Keith Baker - The Gates of Night

Lei settled on the floor of the cavern and folded her wings. The moment her talons touched the floor, the sparks along the walls burst into full flames. The central fire changed color, becoming intense silver-white, and a powerful odor of fresh rain filled the room. The flames formed the head of a massive dragon, a mighty wyrm with horns curving back on each side of its head, and long, frilled ears. A ridge beneath its chin gave the impression of a beard.

“Who comes among us?” it said, and the chamber shook with the sound. “You are no child of Siberys!”

“No,” Daine called, sliding down from Lei’s back. “We come in search of knowledge.”

The burning silver dragon looked down, seeming to notice Daine for the first time. “Let the pretender abandon her false form, and then we may consider your request.”

With some regret, Lei raised the pattern in her mind and dissolved the enchantment. Her muscles burned as she shrank to her original form, her scales becoming cloth and armor once more. A moment later she was on her hands and knees on the floor. Physically, she was healthy enough, but she felt a terrible void within. Summoning the energy had taken more from her than she had anticipated.

The central fire became an intense sapphire blue, and the shape twisted and changed. The new dragon had deep, sunken eyes, and a single horn in the center of its snout.

“Intriguing,” it boomed, gazing down at them. “A traveler, and a most unusual one at that. What is it you seek, that you would dare disturb our rest?”

A month ago, Daine would have turned to Lei. A year ago, Jode would have been the voice of the group. Now, Lei saw the strength in Daine that had long been in hiding. It was Captain Daine who strode forward and gazed up into the fire. “The Dreaming Dark is gathering its might in the heart of Dal Quor. The balance of the planes is shifting. We were sent to this place by one who believed that you could guide us in the battle that lies ahead.”

“And to what end do you fight?”

“To protect our land-the world of your birth-from the forces of nightmare.”

The flame shimmered through a spectrum of color, the shape wavering like true fire, before settling once more into the great blue dragon. “You are bold, traveler. And you speak the truth. An army of nightmares gathers in the very heart of Dal Quor, and with every passing moment, the planes move closer to the vital alignment. Yet all hinges on one piece: the crystal moon, which lies under guard in the Tower of a Thousand Teeth.”

“What must we do?” Daine said.

“You must find a path to the tower that will not take you through the host of horrors assembled on the plains. And you must find the key to shatter the crystal moon, to restore the imbalance of old. Both lie in a place of pain, a memory forgotten, a battle you have fought a hundred times. It is a dangerous road, but the only one that leads where you must go.”

Daine considered this, and then he nodded. “Very well. I thank you for your wisdom, great eidolon.”

“Our business is not yet done,” the burning dragon said. Its voice shifted, and with it, color and form. Dragons of copper and bronze, fierce red and baleful green. Lei caught a glimpse of a vast dragon skull formed from fire as white as bone, just before the flame shifted to black deep as any shadow. “The way has been prepared. Take our gift, and walk the world once more.”

The shimmering dragon’s jaws opened wide, and it breathed . A prismatic column of flame engulfed Daine, and his scream echoed across the chamber.

Pierce charged across the cavern, intending to slam into Daine and push him out of the flames. For all his speed, Pierce wasn’t fast enough. The brilliant fire faded, and as it did, so did the chamber around him. Crystal walls dissolved like sand blowing in wind, and by the time Pierce reached Daine’s fallen form, they were back in the desert, and the Ring of Siberys was nowhere to be seen.

Lei and Jode knelt over Daine, Jode pressing forward to bring his healing touch to bear. He reached for Daine, then paused in confusion.

Daine was unhurt. Despite the scream and the fury of the flames, there were no burns or any other signs of injury. Shira swiftly confirmed the evidence of their eyes, and almost on cue, Daine stirred, pushing himself up with one arm.

“Thanks for the gift,” he groaned. He shook his head, blinking several times. “Next time, just give me the advice.”

“Daine!” Lei dropped to the ground and wrapped her arms around him. “Are you hurt?”

“Don’t think so,” he said, his voice stronger with every word. “The pain … agonizing, but now …” He slowly stood up, surprise entering his voice. “I feel … good. Better than before.”

There has been an infusion of spiritual energy , Shira informed Pierce. At this time, I am unable to determine the precise nature of this phenomenon or what effects it will have .

Jode reached up and took Daine’s hand. “Yes,” he said. “You are stronger than before. It seems the dragons gave you a gift, after all.”

Daine looked down at Jode. “You said we had power. What sort of power? If we’re going to war, I need to know what resources are available.”

“I don’t know exactly,” Jode said. “Our strength comes from our unity, and I’ve been here on my own. But if we’re together, close to one another, you should be able to overcome the limitations of the physical world. In Dal Quor, anyone can do this to a limited degree. This is a world defined by imagination. But we have the strength of two.” He looked at Daine with an appraising gaze. “And now, perhaps more. The most important thing is to believe. You’re as fast and strong as you can imagine. I’m afraid you’ll find it’s difficult to shed your belief in your own limitations. Just try. You’ll be surprised by what you can do.”

“What about this?” Daine drew his dagger, a weapon of plain steel. “Why does Pierce have that golden flail, while I have this old thing?”

“We arrived in a dream plucked from your memories. You have the armor and weapons you had at that time.”

It was true. Daine was wearing a shirt of plain steel chainmail and a gray cloak pinned with a brooch bearing House Deneith’s chimera seal.

“Concentrate,” Jode said. “Remember the moment at which you left Eberron, what you wore, what you carried.”

Daine closed his eyes, and his armor changed. Within moments he was wearing the gifts he had received from the faerie queen, and the dagger in his hand was Cannith adamantine. He opened his eyes and shook his head in amazement. “How far can we take this?” He closed his eyes again, but this time there was no change that Pierce could see.

“It’s easy to reclaim your memories,” Jode said. “It may be possible to create something new, but I haven’t been able to manage it yet, and I’ve been here longer than you.”

Daine opened his eyes. “This will have to do, then.” He looked at the desert around them. “I see we’re back where we started. Where do we go from here?”

“The dragon told us of a path,” Pierce said. “A place of pain, a memory forgotten, a battle you have fought a hundred times.”

“What battle have we fought a hundred times?” Lei said. “We spent that one summer fighting Valenar, but not in one place.”

“Not you,” Daine said, a smile spreading across his face. “The dragon was speaking to me. And there is one battle that I have fought a hundred times and more, and a memory we have all forgotten. Jode, can you help me find a path?”

“Certainly,” Jode said, holding out his hand. “Where are we going?”