“That’s all?”
Valerie nodded. “He doesn’t even know we’re from Mor. He called them useless and everything.”
Jonathan sighed. “Well that is something at least. Seems I may have underestimated you, Val.”
“I wouldn’t blame you,” she huffed.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I haven’t managed to find anything about the wizard except a load of old stories and a dot on a map that may be a complete fabrication.” Valerie sighed and rubbed her bandage absent-mindedly.
“That’s better than nothing.”
“It’s hardly a starting place.”
“No. Our starting place was ‘mountains in the south’. A dot on a map – however possibly false – is a sight better, don’t you think?”
Valerie looked up at him and found him smiling softly.
“I guess so,” she answered.
“You guess so,” he chuckled gently.
“So we’ll head there when you’re ready?” she asked.
Jonathan nodded. “We will. And that time can’t come soon enough.”
****
Jonathan’s healing progressed well over the next few days under the guidance of Gabriel.
The day after he’d woken, he’d been allowed to get up and walk about on his own and moved into a bed in one of the spare bed chambers, very much like the one that had been offered to Valerie. He was very pleased about sleeping in what he considered a proper bed, even if the mattress was made of straw and the sheets were rougher than the ones in Clade. And Valerie had to agree with him.
The day after, he tried for some more exercise and took short walks around the monastery with Brother Bernard, who could not manage more than a short walk at a time himself. She sat on a bench in a courtyard and watched them, deep in conversation as they both slowly plodded along.
On the next day, Jonathan seemed more energetic. He ate his midday meal with gusto and even made the longer journey to the library to do some reading of his own. Valerie joined him, but was not sure how useful she was as he seemed lost in his own world for much of the afternoon.
The next few days went by much the same with Jonathan getting stronger with each passing day. Valerie knew Jonathan had been talking with the monks while he could, and he spent long hours discussing things with them in hushed tones. Other times, he was in the library reading or walking to build his strength.
Valerie spent the time talking with Gabriel or reading about epic quests the likes of which she hoped to receive from the wizard. But mostly she was a little bored.
By the time Jonathan found her, a week after he had woken, she was trying to be helpful to the monks by assisting Brother Idwyl with the gardening.
“Valerie,” Jonathan called. “Gabriel has approved a gentle sparring session to test my healing.”
Valerie wiped her brow and looked up at him from her perch among the tomato plants. “And I suppose you’ll be needing a sparring partner then?”
“Know anyone who’s interested?” he teased.
She stood up, stretching her back. “I’m sure I couldn’t think of anyone,” she teased back.
“Come on, Val. We haven’t had a proper spar in ages.”
“No,” she laughed. “We’ve been too busy fighting for our lives.” Before he could protest or cajole further, she continued, “Yes. All right. I’ll spar with you.” As she threaded her way through the plants, she added, “Be thankful I’m already in my trousers.”
“Nonsense. You could best me in a dress,” Jonathan said, seemingly in high spirits.
“When you were apparently hiding how well you fought, maybe,” she retorted hotly.
But he did not fall for her ruse and give her any explanation. “How about when I’m still recovering from a poisoning?” he asked as they walked to the stables to retrieve their swords, which had been left with Perry and Manon.
“Perhaps then. Tell me, Jonathan…” she started.
“Tell you what, Valerie?”
“Why is it you decided to become a minstrel and not join the army? You certainly fight well enough. Though I must ask where you learnt that as well.”
“Must you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m a lover, not a fighter. You know that.”
“Yes. The trail of village girls back home told me that,” she scoffed, hardly impressed with his imagined coveted status.
“That is why I did not join the army.”
Valerie snorted. “So you could woo fair maidens with your pretty singing voice?”
Jonathan let her enter the stable before him. “What better way to win a woman’s heart than with the poetry of love?”
Valerie made a face at him. “I can think of plenty.”
“Such as?”
As she picked up her sword and checked it, she thought. “Sincerity, for one. It would be nice for a man to compliment you without it being hollow words.”
“How many men are giving you hollow compliments for this to be your chief concern?” Jonathan asked her.
“All of them, apparently.”
“I mean every word I say to you,” he replied, sounding utterly indignant that she should think so little of him.
As they exited the stable again, Valerie gave him a reassuring smile. “You don’t count.”
“Why not?”
“You’re not just some man, Jonathan. You’re… Well, you’re my Jonny,” she said as though that explained everything.
Jonathan gave one of his curt nods. “All right, then. Show me how rusty you’ve become since we left those trolls for moss.”
They sparred and Valerie thought she would take it easy on him. But Jonathan did not seem to have any interest in taking it easy, even when an overexertion caused him to wince in pain. Still, she bested him at every turn, knowing it had little to do with her prowess and more to do with Jonathan’s infirmity. He though did not seem to think so.
“Gillam will have words to say about this,” Jonathan told her.
“What do you mean?”
“Your fighting style is changing slightly. Instead of the brute strength of a knight, you’re using more agility. Less hacking, more finesse.”
“You make knights sound like unrefined bullies,” Valerie protested.
“For all intents and purposes, they are. Atop your horses in your armour, you’re designed to smash through the opponent.”
“You sound unimpressed.”
Jonathan shrugged. “There is more than one way to fight. It just so happens, I feel that knights are not the best.”
“I’d like to see you best a mounted knight!”
Jonathan scoffed. “Of course I couldn’t.”
“Then they are the best.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “I did not mean that sort of best. Knights are useful on a battlefield with their full regalia. Out here with only their light armour, they cannot live up to their potential.”
As they packed away their swords, Valerie thought about his words and wondered how true they were.
Chapter Nineteen
They had said their goodbyes to the inhabitants of the Dravon Monastic Sect, stocked with provisions and a map which should lead them to the wizard’s home, provided the information was not made up by some hopeful past monk.
Jonathan had spent the last week of travel assuring Valerie that he had double checked all the information in the library and from the monks, and he was almost certain he knew where the wizard should be. He had not been able to promise her the wizard was real but, if he was, Valerie was sure Jonathan was the person to help her find him and she felt closer to her goal than she had ever before.
Jonathan had let her do more to set up camp when she offered and she knew that was a key sign he was still healing. One sparring session may not have burst his wound again, but Valerie was pleased that Jonathan was taking Gabriel’s warning to not overdo it seriously.
&nb
sp; She was still not allowed near Perry’s saddle bag, but Jonathan was more than happy to sit and watch as she set up their camp, lit the fire, or cooked their food. Sometimes he disappeared for just long enough that she started to worry, but he was always wandering back to the fire as she resolved to go and look for him.
Getting closer to Valerie’s goal meant that she was beginning to feel nervous about what they might find.
“We might find nothing,” she reminded herself.
“Or we might find exactly what we need,” Jonathan told her.
“Or he’s not real.”
Jonathan sighed. “Can we not stop believing now?”
“I’m not…not believing. I’m just–”
“Can I help you?”
Perry and Manon both stopped short and Valerie looked at the little boy who seemed to have appeared on the path ahead of them as if from nowhere. His hair was light brown and he wore a long tunic over his leggings.
Valerie looked around, wondering where he had come from. “Perhaps. We are looking for a clearing to the west of Dravon–”
“There’s plenty of clearings west of Dravon, miss,” he interrupted. “You’ll need to be more specific.”
Valerie looked to Jonathan, who gave her a look and spoke for her. “It sits by a stream with a small hut.”
The little boy rubbed his chin. “Well…that does narrow it down somewhat. But not by much.”
“We’re looking for the wizard,” Valerie said hurriedly.
“Hm. The wizard or a wizard, miss?”
“Is there a difference?” Valerie asked.
“Is there a difference?” the little boy chuckled. “Miss, that’s like asking if there’s a difference between summer and winter.” He shook his head with a wry smile. “Is there a difference, indeed.”
“We’re looking for the wizard,” Valerie answered.
He peered up at her, then up at Jonathan. “The wizard, you say?” he asked and Valerie nodded. “Well, I don’t know much about the difference between the wizard and a wizard, but I can show you to a place that might be the one you’re after.”
Valerie was not sure if the little boy was being contrary on purpose or if he was just too young to really be any help. Still, any help they could get would be better than none. At worst, they might lose some time in their search. At best, they might find the wizard.
“Thank you. That would be most kind,” she said, slipping off Manon’s saddle and Jonathan followed suit.
“What’s a little kindness, huh?” the little boy said cheerfully as he started skipping away. “Costs nothing to give, and everything to receive. For some that’s all we’ve left in the world.”
Valerie looked over Manon’s back to Jonathan as they followed the little boy. Unsure if he could read her expression or not, she did not know exactly what Jonathan’s nod meant. But she suspected he was reassuring her that following the little boy was the right choice.
“You’re right,” Valerie replied.
“Of course I’m right, miss. I just said it, didn’t I?”
They said no more as they continued following him along the path. Eventually they came to a clearing among the trees. It was a flat area of land with some rocks dotted about. But there was no sign of a stream or of a hut.
“May I ask something of you, miss?” the little boy said as he stopped and turned towards her.
“Uh… Yes.”
“Do you remember the first man you killed?”
Surprise fluttered in Valerie’s stomach. “Excuse me?”
“No need for coy, miss. We all three of us know you’ve killed men. Do you remember the first?”
Valerie nodded. “Every time I close my eyes I see the light leave his.”
The little boy watched her for the longest time that Valerie was sure he must be mad. However, he finally nodded.
“I suppose you’ll be wanting to see the wizard now, then.”
He clapped his hands twice, the sound sharp and echoing around the clearing, which was suddenly no longer empty. A small hut stood in front of them, a stream to their right, and where the little boy had stood was a raven, eyeing them intently.
“Thank you, Argos,” an old man said as he came out of the hut and the raven cawed before flying to perch on the roof of the hut.
The old man came towards them and Valerie felt the flutter of nerves and excitement hit her.
He was almost as tall as Jonathan, his hair and long beard white, and he wore a dark blue robe. As he got closer, he squinted at them.
“Valerie Redford, Crown Princess of Mor,” the old man said, almost as though he was surprised.
Valerie nodded.
“Come in then, I suppose.”
After looking at Jonathan and receiving a nod of encouragement, Valerie followed the old man inside the hut. A moment later, Jonathan walked in as well.
“You know why I’ve come, then,” Valerie said.
The wizard, for who else could it be, frowned. “No. Why would I know that?”
Valerie was confused. “You know who I am but not why I’m here?”
“Magic’s not an exact science, your highness,” the wizard replied with a shrug. “Hence the unfortunate business with healing, I’m afraid.”
“The healing?”
The wizard nodded. “True magic comes at a high price. And those with the truest magic are oft loathe to share it with those who don’t fully appreciate and understand it. Your uncle understood.”
Valerie’s heart jumped. “You know about my uncle.”
“I know a great many things, lass.” The wizard nodded to Jonathan. “Like I know you’re still recovering from a poisoning. That was a close one.”
“I’ll regain my strength,” Jonathan answered.
“And then some, I’ll wager,” the wizard said.
Poisoning made Valerie remember her other question for the wizard. “Do you know if Daniel and Edmond were poisoned?”
The wizard seemed to look at Jonathan before replying. “Aye. I do and they were,” he said slowly.
Valerie held her emotions in check. “Do you know who poisoned them?”
“There are things I see and things I don’t, lass. Then there’s those you need to discover for yourself. Was that the only reason you came?”
“No,” she answered, realising she would get no more from him on the subject of Daniel and Edmond. “I am here for a quest. I wish to prove my worth to the Privy Council, show them that I belong in my father’s Senior Corps.”
The wizard pottered about his home, nodding thoughtfully. “A quest?” He looked to Jonathan. “You let her come to me for a quest, did you, minstrel?”
Jonathan scowled. “It was hardly my decision, sir. I do as I am bid.”
“Oh, yes. I see that, boy. Though it’s not all fun and games, is it?”
“I do my job and I do it well,” Jonathan replied, his tone hard.
“No one’s doubting that,” the wizard chuckled. “I’d wager our young princess here would be dead many times over without you.”
Valerie bristled. “I am the most accomplished woman trainee–”
“In the last hundred years of Mor’s army,” the wizard finished for her. “Yes, I know. But how did that set you up for your time in the real world? Those brigands in Clade follow your code of chivalry, did they?” He waved his hand through the air and Valerie watched an image of her and Jonathan fighting in Clade floating in the air. He waved his hand again and it was the pirates on the barge. “How did it prepare you for your first kill? Does it help you when you close your eyes?”
“It was…self-defence,” Valerie stuttered.
“No doubt, lass. But the man’s still dead.” The wizard waved his hand once more and there was the fight with the trolls. “And how many times have you come upon trolls?” With one last wave and a clenching of his fist, the images disappeared.
“I did my best, the same as Jon,” Vale
rie said, feeling like perhaps the wizard was not going to grant her a quest after all.
The wizard sniggered and threw a look to Jonathan. “You did your best all right. But that wasn’t Jonathan’s first fight with a troll. Was it, minstrel?”
“We are here for Valerie, wizard,” Jonathan huffed. “Will you grant her a quest or have we wasted valuable time?”
The wizard ran a hand over his chin and beard. “It’s been a mighty long while since anyone’s begged a quest of me.”
“Does that mean you won’t help us?” Jonathan asked.
The wizard shook his head. “Not at all. You impatient young things just need to give an old man a moment to think of something appropriate,” he grumbled.
He continued pottering around, picking up books and scrolls as though he was looking for something specific. Every time Valerie tried to catch Jonathan’s eye, he was obviously refusing to look at her. So she stood in silence, not really sure if this was how all those great epic tales in the songs started or not.
“All right,” the wizard finally said, throwing his arms up and casting a shadow over the room. “I have chosen your quest, princess. Will you undertake whatever task I give you with honour, bravery, intelligence and kindness?”
Valerie swallowed hard. “I will.”
The wizard nodded. “Then you must arrive back in Mor with the following items. A sword of immeasurable value. The brain of a leviathan. A secret uncovered. The head of a troll. And…” here he paused for a moment, “the heart of a dragon.”
Valerie blinked at him. “How am I supposed to arrive home with all that?” she blurted out unintentionally.
The wizard grinned and tapped the side of his nose. “That is for you to find out. All I can say is that you may choose your own path home. You never know what you might find when you’re not really looking for it.” He winked, then he and his home disappeared once more, leaving Valerie and Jonathan standing in the clearing.
Perry nickered and Valerie turned to see the horses barely phased by the wizard’s disappearance. Then she remembered his words.
“A sword, a leviathan brain, a secret, a troll’s head, and a dragon’s heart…?” she muttered to herself then looked to Jonathan. “How are we going to do any of that? A leviathan’s brain? I can’t get a leviathan’s brain. Forget trying to carry it home, I won’t kill one!”
Valiant Valerie (Ballad of Valerie of Mor #1) Page 20