Habrok quickly started with his bow, and Kobu stood ready to receive those able to pass through Tyler’s chest-high shield. He had no delusions about the barrier withstanding the multitude swiftly coming toward them. Seeing them again run in the light given by his spell, Tyler was chillingly reminded of how fast those undead bodies could move. His guides started with their energy strikes again, but the revenants were too many, too close, and too fast. As they smashed into the magical barrier, Tyler’s waking nightmare began.
Apulli had seen the rising problem and came running in his energy form. The boy ran across the party’s front, and in his wake were exploding undead bodies. Nauseating bone dust, grisly body parts, tiny worms, and shattered pieces of armor and weapons were flung in all directions. A lot rained down on the trio, the gruesome undead debris lodging in their attire, hair, and exposed skin. It all resulted in a First Mage messily covered with grisly minute human remains, crawling small insects, and powdered bone during his dash back to the fortress, blasting the occasional undead blocking the way. The overwhelming revulsion made his mind lose its focus during the last waning stages of the battle. All he could think of was what sickeningly covered him from head to toe. Real or imagined, he could feel insects and the grisly remains on his skin.
But for Kobu and Habrok still guarding him, being covered with the ghastly remains was a minor inconvenience, though Kobu nudged Habrok at one point and pointed out what was happening behind them. As Habrok took a glance, the ranger could see that the strange deep furrows and low hills were still being created, followed them, and continued to block any pursuit. At a loss for words, Habrok just stared at the grinning exile and shook his head. If any of the dwarves and human warriors noticed what was happening, it appeared they were too tired and thankful for the absence of pursuit from the main enemy host to raise any alarm or concern.
When they reached the laager, the tired host stopped to rest, though it formed a defensive formation. Some warriors bringing the wounded pushed on to Hedmark. Tyler cast another illumination spell, revealing a field empty of enemies at their rear, but the entire area looked like the playpen of hyperactive giant groundhogs and moles. The trenches and hills had stopped appearing about a hundred yards away.
With a final look at the empty field behind them, Tyler gripped his staff and without a word, determinedly continued on to the fortress. Tyndur followed, though the ordinarily talkative einherjar kept silent when he noticed Tyler’s odd demeanor. Kobu had to catch up with the party as he had to give hasty orders to Skarde. When the group caught sight of the North Gate, the mage frantically tried to get rid of the horrid mementos of the battle, shuddering all the time.
Tyndur meaningfully looked at the exile and the ranger. Then he grinned widely.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Way to Hell
Skathi spake:
51. “Wert thou first and last | at the deadly fight
There where Thjazi was caught,
From my dwellings and fields | shall ever come forth
A counsel cold for thee.”
Loki spake:
52. “More lightly thou spakest | with Laufey’s son,
When thou badst me come to thy bed;
Such things must be known | if now we two
Shall seek our sins to tell.”
Freshly bathed and wearing a clean tunic and pants, Tyler laid himself down on the bed. His armor was being cleaned, together with the gear of the others, in the next room where Tyndur and Habrok kept watch over them. The two were not taking any chances. It may be the jarl’s house, but that didn’t mean there would be no temptation for people to run away with the armor and weapons, all warnings and consequences be damned.
He did ask the two to tell everyone, even the jarl, that he was not available. Kobu, also in a plain tunic and pants, stayed with him in the room, sitting beside the door, with his back to the wall. When the mage asked him about the defensive preparations, all the exile told him was that all the needed preparations were being undertaken, and the additional equipment he requested was being constructed. The exile trusted Skarde to look after what he had ordered. Besides, Hedmark would need the knowledge he was imparting, said Kobu, and Skarde was better off getting practical experience in siege warfare.
“Tell them it’s magical exhaustion. They’ll understand that part,” he remembered telling Habrok and Tyndur. There were questions in the eyes of his companions, but Tyler resolved to settle those issues at another time.
Even after the bath, involuntary shudders and goosebumps shot through his body. The mage knew it was but his imagination, yet he could still feel the grossly repugnant rain, especially that part during the hell-wrought shower when he sensed something crawling down his back. Tyler considered himself lucky he didn’t puke right on the battlefield. The idea of pieces of maggot-ridden and decaying bodies of dead people on his skin, sliding in through the openings in his armor, was a dreadful and repulsive experience.
Tyler closed his eyes, thankful for the opportunity to get his thoughts in order. Too many startling revelations, he admitted to himself. Not least were the abilities of the children in the world within the staff.
He reminded himself to ask Birki to balance out Apulli’s training. It was impressive, he admitted, but the power to destroy needed to be tempered. Otherwise, there was a high chance he’d end up with a dark deity on his hands.
Wilan was restrained
