Dragonmage of Mystara

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

If Thelvyn had still wanted to learn more about the strength of the Masters and their armies, this was certainly the time. He could see at least two hundred gemstone dragons darting back and forth over the stronghold, although in their alarm and confusion, they didn't seem to know what they were looking for. He hoped to take advantage of their uncertainty, remaining half hidden in the streets between the imposing, massive forms of the fortresses until he and Kharendaen were able to escape into the wild.

But he had never dared to hope that they would be able to get away entirely unobserved. Even as the two dragons weaved an elusive path through the streets, still more gemstone dragons began to fall in behind them, taking up the pursuit. That was no immediate concern in itself; Thelvyn knew that gold dragons were faster than the Masters, but when he glanced back, he saw that Veydran warriors were taking up the chase as well. That was a matter of some concern, since he had no idea of their speed and endurance.

Suddenly the street they were following ended, and the

dragons came out from among the great hulks of the fortresses. Now they had to make a desperate dash across the open ground and into the southwestern pass through the mountains that surrounded the stronghold. They entered the pass as quickly as they could fly, passing right over the heads of countless companies of soldiers waiting to be moved forward through the worldgate. Thelvyn waited for the rattle of arrows against his armor and hoped that nothing worse would be brought to bear against them, but it seemed that their enemy was still taken by surprise, unprepared to fight back. Moments later, the dragons were beyond the pass, turning sharply to head west across the fields toward the seclusion of distant mountains.

Thelvyn glanced back after a moment to check on their pursuers. The gemstone dragons were already beginning to fall well behind them, unable to match the furious pace of the gold dragons. But he saw at least twoscore Veydran warriors in pursuit, strung out over more than a quarter of a mile, the nearest only a few dozen yards behind Kharendaen. And as he watched, he saw that they were neither gaining on them nor losing distance. He had no desire to fight so many of the small, powerful warriors, but he realized that if they didn't begin to tire or fall behind soon, he would have to do something.

"How are you holding up?" Kharendaen asked.

"I'm not at my best," he said, surprised at how much he was forced to pant when he tried to talk. "I can't keep up this pace for long."

She bent her head to look at him. "If you want to avoid a light, would you mind a suggestion?"

"Of course not."

"Then let's begin to climb, as high and as fast as we can," she said. "If my guess is correct, the Veydran are not equipped to fly in high, thin air."

Thelvyn didn't have the breath to reply, but he was grateful tor the idea. Because his own experience with flight was limited, he would never have thought of such a thing. The two dragons began to climb at once, rising as steeply as they could with long, powerful sweeps of their wings, even though climbing sacrificed some speed. Thelvyn knew he couldn't endure much more of this, but he was encouraged to see that the Veydran were steadily falling farther behind. Obviously the Veydran were tiring even more quickly than the dragons, and that might put an end to the chase.

Every advantage now seemed to belong to the dragons. There was a high but solid blanket of pale, light clouds above them, and the brisk wind felt cold and curiously wet for such an arid place. If they could only climb into those high clouds, their escape was certain. More than that, the sun was already setting, and night came quickly to this desolate land. Thelvyn desperately needed a chance to rest and recover from his injuries, and he realized that he hadn't eaten or drank in at least three days. He didn't expect to find food or water in this place, but he had to have some rest before he could find a way to escape the world of their enemies.

The miles and miles of neatly laid fields and pastures were falling away below them steadily, but Thelvyn thought the ceiling of clouds overhead remained as remote and unreachable as ever. He began to fear that the clouds were too high, beyond the reach of even dragons. He desperately needed to reach those clouds, which would conceal their escape into the wild, losing their pursuers and giving him some time to rest. The shoulders of his wings were weak and numb, and the damaged muscles all along his back were burning in pain. He had to constantly remind himself to hold his tail erect so his rear sails wouldn't drop down to catch the air and slow him.

The Veydran were no longer falling behind, expending every last bit of their strength to catch the dragons before they disappeared into the clouds. Thelvyn was beginning to doubt that he would make it to safety, but then he noticed that, by some trick of the fading light of day, the clouds had looked farther away than they were. A thousand yards or more remained, but he was beginning to hope that he could last that long. Even so, the last few minutes became a desperate race. The Veydran began to close once again as Thelvyn's strength began to fail and the dragons were forced to slow their steep climb.

Kharendaen dropped back behind her mate. If necessary, she intended to hold off the pursuing Veydrans with her flames long enough for them to escape, but then they moved up into the clouds, and the mists and the gathering night closed about them. They turned immediately to the south, not daring to level off until they were well inside the clouds. Then rhey turned once again, back toward the west, locking their wings to rest briefly while they rode the winds.

"Can you keep going for a while?" Kharendaen asked, flying close at his side so that they would not become separated in the clouds.

"I guess I'll have to," he answered, still panting heavily. "There's no place for us to hide until we get well beyond the cultivated lands. That will be another hour, at least. I can ride the wind that long."

"Do you know where we're going?" she asked.

"Back to the ruined town, I think. Perhaps we'll run into the free Veydran again. There are things that I need to know."

Tired and in pain, Thelvyn wondered with each long minute whether he would be able to keep going till the next. He began to fear there would be no point to all his efforts. Their failure to reach the large worldgate at the main stronghold before it was closed against them may have been their last chance to escape this world. Long hours would pass before they could reach any of the lesser gates, more than enough time for the gates to be closed or placed under heavy guard. Then the dragons would be trapped, condemned to wander this desolate world in a never-ending race against their pursuers.

They remained within the cover of the clouds to avoid being seen, trusting their instinct for direction. The clouds began to break up somewhat after the first half hour or so as the winds became stronger and more fitful. Their pursuers seemed to have long since given up the chase, frustrated by the speed of the gold dragons and their tremendous height. The air was cold and thin, making it difficult for Thelvyn to catch his breath, adding to his fatigue.

In time they spotted the wild, rugged land where they had found the ancient town, and they began to descend in a wide, steep spiral. It was difficult even for the sharp eyes of dragons to see much. The crumbling buildings of the ancient village were hidden by the darkness and by the fact that their appearance was so much like the color and rugged texture of the surrounding lands. Finally they spotted the remains of the ruined settlement sheltered in a deep valley, and they searched for a safe place to land, a place where they could observe the sky and the surrounding lands but still remain at least partly hidden. Kharendaen led the way now, landing in what had been the town square.

"I think it's safe to stay here for a time," she said, watching with concern as Thelvyn slowly folded away his wings, obviously in pain.

"Were you able to rest any of the time that we were held captive?" he asked.

"I had time to sleep while I was waiting for you," she assured him, though her answer seemed vague. "I was also given food and drink, but the Overlord wouldn't leave any for you. You haven't had food or drink since before we came into this world, have you?"

"No, but I'll be all right," Thelvyn said as he lowered himself painfully to the ground, stretching out his full length. "I wouldn't know where to look for water, and I haven't seen anything alive in the wild to hunt."

"The free Veydran must exist on something," she observed. "If we must, we could always return to raid the farmlands."

"I don't plan on being here that long."

Kharendaen walked over to look at him closely. Then she sat up on her haunches, bracing herself with her tail so that she could reach out and begin to rub his back gently. Thelvyn lifted his head to protest, then thought better of it. He laid down his head and closed his eyes, and after a moment he gave a deep, rumbling sigh of pleasure. Kharendaen smiled, thinking that he sounded like a gruff old dragon enjoying the hidden contentment of his lair.

"Are you fully recovered from your injuries now?" she asked.

"For the most part," he answered. "I'm in no danger of hurting myself again, but I need a little time to get back to normal."

"At least you have retained your clerical powers."

"I didn't realize at first just how much the Overlord was controlling me," Thelvyn said. "The Masters seem to be unaware that their will is subject to his control, apparently regarding themselves as willing servants, allies rather than slaves. Later I realized that something had been very wrong about that first confrontation, when he made it seem that his powers were vast compared to my own. He was controlling my responses. He wouldn't allow me to defend myself, which gave the appearance that I wasn't strong enough to stand up to him."

"You seemed more evenly matched later," Kharendaen observed.

"I'm still certain that he is very powerful," Thelvyn said. "He commands the powers that you would associate with one of the lesser Immortals. But for whatever reason, it seemed to frighten him unduly when we were able to prevent him from controlling us. He could have put an end to our escape at any rime, but instead he chose to withdraw, as if he feared for his safety. Perhaps it has been too long since he has had to confront his enemies directly."

Kharendaen rose up higher on her haunches so that she could push down harder on his back; his dragon's armor made it difficult to give him a good back rub. Then she bent her neck around to bring her face close to his. "Don't you think the Overlord also might have deceived you about your standing among your own kind?"

Thelvyn sighed heavily. "No, I don't think so. Deceit isn't his only weapon, not when he has the power to look inside your own thoughts and use the truth against you. He knows that the truth can wound far deeper and more sharply than any of his tricks. He merely put into words some ideas and impressions that I have always held,' that I thought that I was above the common faults of dragons."

"Well, if that is a failing, then it is one I share," Kharendaen told him. "I have often been driven nearly to distraction by the foolishness, the suspicion, the selfishness, and the narrow-minded beliefs of the dragons. And, yes, I, too, like to think I am above such faults. But I also prefer to think that most dragons could rise above such things, if they could only be made to believe that they belong to a wise and noble breed. Perhaps I am an optimist, but I chose to become a cleric not only to serve the Great One but also the dragons themselves. Are you and I really so different, then? I've known you to argue with the dragons about changing their ways."

"That may be so," Thelvyn agreed, sitting up slowly. "At least I've learned an important lesson about myself. But just now I find myself desperate to return home. I worry what may be happening in our absence."

"I suspect my brother has kept things from falling apart."

"Yes, your brother," Thelvyn said, lowering his head and laying back his ears. "Marthaen is going to slay me."

Kharendaen looked perplexed. "Slay you?"

"For getting you pregnant." He lifted his head, staring into the night. "I think our friends have returned."

At least he hoped they were their friends. A small group of Veydran were approaching the square cautiously from one of the side streets. Although they were moving furtively, trying to stay hidden between the ruined buildings, they were not trying to hide themselves from the two dragons. Enemy Veydran warriors would have been more stealthful in their approach, their movements conveying a greater sense of hostile purpose. He waited patiently for them to approach, sitting up with his tail wrapped around his legs and his neck arched proudly, careful not to move.

A large group of Veydran were approaching this time, nine in all, and he saw that all but their leader were bearing large bundles of some type. As they came nearer, he could see that four of the dragon-folk were carrying large skins filled with water or some other drink, and the other four carried roasted meat wrapped in what appeared to be large, dry leaves of some strange type. He was pleasantly surprised, since he had never expected that they would offer him the food or drink he needed so badly, partly because he had not expected them to have such things to share.

The leader of the Veydran stopped a few yards away. The others remained behind him. After staring at the two dragons briefly, he bent his neck in an odd gesture of respect. "You have returned."

As before, the dragons did not understand the words that he spoke, but nevertheless they were aware of most of what he said in their minds. Thelvyn bowed his head in return. "We were made the Overlord's prisoners, and I suffered serious injuries from him. But we got the better of him in the end and managed to escape."

"Then you are able to fight him?"

"I would not choose to fight him again, not in this world," Thelvyn said. "I will wait until he comes into my own world, where my strength is enhanced. Then we will defeat him, and your people will be free."

"That is good." The Veydran leader paused, glancing back at his companions. "We have brought food and drink for you. If you need anything else, we will try to get it for you."

"We thank you for your gifts. We need food and drink badly," Thelvyn replied. "I ask only one more thing. Do you know of any other worldgates we could try to use to return home, and, if so, could you lead us to them?"

"We will lead you wherever you want to go, but the journey would do you no good. The Masters seal all the worldgates they do not use, and those they do use are under heavy guard. They fear that their enemies might use their own gates against them."

"Are there no secret gates, perhaps ancient ones that the Masters have closed but forgotten to destroy?"

"It is not possible to forget a worldgate. You can hear them as you come near, even if they are sealed."

Thelvyn lowered his head. "I had suspected as much, but the question was still worth asking. We must try to find our own way home."

"We will do what we can. If you need us again, circle the village once in the air, then land ag^in. We will come to you."

The Veydran brought forth their gifts, then made a gesture of respect and withdrew quickly, disappearing into the night. When Thelvyn and Kharendaen unwrapped the leaves, they found what appeared to be roasted carcasses of some kind of deer, although the taste was more like game fowl. Kharendaen was unable to force her mate to accept more than half of the food in spite of her arguments. She insisted that he needed to regain his strength during his recovery. Thelvyn resisted reminding her that she was now eating for two.

"What do you think?" Kharendaen asked as they ate. "Do we dare try to find the gate where we came in, even with that new stronghold so close by?"

Thelvyn frowned. "Finding that gate should be easy enough. If the winds are still stirring up the dust and sand, the Masters would never see us. They might not even be aware of that gate. Most likely they're watching the old gate near Braastar."

"Marthaen said he would open gate at regular intervals to see if we might be waiting to return home. We might have to wait some time for the gate to open again."

Thelvyn shook his head helplessly. "We can only try."

The dragons rested through most of the night, although they made a point of departing before daybreak in an effort to avoid being seen. The wind had increased somewhat during the night. They remained whenever possible under the cover of clouds, which were heavy but somewhat broken. The clouds offered the best cover the dragons could have, since they were far more likely to be discovered if they tried to fly in and out among the valleys and ravines. From this height, only the sharp eyes of another dragon could have seen them during the brief times when they passed between clouds.

Thelvyn had regained much of his strength with the night's rest, and he was now in relatively little pain. He was becoming impressed with just had badly he had been injured, and how easily that damage could have been fatal. For the first time, he was beginning to appreciate how close he might have been to death. He found himself a bit shaken by that realization. What he could not guess was whether his survival had been a matter of chance, or if the Overlord had deliberately kept him alive to torment him.

Flying at such height, enduring the thin air, was not the ordeal that it had been for him the day before. Traveling six miles or more above the ground also made him feel somewhat insecure, knowing he couldn't land quickly if something happened to him and he could no longer fly. The cold, thin air dried his throat, and he wished they could find water for the empty skins they carried. He wished he had thought to ask the

Veydran about how to find food and water in this inhospitable land, in case they were unable to return to their own world.

At first they flew above the especially rugged, barren lands northwest of the sea of sand, where they had previously dodged in and out through the valleys and along the ridges to remain hidden. The land did not look nearly so rugged from such a great height, and Thelvyn was interested to see that there were more definite patterns in the landforms than could been seen from low altitudes. The ridges and lines of mountains ran in strangely orderly systems, and great valleys looked like streambeds cut by recent rains. At least he had the answer to one of his questions; his sharp eyes occasionally caught pale, almost hazy hints of white in the deepest crags of the mountaintops, suggesting snow. At least the dragons would not need to suffer from thirst, although he suspected any drifts of snow would include a generous mixture of dust.

Not long after they entered the sea of sand, the high cloud cover began to break apart, as if the clouds could not endure the dry air over the open desert. The clouds didn't disappear entirely, but now they offered minimum cover for the dragons. Thelvyn spoke with Kharendaen about whether it would be better to fly low, returning to the protection of the fog of gray dust near the ground. In the end, they decided they would continue to fly at their present height, at least for now, so they wouldn't have to endure the dust in their throats or the sting of sand in their large eyes.

In time, they came within sight of the fortress that stood just north of the location of their gate, and they were forced to fly low to avoid being spotted. The hours of flight had provided Thelvyn with time to assemble something of a plan. Guided by their unerring instinct for direction, the two dragons circled around to approach the gateway from the south, finally landing amid the great boulders of the island of rock that rose out of the sands. The worldgate now stood only a couple hundred yards north of them, and the fortress was several hundred yards more beyond that. Whether or not the fortress had been abandoned when they had arrived, he felt certain that guards would be on hand now to watch for the escaped dragons. Thelvyn planned to wait in hiding until they sensed the opening of the gate, then dash through before the Masters could stop them.

"I only hope Marthaen is continuing to open the gate from time to time as he promised," Kharendaen said, shielding her face from the blowing sand with her mate's chest as they huddled together in the shelter of a group of large boulders. "We've been gone for a long time, and Marthaen may have given up hope."

"This isn't our only hope," Thelvyn said, bringing his own head around to escape the sting of the windblown sand, "but it may be our best opportunity."

They hadn't waited long when they suddenly sensed a flare of power, followed by the distinctive presence of an open worldgate. Thelvyn lifted his head sharply, startled that the gate should open only a short time after they had arrived. Then he realized that Marthaen might be opening the passage often, fearful because of their delayed return and aware that they might need to escape hastily. Even so, Marthaen would open the gate only briefly, perhaps no more than a few seconds at a time. The dragons had to reach it in a hurry.

They emerged from their shelter and leapt down through the boulders at a run until they came to a relatively flat shelf where they could jump into the air. They were flying blind in the thick dust, but they had no problem finding their way, drawn by the unmistakable source of magic. But almost at once Thelvyn began to sense that something was wrong. Suddenly he knew they were not alone.

The magic shifted form, and abruptly the fierce wind died and the air around them became as still as death. The wind-born sand fell to the ground, leaving only the gray dust hanging in the air like thick fog. He became aware of several vast, dark shapes moving through the dust, and a moment later three massive steel warriors emerged out of the grey darkness, towering shapes moving slowly and deliberately amid an escort of the smaller forms of the Masters. Thelvyn was forced to turn sharply, passing almost directly beneath the head of one of the metal warriors.

A dark shape hurtled down from above as one of the Masters darted in, striking Kharendaen in the middle of her back and driving her downward. The large amber dragon already had her neck in a death lock, but in the next moment she crashed heavily into the side of a low dune. The impact broke her opponent's hold, sending both of them tumbling. Kharendaen was shaken by the blow. The amber dragon rose unsteadily and shook its head, then snarled fiercely as it turned toward Kharendaen, moving in to finish the kill. She lifted her head and blinked, finding herself staring into his fangs, her eyes round with fear.

Thelvyn had circled back tightly, and now he dived to the attack, dropping down with braced legs to strike the gemstone dragon's back with crushing force. His head darted in for a death grip, but at the last moment, he suddenly leapt over the Master's sprawled form and dragged his mate out of the way. In the next instant, the massive head of one of the steel warriors thrust down out of the dense grey dust, striking the side of the dune with a tremendous explosion of sand that nearly buried the two dragons, crushing the amber dragon and driving his broken body deep into the sand.

Thelvyn shook the sand from his back and wings before he grabbed Kharendaen by her shoulders and pulled her free, half carrying her quickly to one side. The warrior pushed its head on through the side of the dune as easily as if it had been a drift of snow, and the two dragons were lifted up and sent tumbling by an avalanche of sand. This time Kharendaen was able to regain her wits, recovering from the impact that had forced her from the air. But the sky was no safe place for them, crowded with the circling forms of the Masters waiting for their own turn to attack. Tucking away their wings tightly, the dragons dropped their heads low and ran as fast as they could, struggling for purchase in the loose sand.

Even on foot, they could move along with surprising speed, their long, leaping gait carrying them across the dunes back toward the questionable safety of the islands of boulders that rose in clusters out of the sand. They ran in an evasive path that the Masters could not easily follow on the wing. When the dragons reached the boulders, the warriors could not easily maneuver their way through the maze of large stones where the visibility was severely limited, and they were left behind.

Then the dragons spread their wings and leapt into the air. In moments, they disappeared into the cloud of swirling dust, escaping the pursuit of the Masters.

"Are you all right?" Thelvyn asked, flying close at his mate's side.

"I wasn't harmed," she insisted, trying not to pant.

Thelvyn paused, having seen the shadowy form of one of the Masters following less than a hundred yards behind them, nearly hidden in the blowing dust. He could not allow any pursuit, since he had always suspected that what one of the Masters knew was known to them all. Without warning, he lifted his head and dropped his tail, using his wings and sails to catch the wind and slow him abruptly. It was a daring move on his part, even more daring than he was aware, and the results were much more drastic than he had expected. Caught completely unprepared, the gemstone dragon crashed heavily into the middle of his back, knocking them both from the sky. With the dunes only a few yards below, they had no time to recover.

Thelvyn's luck turned at that point. The gemstone dragon crashed heavily onto the middle of his back on the long slope of a high dune, and a moment later Thelvyn fell tail first right on top of his enemy. The impact sent them both sliding on their backs down the side of the dune. Thelvyn was somewhat shaken by the fall and struggled to catch himself, while the gemstone dragon was stunned and apparently more seriously injured. Kharendaen appeared out of the clouds of dust a moment later, having circled back. She dived sharply to the attack, taking the large amber dragon by the neck before it was even aware of its danger.

"Leave him be," Thelvyn said, seeing that their enemy was already helpless. "We have to get away from here while we still have the chance."

Kharendaen seemed unwilling at first to release her victim, possessed momentarily by battle fury. All the fear and desperation of the last few days were taking a toll on her, leaving her at the mercy of her draconic instincts, and for the moment, she wanted only to lash out at her enemies. Thelvyn was startled, but he also learned something about dragons at that moment.

If even the proud, self-possessed cleric could be overcome by her instincts, was it any wonder that most dragons had a problem remembering to act civilized when they became enraged?

The moment passed swiftly. As if startled by her own fury, Kharendaen released her hold and stepped back from the body of the gemstone dragon. Then the dragons turned and scurried up the side of the dune, spreading their wings as they vaulted out over the crest. Moments later, they disappeared into the wind-driven clouds of dust and sand, taking care to make certain that they were not being followed. Thelvyn set an evasive course at first, in an effort to prevent the Masters from guessing his next destination. Of course, he could hardly leave clues about something that he had not yet decided. For the moment, he had no idea of what he should try to do next or where they should go.

The brief but furious battle had once more aggravated his back, not enough to be a serious problem, but he was in some pain. That and the need to pay attention to his course as they flew low over the dunes, nearly blind in the clouds of dust, left him unable to give much serious thought to his options for the moment. Within a few miles, they came entirely by chance upon another of the tumbled outcrops of stone that emerged like islands in the sand. He circled around quickly to find a sheltered place where they could rest while he gave some serious thought to the problem of finding another way home.

He found a place where they could climb in among a group of massive boulders and could at least have some relief from the driven sand and the worst of the dust. He was distressed to see that Kharendaen looked very tired and moved slowly and stiffly, having suffered her own injuries during their battle. Nevertheless, Thelvyn seemed to have taken the worst, discovering a yard-long tear in the sail of his right wing from his collision with the amber dragon. At least such damage would repair itself in a few days, even without magical healing.

"They knew about our gate," Kharendaen said, nestling close against his chest. "All they had to do was to wait for us to come to them."

"Fortunately they seemed to have underestimated lis once again," Thelvyn remarked. "Now we have to find another way

home."

"What choices do we have?" Kharendaen asked, turning her head to look up at him.

"We have a number of options, some better than others," he said, having already considered that question. "We could wait for a while and make another try at our own temporary gate, but I expect the Masters will guard it very closely as long as they know we are still in their world. I expect the old gate near Braastar is being watched at least as closely."

"If nothing else, we could simply fight our way through to one of their other gates," she suggested.

"That's something we could try as a last resort," he agreed. "The problem is that if we have to fight for access to a gate, they'll probably have time to close it first. We could return to their main stronghold and try to dart through that big gate before they can defend it, but I'm concerned that the Overlord will be aware of us if we come that close to his stronghold. That leaves us with the possibility of trying to open a completely new gate at a place of our own choosing."

Kharendaen laid back her ears. "Do you command the power necessary to accomplish such a thing?"

"I think I know how we could try," he said. "Remember the reason why you were told to accompany me. As his cleric, you might still provide some vague link to the Great One. If he could be made aware of our need, he might be able to reach out from his side to help us complete a worldgate."

"But I've been isolated from my clerical powers ever since we first came into this world," she protested. "How can I possibly contact the Great One?"

"In the usual manner, I would suppose. Try to commune with the Great One, reaching out to him across the void."

Kharendaen sat upright with her long tail looped tightly around her legs, closing her eyes so that she could concentrate. A moment later she was disturbed from her thoughts by a distant sound of something large moving through the fog of wind-blown dust, the slow, ponderous steps of some massive creature. She opened her eyes, and both of the dragons listened carefully for a moment.

"The metal warriors are coming," Thelvyn said softly. "The

Masters must have some idea of where to look for us."

"Do we flee now and try again later?" Kharendaen asked.

"No. We should have time for at least one try," Thelvyn decided quickly. "They won't find us quickly in this place. The Great One may have to direct the dragon sorcerers to open a gate for us. We should be as close to the place that corresponds to the source of the Radiance in our own world as we can be."

Kharendaen still looked concerned, and it took her a moment to regain the composure of a cleric. Once again she closed her eyes, and after a moment, her entire form began to glow with a soft blue light. Thelvyn waited patiently, certain that she must be having some success. Then he saw the form of a dragon slowly beginning to appear atop a large stone only a few yards from their hiding place. The image remained indistinct, pulsing into moments of clarity and then fading almost completely away. It was the image of his mother, Arbendael, not the Great One.

"The Great One hears you," she said, although her voice was very distant and blurred. "He cannot leave his own realms of influence to cross the void to this place, but I was able to come near enough that I may at least speak with you. What is your need?"

"We have to open a gateway back to our own world," Thelvyn explained. "All other gates are closed to us, and our enemies are at hand. But I doubt that I have the power to open a worldgate myself."

"I think you have that power," Arbendael told him. "What you lack is the means to find your way home across the void. Open your portal and pass within it. Just as Kharendaen has reached out to guide me to you, I will draw you back home again."

Now it was Thelvyn's turn to work his strongest magic. Standing at the opening leading into the cluster of great stones where the dragons had been hiding, he closed his eyes and opened himself to his own powers, seeking the means to open a worldgate. The spell revealed itself to him, but from the first, his greatest struggle was against himself, for he was in pain and his strength was failing. With great effort, he was able to command his full powers. Then he released the magic, tearing an opening in the continuum. But the substance of space and time resisted his efforts to force the tear to open into an actual passageway large enough for the dragons to use, and he needed great will and effort to slowly force his way in.

He succeeded just in time. Glancing to his right, he suddenly saw the dark form of one of the warriors approaching through the clouds of gray dust, slowing as it came within sight of the island of stone where the dragons were hiding. Thelvyn turned to Kharendaen and shook her back to awareness, and then they leapt one after the other into the tunnel of darkness that now stood open before them.

The dragons knew from the moment they entered the passage that something was very different about this gate, something that was not at all right. They realized they weren't moving through the passage but instead hung suspended between worlds, for there was nowhere for them to go. They could see no distant end to the tunnel, since the far end of the passage had not yet opened. In growing alarm, Thelvyn began to wonder if he had failed. He wondered what would happen if the passage collapsed, whether he and Kharendaen would be thrown back into the cold, desert world of the Overlord or if they would be forever stranded between worlds.

Then, just as he was preparing to reinforce his spell, the dragons began to feel themselves drawn forward along the length of the passage. Thelvyn could only hope that they were being drawn to their own world. Then the light opened before them at last to show them a distant, distorted view of fields of deep grass standing under a bright sun.

Thelvyn emerged from the worldgate moments later, moving quickly to one side to make room for Kharendaen. They were standing in the middle of a pasture bordered by stone walls, with more fields or small stands of woods beyond. A river flowed only a few hundred yards behind them, not the Aalban but the Areste, and the city of Braejr stood only a few miles to the southeast. A small group of farmers were rushing across the field, bearing axes and pitchforks, still too far away to see that the trespassers in their fields were gold dragons and not the Masters.

For the moment, Thelvyn had a more immediate concern. He moved well to one side of the worldgate, indicating for Kharendaen to follow him, and then quickly invoked the magic that would destroy the passage. The gate seemed almost to snap shut, drawing in upon itself in an instant until it became nothing more than a point of darkness standing in the air. A moment later that, too, vanished with a great flash of flames that leapt outward to singe the grass in a fan-shaped patch several yards long.

"We made it," Kharendaen breathed, looking very weary. She lifted her ears as she watched the approaching farmers, who had slowed to a walk now that they were certain that the visitors that had appeared in their field were in fact gold dragons. She sighed heavily. "I feel the need of a long drink and a good bath."

"Soon," Thelvyn assured her. "First I must find out what the enemy has been up to during our absence."