I could see Korvan climbing to his feet as I rode up. He looked weak
and unsteady.
"I've come for your head, old man!" I shouted as I rode down upon him.
"Another day, Simon of Amber." He began walking off and waving his
hands in a bizarre pattern in from of him.
He called me Simon just like the
creature from the moons
did, but what is Amber?
"I think not. You've run out of days."
As he walked and wove his spell I found that I could not catch up with
him despite my speed advantage. I could have turned back. Would it
have been the safest thing to do. Either way I faced the unknown. If
I followed him he could lead me anywhere and if I let him go he could
return at any time. I contemplated while riding. It was not a simple
choice, but I felt I would learn nothing if I did not hunt him and
press my advantage.
We rode through a forest which began to exhibit unusual details. I
saw plants I had never seen before. The sky, which had originally
been stormy turned an odd shade of purple as the color shifted slowly
more red. In the distance a mysterious mechanical tower rose and
fell. We passed creatures the likes of which I'd never seen - short
headless men, purple skinned floating women, an animal part deer part
lion - all of it quite unnatural. Even my horse changed subtly as I
rode.
When Korvan reached a cliff he stopped. The sky was totally foreign.
It was as if a huge dome covered us and half of the dome was painted
red while the other was painted blue. On the blue portion I could see
what looked like a moon, but I suspected it was our planet. Somehow
Korvan had transported us to Tethys.
The red part of the sky must be
the part visible from our planet. Korvan turn to me with a look of
surprise.
Suddenly I was struck by another one of his waves of force. This one
much stronger and focused. It took me across the side of the head,
knocking me from my horse. My ear rang and my head swam, but I had
enough balance to land in a crouch and sling
Caliburn sidearm at
Korvan's head. I was thankful of the lightness of the weapon. Alas,
it was an elegant but wasted effort. Korvan stopped the blade
harmlessly with his mysterious force. I dove into cover and thrust my
hand into my vest pouch to grasp the coins for...
For what? I could think of no spell appropriate for this occasion.
My magics are not well suited for single combat. Even invisibility
seemed pointless. Korvan had sensed me before and his power seemed
much stronger here on the moon. Before I could come up with anything
effective I felt a squeezing around my neck. Korvan used his power to
lift and choke me. I felt profoundly helpless. Korvan laughed
maniacally, finding it very amusing. I saw stars. Perhaps the
Force
coin alone. I grasp it, but could not concentrate long enough to bind
any sort of spell.
As I blacked out I faintly heard a fading scream.