One sunny day, a lighthearted Fool strolled along a hilly path, whistling a merry tune. A long wooden pole was slung over his shoulder and attached to it was a cloth bundle which carried his life�s possessions. " What a marvellous afternoon!" he exclaimed to no one in particular, pausing to appreciate the lovely countryside.

The Fool plucked a wild rose from the hedgerow and held it to his nose as he strode along, fantasising about the many exciting adventures that lay ahead of him. He was so distracted by these thoughts that he failed to notice that he was about to step off the edge of a cliff. It was only when a small white dog tugged at the edge of his extravagantly-patterned coat that he became aware of the danger.

"Stop daydreaming and watch your step," growled the dog. "Ah, but there is so much for me to enjoy," replied the Fool. "I must seize every moment." "Then I'd better come along and keep you out of trouble," said the dog. "Why, you are quite welcome," said the Fool. "What is your name?"

"Queensway Farquar Wolfgang Fantasy Quiddity the Third," replied the dog. "But you can call me Qfwfq. Do I sense that you hope to find something valuable during your travels?"

"Indeed," replied the Fool. "I hear there are great treasures to be found for those who have the dedication and wit to find them."

"Then I will provide the wit," said Qfwfq, rather rudely.

The Fool stood for a while at the edge of the precipice, leaning back with his arms wide, admiring the view of the distant snow-capped mountains, and enjoying the warmth of the sun on his back. Then he turned around, shouldered his pack and went on his way, Qfwfq bounding at his heels.

The Fool had no plan for his journey, so all roads were the same to him, but he continued confidently until he came to the edge of a great wood. Pinned to a large oak tree was a brightly-coloured poster.

"I�d love to go to the fair!" exclaimed the Fool, "But where is the town of Athunt? Surely, it must be close by. "

"I have heard men tell of this place," said Qfwfq. "Maybe if we keep travelling, we will meet someone who can point the way." 

So they entered the woods, taking a grassy path that wound through the ancient forest. Strangely, although the way ahead seemed sunny and clear, when the Fool looked behind him there seemed to be a solid barrier of dark trees, with no path to be seen. " I hope we don�t have to retrace our footsteps," he said, " because I'm sure I can�t remember how we got here." But the day was warm, and the Fool was happy, indeed he started to sing one of his favourite tunes. He had just got to the words  "the moon eclipsed the sun" when the song died in this throat, for as they rounded a bend, he saw a small, brightly-coloured tent directly ahead. It marked the end of the path because there was now an impenetrable barrier of trees all around. Hanging from the tent was a small sign:

"Well, that�s a piece of luck!" exclaimed the Fool." Maybe this is where I can find out where my journey might take me, and the best direction in which I should go." He pushed aside the flap at the entrance and, ducking slightly, entered the tent. Inside, a table was set within a tangle of roses and lilies. Behind this was a handsome young man dressed in a white tunic with a snakeskin
belt, a red cape, and a white band around his head. The man was standing; in his right hand he held a white stick, pointed at  both ends, while his left hand pointed towards the ground. Above the man�s head, a mystic sigil was inscribed on the wall.

"So, you have arrived at last," said the Magician, for the Fool could see that he was in the presence of a powerful magus. " What do you want here?"

"I�d like to know where I should travel, and what adventures might befall me," replied the Fool boldly. "But first of all I�d like to go to the fair."

"Don't forget the treasure," interrupted Qfwfq, who had followed the Fool into the tent.

The magician smiled. "I can tell you your fortune," he said. "But I cannot guarantee that you will find what you are seeking. Now sit down there." He shuffled a pack of cards and and laid some out in front of him. "Hmm," he said glancing at the cards then looking intently at the Fool. "You have a long journey ahead of you. You will encounter many strange people, and they will challenge you with some difficult questions. Yes, you will have many mysteries to solve over the next few days." He bent over the cards again. "If you are wise, then you might find the clues that will lead you to what you are seeking. But remember that sometimes a man may reach a mountain-top only to see the higher peak that lies beyond."

"So how do I get to the fair?" asked the Fool, who had not really understood the Magician�s words and wanted to be on his way.

"Why, that is easy," said the young man, looking up and smiling. "There are many ways to get in. In fact, one of them is over there."

The Fool got up and looked towards the place the Magician had indicated, where the far corner of the table seemed to merge with the back of the tent, but it all looked very dark and rather frightening. He took a cautious step towards it, but Qfwfq held back and growled apprehensively.

"Wait!" said the Magician "To visit the fair you will need some money. And you will want a map so that you can find your way around the fairground. That will cost you one gold piece by itself!"

"But I have no money at all," said the Fool sadly, for he had so longed to go to the fair.

"I think you have." said the Magician. He picked up his pointed white stick and gestured towards the Fool�s bundle of possessions. To his astonishment, the pack unrolled itself and out fell a wooden staff, a chalice, a sword and a single gold coin.

"Those weren�t there before!" cried the Fool.

"They are all that you will need for your journey," replied the Magician. "Now take them and go outside. Once you have found the map and earned some more gold coins then you will be able to enter the fairground."

The Fool packed up his new possessions then left the tent by the way he had come in. To his surprise, there now seemed to be two paths branching away on either side, each with a wooden signpost. "You can choose the way," he said to Qfwfq, who was sniffing excitedly around the base of the signposts.