“How did you do that?” Leeron just about stuttered. In fact, Caracus was speechless! “Oh that was nothing” insisted Nargeg. “If that was my best, I’d be a shame to the world of magic!”

Then a smile appeared on the wizards fresh, looking face. It turned into a full blown laugh. This was because of Caracus and Leeron’s facial expressions. (I realise this may be hard for you to imagine as I haven’t described Caracus to you, Nargeg I will get to later!)
Caracus had, piercing blue eyes sat in a pleasant face, thatched with jet black hair, and with many freckles on his forehead (at least I think they were freckles as he loved adventuring in the muddy country! That was when he was in his child days, for at the age of 13 his house was attacked by workers of Ganath, the evil goblin lord that owned Zonu. Caracus and his family were taken for slavery.)Getting back to the story, his frame was lean and youthful mirroring his age of 22 years. Caracus wore a brown waistcoat, made of fine old linen and trousers that matched. He carried with him a treasured keepsake, a hand carved dagger, difficult to describe, from his father Carlai a fatal weapon.

On with the story, they walked mostly in friendly silence, only for Nargeg’s slight chuckling. No animal or person disturbed them, but that was broken within a few minutes when they heard a noise on the hilly side of the forest.

A figure came rolling down, banging of trees and constantly shouting “Ow” and “Blast” and lots of other expletives. It landed in front of Leeron, Caracus, and Nargeg and made Pablo jump!

There lay a dwarf, with a ginger beard and brown eyes. He wore a lovely traditional dwarf coat, and normal brown boots. He got up and dusted himself down.

“Well, what a surprise Juimar!” Nargeg spoke with some deal of sarcasm. “You were supposed to meet me at the house not in Ranzed forest!”.

“Sorry Nargeg” apologised Juimar meekly, “I was chasing an acorn when I slipped and……. Ooh!” he muttered as he picked up an acorn from the ground , “found it!”

Everyone including Juimar burst into laughter. They proceeded through the forest; nothing went near them, for a starling had witnessed the power of Nargeg earlier and spread the news, no one dared to challenge the great wizard.

They arrived home, had a snack of buns and milk and went to bed. Caracus and Juimar slept in the spare bedroom (not the room of white). Before they took to their bedrooms, Caracus asked Juimar a question. “Do female dwarves have beards?”
“Yes, but only half as long as men” Juimar replied sleepily.

It wasn’t long before Juimar was loudly snoring. As Caracus turned to the wall, he saw a painting of Nargeg. He looked the same apart from his beard, which in the picture was brown. On the bottom, written in ink, was .Isan Bosaki. That had been his name until his transformation as a wizard, when the wizard council named him Nargeg. It wasn’t long before Caracus joined Juimar in sleep.

Caracus awoke to a strange noise the next morning. It was like a scraping noise. He opened his eyes to see Juimar munching on toast and sharpening his axe and his knife. He looked over to Caracus and gave him a cup of tea; Caracus swallowed it speedily to quench his thirst. Then Juimar spoke.

“Nargeg would like to see you in the back garden” he ordered. Caracus dressed quickly and walked hurriedly to the back door.

The garden was full of life. Tall, thick trees lay on the stream side of the garden; some trees were one hundred feet high. Caracus caught sight of a squirrel climbing a tree, when he saw Nargeg out of the corner of his left eye.

“I’m sure you’ll remember this” he spoke with great authority. He showed Caracus a beautiful new, golden crossbow. Nargeg took an arrow and shot it in the centre of the bull’s eye.
“Try and beat that!” Nargeg challenged. Caracus hadn’t touched a crossbow in nine years but he still had the touch. He shot his arrow with such accuracy it split Nargegs arrow in two.

“Well done my boy!” congratulated Nargeg. “That crossbow is now yours”. He then gave Caracus a quiver full of silver arrows. “The best there is “Nargeg continued “use them well, my boy”.

Some time later Nargeg looked for Caracus again. He questioned Caracus: “Remember the branch that has the buds and leaves that Pablo loves?” “Yes” Caracus replied. “Could you get me some of them?” “Of course” Caracus responded “Call it a thank you present for the crossbow.” “Ahh” urged Nargeg “You deserved the crossbow. Now off you go and I’ll give you a meal when you return”.

Caracus whistled a tune as he journeyed along and soon he came to the branch. He picked the requested items and placed them in a basket given to him by Nargeg. On his return he saw a fox. By the size of it he could tell it was a female.

He took some leaves and buds out of the basket and put them in his palm. The fox ate from his palm, and looked happily up at him.

“I shall take you home” Caracas promised “and I will name you Rarlet, which is the ancient dwarf for’ beautiful cloud’

Rarlet seemed to understand his words, because she began to walk beside him. When Caracus arrived back at the house, he told everyone about her.

“Well done”. Nargeg praised, “You’ve finally found a friend!” Everyone laughed (they were all at the table) but Caracus didn’t mind, for he knew it was a joke. Nargeg made a small dish of meat for Rarlet and then they all ate dinner except for Pablo, of course who was in the stable, munching on his feast of buds and leaves.

Juimar finished first (but what do you expect he’s a dwarf) and soon they all finished. Then Nargeg began with some news, clearing his throat he spoke:

“The reason I brought you all together is that we are going to see the Queen we have been summoned to complete a task, of which I do not yet know. . She lives some nine thousand miles away from here.

The room was in silence. “You’d better pack, for we leave tomorrow” said Nargeg after a while.

They all began to pack. What did they need to bring? What task did they have to complete? So many questions busied around in their heads but nobody spoke of them. “Good job we brought our weapons” whispered Leeron. Soon when they had all packed their belongings they retired to their beds and tried to sleep, already beginning the long journey ahead, in their restless dreams.