The dark slug towered over Max. Its slime-covered head stood eight feet off the ground at least. It was long, too, at least fifteen yards, and the slime trail behind it could have stretched a mile for all Max knew. He could see the translucent, sticky slime glistening on the ground and up the sides of the trees where the beast had pushed past.

“Is it after me?” Max said, stepping back away from the slow oncoming beast. He drew his sword.

“Not for long,” Jahrod said and lifted his axe.

“No,” Elderon said. “This beast will take all day to cut down. We can easily outrun it.”

“Yes,” Max said, stepping back. “We can easily outwalk it. And we have to find Anita. She is our priority. Let’s go.”

As Max set off on Anita’s trail, he wondered how he had moved so fast to save Jahrod.

“You channeled the dark portal,” Janet said, appearing on his shoulder. The light was failing, but she burned bright white with a dazzling light that no one else could see.

“How did I do that?”

Janet shrugged. “How did you do any of this stuff? But my guess would be that you are still bound to the dark portal in much the same way as I am. When you needed to, you were able to move very quickly. Like an offshoot of the dark portal.”

“That’s what these Dark Mages are trying to do. Sacrificing Druids to create an offshoot of the dark portal. But do they want it to move around?”

“Or maybe something else. The dark portal seems to be creating a terrible dark energy, creating dark beasts, and corrupting otherwise good people.”

“But I thought the dark portal was fixed. You said time had stopped, and the dark portal was static until we close it.”

“Yes, well, I might have been wrong about that,” Janet said. “I have observed both ends of the dark portal. Back in the lab, I have observed a light on one of the command consoles. It usually looks as if it is on permanently, but I know that in fact, it blinks on and off very rapidly, as much as a million times a second. I have now been able to see it turn on and off. I don’t think time has stopped, only slowed. And neither do I believe the portal is fixed in space. In fact, I think space is being contracted, and Earth and Eveirea are being drawn together.”

“The Earth is moving through space? Being dragged from the solar system?”

“Not moving as such,” Janet said. “But at some point, the two worlds will occupy the same space. If we don’t close the dark portal before that happens, then the two worlds will annihilate each other and close the portal. I have been counting the flashing on this console light to get an estimate of how long we have until that happens.”

“Can you do that?”

“It’s just math,” Janet said. “And not even hard math; it’s just big numbers. So I think we have about thirty-one million, five hundred and thirty-six thousand . . .”

“Thirty-one million years?” Max interrupted. “I don’t think we need to worry about that too much.”

“Not years,” Janet said. “I mean seconds.”

Max’s mouth fell open with the shock. He looked up swiftly into the darkening sky, expecting to see planet Earth falling onto his head. “We need to hurry,” Max said frantically. “How long do we have?”

“It’s about a year,” Janet said.

“Oh,” Max said. He relaxed. A year sounded like a long time. But it also seemed like a very short time. How long would it take him to walk to the dark portal? It could be anywhere on Eveirea. Maybe time was exceedingly short.

“Can you find the end of the dark portal?” Max said. “I can use the Dark Movement to get to the dark portal quickly.”

“I can see the end of the dark portal. It is in blackness with flashes of red. There are creatures there, but I can’t get a good look. All I can make out is a deep-red glow and shadows. But even if I could tell you where it is, you can only use the Dark Movement for short trips, and it seems you create a dark energy where you use it and summon forth a creature of darkness.”

“The slug,” Max said.

“Whatever you summon will be drawn to you.”

“So we have one year,” Max said.

“Unless my calculations are wrong.”

“Are you ever wrong?”

“I might have been wrong about you. I’ve seen you with your friends. You are very brave.”

“I’m too afraid to tell them that I am afraid most of the time. I don’t know anything about this place. I’d be lost if it wasn’t for Elderon, Jahrod . . .”

“And Anita,” Janet interrupted.

Max nodded. He hesitated for a moment. He could tell Janet knew he had feelings for Anita, but did she know he had feelings for her too? “I didn’t thank you yet for helping me when the dark whirlwind had me.”

Janet shook her head. “Dark whirlwind? What was that?”

“When I was surrounded by the dark whirlwind, you appeared and told me not to give up. You inspired me. Thanks.”

Janet shook her head. “I didn’t tell you that. I think it’s good advice, but I didn’t give it.”

Max was confused. Had he imagined her at his moment of peril? Could he admit to himself that she was starting to mean so much to him?

“Hold,” Elderon said. He stood with his staff on the ground.

Max stopped. He looked down to Jahrod and then back to Janet, but she had gone.

“What is it, Master Mage?” Jahrod said.

“We have been led astray. The Dark Mages have laid a false trail. And now I have lost it. I am not as skilled at tracking as Anita. I don’t think she would have fallen for this trick. But I think I know where they went.”

Max looked back the way they had come. The dark slug was back there. And the Deadtide army.

“Wait here. I will try and relocate the trail.” Elderon moved off into the dark forest.

Max sat. Jahrod offered Max a bite of something that looked rotten. Max smiled and gratefully declined and chewed a hunk of heavy bread instead.

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Jahrod crunched the rotten pile of bones and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. Then he stood up. He adjusted his clothing and his armor. Stood with his axe and addressed Max formally.

“Max Lightfoot, my friend.”

Max nodded. “Yes,” he said uncertainly.

“I owe you my life.” Jahrod said. “I have been in battle with my dwarven brothers fighting cave demons and carrion crawlers, but I have never come so close to defeat as I did today against the Death Knight. They are dangerous and powerful foes. If you had not rushed to my aid, I would be drinking dwarven ale in the bright Underlands with all the dwarven gods.”

Jahrod dropped to one knee, his axe handle on the ground and the wide double axe-head before him. He could barely see over the top of the axe. “I pledge my axe to you, to repay you the life debt I owe.”

Max stood up. “Jahrod, it’s fine. I only did what any friend would do. I know you have my back. We’re friends. Yes?”

“Friends, in truth. But you risked all to save me. I promise you loyalty, bravery, determination, and all that is in my power to provide. If you want my axe, call; if you want my counsel, I am there. When one day the debt is paid, you may release me.” He bowed his head.

“Consider the debt paid,” Max said. “You are released.”

Jahrod stood up. “The debt is not repaid,” he said angrily. “I’ll tell you when it’s repaid.” He snarled at Max, his crushing teeth grating behind his thick beard. “You don’t get to dismiss my life debt to you. You disrespect me and my people.”

“Umm, ok,” Max said. “I am grateful to you for your support.”

Jahrod growled then he stepped forward, hand held out in friendship.

Max took his hand. Jahrod pulled him forwards with a sudden jerk and hugged him close. Max almost passed out, either from the strength of the embrace or the smell. He could feel himself blacking out when Jahrod released him.

“I have found the trail,” Elderon said, reappearing. “As I suspected, they have doubled back towards the Deadtide army.”

“And there is a dark slug between us and that army too,” Max said. “Maybe we should defeat the dark beast.”

“There is a solution,” Elderon said. “We can avoid the army and catch up to the Dark Mages who have taken Anita.”

“Great. Let’s get started.” Jahrod said.

“It will also put us out of reach of the dark slug.”

“Great. Sounds perfect.” Max was eager to get on Anita’s trail. He couldn’t bear to think what would become of her if he couldn’t save her.

Elderon nodded, but Max could tell the old Mage had not such good news. “We must cross the Salt River.”

“Ok,” Max said. “It’s only a mile wide, right? There must be a ferry, or we can build a raft easily, I expect.”

“Crossing will not be an issue for you or I, young Mage,” Elderon said.

Max looked down at Jahrod. He was red around his eyes and had a snarl on his mouth. “I am a dwarf. I will not cross saltwater.”

Max looked back and forth between the pair.

“I will accompany you to the nearest ferry,” Jahrod said, “and then I will pass through the Hinge and meet you in the Kingdom of Deepwood.”

“But the Deadtide army,” Max said.

“They will have to take their chances.”

The night was growing dark, and already, Max could hardly see his hand in front of his face, but Jahrod led the way, calling out fallen trees and potholes as they went, seeing as easily as if it were broad daylight. They reached the ferry station by first light.

A low palisade surrounded the ferry station. A gate was open, and a sign over the gate declared this was Darkwater Crossing.

A small collection of huts stood within the ferry station palisade. The ferry hut itself was half on the water and half on land. A thin wisp of smoke rose up from the stone chimney and mixed with the mist that hung over the dark waters of the Salt River. Elderon walked up to the low timber door and knocked with his staff.

After a few moments and another knock from Elderon, a gruff voice called out.

“No crossings until after breakfast.”

“Then take your breakfast this instant and stand by your oars, ferryman,” Elderon replied in a voice that sounded like the rumble of thunder, soft and heavy, distant yet nearby.

The door opened in a flash, and a half-dressed young man no older than Max stepped out, a chunk of heavy bread in his hand.

“Apologies, Master Mage,” the ferryman said. “I will prepare the ferry this very instant.”

Max turned to Jahrod and extended a hand in friendship. “Safe travels, Jahrod.” Max felt a little emotional. He’d never before said goodbye to someone he didn’t want to say it to.

“We will meet again,” Jahrod said. “I owe you a debt, and a dwarf will not let a debt go unpaid. The Underlands will hate me for eternity. My children will bear the mark of indignity and their grandchildren too, on and on through the ages of the world, shame and pain on my future.”

Max felt a bit of pressure. It was not easy being owed such a debt.

The ferryman returned and announced the ferry was ready.

“This is goodbye,” Jahrod said.

Elderon rested his staff in the crook of his arm and began an ornate series of gestures and intoned a spell. Max felt sure he was laying a Protection spell on the dwarf. Jahrod was smiling at Max when his eyes rolled back in his head. His head tipped back and then he fell backwards. Although he only had a short ways to fall, he hit the ground hard and started to snore softly.

“Help me bring the dwarf aboard,” Elderon said to the ferryman.

Max looked aghast. “But . . .” Max began.

“Dwarfs and their fear of water.” Elderon grabbed Jahrod by the ankles. “They are a superstitious lot. We’ll be across in a short while. He’ll be none the worse for it.”

“But . . .” Max said.

A crashing sound in the trees far off drew Max’s attention.

“Is that . . . ?” Max started.

“The dark slug? Most likely.”

Max didn’t want to betray Jahrod’s wish to not cross saltwater, but he couldn’t leave him for the dark slug. He helped Elderon and the ferryman load Jahrod into the ferry.

Right away, Max could tell that the Salt River was not a river at all. There was no current. Max stared at the still water.

“Not from around here, are you, young Master Mage?” the ferryman asked.

If only the ferryman knew just how far from here Max truly was from. Max shook his head.

“The tides are slack here at this end of the Salt River,” The ferryman explained. “By the time you reach Castle Deadtide, there is hardly any tidal movement at all. My father started ferrying at the Western Sea end of the Salt River, from the banks of far west Breamor across to Ragewind. He told me how baby krakens would enter the Salt River and harass the ferries, but we’re quite safe here. Only a few razor fins to worry about.”

As if on command, a dark fin broke the water, a long dorsal fin that looked like a carving knife.

“How long until we are across?” Max said.

The far bank emerged from the mist. The ferry knocked up against the landing jetty and soon they were back on dry land.

“Stand back, Max,” Elderon said. He waved his hands over the dwarf and dispelled the sleep spell.

Jahrod woke up. He looked around in a confused state and then confusion left him. He glowered at Elderon and then fixed Max with a nasty stare that made him more afraid than he had been of any dark slug or Death Knight.

“I did not plan this, Jahrod,” Max said, holding is hands up.

“I did,” Elderon said. “We could not leave you in the path of that army. You are brave, but you would not have survived another day.”

“You might not survive another day,” Jahrod roared and raised his axe.

The ferryman cast off from his jetty and paddled away as fast as he could.

“Friends, friends,” Max said, stepping between the two and instantly wondering if that was a wise move. To stand between a powerful Mage and an angry dwarf, his Wisdom really was low. “We must not fight,” Max urged. “Anita needs us.”

Jahrod glowered at Max.

Max sighed. He felt awful that Elderon had betrayed Jahrod. His beliefs might sound foolish to some, but Max had to respect them. He bowed his head and held up his hands.

“Jahrod, I am sorry to have betrayed you. Consider your debt to me repaid. You are safe from the army. If you want to travel home to the Kingdom of Eastwind, then go with my eternal friendship.”

Jahrod took slow, deliberate steps towards Max. “I told you I would say when the debt is repaid, but fool me again, and I will have your head.”

Max winced and swallowed. Jahrod was sweating with anger, and it added a new dimension to his unusual and pungent aroma.

“Then I will be honored if you would help me find Anita.”

Jahrod growled.

“Very well,” Elderon said brightly. “We go.”

Max tried to talk to Jahrod throughout the day as they followed Elderon to intercept the Dark Mages. But Jahrod was in no mood for Max. They made camp in the night, and Max fell asleep with Jahrod staring at him and grumbling darkly to himself.

Max drifted into a dream where he saw Janet drifting in darkness. He floated to her.

“That dwarf will kill you,” Janet said.

“Am I dreaming?” Max said.

“Maybe try and kiss me.”

Max looked at those sparkling lips, her wild red hair floating around her. She came close to Max.

“I’ve never had friends,” Janet said. “Boyfriends,” she confirmed. She came closer. She held her hands to Max’s face.

Max woke with a start. A pair of hands holding his face. Was this Jahrod attempting to murder him in his sleep? But the aroma of his assailant was alluring. The hand over his mouth soft but firm. The stench then came as a cloth was pressed to his nose and mouth. No sooner had he realized what was happening than he was drifting off again into a drug-induced coma. Before all sense left him, he felt himself lifted and carried away into the dark.