Smudj watched from a corner shelf, grinning from ear to ear. In his hand was a small leather bag filled with small stones and he had found the mother lode. It was like finding a leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Best of all, the silly wizard wouldn't be able to chain down the wind now. He crept from his hiding place behind the jar to a better vantage behind a bottle, watching the wizard. Such big clumsy creatures humans were, it was a wonder that any of them ever managed to learn even rudimentary magic. This one was better than most, but he was still just a wizard.

Growing bolder, he removed his floppy hat and came out from behind the bottle, sitting down on the edge of the shelf, his legs dangling over the edge. He swung his legs back and forth, still grinning and waiting for the wizard to notice him there. His clothing were largely rags tied together, but he wore a handsome pair of brand new curled toe shoes, a gift from a foolish woman at the last house he had lived in before she ruined it for herself.