"Sir Ruber!" Ingrid called, sprinting toward the knight. It was her third time in Camelot.
Ruber turned. "That can't be Lionel's little girl?!" he said with a smile, catching her in his arms and swinging her around.
Ingrid squealed with delight. Lionel finally caught up with his daughter and beamed amusedly.
"Sir Ruber, look!" Ingrid said proudly, holding up the carved wooden stick she'd made on the three-day journey to Camelot.
"Incredible!" Ruber said, raising an eyebrow, "Is it a sword so you can be a knight too, someday?"
"No, it's a sorcerer's staff to help me cast spells!" Ingrid explained.
"Of course! How could I have mistaken that for a sword?" Ruber laughed, setting the girl back down.
"We have to go now, Ingrid. The knights' meeting is about to begin," Lionel said gently, "Behave, please. No turning anyone into a frog."
"But you know," Ruber said, pointing, "Merlin is the greatest wizard who ever lived. I'm sure if you asked, he could teach you a real spell."
Ingrid looked. Merlin was hobbling out into the courtyard, using his staff as a walking stick. He wore a hooded green robe and a woven belt. His eyes were silver and wise, with a barely noticeable glint of playfulness.
With her father and Sir Ruber gone, Ingrid rushed to the old wizard's side.
"Mister Merlin, sir?" She announced her presence, "I am Ingrid, daughter of Sir Lionel.
Merlin stopped and looked the young girl up and down. "Ahh, a young sorceress in training, I presume?"
"Yes, sir!" Ingrid nodded proudly, "Could you teach me a spell?"
Merlin smiled. "Oh I suppose I could teach you a little something. How about healing cuts? Have you ever played too hard and accidentally fallen and gotten hurt?"
"Lots of times!" Ingrid said.
"Well I'll show you how to fix it," Merlin grinned.
"I hate to say it," Ruber said, shaking Ingrid awake, "But I think we might have to face an ogre today."
The morning was foggy and slightly cold. Ingrid wished she'd brought a cloak. She snuggled closer to her husband, trying to leach warmth from him.
"Oh no," she said groggily, "Why is that?"
"I can smell it from here," Ruber said, "he must've just returned to his cave."
"Don't ogres sleep during the day?" Ingrid asked.
"They do," Ruber said, "If they're not disturbed. You'd better pray your sister and her idiotic friends don't wake him."
The group followed the trail of Kayley, Garrett and the dragons, who must've had a slow start. Ruber and his band caught up to them in no time.
Confirming Ingrid's fears, Kayley and her friends entered the cave of the ogre.
"Curses!" Ingrid hissed, "you don't think the ogre might actually have the sword, do you?"
"Hmm," Ruber said, squinting, "I can't think of any other reason those fools would walk willingly into an ogre's den."
They entered the cave close behind their prey. The smell of ogre was strong and sickening now. Like a thousand years of rotting animals