Adventures in Zephlanore

Bullwug Lake

The golden wheat and corn of Crow's farm waved in the breeze under the creaking windmill. The sun continued its journey into the early dusk as villagers rode their cart to the countryside.

"My grandfather's grandfather built this mill," said Crow to his companions riding on the back of his mule drawn cart. "It's not much but it is a home." Levi and William watched the ground pass under their dangling legs and, looking up, they saw the old mill creaking as it made its rounds. Levi caught a whiff of something delicious baking in the distance. His stomach answered the call of the sweet aroma with a deep grumble. "That smell would be Hanna's cooking. Smells like we are in for a treat." Crow gestured toward the little homestead with the billowing chimney where a young boy was herding chickens into a pen.

"Papa!" the boy shouted, running down the road toward Crow and his guests.

Inside the little farm house of the Crow family, Hanna labored away at the wood burning stove while a young lad and lass played at setting the table. The boy, Dale, fearlessly fought with Levi who pretended Dale had the ki focus of Master Aaron. The young girl, Molly, bid William to play at being a knight and her the princess. There was a warmth in this home that Levi and William had never felt before, like the warmth that keeps you in bed all morning.

It wasn't a feast, but Hanna had worked hard as if it was the best meal she had to offer. There were roasted potatoes garnished with salt and pepper, a rosemary chicken pie with a flaky homemade crust and for dessert, fresh baked biscuits with hand turned honey butter and sweet cream. Hanna was delighted to cook for them and brought out their finest tin ware. They even used the last bit of expensive honey to impress their guests. Everyone was filled to the brim.

"Well, I apologize we couldn't afford a goose, but after the drought, business has been hard. Not many people have moved here as expected, and the missing sacks will continue to put us back," said Hanna with a hint of worry in her voice.

"We thank you much for your hospitality. Levi and myself plan to solve this grain issue, and hope we can repay your kindness," William said placing a hand on Levi's shoulder.

"Well, how bout we have a look at that mill?" Crow suggested.

The windmill was just as tall as the steeple of the Fellfalls temple, with patches of old tattered fabrics stretched across the wings of the windmill. Crow pulled out a large key tethered around his neck and unlocked the large bolted heavy wooden door of the windmill. Crow entered first, lighting the lamp in a room that was coated in powder. "Years ago farms of the town would come from all over to have their grains processed here, but that damn drought drove most of them north of Zibeon, or at least along the Birchmire River." Crow placed the lamp on the end of a large shepherd crook and passed it to William.

Levi was already at work, sniffing the air and tasting the dust. "It's flour," he said suspiciously.

William pushed Levi aside. Crow saw himself back to the house and left the young men to their work. Levi noted a small window twice his height from the ground. At once he planted his foot on a few boxes and in a flash was standing in the window frame. There were streaks in the flour dust on the window. It appeared sacks had been drawn out the window and above him, Levi found a thick rope laced through a pulley. Levi called down to William, "Outside."

William, who was shifting around boxes and checking crates, grabbed the lantern crook and moved outside below the window. He noticed two niches in the dirt just about a cubit from the wall. Levi looked out from the window. Coming from the lake, there seemed to be a faint trail that was trampled in the field leading down to the shoreline of Bullwug Lake. With a leap, Levi dove out the window, swung from the rope, and landed on the ground next to William as the rope coiled into a pile next to him.

"Stop showing off, Levi."

The evening dusk glittered on the ripples of Bullwug Lake. The trail faded and then was lost. This was the closest they had ever been to the lakeside. Further down the shoreline was the old tower, standing in disrepair above the heights of the trees.

"If I was to hide anything in this town, it would be there," William said, nodding toward the tower.

They walked along the shoreline in silence for some time, jumping and climbing over logs and rocks.

"You know, they are good people. They don't have much, but they have what we never did," Levi said with a solemn look on his face.

"I know that," William replied.

At that moment Levi tumbled over, falling face first into the muddy shore.

The boulder he was climbing over stood up and leaned back on the log. Standing before them was an obese toad. Warts of green traveled down his back and a fat underbelly of red and brown hung below. He was about 3 cubits tall and wore a dirty red robe. He uncorked his large wine gourd, staring wide-eyed at the two young men that had used him as a stepping stone. As he chugged his wine a glint of the liquid trickled down his chin. Levi flew into the air swinging a branch down on the Bullywug's head.

"Thieving Toad!" Levi shouted as he struck the Toad.

"Ow!" cried the toad, and threw his gourd to the ground. "I'm not playing," he said as he stormed off. "I've got laundry to do."

Levi looked at William with a smile as though proud of his action. William reached down and grabbed the gourd, trotting after the toad with the gourd in one hand and the lantern crook in the other. "Hold up frog dude," William shouted to the Bullywug. The toad continued on his path, waving the two young men away.