She shuffled her way towards the cabins. She held herself in the doorway and could hear Jonathan’s side of an argument. Presumably Peredur was on the other end. Valerie could not make out all the words, but it sounded a lot like Jonathan was losing the fight.
Without really knowing what she was doing, she teetered to the front of the barge, threw herself on the ground and thrust her hand in the water. It was colder than she had expected.
Her fingertips brushed the top of Peredur’s head and there was a slight hesitation between the barge’s movements as they touched. She wriggled further and managed to reach far enough to place her whole palm on his head.
Instantly, the barge stopped bucking. It just bobbed about on the ripples left by Peredur’s previous movements.
Valerie felt a tingle in her head. She was not sure how to describe it. It was all of a sudden a lightness, and then a heaviness. As though the top of her head was floating around and something had wrapped itself around it.
She heard a humming in her ears. It pressed and squeezed her mind. Her nose itched.
She felt rather than heard a greeting.
“Hello?” she said tentatively. She felt like she knew what to do, but did not know why she knew or why it was the thing to do.
Hello. A deep, soft voice hugged her mind. It felt like a cloud was wrapped around her.
“Are you all right?”
I hurt.
“Where do you hurt?”
She felt a pain in her side, it was sharp and strong and knocked the wind out of her. Her hand left the leviathan’s head for a moment; the pain was gone and the barge bucked again. She pushed her hand back down. The pain returned but the barge settled again.
“Val, what are you–” Jonathan started but stopped when she raised her other hand to shush him.
“Tell me what I can do.”
Hurts.
That’s not an answer, she thought to herself.
Hurts, she felt again.
She looked down. You can hear me?
She felt the leviathan’s head nod under her hand.
“I wish you didn’t hurt,” she whispered, not at all sure what she could do but wishing she could do whatever it took to stop his hurt.
The pain in her side sharpened again, but then was gone
No. Griffin! Where is Griffin?
“I don’t know what you mean,” Valerie said.
He was here. She almost felt a jab in her mind. But now he is not.
“Wait a minute.” Valerie pushed herself to her feet, her arm felt colder as the night air brushed over the water droplets.
“What is it?” Jonathan asked. “What were you doing?”
“I was talking to Peredur. Apparently.”
It is not like you made it up, she heard him say.
“I can still hear Peredur…”
“Valerie?”
“Jonathan…”
“This is no time for games, Val. What have you done?”
“I wasn’t aware I had done anything, Jon. The leviathan needed calming and I just…acted.”
“I don’t understand. How can she hear Per?” Ingram asked.
“Because the idiot has somehow unlinked Per from Griffin and Linked him to herself.” Jonathan scowled. He pushed back through the crew, angrier than Valerie had seen ever seen him. Valerie followed him into the cabins.
“Per? Per!” Griffin was calling.
“Hush,” Jonathan got a cloth from a bowl by the captain’s bunk and mopped his brow.
“Where is Per?” Griffin coughed.
“He’s fine. There was…a mishap with your Link, but we can fix it.”
“No!” Griffin grabbed Jonathan’s wrist and sat up, cringing. “No, you mustn’t let the Link re-establish.”
“Why not?” Valerie asked.
“Because if I die, Per will die with me.”
“What?”
“He’s right, Val,” Jonathan said, standing up. He came over to Valerie and spoke very softly in her ear. “It is very likely that he will die. The bleeding has started again and he’s very weak. It may be that the Link broke naturally as Captain Griffin realised he was going to die.”
“You don’t sound very sure.”
“I’m not. I know about creating Links and forcing them apart, but there’s very little I know about them occurring naturally.”
He started pacing, which looked ridiculous in such a small space. Valerie squeezed past him and knelt by the captain’s side.
“Captain, do you really think you’re going to die?”
He smiled sadly and his hand searched for hers. “When a man’s time comes, the time has come. Peredur and I have said our goodbyes. You will have to look after him now.”
“How can I do that?” Valerie asked, but the captain had fallen asleep or passed out. Valerie panicked until she saw his chest rise unsteadily, then fall again.
She turned to Jonathan. “Why do I look after the leviathan now?”
“Because you somehow Linked with it, Val.” He sighed, rubbing his temples.
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
“How are we going to complete my quest if I’m stuck on a barge?”
“I don’t know, Val.”
“I can’t live on a barge the rest of my life. Da would be furious!”
“Val! Shut up!” It was the first time Jonathan had ever yelled at her. Her mouth snapped shut.
He kept pacing, mumbling to himself. Valerie felt panic welling up inside, her breath was short and her heart raced.
You must stay calm, Valerie, she felt Peredur say. Our bodies are also Linked, not just our minds. Draw from my strength. She took a deep breath and felt a warmth spread through her body. Her heart slowed and her breathing deepened.
She stepped forward, accidentally crashing into Jonathan as he paced.
“Oh, Valerie. Come on!” Jonathan grabbed her arms. “I need to think.”
“Why don’t we just unlink me from Peredur?”
“We can’t leave him unlinked. Not just for his job, but his mind has been Linked to another’s so long that it won’t function properly on its own.”
“So…once you’re Linked, you can never be unlinked again?” Valerie asked.
“No. Of course you can. You, for example, would be fine if we unlinked you from Peredur.” He glanced away, almost as if he felt guilty about something, then looked back at her. “But we will need to see if one of the other crew will Link with him.”
“Ingram,” Captain Griffin breathed. “Ingram will be captain now.”
“We’ll have to ask Ingram.”
They walked out of the cabins and found Ingram and the crew waiting for them.
“How is he?” Cook asked.
“Not good, I’m afraid,” Jonathan said. “He believes he is going to die.”
“Is he going to?” Ingram asked.
Jonathan nodded slowly. “I think so. But it may not be quick.”
Ingram swore quite colourfully. “Sorry, princess.”
She held up her hand to indicate she did not care.
“We have another problem,” Jonathan said.
“What is it?” Ingram asked.
“Somehow, Peredur has been unLinked from Griffin and Linked to Valerie.”
The crew looked at her, mouths agape.
“That would make her our captain,” Ivo said slowly, when he had recovered from the shock.
“Yes…” Ingram said, also slowly. “But she cannot be our captain, she has duties elsewhere.”
Jonathan nodded again. “Which is why we need to Link Peredur to someone else.”
“Who?”
“You. Captain Griffin said you would be captain now.”
It may have been dark, but Valerie still saw the colour rise in his cheeks.
“Ah, well… It could be Eli or Holland. I could stay first mate…”
“That’s not h
ow it works and you know it, Ingram,” Eli said.
“You have earned the role of captain,” Holland said.
“I… I can’t,” Ingram said, his head hanging.
“Why not?” Jonathan asked. “Linking can be scary, but also rewarding. I can’t say there is no risk, but it’s rare that you’ll be left as a slobbering vegetable.”
“It’s not that. I would if I could…”
“Ah,” Jonathan said. Valerie looked at him, hoping he would explain. “I see.”
“We tried it when I was a younger man,” Ingram said. “I was part of the crew on another vessel. The captain was looking to retire and wanted to pass the title of first mate on to me. So, the test was done. My mind cannot Link with another.” He looked ashamed but Valerie did not think it was something of which to be ashamed.
“There is not a lot to be done about that. It is not as uncommon as you think,” Jonathan replied. Ingram smiled.
“What about the rest of you.”
“There’s a test?” Ivo asked.
Jonathan nodded. “I can test you–”
“How do you know how to do all these things?” Valerie burst out.
Jonathan gave her a pointed look, exasperation clear on his face, then turned back to the others.
Maybe you should let him do what he needs to do, Peredur said.
Who do you want to be Linked with? she asked him.
I would choose Griffin, of course. If that was possible, he replied. Valerie thought he sounded very sad. Her own heart was heavy and her eyes were hot. She was not sure whether this was of her own volition, or his influence. Or both.
I’m sorry, Per, she said. I wish I could help you more.
Why can’t I stay with you?
She hesitated, not sure what to say. He sounded so young. I have to go away, I won’t be able to stay with you.
Why does everyone leave me? His voice sounded like it would have cracked if he spoke out loud and Valerie’s heart cracked.
“Valerie,” Jonathan was saying. He was shaking her.
She looked at him. “Can you have multiple Links at a time?”
“Yes. Why?” Jonathan asked, almost too quickly.
“Can Per still be Linked with me as well as one of the crew?”
Jonathan opened and closed his mouth a few times before he seemed to find the words to answer. “Theoretically, yes. But why would you want to stay Linked with him?”
Valerie was not sure what to say to make him understand. “Because I have to,” was all she could say.
She looked at him earnestly, hoping he would be able to somehow see into her heart and know what she felt. If he had heard Peredur’s voice and felt the wrenching in his heart, he would know just how much she could not bring herself to abandon him. It would not solve their problem of Linking the leviathan to a crew member who could help him drive the barge. And it would not solve the problem that Griffin was all Peredur had ever really known, and now he was gone to the leviathan. Valerie felt that if she, as the next mind Peredur met, left him too it would crush him.
She knew her resolve was hardening. She would not let Jonathan unlink her. As she came to know that, she felt warmth spreading through her body again. She felt like smiling and as though her body was being hugged by an invisible, outside force.
To her surprise, Jonathan nodded. Though he did not look pleased by it. He had the look on his face that Valerie knew he wanted to argue, but he was holding back. Knowing Jonathan the way she did, she knew he would have a valid reason for arguing, so she was not sure why he did not just say what he was thinking.
She watched him a moment longer, but he still said nothing to her.
“We still need to find one of you who can Link with him,” Jonathan said tersely. “We’ll start the testing tomorrow. For now, you need to get some sleep so your minds are as fresh as possible.” He rubbed his eyes. “I will sit with Captain Griffin first.”
“I can do it,” Cook said.
Jonathan shook his head. “You rest. If you wish to take my place, do so after some sleep.”
The crew mumbled quietly and began moving into the cabins.
“I can sit with you if you want?” Valerie said, taking his hand.
He looked so worn out. It was such a change from how relaxed he had seemed the last week, where he had seemed to have not a care in the world.
Jonathan gripped her hand more securely and led her to Captain Griffin’s cabin, but he said nothing.
They sat themselves down on the ground and leant against the wall. Jonathan took her hand again and she put her head on his shoulder. They sat companionably in silence the way they had many times before. Valerie wanted to ask him what was bothering him, but she thought it might ruin the calm quiet they shared.
Chapter Thirteen
Valerie woke, her side cold as though Jonathan had just got up. She looked around and saw he was sitting on the side of Captain Griffin’s bunk, his head hanging. It was still dark out.
She crawled over and sat by hit feet.
“He’s gone, Val,” Jonathan said.
She felt a tug on her mind and then on her heart and she knew Peredur had heard Jonathan. The barge felt like it sank a bit. She sent as much warmth and reassurance as she was able, hoping she was doing it right. The barge rose again and even Jonathan seemed to perk up a bit.
She put a hand on his knee. “You and Cook did everything you could.”
“I know. I’m just sick of all this death. The war. The plague. Clade. Pirates. It just seems so senseless and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”
“You saved me,” Valerie said.
He smiled at her sadly and brushed his hand over her head, his hand stopping to cup her neck. “I did. And you know I couldn’t live with myself if you died, Val. But I wish there was something I could do for all the others who are losing their lives.”
“You’re thinking of what they said in Kailan, aren’t you? About the brigands?”
He nodded. “There are reports coming in from every country on this continent of people being attacked. There’s talk that an army is being gathered in northern Agrea and there’s unrest further North. War may come again.”
“Do you think it will?”
“I don’t know. It depends on the reasons behind it all.”
“Do you know what is behind it all?”
Jonathan shook his head. “At this point, it could be anything. Agrea were so harshly punished, they were left in a sorry state after the war, so the people will be angry and looking for restitution. Mirinlan were so badly treated during the war that they have nothing left. Reports say the plague originated there, so they may want to find new homes. Makar is still running about in the background, and no one knows where he is so Lord knows if he has anything to do with all the unrest. It would be just like him to stir unrest to fuel his own agenda. There are plenty of people who he could convince to rally behind him.” Jonathan sighed. “The world is in a mess, there’s turmoil left, right and centre. I don’t know what we can do about it, Val.”
“Take my bunk. Get some sleep. I’ll wake Cook and deal with Captain Griffin’s body.” She stood up and led him to her bunk. She tucked him in and waited a few moments. He just lay there, looking defeated. She pushed his hair off his face, kissed his forehead and left, hoping he would get some sleep.
She did not feel strong enough to break the news to Cook and the others alone, but she knew she had to.
You’re not alone. She felt a mental nudge. I am with you now.
She smiled, thanking Peredur, and crept into the bunkroom to wake Cook.
****
The funeral for Captain Griffin was over and Jonathan was testing the crewmembers’ eligibility to Link with Peredur. The men seemed less sad than they were after Edwin’s funeral, but Valerie was not sure that they had the ability to feel any more sorrow.
Plus they had had warning before Griffin’s death and got to s
ay goodbye, she thought to herself.
They had decided to stay moored until Peredur was Linked to a sailor’s mind, so the leviathan had decided to have some time unbonded from the barge.
While the men were tested, Valerie leant over the side of the barge and watched the leviathan swim around. She had not seen him out from under the barge during the day before now and she was enthralled by his movement.
Now she could see his whole body, he looked more like she would have expected. He looked somewhat like a large lizard, but with some differences. His head was more stunted than a lizard, a bit more rounded. His body was shorter in proportion to the head and legs than she expected. Instead of legs, he had flippers that moved in an alternate gait; his back left and front right flippers would move up as the others moved down, then vice versa. His tail had a wedge at the end that looked like it was used the same way a rudder on a boat was.
He glided through the water easily, turning around quickly and showing an agility that belied his size. After a while, he swam to the barge and stuck his head out of the water, looking up at Valerie. His eyes were round, about the size of Valerie’s head, and a deep green. His head was the colour of a calm sea.
Valerie put her hand out and he nudged his head into her palm. His skin was tougher than she thought it would be, and smooth. Up close it was not one colour, but a mottled combination of many similar shades of blue.
He made a sort of keening noise, but it sounded happy. Valerie patted him. He made a burbling sound and swam over to the bank, clambered out and rolled around in the dirt. After he was nice and dirty, he curled up and fell asleep.
“Where’s Peredur?” Jonathan came up behind Valerie.
She pointed and Jonathan smiled. “Well, we won’t bother him now then. Ivo and Holland are the best options, as far as I can tell. With more time, we could maybe either pick one definitively or train Zachary and Eli up, but we can see whose mind is better suited to Peredur’s as we try to Link them.”
Valiant Valerie (Ballad of Valerie of Mor #1) Page 13