Jonathan sighed and turned away, obviously frustrated. “Sure. That’s nothing at all,” he snapped.
Valerie was too concerned about the task she had been set to worry about his harsh tone.
Did you find the wizard, princess? a voice floated lazily into her mind, curling around it and giving Valerie a boost of warmth.
A thought was forming in Valerie’s mind.
“What if it’s not literal?” she asked Peredur as she somehow managed to thank him and tell him they had found the wizard and she had received her quest.
For what, princess? the leviathan replied as Jonathan asked, “What?”
But Valerie ignored them both and thought about it.
Not literal. That could mean almost anything. What else could the brain of a leviathan mean if not the actual brain out of its head? What was brushing up against the edges of her mind as though the answer was written all over it?
“The Link!” she cried.
“What?” Jonathan asked again, turning back to her.
“The Link. My Link with Peredur,” Valerie said. “Could that count as the brain of a leviathan?”
Jonathan nodded slowly. “It could. And the head of a troll could mean you need to kill a troll – your fight against one?”
“But you killed both of them.”
“No. You gave it the mortal wound. I just finished it off. Had it not managed that lucky shot, I’m sure you would have done that too. But it would have died from that wound anyway shortly after had I not.”
Valerie was not sure about that, but she did not think she would argue with him. “So if we assume we have those two things already once we get the troll’s head, all I need is a sword, a secret and a dragon’s heart. Where the heck will I get a dragon’s heart?” she scoffed. “Is that one literal? I can’t think what else it could mean.”
“Let’s just focus on the sword and the secret for now,” Jonathan said. “Surely they’re something we’ll come across on our way home. Perhaps you have another couple of fights and you win a sword or a secret from whoever you beat?”
Valerie nodded. “Maybe. Maybe they’ll have a dragon’s heart for me to take as well.”
“Yeah, Val. Maybe.”
“He said choose our path home. What do you think he meant by that?”
“I think that was probably the least cryptic thing he said,” Jonathan grumbled. “Pick a direction and we’ll go that way.”
Valerie nodded again. “Okay. Do we need to go back and get the troll’s head? Maybe there’s a clue to the sword or the secret or the dragon there?”
“It’s as good a place as any to continue on with.”
“Then perhaps we can come back west?”
“Through the mountains?” Jonathan clarified, looking like he’d rather face that dragon head on.
“Yes.”
“Not north?”
“No. I can’t risk getting too close to home before we get the last three things.”
Jonathan nodded sombrely, obviously resigned rather than agreeing. “All right. Trolls then west it is.”
Valerie felt excitement bubbling. She had her quest and she had already collected two of the five items required to successfully complete it.
“A sword. A secret. A heart,” she mused as they went to the horses.
The raven Argos followed them for a ways along the path. Valerie was not sure if he was making sure they left the wizard’s territory or making sure they left it safely. Neither did she much care.
She had her quest and she had her answer about Daniel and Edmond. Now all she had to do was make it back to Mor with the required items and she could tell her father the truth about their deaths.
Valerie did not know how or where she would find a sword, a secret or a heart. But she felt a damned sight better prepared than she had when she first ran away from home.
She was one step closer to proving her worth as a knight.
Valerie’s story will continue in Captain Valerie.
Coming soon.
Valiant Valerie
Thank you so much for reading this story! Word of mouth is super valuable to authors. So, if you have a few moments to rate/review Valerie’s story – or, even just pass it on to a friend – I would be really appreciative.
Have you looked for my books in store or at your local or school library and can’t find them? Just let your friendly staff member or librarian know that they can order copies directly from LightningSource/Ingram.
If you want to keep up to date with my new releases, rambles and writing progress, sign up to my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/doBRaX.
Follow me:
My Books
You can find where to buy all my books in print and ebook at my website; www.elizabethstevens.com.au/books.
About the Author
Born in New Zealand to a Brit and an Australian, I am an emerging writer with a passion for all things storytelling. I love reading, writing, TV and movies, gaming, and spending time with family and friends. I am an avid fan of British comedy, superheroes, and SuperWhoLock. I have too many favourite books, but I fell in love with reading after Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn. I am obsessed with all things mythological – my current focus being old-style Irish faeries. I live in Adelaide with my long-suffering husband, delirious dog, mad cat, one guinea pig, two chickens, and a lazy turtle.
Contact me:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.elizabethstevens.com.au
Twitter: www.twitter.com/writer_iz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/writeriz
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/writeriz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethstevens88/
Valiant Valerie (Ballad of Valerie of Mor #1) Page 21