Anest rode his horse numbly in Pip's wake, distracted only by the caperings of the two large dogs that had accompanied Pip from Belloc's dwelling. Anest found them a little unnerving, as they so closely resembled wolves.
Pip was quite talkative at first, but grew silent when he realised he was not helping to ameliorate Anest's pain.
At the journey's end they were greeted by Caspar and his older son, Mullen, who took charge of young Anest, showing him the house and the room that would be his. Anest saw little of Belloc that first day. In fact, nothing he saw or did that day left any lasting impression.
It was the following day that Anest met Belloc in earnest. Anest was sitting in a huge armchair in the upstairs living-room, watching the logs burning away in the fireplace, his mood black. His gaze was distracted by an ornate bauble that hung from a leather cord a few inches from his face. Looking up, he discovered that the cord was held by a weathered hand. The hand belonged to Belloc.
Without preamble, the wizard said, "Would you like to see a little magic?"
Instinctively, the boy peered at the bauble, expecting something to happen. Instead, the wizard placed the leather cord around the young man's neck. "A present," said Belloc with an ambiguous smile. "Come."