The Tale of the Wandering Sage

They passed by the Barn and discovered a very old and ragged sage. This ancient and withered creature somehow retained a certain cuteness in his ramblings and mutterings. Though very diminutive in stature he was long in words - indeed, he would not stop expounding on the most trivial of matters, and played with words the way a child plays with his food.

Chewing on his words as if munching on a juicy bone, the sage states:

"If a clue to the egg you seek from me,
a riddle you must solve from my tree.
Choose any bottle that you wish,
But not that basket...
for it contains my lunch."

Conn chose a bottle, and riddle contained was:
I am a bridge for eight legs,
A trap for six,
My strength and beauty are famous,
The hand of the smallest maiden destroys me.

With a wit as keen as the Sage's breath was sharp, Conn stated that the answer was a Spider's Web. Thus answering correctly, the Sage told Conn that the Ogre's shield is the key to the box. Conn and his squire had no idea what those meant, yet he was untroubled, trusting in the worthiness of his Quest to see him to its conclusion.

And the Quest continued…

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Last Updated: 26 May 1998