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

He heard Graber draw a long, slow breath and could almost hear him thinking. Finally, he spoke.


“Noooo, it doesn’t feel like that to me. It might be a real battle, but between us, I think we can best him. We’re two to his one and he’s sure been different since that one night. I guess we have, too.”


“Well, unless things are back to the old way in the morning, I’d say we challenge him right off. I’m going to say the year and a day is over and we need to go home. After that, we’ll just have to see what happens.”


Although they were not really tired, with tomorrow likely to be the critical day, it made sense to rest. A good night’s sleep would ensure they were both ready for the contest when it came.7


Chapter 16