It had been three long days of travel but they finally reached the pass in the mountains. By the reckoning they'd been given, they'd make it to the other side of the pass before sundown so they started in that direction. About half-way through, they heard a boy calling out for help. They couldn't ignore his pleas and the pair quietly moved in the direction of the screams.
They hid behind a boulder where they saw two men trying to forcibly remove the clothing from an apparently ten-year-old boy. Without hesitation and without concern for their own wellbeing, the two moved in on the men from opposite directions.
"Lookie here, Rogan, we gots ourselves two more slaves to sell at auction. They're cute lil' buggers too. Maybe we should test them out to see if they're worthy."
Rogan sneered at his partner as he said, "Yeah, Grabar, they both look like they could take a good pounding... much better than this dwarf sewer rat."
Zal, using courage he didn't realize that he possessed said in a voice far more powerful than even he could imagine, "I think not! Unhand that child and be gone from this place or I shall make certain you never piss standing up."
Of course, this caused raucous laughter from the two ruffians. Without warning, Nim had stealthily moved behind one of the men and got hold of his dagger. He held it, blade up between the man's legs. His yelp of pain caused his colleague to lose his concentration and within a second, Zal had the man supine on the ground, the man's own dagger poised at the ruffian's neck.
The small boy, now clad only in his breech-cloth his tunic and trousers shredded by the same knife that now had the blood of one of the men's jewels adorning it leaped toward his savior. Rogan was busy checking to see that his testicles were still attached to his body. Nim checked the boy to be sure he wasn't injured. In so doing, he found out the boy's name was Bjorn, he was almost 11 summers old.
Once they'd secured the men with rope, they took the men's horses and made their way back to their wagon. They allowed the horses to tag along tied to the back of the wagon, sat Bjorn between them and made off in the direction they had been heading. As they made way, Nim asked, "How did you do that with your voice?"
Bjorn, excitedly stated, "I've never heard someone's voice like that! Are you a wizard?"
This caused Zal to laugh, "No, I'm no wizard and to be honest, I haven't any idea how I did it. I was honestly very scared."
Once prompted, Bjorn explained that he had been used as a wager by one of the men in his village. The man lost the bet and Bjorn was handed over as compensation for the wager. This concept sickened the slightly older pair.
Over the next nearly two hours, they chatted amongst each other on lighter topics when Bjorn looked at the older boys, one-at-a-time and asked, "Please don't think me insolent, but... are you two... I don't know... like married?"
For nearly a full minute there was silence. The only sounds heard were the hoofs of the mule, the wheels of the cart, and the occasional snorts of the horses behind them. Nim was the one who answered the boy, "Not really like married. But there is a connection neither of us can understand or describe fully. I hope that does not cause you to feel ill toward us."
"No way! The reason the man had me instead of my father was that he bought me from my parents. They wanted to sell me because I fell in love with one of the stable boys that worked for my father."
Zal smiled at the boy, wrapped an arm around him and pulled him into his side, "You'll never have to worry about being sold ever again! I have a feeling that Nim and I will be able to protect you."
Bjorn hugged his benefactor as they rode along. They decided not to stop for the night. It would be dangerous riding all night, but they didn't want to take a chance that the men they'd subdued would catch up to them.
Zal and Nim took turns driving the cart, stopping only twice to allow them to switch the mule with one of the horses to give the mule a bit of a break.
Mid-morning the following day, they arrived at Flint. After being given directions to the Inn, the trio went in search of the brother of the farmer. When they where the man was supposed to be, they were surprised to find a man that looked identical to the farmer.
They introduced themselves and, seeing the puzzled look on the man's face explained about the farmer and how they'd come to be advised to use his inn as a refuge whilst their horses and mule rested from their journey. The man called a young boy who was introduced to them as Evan.
Evan was instructed to bring them up to a room and to make certain their needs were addressed. Evan was a fetching young human boy of twelve summers. Having no knowledge of the proper etiquette for situations such as this, they were about to dismiss the youth, however, Bjorn, being of a more sophisticated family whispered something into Zal's ear. The boy's eyes went wide momentarily, but he then reached into his satchel and pulled out a golden coin. He handed it to Evan who simply stared at it.
"Sir, are you sure you gave me the correct coin? Most give me a copper, once I even got a silver, but never a gold!"
"Evan, you have been very helpful and I gave you what I believed you deserved."
Evan gave Zal a hug and as he was leaving said, "If there is anything you need... anything at all, please let me know."
Evan then left the room.
Fangold was sitting in his small office as he had a vision. His twin brother was standing before him. In his mind he heard his brother's voice, 'Those two boys... I have reason to believe that they are the two in the prophecy.'
Fangold was shocked beyond belief. Since the Wizards of the realm were forced into hiding for being too 'different' from the rest of the population, it was widely believed that the prophecy was never going to come to pass. Many of the more superstitious people named their children with the prophetic names in hopes that merely carrying that name would protect their sons. Fangold then thought back to his brother, 'Goldfan, my brother, I cannot merely assume, I have not seen anything that would point to it, and the ancient texts are all lost.'
'Not all, my brother. Go to the wagon the boys arrived in, in the floor under the seat, you will find a compartment. Inside is a tome I uncovered. I have marked the appropriate passages for things I have witnessed. We must protect these two because if they are who I believe them to be, the fate of everyone in the realm hinges on them.'
Fangold went to the wagon and, after reciting a spell to open that which was concealed and found the tome. He took it back to his office and reviewed that passages marked by his brother. He sat back and pondered the ramifications of this situation. He then turned back to the beginning of the prophecy and read through it to the end.
Several hours later, all color had drained from Fangold's face. He turned to the open door and called out for Evan, his apprentice.
Evan entered and closed the door as he was bidden to do, then took a seat in front of his master.
"Evan, have you been keeping up with the studies I have assigned you?"
"Yes, Master. It was difficult for me to believe that I held the gift of Wizardry, but as I learned and followed your teachings, I have come to accept it."
"Good, for I have a task for you. One that only you can perform. One in which the fate of all of the realm is held in the balance."
Evan was shocked, scared, and proud. His voice belayed these emotions as he replied, "I shall endeavor to perform as you have taught me. I swear that I will lay my very life on the line to accomplish any task that you place before me."
With the ritual acceptance out of the way, Fangold explained all that Evan would need to do."
It had been nearly a week that they had been resting at the Inn when Fangold called Zal and Nim to his office. After being seated, Zal began speaking, "Good Innkeeper. I wish to thank you for your hospitality. Our stay here has been restful and quite enjoyable. However, I am perplexed. I feel as if there is more we need to do, but I am unable to determine what else we need to do."
"Lad, you cannot be more correct."
Over the next hour, Fangold explained what he could about what lay ahead for the boys. He admonished that all of the tasks must be accomplished by those under fourteen summers of age, and all must be male. He advised them that they would need to leave early the following morning and that he would send Evan along as there are some of the tasks that he would be required to be present for them to be accomplished.
That night, Evan stayed in the room with Zal, Nim, and Bjorn. Zal and Nim shared one of the beds and Bjorn and Evan the other. During the night, Evan was awoken by a glowing golden light as he peered over at the other bed and saw Zal and Nim engaged in the bonds of lovemaking. It was the first time he'd ever witnessed the physical coupling of two boys. It aroused feelings in him he never knew existed. Bjorn was in a similar state. Next thing they both knew, there was a purple glow emanating from the two of them as their lips joined.
At first light the following morning, the four youths gathered at the stables behind the inn. Surprisingly, Fangold was there along with the farmer, Goldfan. Zal and Nim were ecstatic seeing the old farmer and wrapped him in a double hug.
"You four, for now, hold the future of our entire realm. In the weeks to come others will join your group. But be careful, there are forces at work that do not want you to prevail." Fangold and Goldfan clasped hands and then raised them into the air and they began to glow with a silver sheen. Bjorn and Evan began to glow purple as Zal and Nim began to glow in the rich golden hue that had been seen the night before.
Nim then turned to Zal and gasped, "They're Wizards!"
Zal smiled and replied, "So?"
The happy four boys mounted the wagon and left the inn. Their next destination would take them nearly a month of travel. Little did they know what perils awaited them.