From the introduction: At the foot of the standing stone hill, near to the muddy road, the old man waited with a camp fire going in the dark of night and pouring rain. It was by no means a chance meeting of that you were sure for wizards have the knack of knowing the where and the when as they go about their business. The old man who gave you the graven stones was almost certainly a wizard, for how else could he have got a fire going, and he did not smile when he passed the secret of the Traveling Stones for such mysteries are only handed down from the ages to a select few. Small pebbles, one for each companion, carved round with spirals and circles; which if held in one’s hand, open the way from here to there.