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

When Graber returned with the vegetables, they cut them up and added them to the now-simmering pot.


“What is this stone soup stuff?” Graber’s perplexity came through clearly in his tone.


“Have you not heard the tale? My mam told it to me when I was barely walking. There’s nothing like a good stone soup. Of course, the more extras you add, the better it is.”


Graber frowned, still not really getting the picture. He was dense sometimes, as if the wood had grown into his skull. Hanson shook his head, fondness for his friend overcoming his mild disgust at the other man’s literal mind. “Never mind. Just trust me. It works.”


Next, Hanson checked the springhouse and found a bit of meat. He wasn’t sure what creature it might be from. Still it smelled clean and unspoiled, so he took it back to hack up and throw into the pot as well. After the mixture had boiled for a time, he hefted the kettle off the stove


Chapter 10