Free The Well of Eternity by Richard A. Knaak Page B

Are you…are you injured in any way?”
    Flexing his arms and legs, Rhonin grimaced. “Everything hurts…but…but nothing seems broken.”
    After a similar test, the dragon mage came to the same conclusion concerning himself. That they had arrived so intact astonished him…but then he recalled the magic of Nozdormu at work in the anomaly. Perhaps the Aspect of Time had noted them after all and done what he could to save the two.
    But if that was the case…
    Rhonin rolled onto his back. “Where are we?”
    “I cannot say. I feel I should know it, but—” Krasus stopped as vertigo suddenly seized hold of him. He fell back onto the ground, closing his eyes until the feeling passed.
    “Krasus? What happened?”
    “Nothing truly…I believe. I am still not recovered from what happened. My weakness will go away.” Yet, he noted that Rhonin already appeared much better, even sitting up and trying to stretch. Why would a frail human better survive the anomaly’s turmoil than he?
    With grim determination, Krasus also sat up. The vertigo sought to overwhelm him again, but the dragon mage fought it down. Trying to take his mind from his troubles, he looked around once more. Yes, he certainly sensed a familiarity about his surroundings. At some point, he had visited this region, but when?
    When?
    The simple question filled him with a sudden dread. When…
    Nozdormu trapped in eternity…all time open to the anomaly…
    The thick woods and the growing shadows created by the vanishing sun made it virtually impossible to see enough to identify the land. He would have to take to the air. Surely a short flight would be safe. The area seemed bereft of any settlement.
    “Rhonin, remain here. I will scout from above, then return shortly.”
    “Is that wise?”
    “I think it absolutely necessary.” Without a further word, Krasus stretched out his arms and began transforming.
    Or rather, he tried to transform. Instead, the dragon mage doubled over in agony and overwhelming weakness. His entire body felt turned inside out and he lost all sense of balance.
    Strong arms caught him just as he fell. Rhonin carefully dragged him to a soft spot, then helped his companion down.
    “Are you all right? You looked as if—”
    Krasus cut him off. “Rhonin…I could not change. I could not change…”
    The young wizard frowned, not comprehending. “You’re still weak, Master Krasus. The trip through that thing—”
    “Yet, you are standing. Take no offense from me, human, but what we passed through should have left you in a far worse state than mine.”
    The other nodded, understanding. “I just figured that you spent yourself trying to keep me alive.”
    “I am afraid to tell you that once we entered it, I could do no more for you than I could for myself. In fact, if not for Nozdormu—”
    “Nozdormu?” Rhonin’s eyes widened. “What’s he got to do with our survival?”
    “You did not see him?”
    “No.”
    Exhaling, the dragon mage described what he had seen. As he did, Rhonin’s expression grew increasingly grim.
    “Impossible…” the human finally breathed.
    “Terrifying,” Krasus corrected him. “And now I must tell you also that, even if Nozdormu did save us from the raw forces of the anomaly, I fear he did not send us back to where we came from…or even when.”
    “You think…you think we’re in a different time?”
    “Yes…but as to what period…I cannot say. I also cannot say how we will be able to get back to our own era.”
    Slumping back, Rhonin gazed into empty space. “Vereesa…”
    “Have courage! I said I cannot say how we will be able to get back, but that does not mean that we will not try! Still, our first action must be to find sustenance and shelter…and some knowledge of the land. If we can place ourselves, we might be able to calculate where best to find the assistance we need. Now, help me up.”
    With the human’s aid, Krasus stood. After a few tentative steps, he decreed himself