“Thanks, Habrok. Though I want you to focus first on laying traps below the first cliff and finding a source of water. As much as we can store. The problem may be storage. I
think tonight may be peaceful for us but post watches just the same. If you run across
some game, adding to the food will also help. We will be here until after the jotnar and
the dokkalfr attack. Or after they’re beaten back.”
My God, I sound soooo confident! I should be pissing in my pants!
“We have some unfilled waterskins, my lord. With your task for locating a vantage
point, I took the liberty of securing more. I thought we would be here for a while. The
alarm runes we have planted at the top of the cliff but those are attuned to me and
Habrok. You need to tell us when you want to go down so you won’t set them off.”
“Good man! We need to prepare for at least four days by ourselves. Tomorrow we need
to set up more traps at the bottom of the cliff. For tonight, we have some preparations
at least?"
“Yes, my lord. We have piled some brambles at the foot of the cliff and temporarily
blocked portions of the trail. Habrok and I will have guard shifts. You should have your
rest. I know magic is draining on a man.”
“Thank you, Jorund. For now, here’s the plan. Tomorrow, water, traps and possible
additional food. Habrok, that’s you. Checking for jotnar and dokkalfr goes without
saying. Jorund, defensive preparations for the site. Make it as difficult and as lethal as
possible for anybody trying to come up here. I do need your advice on how to better
protect the ledge out there. Flying creatures like the drakes could still get to us. Finally, an extra precaution. While in Fossegrim, I ran across some creatures made out of mist
but they can solidify their claws and fangs when striking. But they’re vulnerable to light
so I will provide you with lamps like what I made and some light orbs. Throw the light
orbs at them and I'll try to explode the orbs. They’ll get hurt. Swords and spears don’t
kill them.”
“Monsters made out of mist?” stammered Habrok.
“Oh, stop it, Habrok. Get used to things like that. This journey will be full of those
things. More horrible ones, I believe,” said Jorund, “Makes the journey more
interesting. Like now! Three against thousands! One worth a saga! Even two sagas!”
Habrok’s eyes were wide open and his face paled. Tyler heaved a sigh. He thought that
wouldn’t be the last time he sees Habrok looking like that.
CHAPTER NOTE:
Historically, some tensions have been recorded between the followers of Odin and those of
Thor.
CHAPTER LORE:
Cahokia - Term used to refer to the site of a pre-Columbian Native American civilization found near St. Louis, Missouri. The original name of the inhabitants, as well as that of the city, are unknown. It was abandoned sometime during the 13th century. It was called Cahokia after the Native American tribe which moved to the area around the 17th century. For the purpose of this story, the civilization as found on Adar is also called Cahokia. The reason for this will be revealed in a later Arc.
Anansi - An African mythological character. He oftentimes take the shape of a spider or even as a half-spider. Mythology credits him as the father of stories, agriculture as well as creating the sun, the moon, and the stars. Belief in him exists in various African tribes though it is believed his worship began in Ghana, Africa.
Ptah - The Egyptian deity of craftsmen and architects. One of the five major Egyptian gods.
Crucible steel – A special kind of steel made out of iron and other materials. Difficult to make even with modern methods. But a few swords dating back to the Viking Era have been
discovered to have been made from this material.
Volundr - Norse mythology. A legendary human blacksmith. Portrayed in sagas as one of the
sons of the king of the Sami people. The magical swords Gram and Durandal were believed to
be of his forging.
Fifty cal - Slang for the Browning .50 caliber M2HB heavy machine gun.
CHAPTER XIII
Unwelcome Guests
He watched as the enemy host came up the Gap. They were still a mile away from the
viewing ledge. Good enough for his enhanced eyesight but not close enough for him to
take action.
First came numerous beasts of various kinds. In their van were armored mountain
giants carrying ladders and enormous shields made of wooden planks. Next came
ordered rows of dokkalfr, archers in front, with infantry in the back also carrying
wooden planks. Ice giants and trolls accompanied them, either carrying fascines or
wheeled mantlets in tow.
He could see mages among them, easily discernible by their lack of armor and
armaments, save for staffs. Then ogres followed, again carrying fascines. Finally,
another host of jotnar followed the ogres. Wagons with more fascines and wicker
mantlets tailed behind. At the back, he could see around six catapults pulled by
unfamiliar armored beasts the size of small elephants. Three siege towers trailed them,
likewise pulled by the same kind of beasts. Above them flew ice drakes, circling above
the formation. Numerous banners flew above the enemy host.
He couldn’t see any of the ice elves or the humans he saw back at the Bildsfell
encampment. But he could discern another host coming up the Gap, lingering behind
the first. From what he could see, it was larger than the assaulting force. They were
moving at a marching pace. He thought about the possible attack plan of the jotnar.
Before him was about three to four thousand jotnar and dokkalfr. It was not enough to
storm the town. But he may have underestimated the attack force as the second host
can be easily estimated at ten to twelve thousand in size. Or it may be more, his enhanced sight couldn’t see more details in the mass of enemies.
The first group of this host must be cannon fodder, intended to occupy the attention of
the defenders while archers and the catapults support them. The dokkalfr, ice giants,
and trolls would try to cover the ditches and destroy
