to his table, blocking out the view, and replied, "And I wish to talk to you too, John Gideon."
"Who are you, buddy?" asked Gideon. "And why the hell are you interfering with my life?"
The man met his stare, seemingly unperturbed by Gideon's posturing. He replied in a rich, deep, commanding voice, "I am Ragan the Red, an archmaster of the Red Lodge. I come and go as I wish, and I have come for you, John Gideon. I am not interfering with your life, but there are others, those unknown to you, who would see you dead at any cost. You are in great danger, my friend, and whether you believe in this world or not, I am one of the few who can help you."
"I really don't think I need your help. Thank you." Gideon chuckled. "I spent three years in the military, and I'm a black belt in martial arts and Jeet Kune Do. I'm used to being attacked by people I don't know."
The big man didn't seem impressed. He sniffed disdainfully and said, "You have some fighting skills. Good. You will need them. However, do you have protections from magic? You will need that to stay the hand of the Dark One's minions."
"If they are alive, I can deal with them," said Gideon nonchalantly. "Nice try, Ragan the Red, but I don't need magic because there is no such thing. It's all just hokey sleight of hand and mass hypnosis. No. Thank you, but no. This is all some crazy, mixed-up coma nightmare I'm going to wake up from soon, and you will all be nothing but fading memories."
"Enough!" shouted Ragan in a voice powerful enough to rattle windowpanes and unsettle dust. For an instant, Gideon thought the man was growing in size with his anger. There was a flash of lightning and rumble of thunder from outside, and a gust of wind blew the door open. The patrons in the common room were still, and all talking ceased for a moment as if they were waiting to see what would happen next. "Enough of this prattle! I have been through too much on your behalf to listen to this nonsense."
Then the wizard gazed skyward as if asking for help from above. After a moment, he returned his gaze to Gideon and began to speak again. This time, his voice was soft and smooth and mellow. Gideon thought at that moment he sounded a bit like the singer Barry White.
"Listen, boy, and heed my words well," continued the giant. "I will attempt to answer all of your questions. Several months ago, I was given the task of retrieving a certain person from the world we call Kara, and you call Earth. I had been ordered by the Lords of Errada themselves to bring him here and look after him upon arrival. No questions asked. That certain person was you. Again, do not ask me why, for I do not yet know."
Gideon remained in a curious, quiet pose as he listened.
"For weeks, I tracked and trailed your life force through the astral plane until I could find a suitable place and time to affect the transport," continued Ragan. "Then, five days ago, you were on your way home through a particularly deserted stretch of road. It appeared so deserted, in fact, that I could create the time/space corridor without detection. Anyway, unbeknownst to me, I was tracked by one of the Ancient Ones, a great Lord of Chaos and Entropy named Sorgoth. Just as I was about to create the portal and guide you through, the ancient one hit me with such a powerful Essence bolt that I was cast out of Kara and back to Illúmaril like a rock from a slingshot."
As the wizard spoke, Gideon noticed, much to his displeasure, that Ragan's eyes began to glow faintly, like a dying ember or the eyes of a wolf caught in a light, and he seemed to grow even taller.
He shuddered.
The man—if indeed he could be called a man—did not seem entirely human.
"And those dog creatures? The gor…gor…?" asked Gideon.
"The gorghuan," finished Ragan. "The dogs of war or hounds of the abyss. They have many names. They were servants of the Dark One, sent to track and kill you."
Gideon shivered as he remembered the terrifying creatures.
"When you came through the gateway," continued Ragan, "there was an accident, and your car was destroyed. I found you on the banks of the Ainúrion River and brought you here to the good people of the town of Briarwood, who tended to you until I returned, as I have many tasks to complete. Upon seeing your wounds, I summoned one of the best and most discreet healers I know, Pyne Calandon of Noordlindian, and told him to look after you and answer your questions as best he could. Then, I departed for the city of Calenfalas, where Javril, the head of my lodge, was to be found. I felt that if I were to learn more of your situation, he would be the one to tell me."
"Well, what did this Javril have to say?" asked Gideon.
"Javril could not answer several of my questions. It seems the decisions and orders came from the Inner Circle of the White Council. That means only a chosen few know why you were brought here. I was instructed that Lord Nimmeral, who is the head of my order, the Tauri and grand master of the White Lodge, or Lord Talmor Arangûl, the corthrondal of Andrim, would share with you the details of your situation. I have not been able to speak to either of them recently, but rest assured that you shall in time."
"You mentioned that we were in danger, Ragan," said Gideon, his mind in a whirl of apprehension. "What did you mean?"
"Well, as I've said," grunted Ragan with a tone of hopelessness, "I fear that I've been followed, as the gorghuans' attack and Sorgoth's interference have proven, even with all my precautions—thought shields, mystical barriers, and other attempts to hide my trail. No doubt, agents of Dormas the Dark One spotted me when I left the Calenfalas region. I can feel their dark presence even now. These lands are none too safe. It is possible that scouts have been sent to investigate my business in these lands. We must leave tonight so as not to endanger the lives of these good people for harboring an old archmage and his traveling companion."
"Leave?" asked Gideon. "Why? Where are we going?"
"Eventually to the ancient Pool of Tetherin," replied Ragan somberly. "Bathing in the pool will adapt you to our gravity and likely benefit you in other ways. We will stop in Mindon, one of our major cities, for I will need to get some other necessities for you."
"Why are you doing this, Ragan?" asked Gideon.
"Because it is my responsibility as a Tauri to look out for wanderers such as you and teach them" was the wizard's reply.
Gideon looked at Ragan curiously for a moment and then decided not to pursue the issue.
Several hours later, they were ready to leave the town of Briarwood. Ragan had saddled two strange beasts and was preparing their satchels with equipment for travel. Gideon stepped outside and studied these new animals.
They were birdlike animals and reminded him of large, transmogrified ostriches, but upon further observation, he thought them more similar to the diatryma of prehistoric Earth.
"The elaxes are normally wild," explained Ragan, noticing Gideon's curiosity. "However, they were domesticated for riding purposes long ago. If you hold these guide straps attached to the head harness, you can give them directions. We also have horses on this world, but because of the rocky terrain we will encounter three days hence, I decided you should learn to travel by elax."
"You expect me to ride one of these things?" asked Gideon in fearful anticipation. He did not ride well, and the elax looked difficult to handle.
"Yes, I expect you to ride it," replied the wizard somewhat sarcastically. "Unless, of course, you don't mind being toted on the back of my
