Balin and the Crystal Dragon

A crystal dragon gives a seemingly impossible task to Balin, a very old and very wise wizard.Only one other person has attempted it. He failed, and failure cost him his life.On one recent occasion, Balin was not wise enough. Now he faces the consequences.He is indebted to the dragon who, despite his glittery appearance, is a creature of darkness. The debt must be paid off.The dragon possesses almost everything anyone could desire, but he wants more.He orders Balin to find something that is truly unique. Or else.Unsure how to go about finding something that may not exists, he enlists two elves and their cat in his search.A flying horse fleeing from a herd of night mares drops in as they ready a raft for a voyage of exploration.And then Balin's real adventures begin. Pirates, robbers and more flying horses complicate their hunt on land and on sea.They acquire a most unusual raft, but their lack of nautical experience becomes a complication, too.All this is the stuff of daydreams and nightmares, which become a part of the story too.