Following his hand, they saw what appeared to be a tiny ribbon stretching away from them, some vast distance off in the heavens. “That is where we must go, and quickly. Hurry, mount Ryath and she will take us. Hurry, hurry.” They mounted upon the dragon’s back, and while she was weakened by the meagre food, she was equal to the task. She took to the skies and they were suddenly speeding through the grey of rift-space. Then they again entered normal space and hung over the narrow strip of matter.
Macros ordered the dragon to hover and Tomas to lower them to the pathway. They stood upon a yellow-white roadway, marked by shimmering silver rectangles every fifty feet or so. Pug looked at the twenty-foot-wide strip and said, “Macros, we may stand here, but there’s the problem of Ryath.”
The sorcerer looked up and spoke rapidly. “Ryath, there is little time. The Hidden Lore. You may either reveal it and trust Pug and Tomas, or perish to hide your race’s secret. I argue for trust. You must decide, but quickly.”
The dragon’s great ruby eyes narrowed as she regarded the sorcerer while she hovered. “Was, then, my father so giving to thee, that the forbidden knowledge was shared with a human?”
“I know all, for I was one he counted friend.”
The dragon’s eyes focused on Tomas and Pug. “From thee and thy companion, Valheru, an oath: never to reveal that which you are about to witness.”
Tomas said, “On my life.”
Pug nodded. “I swear.”
A golden shimmering encompassed the dragon, faint at first, but growing more pronounced. Soon it was painful to look at. The light grew more intense, until it obscured all details of Ryath’s form. Then the outlines began to move, to melt and flow, and contract down as she descended to the roadway. Rapidly the outlines grew smaller and smaller, until they were man-sized. The glow faded. Where the dragon had been there was a stunning woman with red-gold hair and blue eyes. Her figure was perfection as she stood before them unclothed.
Pug said, “A shapeshifter!”
Ryath came toward them, and her voice was musical. “It is not known to men, that we may come and go in their society at will. And only the greater dragons have the art. That is why thy people count our kind diminished, for we know it is better to look like this when confronting men.”
Tomas said, “While I can appreciate such beauty, she’ll cause quite a stir when we return home unless we find her some clothing.”
Ryath raised a lovely white arm and suddenly was attired in a yellow and gold travelling gown. “I may accoutre myself as I wish, Valheru. My arts are far mightier than thou suspectest.”
“This is true,” agreed Macros. “When I lived with Rhuagh he taught me magics unknown to any other mortal race. Never underestimate the scope of Ryath’s skills. She has more than fang, flame, and talon to meet opposition.”
Pug regarded the lovely woman and found it difficult to believe that moments before she had bulked larger than the rooftops of buildings. He looked hard at Macros. “Gathis once said you were always complaining about so much to learn and so little time to learn it. I think I’m beginning to understand.”
Macros smiled. “Then you are truly beginning your education, Pug.” Macros glanced about them, an almost triumphant expression upon his face, a fiery spark in his eyes.
Pug said, “What is it?”
“We were trapped, and we had no hope of victory. We still face the possibility of failure, Pug, but now at least we may take a hand - and we have a small chance of victory. Come, we have a long journey ahead.”
The sorcerer led them down the pathway, passing the shimmering rectangles. Between the rectangles were the rapidly receding stars of the new creation. Slowly the grey of rift-space was creeping about them. “Macros,” said Pug, “what is this place?”
“The strangest place of all, even compared to the City Forever. It is called the Universe Hall, the Star Walk, the Gateway Path, or, most often, the Hall of Worlds. To the majority who pass through it, it is simply the Hall. We have plenty of time to discuss many things as we walk. We shall return to Midkemia. But there are a few things I need to tell you first.”
“Such as?” asked Tomas.
“Such as the true nature of the Enemy,” said Pug.
“Yes, there is that,” agreed Macros. “I’ve spared you some things until the last, for if we couldn’t get free of that trap, why burden you? But now we must ready ourselves for the final confrontation, so you must have the rest of the truth.”
Both sorcerers looked at Tomas, who said, “I don’t understand your meaning.”
“Much of your past life is still hidden from you, Tomas. It is time for those veils to be lifted.”
He halted their walking and reached out his hand, speaking a strange word as he covered Tomas’s eyes. Tomas stiffened as he felt memories returning.