'Karyn' hurried along beside me, swept up in the wizard's enthusiasm. Seeing his bewildered expression, I said "don't worry we're all as at a loss as you Karyn."
"Who?" he replied in a hushed tone "Jen you know I'm called Karl."
"I'd appreciate it if you kept such thing to yourself for the moment Sir Dexter," interrupted the wizard "I know you're all eager for answers, but bare with me for a short time longer."
"Jen? Trish?" Sir Dexter asked, looking between me an Treyzah in confusion, "What's going on?"
"There's no time to explain," the two of us said in unison with the wizard who chuckled.
The wizard lead us to a stables near the city's South Eastern gate and told us to wait outside. We stood around nervously not sure if we were allowed to discuss what was going on or even just chat, and dared not risk it as we could see and hear the wizard bartering with the stable owner through the open door. Swiftly a price was agreed on and the wizard waved us inside, leading us through into a room crammed with what looked like rabbit hutches stacked side by side, floor to ceiling. We all looked around in confusion.
"W-where are the horses?" asked Haziim.
"Here o' course," growled the owner opening a hutch and lifting out a six inch high horse and placing it on the floor.
"How are we supposed to ride those?" snorted Barûmnâzil derisively.
"Idjet," spat the owner lifting out five more horses and saddling them. He handed the wizard a silver trinket and muttered a short incantation. To our amazement, before our eyes the horse grew until they were full sized. Awed, we followed the wizard's lead and mounted up.
"Ever ridden one of these things before?" I asked Haziim who had chosen the horse next to the one I had.
"N-never," he stammered, sitting awkwardly in the saddle.
"Same here," I replied.
"Y-you look like a natural," he commented, and I realised, once more instincts my new body possessed had kicked in automatically. I glanced around, noticing Barûmnâzil was also struggling and needed the owner to shorten the stirrups for him, while Sir Dexter sat tall in the saddle with ease and Treyzah sat side saddle.
"Ya," commanded the wizard, commanding the steed into motion, the rest of us following close behind. We rode out the city gate and down the main road, turning off near a small farm. We rode in silence, none of us wanting to risk getting distracted and falling off. By late afternoon we neared a small wood and the wizard slowed, turning off the beaten track towards the tree line before dismounting. He hitched his horse on a low branch and we all followed suit. Hitching up his robe, he hurried into the woods, all of us close on his heels.
As we followed him, the ground began to rise. After a few minutes, the trees gave way, opening up into a clearing, the ground continuing to rise. The crest of the hill was ringed with a circle of standing stones, broad six-foot tall obelisks like giant teeth protruding from the ground. As we ascended, we noticed inside the circle, before each stone was a weather worn slab.
"Ah, the final member," grinned the wizard, passing the nearest stone. Not waiting to glance at each other in curiosity, we all picked up the pace and dashed the last few feet. In front of the far stone a blond elf sat cross legged. At the sound of the wizard's declaration, she turned, revealing her identity. Each and every one of us gasped in surprise.
