“Welcome to your new home,” Tarlak said, gesturing grandly before the stone edifice.

“It’s, well, a little better than our last home,” Harruq said, staring at the tower in surprise. The building rose far above the tops of the trees, looking like a cylindrical piece of stone growing out of the earth. Twin doors barred entrance inside. Windows marked each floor, which Qurrah counted to be more than six.

Tarlak continued talking, clearly proud of his tower.

“It’s a little drafty come the winter months, but a brilliant man designed the heating, and an even more brilliant man, me, decorated the place and made it livable. By the way, can you all share a room?”

Aurelia’s frown was by far the biggest of the three.

“Excuse me, Tarlak, but if you haven’t noticed, I have some important differences from these fine gentlemen here.”

The wizard laughed. “Yes. Two stand out immediately.”

Aurelia glared. “Do you know any polymorph spells, Tarlak?”

“No, why?”

“Because I do. Another comment like that, and you will have to admire my figure through the eyes of a mudskipper.”

For a long moment, the wizard paused, mulling over the concept with a blank stare.

“Moving on!” he said when finished, marching toward the oak doors. Harruq shook his head.

“Odd guy.”

“He would most likely prefer eccentric,” Qurrah said.

“I’ll go with lecherous,” Aurelia chipped in. The doors creaked open with a rustic sound, and then the three followed the wizard in.

B eautiful, isn’t she?” Tarlak said, smiling as he led them through the large bottom floor. Filling nearly half of it was a giant wood fireplace, a myriad of pipes stretching out from the top, entering the higher levels of the tower through snug holes in the ceiling. Still in the early stages of summer, there was no need for a fire yet, but Harruq smiled at the thought of spending his first winter warm and cozy, instead of miserably shivering in some rundown home.