It has been some time since we last heard a tale from our friends in the valley of Cwm Jones. I assure you that they are all well, though most of the baby dragons we knew last time have now grown up and moved to new homes. However, some of our old friends are still around, and the wizard and his family are all still there and well, though a little older, more worn, and wiser.
We have not heard from them in some time because things have been a little rough in the valley lately. Things were so unsafe that the wizard warned the dragons against laying any new eggs in the valley, as he could not guarantee the safety of any eggs or hatchlings. You may wonder why the fully grown dragons could not themselves come in force and set things to rights when there were evil people causing such trouble, but there are times when such force is not wise and may only cause more harm. The wizard would only call on the power of the dragons in a case of full war.
The circumstances of this time were thus: a group of ruffians decided to set up camp near to our wizard’s neighborhood, and they caused much trouble in the forest and in the town. It began simply with noisy revelry in the ruffians’ camp shortly after they arrived. And this was not revelry of the joyous kind, where there is laughter and merriment and drink is responsible and adds to the joy. This was the sort where there is roughness and coarse laughter and drink turns seething anger into violence. After being sternly reprimanded for such behavior, for it was enough to disturb all those in the countryside nearby and even in the village, the ruffians still did not amend their ways. They merely shouted the louder and threatened all those who objected to their behavior.
Seeing that things were tense, and not knowing whether real harm would be done, the wizard watched the newcomers closely and used some simple spells to protect others from them. But that was not enough, and one night a barn was broken into and three horses stolen. The thieves could not be found, and even the horses could not be tracked, though the best of the dogs and dragons followed the trail as far as they could.
The wizard then took steps to protect all the inhabitants of the valley, and even did his best to remove the ruffians. However, even a wizard has his limits, and he may sometimes exercise restraint in the hope that people may be changed for the better and no longer need such strict governance. This made for a tense summer, but nothing of too terrible a nature occurred, other than many good things being destroyed, for these people seemed to delight in the breaking of things and in creating piles of rubbish. But then, one of the inhabitants of the forest was killed. It was one of the rabbits (there are talking rabbits in the vale of Cwm Jones), and that was a sorrowful day indeed. The perpetrator was caught, and he was soundly punished and banished, the valley was sealed from him by magic, and a spell was placed on him to prevent him from ever injuring any creature again. But even this did not fix things. One night not long after, the wizard’s barn was set on fire. Fortunately, if something has to be set on fire it is best if it belongs to a wizard, for he can put it out before too much damage is done. It was also fortunate that it was done on a fine, warm night when all of the animals had decided to stay out for the night. Be that as it may, it was not a pleasant event in any way, and it was clear that things had gone too far.
All of the ruffians were brought before the village council, of which the wizard was the head. Those with many severe charges against them were banished, those who had committed minor offences were given the option of leaving or else remaining and working to repair things in the community, and those who had not been charged with anything were given leave to remain, but were told they would still be watched. After this, most of the ruffians left together and moved on, but some were glad of the second chance and stayed and became part of the neighborhood and peace was restored.
After this period of unrest and trial, the wizard and his wife were tired and sorrowful that evil should exist, but they had been through trying times before, and they were glad that peace could be again, though it may be a watchful peace at times. Shortly afterwards, the wizard sent word to the dragon community that the valley was again a safe place for eggs to be laid and hatchlings to be raised. Soon, there should be many baby dragons flying about the valley and its woods and meadows again.
