Wizards and toads and witches and avoiding the well-traveled road. These may be nonsense to some and esoteric wisdom to others. They mean very little to me. I guess having a wizard in your pocket might be a handy-dandy thing to have but wouldn't that be a bore? Would a wizard agree to stay in your pocket? I bet he would quickly turn you into a toad at the slightest hint of your intentions. Wizards are not known to be a docile lot. Now, that would not be merely boring but downright inconvenient unless, a princess happened to come along and was so inclined to give you a kiss but, princesses are known to be picky about who they kiss unless they themselves are asleep and must be awakened by a kiss.
So, having a wizard in your pocket turns out to be a lousy idea after all unless you like being a toad and have no wish to be a man and have stupid ideas that could turn you into a horny toad which might be a good thing if a slutty princess happened to pass by and was inclined to kiss a toad on sight, horny or not.
Traveling alone on a lonely road without fortune or fancy can be a boring thing. For one thing, you're on foot and have no clear idea where you are going but you have to keep on the road anyway, because you are not a wizard that can will yourself to places difficult to imagine. Besides, the road is a much better option than braving the rivers and pushing through the thickets and thorny plants tha sting and cut your skin.
The open road is definitely better.
