Dar led the way into Lavenguard, which turned out to be a small, dirty village made up of thatched-roof houses and a few businesses. Small children and dogs played and ran between the buildings, and a half-dozen animal-drawn carts were either stopped or rolling down the rutted, filthy muck of a road. The smell was alarming - urine, sweat, garbage, sewage, animals all mixing into a strong reek that made Brian's eyes water.
While the stableboy got no attention, Brian could feel eyes focusing on him. Kids stopped playing to point and stare, and adults muttered to each other. Strangers must not be common, especially not elves. Some adventurous older boys, some naked and others wearing only tattered loincloths, came up to walk beside him. One reached up and touched Brian's pointed ear, and they commented on his cleanliness, which was a stark difference to their crusted filth. Several were bigger than him, which was a little disconcerting. They scattered when Dar turned and scowled, but tailed behind the pair until they reached what must be the Wizard's house.
While still a thatched cottage, it was larger than most of the other buildings, and the grounds were noticeable cleaner and nicer than the village proper. A large barn or stable loomed behind the cottage, apparently for the horses. Dar knocked on the polished wooden door, which had some strange symbols carved into it.
"Master Llandros? I have an elf here who would like to speak with you. His centaur friend is in the pasture."
There was no answer for a couple of minutes, but Dar stood there patiently. Finally, the door swung open and the Wizard scowled out at them. He was maybe 40, with gray streaks in a long, but well trimmed black beard and hair to his shoulders. He was wearing a stained robe with holes burned in it by chemicals or fire, and several pendants hung from gold chains around his neck. His features were ordinary except for piercing blue eyes that focused on Brian.
"So! Some fool centaur decided to join my mares? What is it you want from me?" Llandros snorted. "You're too scrawny to be a mare for him. Bu I am sure Dar could use an extra hand. How about a job as a stable boy, elf?"