As our story begins Joey is in his backyard, under a shady tree. The leaves protect him from the sun which is still high in the sky. Joey is laying on his back, looking at all the beautiful clouds that drift slowly from his sight. The clouds seem endless, with what appears to be deep valleys, climbing to new heights to become mountain peaks. The land goes on forever, and Joey begins to explore the farthest recesses of his newly discovered kingdom. From this great distance it is hard to tell, but Joey thinks he can see the outline of a great castle, nestled in a valley. Behind that a broad river suddenly drops from a dizzying height, causing a rainbow of colors to be displayed as the water rushes to the bottom of the falls and forms a golden pool.

Joey had the sensation of rushing through the air, and found himself looking down at his home. The castle which moments ago had seemed so far away was drawing closer. It was as if he was riding an invisible force that couldn't be seen. At first he was scared, this gave way to amazement as he drew nearer to what would be his destination. The beauty was beyond belief, colors and textures that were slowly emerging to form solid objects. Strangely he felt at ease, as though he were coming home. He felt what seemed like the flapping of very strong wings, just like an eagle as it comes into a landing, feet extended with great talons ready to grasp its lofty perch. He gently drifted down to a field of flowers that stretched into the distance.

As far as the eye could see there was color. The smell was exquisite, an exotic perfume that filled the air. Joey could hear the sound of birds singing and twittering as they went about their daily routine of gathering food. The flowers seemed alive with bees gathering nectar. Picking himself up, he made for an opening in the trees that enclosed this little glen. As he approached, the air seemed cooler and fresher. When the opening was at his back the reason for such a change was obvious. Joey was standing on a cliff, and from this vantage point the view was breathtaking. Towards the center of the stream swift currents swirled and disappeared, forming eddies that moved faster and faster in a headlong rush to dive deeply below the surface, forming a tremendous undertow.
Nearer the shore there were deep pools that were much calmer. In these waters Joey could see the occasional splash, as some species of large fish rose up to catch a flying insect, then fell back to the water and with a graceful flip of its tail disappear from sight.

The cliff on which Joey was standing was very steep, but a little way upstream he could see what looked to be an easy way down to the waters edge. Once down it would be possible to walk along the narrow shoreline. Once there Joey would have to decide which way to go. Following the river seemed like the thing to do, at least he wouldn't get lost in the woods. A flock of strange looking birds swooped down, chattering and singing as they came to rest on nearby bushes. Deep blue smooth skinned berries hung in clusters from the branches, the birds weight added to that of the fruit caused the slender twigs to sway up and down, and from side to side. The effect was startling, the bush suddenly a living thing of many colors. Joey watched as the birds took their fill, being reminded that he too was hungry. The birds showed no fear, and only moved to a higher perch as Joey approached. His pockets full, his cheeks bulging, the way seemed easier as he dropped from sight and made his way to the strip of sand below.

The river was swift and powerful, disappearing from sight as it followed the ancient path cut by turbulent waters and endless time. Gazing upstream Joey noticed a gathering mist. Beyond that rose great bands of color, of which neither the beginning nor the end could be clearly seen. It was towards this that Joey walked.

Whistling a colorful tune you step lively as you move down the road to thryle and the Champagne fairgrounds. You reflect on your days at the castle and your new friends hospitality. You had just arrived at the castle gate when you heard singing and revellery coming from within. The timber gates were suddenly swung wide and a group of men mounted on horseback and brandishing all sorts of mean looking weapons thundered by.

A surly guard grabbed you by the collar as you stood watching. And just what are you doing here? His harsh voice sounded very threatening. You attempt to answer but are cut short by a blow to the mouth. its the Sergeant for you my lad, he's probably going to have you thrown off the cliff's edge where you will make fine food for the dragon. That sounded like the very place you had just escaped from. You didn't actually get to see the dragon, or whatever it was, but the roar shook the very ground you stood on.

You are dragged very roughly bouncing of the stone walls of the entranceway to the castles dungeon as the guard goes in search of his Sergeant. being unable to find him at his usual place, swilling a full measure of strong ale at his table, the guard decided to chain you to the wall until a decision could be made that would effect your immediate future. You hoped this wasn't going to have a far reaching effect on your ability to play tidily winks. You thought of the farmers daughter you had met on your way to this castle. She had been out in the field gathering some sort of berry. She had waved in a very friendly manner, but on seeing the huge dogs by her side you decided to keep walking. The dogs barked and would have rushed over to investigate but for a few worlds from the mean hairy looking man beside her. he must be the father you think.

The guard clanked away and you were left alone with only the faint sound of the aforementioned revelers coming through a barred window far above. This was a fine mess for such a good looking young man to be in. You hear a snuffling grunting type of sound. Sort of like when the pork beasts had their snouts in the trough. Your eyes are becoming used to the gloom, you look into the shadows of the far wall and can barely make out what looks like a human form. Leg irons are attached to both ankles and the human is face down in a pot that has been placed just far enough away so that there is only one way to eat the contents. The sounds are disgusting, as are the smells you are beginning to notice. You must urinate but can see no means to accomplish this. Both arms are held over your head by the chains that bind your wrists. Then it dawns on you what the awful smell must be.

It seems like days have passed, actually its only hours, your tongue feels like an old piece of leather. You really need a drink. You look around and see the old stone walls are stained with some unknown substance. At regular intervals there are shackles bolted to the wall, you think of all the previous tenants and wonder what became of them. Some decaying substance that looks much like a leg bone is on the floor at your feet, the odor rises to your nostrils and you get a queasy feeling. You drift into oblivion only to be rudely awakened by a huge rat gnawing on your foot. This usually wouldn't bother you much, but this rat is the biggest, dirtiest looking creature you have ever seen. he appears to have weeping sores covering his body and you swear he has an evil leer on his face. You see the rows of needle sharp teeth as his lips pull back in a very threatening manner.

You are startled when he speaks to you. "Sometimes joy and sometimes sorrow, marriage today and death tomorrow", this seems very like a bell ringers verse you once read somewhere in your travels. Unfortunately you pass out again and when you come too again hours later the rat is gone. Now your not sure if it wasn't all a figment of your fevered brain. You feel your self slipping away again, by this time you have solved the problem of how to relieve yourself and the last thing you remember is the gathering puddle at your feet.

You feel soft hands on your forehead and realize you are no longer chained to the wall. On opening your eyes you see nothing but the inside of a white cloth which seems to be wet and scented with some essence that escapes you at the moment. You are much to weak to pull the cloth away and look at the person wiping your brow. later you awake to find yourself in a bed that is made of straw filled cloth, hung like a hammock to keep the user safe from the creeping crawling inhabitants of the floor below. Sunlight streams in from an open window and in the doorway is framed the owner of the soothing hands. The farmers daughter steps through the door and comes to your bed. Ah, tis time you were up and about. You have been laying here as days came and went. We thought you dead. My father the Steward called in his doctor. I felt happiness when he proclaimed a cure and asked us for dismissal.

Joey felt tired, very tired. His head hurt, as did most of his body. "who are you?" he asked of the young girl. Although he had previously seen her that day in the field, he had no idea whom she might be. 

"As I told you, I am the Stewards daughter" she said in a cheeky manner, and stood looking at him, her hands on hip. "I am called Jenny" she said, my friends I allow to call me Flower. Although still in a fog, Joey could see the origin of the nickname as she was the picture of health and beauty, and he remembered seeing her that first day. The field had been covered in flowers. A wild profusion of color. 

Joey straightened to get up but fell back in weakness, only to try again. "You had best be careful, a cure you might have, but your not ready for the festival yet. Flower spoke kindly with a most winning smile on her face. "And what might we call you young sir?" she asked. "I am called Joseph, Joey to my friends, But please, tell me how I came to be here". "I remember a dungeon, being chained to the wall and left to die". "Oh! young sir, Joseph, said Flower, it was my father the Steward of this fair village of Hornton who rescued you. He has an interest in alchemy and other mystical things. He belongs to the Guild of metal workers, and would have you as his apprentice. He has persuaded the Lord High Sheriff to cause your release. It was due in part no doubt to the fact that there was a certain favor  owed, which has now been satisfied." "I don't wish to be indentured to anyone, I am a free man" spoke Joey with raised voice. " You should well consider Joseph that my father has done you a service, but for him you would now be dead" said Flower. "And also he had to promise to answer for your behavior in the village" she said. "Were you to run off now, it is my father who would have to face the High Sheriff and make an explanation. You could at least try, My father is a fair an honest man and in due time your period of indenture shall pass, and you will have a new skill and be a full member of the Guild. Not a thing to make light of" "I must leave you now" said Flower, "and go a-ganging. "It is well you must lie here, else you may find that you are in danger of being dunked in the boundary stream" Flower spoke gently, with a kindly smile. " Rest good Joseph, we shall talk more another day" 

It had been the custom for as long as she could remember, all of her 15 years to commit to the memory of all who lived within, the boundary's, especially the young who would grow up having no other means of knowing the lands that encompassed the village. The event or a-ganging as was the common name was made  memorable to some of the young boys by bumping them against stone walls, or dunking in boundary streams.

The village was built around the castle as was the way with the feudal system, but extended some distance away to encompass fields for crops and grazing of the village animals. All was owned by the Lord, who in return for his rights to this land and certain revenues must supply his overlord or King with soldiers to fight in their wars. The land and village might have a steward appointed by the Lord to look after his interests when he was absent. Certain Lords might have several or many such village holdings, and might be absent most of the time relying on a Steward to govern in their stead. 

It was not just 2 or 3 days that Joey lay in bed, but another week before he felt fit enough to move about without thinking each step would be his last. The house where Joey had been taken was timber framed with walls of wattle and daub (sticks coated with clay). The supporting timbers of the roof were arched, this gave headroom  and avoided the need to dig a pit for a sunken floor. The roof was thatched with straw and had a major drawback in that the straw would rot from the cycle of wetting and drying, not to mention the small furry inhabitants who lived in the thatch. Also, wasps, spiders and birds called it home.

In the middle of the village stood the communal well from which the inhabitants drew their daily water requirement. The castle had its own supply, to provide for the garrison in times of siege. It was a fine day, and Joey wandered about, slowly at first but gaining strength as the day progressed. Joey noticed that most of the village houses had a yard and garden. The front (toft) fronted on the street and where the house and outbuildings stood . The toft was surrounded by a fence, some had only a ditch to keep in the animals. The large garden in the back (croft) ran back from the toft and was perhaps a half acre. The garden was for the most part cultivated by foot. Sanitary arrangements tended to be a latrine trench, drainage was accomplished by a series of ditches. At the end of the village near the river was the village green and a mill complex. In the millpond grew willow reeds that were used for building material (wattle and daub).

A delicious aroma of fresh bread straight from the oven wafted past Joey's nose. His appetite was returning and thinking of food Joey decided to return to the house in which he had been making his recovery. This was the "Flower" house as he thought of it, in reality it belonged to the Steward, one of a few buildings he owned. As yet, he had not visited Joey, but he knew it would happen soon in light of the fact he was moving about and would be judged ready to begin work. Joey made his way back by a different route, passing the street of the guilds, a reminder of what might be in store for him. 

As Joey neared the house, his fear became reality. Through the open door Joey could see an imposing figure of what must be his benefactor or perhaps his jailer to be. 

"Good day young sir", spoke a cheery voice. "I see you are making good your recovery. "I am the Steward, come to see if you would walk with me, we shall visit the shop" Joey was a bit in awe of this man. Not sure if he should thank him for the rescue from the dungeon,  Joey knew he had to say something even if later he lived to regret it. "I am Joseph, and I wish to thank you for rescuing me from the Lords dungeon, I would have surely died there but not for your kindness". Joey bowed his head slightly as a mark of respect. "Come young master Joseph, let us walk together" said the Steward. "My name is Montford, Richard De Montford, and as you know, I am the steward of this good village subject of my Lord Robert, Count of Mortain." Since you are to be my apprentice, you must call me Master.

There seemed no question, Joey must go along with this, at least for a while. "From where do you hail young Joseph?, Am I right in thinking that this is the name you are known by"  "Yes Sir, Ah!, Master, I am known as Joseph, and I come from a land that is beyond the mountains, I know not where, or for that matter how it is that I come to be here. It was as if I was lifted on strong wings, spirited away to find myself in a meadow. I trekked for days, finally arriving at the castle, only to be seized and thrown into the dungeon"  

The Steward was thinking to himself, "this is surely a homeless urchin, unless the youngster comes forward with some real information as to his origin and station he would continue to treat him as he would any in the same situation, with a firm hand".  "Young Master Joseph, you have been told by my daughter why I sought your release from the dungeon. I need someone willing to help me in my works, mixing ingredients and other labors. You must spend long hours at work. There are certain secrets to be learned, known only to an alchemist. You must swear loyalty, you must be able to keep the guild secrets to your own council". "You must tell me more about yourself, I wish to know if you are of a strong mind, if you can be a loyal and faithful apprentice." The steward spoke forcefully, and Joey felt compelled to listen and take heed of what was said. "Again I say to you" spoke the Steward, " you must be able to keep the secrets you learn to yourself, for the guild takes a strong view on this and will punish most harshly anyone breaking the rule."

Before Joey could make any answer to this, the steward was speaking again, almost as though he was giving Joey time to think about it." As you may have noticed young Joseph, the most numerous animals here in the village are pigs, or pork beasts as they are called by some. They forage freely in the woods and are largely self supporting. You must beware these beasts, as they have a nasty disposition, and even nastier tusks which they can use to great effect." The steward continued, "Cows are kept mainly to produce oxen for the plows. Our milk and cheese producers are sheep and goats." Joey nodded acceptance of this information, but was distracted  by a group of men unloading baskets in front of a large barn. Noticing his interest, the Steward spoke up again, "that is the village barn where we store grain and other food for winter. The men are carrying baskets of cheese from the stone dairy down the path". "The dairy, the forge, the ovens, the dovecote are all leased by individuals from the Lord." The Steward spoke further, "You can just see the village green as we turn the bend, you will see the stocks where wrongdoers are pinioned." The Steward obviously cares for the village thought Joey, "I wonder if this is a trait shared by his Lord?" 

Something was stirring in the distance, at the opposite end of the village a group of riders approached. Villagers made haste to get out of their way. Joey thought they must surely come from the castle. The last time this happened he ended up chained to a dungeon wall and so thought about finding a hiding place until they were well past. Seeing that Joey was troubled, the Steward spoke to reassure him, "fear not young Joseph, it is but the twelve Regarders,  Knights who have come to enforce the King's forestry laws" "It is their job to report any encroachment on the King's demesne". "It is hardly likely that you have poached any of the King's deer, or made use of his wood, so you have nothing to worry about." Joey was glad when the Master turned of into a side street, named aptly enough "Street of the Guilds". As they moved down the street Joey saw all sorts of products displayed for sale. All the usual wood items, large bowls, spoons, trays etc. and other things that Joey could not readily name. Basket making seemed to be a separate endeavor, with a large space reserved for display of the various sizes. In the back areas of the shops the apprentices would work producing items under the watchful eye and direction of the Master craftsman. These were all guild shops, and so adhered to strict rules governing every aspect of a days work. Methods jealously guarded by the guild were taught the young indentured apprentices. There were metal working shops, and it was toward one of these that the master strode, pulling out a ring of keys from under his robes. They were now in front of a building that looked not much different than any of the rest. The construction was of Wattle and Daub with a thatched roof. The idea of a locked strong wooden door seemed ridiculous to Joey, as if you thought about it all you would have to do to gain access would be to break a hole through a back wall, out of site from prying eyes. Maybe this had never occurred to anyone, but that did seem likely in this enlightened age. As the door creaked open Joey could see nothing as it was very dark inside. Although there was a large timber covering over what was an opening at the front facing the street, Joey could not imagine this would be enough when removed to light the dark corners of the building. Once inside, the Master moved towards a table, and taking a small wooden spill went to a forge where there were still hot coals smoldering, lighting the spill he then lit several large candles scattered about the shop. It would seem to Joey that the natural light of day might have served better, but then perhaps the purpose of darkness was to hide secrets contained therein.

 Step into the realm, and heed the summons