About a year ago, Basio, Zyndal and I had an occasion to revisit the ancient kingdom of Tuareas near the eastern Mediterranean. We had encountered this beautiful spot on an earlier adventure and had made friends with the court wizard there, Berantan. He had promised a most unusual sight if we ever had a chance to return, and so we took this opportunity to renew our friendship.

Upon our arrival we were once again presented to the king and given royal quarters for our stay. Musicians were called and a delightful meal was enjoyed in our rooms. Hoping for some answers as to what we might see, we were given only hints of what was to come. Berantan then gave orders that we should not be disturbed for the rest of the evening. The servants would make sure to have us up early the next morning and so after a glass of the red wine that is famous throughout the region, we fell asleep.

A simple breakfast was enjoyed the next morning and then we set out on horseback with Berantan in the lead, accompanied by a retinue of servants bearing everything needed for a delightful lunch. After journeying for several hours, we set up camp a short distance away from a high bluff overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. Taking us aside, Berantan took us to the edge of the bluff.

Far away, the sea rolled calmly while in front of us was a bowl-shaped valley, containing hundreds of trees. The branches of these magical trees showed leaves of every color of the rainbow. The usual colors of green, red and brown mingled with other exquisite colors of lavender, pink and blue. It was an incredible sight. All around this magical valley the rocky cliffs fell to the sea as though they encased this precious valley as a gem in the hands of a giant. My questioning look to Berantan was met with a smile and a hand up, signalling a "watch and see".

As we stood there, he took from his richly embroidered gown a handful of powder, green in color. There was a gentle breeze from the north and as we watched he flung the powder on the wind where it quickly flowed over the entire valley. The trees that had been gently bending in the breeze now seemed to awaken. Incredibly, one by one, the trees began a gentle dipping motion. They began to turn and face each other, as though partners were being chosen. Bending then turning, swaying this way and that, it was like a perfectly choreographed dance played out in front of our eyes.

Basio was so entranced that he sat down, wanting to make sure that he wasn't in some kind of a magical dream. Zyndal leaned on his staff, face shining with delight. You could almost hear mysterious music on the breeze as the trees exchanged places, their roots dragging behind them. This went on for several minutes with the enchantment ever growing. Upon reflection later in the day, we had all felt the strange hypnotic kind of spell that made us also want to sway with the trees.

Berantan then slowly raised his hands over the swaying trees, spoke several quiet words into the wind and they began to slow. Finally stopping, the trees once again became a normal looking forest. All, that is, except for the fact that the trees had immediately put down their roots wherever they happened to have stopped. Amazingly the valley now looked totally different from the way we first saw it.

Berantan then explained to us that the valley never looks the same way twice. The nearby villagers have given it an appropriate name, the Valley of Enchantment. Never without my sketchbook, I jotted a few melodic patterns down for future use. During our wondrous visions, the servants had prepared our lunch, which we enjoyed immensely. As you listen to this musical track, may you feel the mysterious enchantment I felt on that wonderful day so long ago...........Davutus