When life-long friends Hanson and Graber learn there may be a great wizard on the far side of the woods behind their village, they decide to seek him out. The source of the information may be suspect, but the lure proves too strong. In hopes of learning magic to rise above their current status as Hanson the Pigs and Graber the Firewood, they set out on this quest.<br><br>When they meet wizard Holzy, they’re both intrigued and intimidated. He makes them labor and suffer, but eventually begins to teach them the practice he calls “the feat of the wand,” which turns out to impart much energy and knowledge as well as unsuspected pleasures to both men.<br><br>A submerged attraction between them comes to the fore as Holzy awakens urges and desires they hardly even dreamed existed. But he keeps them entranced and bound to him. When Holzy makes a mistake, can Hanson and Graber apply their new powers to gain freedom from his spell and be acknowledged as his equals? Will they go home in triumph or be consigned to the salt mines?

Hansen and Graber

They looked at each other, then each pulled a grape off and tasted it, hesitating a moment before they bit into the fruit. The grapes were delicious, apparently real. Too late, Hanson recalled an old fable about the folly of eating Faire or Elven food, and how you’d be trapped for eons if you did.


“Well, don’t just stand there gaping like fools. Come in. Come in.”


Almost before he willed his feet to move, Hanson found himself striding through the gateway, Graber on his heels. He heard a snick behind him and glanced back to see an elaborate wrought iron gate swing shut. A premonition told him that should he turn and seek to go back out, he’d find it impossible. Dread sent a spear of ice down his back. We’ve found a wizard, all right. Now what the fuck are we to do?


Chapter 4