Between the Worlds

Jess swam through waters so dark he couldn't see anything except for the light overhead. Just as he felt his lungs would burst, he opened his eyes and gulped in air.

"Welcome back."

The familiar voice came from his right. He craned his neck.

"I'm not that easy to kill, Jess."

"Blonders!" Jess sat up. "I thought""I got rescued."

"Did Chezim get rescued?" Jess asked even though he had no hope in his heart.

"No. I'm afraid it was a tragic accident."

"Accident? We were attacked."

"Keep it down. He feels bad enough as it is."

"What are you talking about? Who is he?" As Jess asked the question, he heard the fluttering of great wings, and terrible sadness flowed into his mind. "I don't understand any of this. All I know is … What happened to Oglethaine and Dainler?"

"Soldiers sent from Huskus captured them. By now they're in or near Effeldwart."

"I fell asleep." Jess looked away in shame.

"You're lucky you did because if you'd made a sound, you would have been captured or killed by now also. Huskus wants you now that he realizes how powerful you are."

"I'm not powerful."

"On the contrary, Jess the journeyer." The voice rumbled in his mind like the roar of huge oceans. Slowly, a huge dark shadow filled the cave. Before Jess stood a dragon - scales and all-with wings so huge he could not fully extend them in the cave.