THE WOLF, THE RAVEN AND THE WIZARD(Donald Harry Roberts) THE WOLF, THE RAVEN

AND

THE WIZARD

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS





PREAMBLE

TWO OLD MEN SITTING ON A BENCH IN DOWNTOWN SMALL TOWN

"Did you ever read the story about a wolf, raven and wizard?" Asked one old man of the other.

"Can't say that I have but then again why read something that you witnessed in real life?" Replied the other.

"True enough, but there are those, most folks in fact, who were not here to see them and to know what became of them." Said the first old man.

"Of course. Of course. So I suppose we should tell folks about to read this story to find the other story, which is actually the end of the story, but as I have heard this tale begins to describe all that went on before the final tale. So they could, should they wish, read the last story first, The Wolf, Raven and The Wizard."

"Not necessarily. Maybe they could read the last book last. After all it's not their fault the author got it all back words."

"I think it is up to them, start at the beginning or start at the end. In the end I think it will all come out the same."

"True enough. Now let me read THE WOLF, THE RAVEN AND THE WIZARD/THE ADVENTURE BEGINS in peace will ya."


1

His name was Murray. He probably had a last name but it will go unused here so I won't bother complicating things by mentioning it.

The first time I saw him was many years ago, before he met his companions, the Wolf and the Raven. But even in those early years, some 35 ago, I knew he was special haven seen him beckon a woodpecker into the palm of his hand, silently it seemed until I drew close enough to hear him whispering. I did not hear the words, just articulated breaths signifying he was talking. It was enough to draw me in.


2

One day, about thirty years back Murray disappeared and was gone for several days. When he returned he was accompanied by a Wolf and a Raven, both a little larger than one might expect to find in our little town of West Greying, population 2500.

My curiosity got the better of me and I unceremoniously approached him and asked in a most crude fashion, unbecoming any reporter worth his salt, "What gives?"

Murray was kind about the intrusion and replied quite gently. "I wonder, if I told you, would you believe my answer?"

"Try me." I replied.


3

"Very well said he, then explained. I went to the park for a quiet stroll now that all the summer intruders are gone. As I came from the Cedar grove into the opening just beyond a mist engulfed me and when it retreated I found myself in a village, of a medieval nature. I was of course stymied by this abrupt change in realities but not frightened. I knew it would happen one day because it is where I belonged. You see. I am but a visitor here. I am a Wizard there and an oddity of society and recluse here."

"Is that why you can talk to woodpeckers?" I asked as a joke.

"Yes." He replied seriously.


4

Suddenly my hat flew off my head, rose into the air, twirled a dozen times then burst into flames. I suppose I should have protested but I was simply too amazed by the sight.

I asked. "Can you communicate with your companions?" I indicated the wolf and raven with a nod.

"I can but not in any way you would recognize. We communicate through visual transference."

"You mean telepathy."

"No. I do not. Wolves and Ravens do not understand the human process of thought. It took me many years to be able to understand their ways and to learn to reply in their fashion."


5

To be honest, it was just a bunch of jargon to me but jargon I had no choice but to believe after the hat things. And, just as I was accepting the loss of my ancient fedora he gathered the ashes and reassembled them into my hat.

"Ok. Why do you live here?" I asked with blunt force. I certainly was not expecting the answer that came back.

"I come here to rest, as you might go to one of your winter vacation resorts."

"A wizard's vacation land. Now I've heard everything, but what do you need a vacation from?

After that the years came and went and so did the man and his companions and like all men he grew old, then older and older again until one day he and his companions were found down on the river bank....dead.


6

Over the years Murray and I talked often on a philosophical level but more often he told me stories of his adventures in reality he called Zoomland or as he most often put it I went to Zoom of course. Would you like to hear about it?" I never said no because he would proceed to share his story no matter what answer I gave and he made them sound absolutely believable. It was such a sad day for me when the news came up from the river bank that he and his wolf and raven were found huddled together....dead.


7

A few days later I received a visit from a lawyer and a banker, whose names add very little to this story. Why they visited me did.

It seemed Murray had left his entire estate to me, including his house, tucked away in among groves of cedar and hawthorn, on a one acre hill overlooking a rectangle of land some nine acres in size. The abode was simple and quite pioneerish in style and state though he had had hydro and water installed not long before he died.

It was a sanctuary of wildlife, all of which frequented the hilltop. It was my guess he could talk to them all and without doubt he fed many.


8

There were three more things left to me. One was a huge lot of money a letter and a cedar chest filled to the brim with journals.

The letter read simply

"My Dear Friend Alistair Lock.

I leave you my little patch of your mundane world to care for and safeguard against profiteers and the funds to do so. It is legally an animal sanctuary and will remain so as long as it remains undeveloped.

I also leave you my journals. You are welcome to exploit them in your literary endeavours. Of course they will be published as fictional portraits of myself and my adventures but you and I know the reality and that's all that matters. Please use the proceeds of your writing to augment the money I have left you."

Murray.


9

Of course I was flabbergasted but utterly delighted.

I moved into my new abode as soon as all the paper work and legal hocus pocus was completed. As soon as possible I began publishing Murray's journals converting them to a third person rendering. Oddly enough my little publication simply called The Weekly Letter, gained popularity and went from 500 printed copy subscriptions to 5000 and nearly 20,000 online.

The journals dated back to his earliest days when he was initiated into the Guild of Wizards Witches and Warlocks, all of which are similar in nature but quite different in application.


10

Though we knew him as Murray his real name was Wilyt Amber. His youth, until puberty was spent as any other child would grow. His specialness did not emerge until his 13th birthday when he lit the candles on his cake after he blew them out. Immediately he was sent to the Sanctuary, home of the Guild of Wizards Witches and Warlocks.

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