Blood Wars Read online

  That ancient Incan deity is something else, he thought. I don’t believe I’ve seen anybody else with power of that magnitude. Though I have to admit, I haven’t seen Odin or Zeus at full god-mode… but still, he’s at least a millennium older than them by Earth standards. I guess it’s the attitude towards power that defines the deity.

  A slight breeze picked up. Tyler felt the chilly embrace of the Skaney weather. It was getting colder. Autumn must be ending, he observed. He walked towards the trees. A few feet from one, he stopped and looked around. An afternoon of quiet greeted him. He looked at the tree again, and felt silly at what he was going to do. Call Eira by talking to a tree.

  “Eira,” he called out in a soft voice. He called again, this time in a louder voice.

  “Eira. I’m here.”

  He stood in front of the tree for a while, casting furtive glances to his sides from time to time. Then a sudden warm embrace caught him unaware, nearly throwing him down on the grassy ground. As he steadied himself, his senses immediately caught the familiar and bewitching scent of lilac, lavender, and other fresh flowers. Way before he heard his name called.

  “TYLER! You came!” shouted Eira, the happy tone of her voice adding to its ethereal and musical quality.

  “I guess I did,” answered Tyler, hugging her back. This was the first time he intentionally embraced her, and it felt better than before. Her warm body against his was a tactile pleasure beyond what he could imagine.

  I think I’m in love with Eira. Is that possible? A mortal and an ageless spirit? I should have asked Dionysus. No, Viracocha. Dionysus is bound to make lewd suggestions after answering the question.

  The two stayed that way for a while. No words were spoken. Only the physical reassurance that both of them needed. Tyler was comfortably wrapped in the long-missed presence of the being who had provided him with much-needed steadiness in the turbulence of Hellas. A mixture of warm and welcome emotions filled and flooded his mind.

  After a while, Eira removed her hands from around Tyler’s neck. She looked at him and smiled. Tyler smiled back at her and was reminded of how he missed those beautiful verdant eyes. Involuntarily, he caught his breath. Unfortunately, Tyler didn’t know what to say next. Eira saved him from his fumbling attempts to talk.

  “Are you alright? Did everything work out?”

  “I guess so,” he replied. “Though I agreed to help out an old acquaintance. Another problem, I guess. But I was able to ask for some time off—”

  “—and you want to spend that with me,” said Eira as she finished the sentence for him. “I am glad you did.”

  “It’s just a week. I do need the break, and I couldn’t think of any other place to rest and be at peace than Fossegrim.”

  Eira smiled at him again.

  “I do have a surprise for you,” she remarked.

  “You do?”

  “Yes, but we do have to walk there. Brovi’s already there. He seems to like my surprise.”

  Brovi. That bundle of fangs and claws.

  “How is he?” he asked as they started to walk deeper into the forest.

  “Growing up. Quite fast for a baby bear. He’s bigger now. I’m so proud!”

  Baby bear? The last time I saw that bear, he was nearly an adult! More than a hundred pounds of fanged fur! And he’s bigger now?

  “He’s not magical, is he?”

  “No, not magical at all. But the magic here in Fossegrim tends to imbue mundane creatures with abilities. Not all but some animals.”

  “What’s his ability?”

  “None so far, but he does show an aptitude for understanding human speech… but that’s good enough for me,” answered Eira.

  “How about the jotnar and dokkalfr? Are they still around?”

  “Fortunately, no. After their defeat at Scarburg, everything went back to normal. They disappeared back to their usual haunts, but the forest still maintains its vigilance. It had learned its lesson.”

  She talks as if the forest is a living being. I still don’t understand how things work in this magical environment. Getting past tall tales and legends is difficult enough, but trying to understand them after knowing that they do exist is something else. Harder to get one’s mind to understand them.

  Surprisingly, the entire trip was just like taking an afternoon stroll. The path was clear. Animals and vegetation didn’t block their way. Even a cooling breeze followed them. In the meantime, Eira was full of questions which Tyler tried to answer without giving away his secrets. The topic ranged from his companions, the battles he fought, to the deities he had met. Though he noticed a slight change in her tone when he mentioned that a Valkyrie was a new addition to his companions.

  “A Valkyrie? Is she pretty?”

  “Come on, Eira. I know where this part of our conversation is going. First, it was Odin’s wish. Second, after the Akrotiri battle, she still has to choose whether she will continue being with us. Third, as Dionysus mentioned, Valkyries are all hack, slash, and cut. Preferably men as targets.”

  Eira laughed. The wonderful sound he so missed.

  “You can’t blame me, kerasti. Even that Greek goddess makes me feel something. It’s like anger but not as bad. Hurts more inside though.”

  “I think it’s called jealousy, Eira.” Tyler didn’t know how to react.

  “It is? I have never felt it before. It’s not a good feeling to have. Sadness and anger rolled into one.”

  “It’s not. To humans, it is a natural emotion. But it’s never a good idea to let jealousy control how you think or act. The only balance to that negative feeling is trust.”

  Oh, right. She doesn’t have experience in dealing with human emotions that came with such relationships. A degree of panic struck him. What am I going to do? Even I can’t say I am sufficiently familiar with such feelings! My love life is nearly zilch.

  Eira stopped in the middle of the path and thought for a while. Then she looked at Tyler.

  “I trust you.”

  At that statement, with all that it implied, Tyler mind raced through options on how to answer. A faint sense of lightheadedness assailed his senses. His intense emotional reaction to those three simple words stopped his brain from functioning. At a loss on what to say, he went close to Eira and kissed her on the forehead.

  “I trust you too.”

  He got a hug in reply. Again, the feel of her warm body and her scent threatened to overwhelm him. All he wanted was to stay that way forever.

  Then reality said hello.

  What does this situation exactly mean? The thought crossed his mind. I may be dense, but a relationship between a mortal and a spirit is not exactly normal.

  “Come,” invited Eira. “Let’s visit your surprise!”

  The Lady of Fossegrim Forest walked by his side, holding his hand. He could feel her happiness through her touch. At that touch of her hand, he knew he loved Eira. Beyond anything he could express.

  I am officially hooked, thought Tyler. Not that I mind. I guess I was looking forward to it. It also makes me a lot happier than I ever have been. But Eira is still naïve when it comes to mortals. As she confessed, I am the first human she had dealings with, and she appears to need to learn about emotions. I can’t blame her secluded upbringing. I just need to take it a step at a time. A mistaken assumption on her part about what’s going on will prove disastrous. A lot of beings will be furious with me if I bungle this up. Powerful beings, Rumpr and Hrun among them. But I will never forgive myself if I break her heart.

  Finally, they reached a part of the forest which had a wide meadow sheltered by tall hills and enormous trees. A waterfall graced the scenery, the water falling into the pond. A gentle brook led from the large pond into the forest. In the middle of the meadow stood a house; similar in size to Eric’s house, but it looked better built.

  “Surprise!” exclaimed Eira. “A dwelling to call your own in Fossegrim when you want to rest here. Don’t worry about the surroundings. There are tree guardians
around, and rune protections too.”

  Tyler was astonished. And impressed.

  “Thanks, Eira… but this is too much. You went through all that trouble. I am finding it hard to express how thankful I am.”

  “A hobby, kerasti. I thought about it, and I realized there’s really no place on Adar you can call your own. You appeared to enjoy your stay in Fossegrim, so I decided to build you a home. You’re safer here than anywhere else in Skaney. Now that I know of the mist monsters, I have prepared protections against them around the woods.”

  “I can’t express how much I appreciate this, Eira.”

  Eira kissed him on the cheek. He didn’t know if he blushed or not, but he felt a warm sensation suffuse his face.

  “Oh, don’t think about it too much, kerasti.”

  Then a loud growl caught Tyler’s attention. He turned his attention to it. A large brown bear was racing from the house towards them.

  “Brovi!” called Eira.

  Tyler was terrified. The juvenile running towards him had grown. A lot.

  Tyler watched as the bear came rushing at him. He was terrified. Brovi had his tongue out, exposing his fangs. He couldn’t move or run away. Eira was beside him, clapping her hands in delight as her pet neared them.

  Oh my God! He is bigger! The realization hit him, adding to his terror.

  As Brovi neared, he slowed down and finally settled for a walk. He went to Tyler first and then licked the mage’s fingers. The bear looked at him afterward, mouth slightly open.

  I think he’s smiling, thought Tyler. Damn! He knew what he was doing! I’ll bet on it!

  The bear then went to Eira who immediately smothered the bear with hugs, rubs, and kisses. An interlude which enabled Tyler to recover his composure. As he looked at Brovi, the bear was looking back at him, mouth still in the imitation of a smile. Or a snicker. He couldn’t tell.

  After all the greetings, Eira asked Tyler to go and look at his new house. As they walked towards the structure, Brovi amiably ambled behind them.

  “I tried to make it look and feel like a human house. Even the furniture. I didn’t know if I did it right, though,” explained Eira.

  “I really appreciate this, Eira. Don’t worry about the furnishings. Even human-built houses take time to be complete,” answered Tyler whose mind was on whether pet bears act like dogs. Because if they do, he’s in for a playful tumble later on with more than a hundred pounds of fur, fangs, and claws. Not that the bear would intentionally hurt him, but painful mistakes do happen.

  The three stopped at the door of the house. It was built of wood, but the walls were not hewn planks. They looked like branches spread out to form rectangular boards and then stuck to each other. The house looked like it was grown instead of built. It had a large window in front; rather, an opening which served as a window. It did have curtains, but not of cloth. They appeared to be leaves woven together in a fashion which gave the impression of being cloth. They looked durable though.

  “You get to be the one to open the door, Tyler. It’s your house,” offered Eira.

  Tyler opened the door and stepped inside. The floor was made of a kind of flat gray stone. Roughly made chairs and tables made up the furnishings of the receiving area. Magelights were placed on the bare walls.

  “I didn’t decorate it, so you could choose what the ornaments should be. The house has two bedrooms. The main bedroom is over there, and the other one is beside it. It has a small kitchen and a nook which can serve as your workplace,” described Eira excitedly.

  Tyler looked around. Even the roof was made of wood, with sturdy beams holding it up. Thankfully, Brovi stayed outside.

  “It’s perfect, Eira. I really don’t know what to say,” commented the mage, still in awe of the gift that she had given.

  “Oh, a thank you will do.”

  “Thank you very much. But how and where did you get all the wood?”

  “Don’t worry about that. I got them from dead branches from the forest. Although some ancient trees volunteered their old branches. Trimming will enable them to have new growth. Even the roof had been treated – it’s waterproof.”

  “Amazing,” replied Tyler as he walked towards the main bedroom. When he opened it, it had a bed, a side table, and some chairs. A wooden box and open shelves completed the room’s arrangements. A small window, with the same curtains made from leaves, provided light and ventilation. Surprisingly, the bed had a mattress, pillows, a bedsheet, and a blanket. The beddings appeared to be cloth.

  “How were you able to get man-made items?”

  “I have my ways. I’ve never dealt with humans before. So, I asked some landvaetters who lived on the edges of the forest to help. They have dealings with humans who pass by Fossegrim. They’re the ones who came up with the human-made items you see. And also advised me on how the house will look.”

  “This is incredibly lovely, Eira! You do make me feel guilty.”

  “Guilty?”

  “Yes, I haven’t been able to help you yet with your brother.”

  “You have given me your promise and are working towards it. That’s worth a lot more than what a simple forest spirit could ever give.”

  Tyler sat on one of the chairs, putting his staff against the wall. It felt sturdy and like the house, looked as if it was grown rather than built.

  “This means a lot to me, Eira. More than you ever could know. Despite the fact that I have been here for almost two months, I really didn’t have a place to call home. And now, you gave me one.” Tyler wanted to say more, but his mind was overwhelmed by Eira’s present. It was the first time somebody thought of his needs first ever since he arrived on Adar.

  “Look at it as a small gift. You did help with the night creatures the last time you were here.”

  “Only after I attracted them with that burst of energy.”

  “Oh, come on, Tyler. Stop with the modesty and just enjoy it. It makes me happy to see that you like it. It’s protected by the magic of the forest, it’s yours, and I get to see you when you’re not busy.”

  “I get to see you too, Eira,” Tyler commented. He had a lot of questions on his mind about him and Eira, but felt that this was not the time. Foremost was the fact that Eira was not human.

  “Before I forget, I asked the help of the landvaetters to provide water for you. See those pitchers?”

  Tyler saw two pitchers and some cups on the side table.

  “The magic of the house refills them. They will never run out. Though for food, I still have to provide you with it.”

  “Good. It means I get to have meals with you often.”

  Eira gave a small laugh. The musical and ephemeral sound that so enthralled Tyler.

  “Yes, you get to do that. Though as the Lady of the Forest, a lot of tasks occupy my attention every day. But don’t worry, I will try to be with you as much as I can.”

  “Can this house be discovered by other beings? Just asking. You do know my concerns.”

  “They can discover it, but it’s not going to be easy for them. The forest is a big one and has its own magic. Embedded in the walls and roof are runes of protection and concealment. They were attuned to me and now, also to you. That’s one reason why I wanted you to be the one to open the door and enter the house first.”

  “Only the two of us now can enter or see the house?” asked Tyler.

  “Yes. So no Valkyrie or Greek deity allowed.”

  Eira’s joke caught Tyler flatfooted. He remembered her nymph witticism. At a loss for an answer, he just smiled and shook his head.

  The beautiful forest spirit laughed again. A little bit louder this time.

  “I got you there, didn’t I?”

  “You did,” replied Tyler with a slight smile of his own.

  “Anyway, I’ll leave for a while. I do have to make my rounds,” explained Eira. “But there’s some food if you get hungry,” she added, conjuring up food on the table outside the room.

  “Thanks, Eira,” said Tyler
as she disappeared from his view.

  He then explored the rest of the house. The extra room was a smaller version of the master’s bedroom, while the kitchen was indeed a small one. It was enough for one person to move around without bumping into something. The nook Eira mentioned was a little L-shaped space between the two rooms. Strangely, it reminded him of his room back on Earth. It had a small window, table, and a wooden chair. Again, open hanging shelves provided storage space. He walked back to the living area.

  “Guys? Can you please scan the house and the area around it and look into how we can improve security?” requested Tyler as he sat down in one of the chairs.

  “Of course, Elder. Though might we suggest that a concealment spell also be considered. Your cloaking spell is a lot stronger than the ordinary concealment spells used by mages here on Adar.”

  “How am I going to do that? The cloaking spell is a personal one, if I remember correctly. I move, the hiding field moves with me.”

  “Elder, you have already secured the fundamentals of an enchanting spell based on the return stone given by the Greek wine god. The same principle can be applied to a cloaking spell. You can anchor it in an appropriate medium and recharge the spell as needed.”

  “Really? Why didn’t you tell me about it before? That opens up a lot of new possibilities!”

  “You didn’t ask, Elder. And a related subject never came up, so we never had the opportunity to provide our input. Nor were our analytical processes directed in that area of knowledge,” replied Hal.

  “What if I just direct you to tell me when something new is possible?”

  “That would be impossible, Elder. You are asking us to direct our studies and efforts over all possible scenarios. Even at full capacity, such an ability is beyond us. It is effectively, a study of reality based on your present and potential capabilities. Furthermore, our programming prevents us from engaging in such an activity. You have to learn along your path to being an Elder mage. And the best indicator of that is the kind of questions you ask us.”

  “Oh. Does that mean I have asked dumb questions?”

  “Not really, Elder. Your inexperience in these matters is expected. The functioning of our logical and diagnostic processes is also determined by the level of your experience as shown by the questions you ask us.”