling more will lower the prices of these

jewels.”

“Oh, while going about the errands, please try to see if there’s a location outside the

walls, in the Gap, which would give us a good vantage point over the area. It should be

difficult to see from below but past the area of the outside defenses. The mountains on

the left and right sides will be your best bet. Try to make your inquiry as inconspicuous

as possible.”

“Yes, my lord. Will you be fine here by yourself?”

“I can manage. I still have the staff. As long as I don’t walk around the town too much.

Anyway, I intend to catch up on the rest I missed in the past few days. But first, let’s

have the day-meal.”

Will be sleeping with the shield on, anyway, Tyler thought, this also gives me the

opportunity to determine the duration of the light and barrier spells. The watch I left in

Maljen could have given me the exact duration period but I guess I have to wing it with

the estimation.

Getting to his room, Tyler created a small square-shaped lamp, infused it with light and

left it on his table. He then created a three-sided shield and went to bed. But first, he

marked the time of the day. He assessed it at around one o’clock in the afternoon. With

any luck, he can make sense of the morning’s event after the nap.

Evening found the three of them in the inn’s dining area. Habrok reported that the

hermit has not been seen in town and people speculated he stayed in his cave. Though

the ranger couldn’t get an exact location of Starkad’s cave, he now had an idea of the

general area. But going to search for the hermit was a dicey proposition with

the dokkalfr scouring the nearby mountains for humans. Even the mines have been

abandoned for the time being.

Jorund was successful on his errands. Though as he said, the remaining available

weapons and armor were indeed expensive. It would be better if the three of them

check the items out personally before buying anything. But Tyler’s armor and sword

have already been fixed and returned to him. The idea was to sell them if better

replacements were found.

On the vantage point above the Gap, Jorund heard about an old hunter’s niche on the

left side of the Gap and got the proper directions. He even had a roughly drawn map.

Some hunter or hunters thought it a good idea to do their stalking there considering the

locale was full of large game. But the venture didn’t last long. The jotnar didn’t take

kindly to competition for food. The bodies of the hunters were never found.

As they were going back to their rooms for a good night’s rest, Jorund distributed alarm

runes. Once activated, they were to be placed at the door and the windows. The runes

provide a small field which will resist the first few attempts to force the openings and

will also sound the appropriate alarm. Tyler thought it a good idea. The detection runes,

which Tyler requested due to his alarm at shapeshifters, human-looking jotunn, and

magically disguised dokkalfr, were also distributed among the companions. With that,

everybody turned in. Tyler did observe that the lamp and his shield were still going

strong.

The following morning found them at the best blacksmith’s shop in Scarburg. The shop

opened early for them, Jorund having made the appropriate arrangements. The

blacksmith led them to a secret room, hidden behind a movable cabinet. Inside were various armor and weapons, both ordinary and magical. But the non-magical ones were

of exceptional make. The blacksmith said that many of those on display were not his

work but rather collected by or traded to him. As Jorund warned, they were expensive.

Finally, they settled on leather armor for Tyler, enhanced with defense, strength and

durability runes. It should enable him to move faster even when burdened. As a

replacement for his short sword, he settled for a steel version, made by the svartalfar.

Only very few human blacksmiths knew how to forge steel or had the equipment to do

it, requiring as it does very high temperatures. Tyler eschewed magical swords. He

knew squat about the art of sword fighting. His short staff was his primary weapon

anyway.

For Habrok, nothing was found better than his black leather armor which was already

magically enhanced. He settled for a runic bow and two quivers worth of arrows. His

long sword and seax he deemed good enough. Jorund selected an iron cuirass-type

armor reinforced with steel, at Tyler’s insistence, with accompanying arm and leg

armor. Lightness, durability and defense runes protected it. Tyler also insisted on an

extra weapon for him. A long sword made of crucible steel, provenance unknown but

the blacksmith said it probably was made by Volundr. Must be a sales pitch to explain

the price, mused Tyler.

For their helms, they replaced what they had with better-made leather helms, with steel

bands, protected by runes of defense and deflection. Jorund was the exception. Again

at Tyler’s insistence, Jorund got an ordinary steel helm. The magically protected version

was too costly for them. Their shopping spree left Tyler with around a hundred gold

coins and change. The pouch of jewels was emptied. Jorund’s estimate apparently

didn’t take into consideration the quality of the items finally purchased.

“Now where, my lord,” asked Jorund as they walked back to the inn.

“Now would be a good time to go to the Gap while the jotnar are still outside of it,”

answered Tyler. The truth was Tyler wanted the time and space to practice some more

with his abilities, particularly the new one he got.

Habrok only nodded. His two companions never questioned his plans or motives for his

decisions. A good thing, he thought, I myself am not sure of what I am doing. We all

may end up with our heads on jotnar pikes.

They made arrangements with the inn to reserve the rooms at