"Grithstane seemed to grow taller in the open air, and now made it his habit to walk briskly ahead, stretching his legs with long strides, while Daerufin followed behind. Their nights were spent around a glowing fire, at which the wizard had a hand in making. Grithstane would sit before the fire upon a moss-covered log while enchanting Daerufin with his skillfully wrought stories, with his thorny staff lying on the ground at his feet. He smoked a pipe that looked like a bent, gnarled tree root, and he blew many smoke rings into the cool night air."

Copyright 2000 by Kenneth E. Harding