The Valley of Ten Crescents Series (Box Set: Books 1-3)

by Tristan J. Tarwater

  Derk stood there for a moment before realizing she was asking for his name without asking a question. He managed to jump start his tongue and bowed courteously to the priestess, surprised at how formal his mannerisms had suddenly become. “I’m Derk, your holiness. Pleased to be of service to our Goddess and this temple. I really cannot stress how much it…well…really, there are no words for it. Happy, I suppose, might do. Something stronger, if I could think of it right now. Just. Excited.” Why was he still talking? Though he said it, it sounded strange to him. He glanced over at Asa, who raised one bushy eyebrow. Sindra turned her head to the side slightly but her face gave away no trace of annoyance or disgust. Instead she graced them both with a smile. Derk smiled back, hoping he wasn’t showing off too many teeth.

  “Well, I hope we all share your enthusiasm, Derk, and please, call me Sindra. I am only a servant of this temple, much like yourself.” She looked to them both and then to the exit. “I hope I have not delayed us too long. Forgive my tardiness; though it gladdens me to be of service to the Goddess and excites me to travel, I am loathe to leave my sisters. I was bidding them all farewell and I took too long, it seems.”

  “Oh, no, not at all!” Derk exclaimed, following her out of the temple and interrupting whatever Asa was about to say. “I’d be loathe to leave ‘em too, your sisters. They’re all beautiful people…on the inside. Aren’t they, Asa?” Was his face red? Was Asa going to say something?

  “And the outside,” Asa said, apparently not ashamed to say so. “I’ve heard it said and I have to agree, those who commit their lives to our Goddess are the best looking.”

  “Tits, man, how could you say that?!” Derk smacked him in the arm, wincing at the impact of Asa’s muscles against his hand, rubbing it gingerly. He jerked his head toward Sindra, only to have Asa look at him blankly. “Not that I don’t think they’re good looking, I just mean to say what should really matter is their attention to the other believers. Right?” Derk looked to Sindra hopefully.

  “True, though I am sure the believers do not mind looking upon the fair clergy when they attend,” she said with a wink, smiling coyly at the thief. She turned to them, offering her hand to Asa who helped her up into the wagon, the priestess sitting besides Devra who nodded in greeting and went back to her book. Sindra smiled at them both, Derk doing his best to not grin like an idiot as she set those grey eyes on him again.

  “Well, we’re off,” Asa said, nodding to Derk before hopping up into the seat himself, settling in between the two women. “You’ll take the gelding for now.”

  The gelding? Derk winced inwardly, looking over his shoulder. A horse was led toward him, another hooded figure leading the animal by its bridle. So much for a nap in the back of the cart. Derk mounted the horse in one fluid motion, surprised to find it easy after not having done so for quite some time. The horse snorted gently as it shifted itself under his weight. “Hope you ain’t the sign of things to come,” Derk muttered, patting the great beast on its neck.

  “A prayer before we go, Sin?” Devra looked up from her tablet, gazing over her brother to the beautiful priestess. Sindra nodded and bowed her head, Derk and the others following suit as she spoke the holy invocation.

  “Mother Moon, mistress of the night sky and the dark corners of our hearts, we humbly beseech thee; as your path is without hindrance, make ours so. Reveal what must be revealed and keep secret what must remain in secret. Keep the waters of the sky at bay and send your guardians to watch over those we love in our absence. Guard us always in your protective Bosom and may we reflect your pure, white light wherever we go. May your Black Hand guide us.”

  “May your Black Hand guide us.” The words said, Asa looked around with a huge smile on his face, waving goodbye to the priests and priestesses gathered outside. “Farewell! We’ll be back as soon as we can, and with the chalice! Keep us in your prayers!”

  “And we’ll take good care of Sin, don’t you worry!” This was from Devra, turning around in the seat to wave farewell.

  Derk followed behind just a few paces back, the lack of sleep starting to tug at his eyelids though he tried his best to size up the girl with the green eyes who could Wield. What kind of Wielding could she do? He’d heard a Wielder usually concentrated on one kind of power. Commanding animals, elements, bending the earth…more powerful than Binders, Spirit Callers, more dangerous than a forest fire. He jumped as he realized the Wielder in training was staring directly at him. Devra waved happily to him, her eyes bright with excitement. “Aren’t you glad to be off? Isn’t it exciting?”

  “They didn’t let you out much, did they?” He smiled sincerely, albeit wearily, wondering how long till he could catch a nap in the cart. Though his remark could have been misconstrued as unkind, the girl just smiled and turned back around in her seat, starting a conversation with her brother. The cart and the gelding and all their passengers trudged along on the city street, the smell of bread heavy in the air as the sky began to turn bright blue.

  As they approached the gates of the city, Sindra turned around in her seat to gaze back at Derk, the thief sitting up as straight as he could in the saddle. After a breath, he shrugged and relaxed. He’d just be himself since it was easier than trying to be anything else. He leaned back in the saddle and waved to her, not bothering to hide his exhaustion. Her lips parted and she said something he didn’t hear. “What?” he called.

  “I said, I’m glad you are coming with us. It is always good to make new friends.” She smiled primly at him before turning around, apparently joining in on the conversation with the twins. Derk shook his head side to side, feeling the cool morning breeze on his face, his hair disheveled and spilling in front of his eyes. He was tired. But he was leaving the thugs and other uncouth sorts of the city behind and heading forward into somewhat of an adventure. There was something energizing about that and he gripped the reins of the gelding more firmly, deciding he would take what came with open arms and with hope. And hopefully Sindra could be convinced in his arms was where she was meant to be.

  Something metallic clinked inside of his jacket and he felt around with one hand as he followed behind the cart. Celeel’s tools knocked against his lucky dagger again and his thoughts turned to the pretty woman he had left in her bed. He wondered if she had awoken yet and what she thought upon finding him gone. Would she miss him? Would she be in the city when he returned? For a moment he regretted having left without so much as a note and with her tools. But Sindra turned around in her seat again and just smiled and his thoughts were back on her and how beautiful she was.

  “One to one, you said. Proper, as well. Which one is the one? You’ve just left, so wait it out.” He had some time, he knew it. Time with his thoughts and some new people would do him good. Derk cleared his throat from behind the cart and began to sing to keep himself awake. It was an older song about starting a journey, one known by most anyone who went to bars often enough. Asa knew it and began singing in a surprisingly good voice and the women caught on. The party of four were soon singing as the sun rose higher in the sky, following them as they rode off toward its holy temple. Derk found himself thanking the Moon Goddess, hidden away in her watery home for placing him on the path he knew would lead toward good things.

  CHAPTER 6

  Misguided Attempts

  Derk fiddled with his dagger, watching as Asa chopped onions in the temple kitchen. The burly fighter was apparently good with a paring knife and a pot, humming quietly as the small white spheres separated in the wake of the fighter’s blade. A priestess entered with a bucket of water, her blonde, curly hair pulled into a thick braid. Derk watched her as she peered over Asa’s work, smiling at him and saying something which made Asa laugh. Asa volunteered himself to help fix the evening meal as soon as they were settled in. Sindra and Devra apparently had a meeting with the High Priestess. So Derk found himself sitting on a stool, completely unaware as to how to chop onions or long onions or disjoint an old hen or knead bread. He wrinkled his
nose at the sound of a leg bone being popping out its socket and the hack of a cleaver coming down. It sounded vaguely like some sounds he had caused himself in his life and it made his stomach feel strange to hear them.

  “I’ve been cooking ever since I could hold a spoon,” he heard Asa say, the young man’s face beaming. “Devra took to roaming about the woods with our pa so I stayed by our mam and helped. She never got strong again, after we came about. The least I could do was clean a bird to thank her.” Another whack of the cleaver made Derk jump. He knew the sound from his childhood, from scampers through the kitchen on the way to some other adventure. He knew the basics of it, the cost for each item and the technique. Derk wondered if he could cook a meal worth eating, noticing a basket of berries. He looked them over, smiling at the gentle bloom on their deep, blue skins. Without a second thought he snatched a few from the basket and popped them into his mouth, happy to find they were not too ripe. A hint of sourness made his mouth pucker but he chewed anyway. The berries were perfect the way they were. They didn’t need any dressing up or cooking.

  “That’s very sweet of you,” the priestess said, dunking a handful of greens into the bucket of water. “And is it true you’re a twin?” Derk thought her name was Keala. Her big eyes gazed at Asa as if he were a jug of wine and she had been working in the fields all day.

  “Aye, Devra is elder than me by three screams and one threat to break my pa’s arm,” Asa chuckled, making the priestess laugh as well. “It took the better part of a watch for us to come out but we did, and both lived to hear the tale.” Asa smiled at the priestess again and then over his shoulder at Derk. “Can you bring me those long onions?” He pointed with a finger covered in gore and vegetable matter.

  Derk set the dagger on the table and slid off the chair and tried not to be nervous, knowing it was a simple request. He knew what long onions were, everyone did. He picked one up and raised his eyebrows at Asa. “One?”

  “No, all of them. Well, maybe just five.” Asa smiled broadly as Derk picked up the onions, piling them in his arms before he walked over. The priestess had a mound of greens on a square of cloth and Asa had taken apart the chicken quite expertly. “Tell me, do you like to cook, Derk?”

  Derk slid back onto his stool and shrugged, picking his dagger up again. “Not really. Never really tried my hand at it. I think it’s better when people cook for me.” He smiled at Asa and Kaela, grinning, but the look on the priestess’ face told him she was offended by his joke and Asa just nodded. He could feel his face grow hot with embarrassment as the priestess went back to washing things and Asa cut the onions, throwing them together in a pan.

  “You should learn how to cook. It’s fun,” Asa said. “I can teach you, if you like. Unless you’ve no knack at all, like Devra. She can’t even make a morning porridge without burning it. When she was little, mam would send her for a bucket of water and she’d come back when we were ready to start a search without the bucket and some fancy rock or a salamander she’d never seen before.” Asa and the priestess laughed, still working on the meal.

  Derk slid the dagger into his boot, hopping off his stool. “I can help. Just give me something to do. I can’t be totally worthless.” He smiled at the priestess in what he hoped was an endearing way, rolling his shirt sleeves up. “What can I do?”

  “You can dry the greens for the salad,” the priestess offered a bit to eagerly, raising her eyes toward him. She had a warm smile and dimples on her cheeks. Derk saw her eyes stray toward Asa and he managed not to laugh. He knew she wanted to get rid of him. The priestess handed him the sack full of greens and nudged him away toward the door. “Just take them outside and swing them around. It shouldn’t take too long.”

  Derk smirked and took the sack from her, nodding to them both as he headed toward the door. “It won’t. You’ll see, I’ll be the fastest drier of salad in the Valley.”

  “That’s the spirit!” Asa said, raising his knife to him in encouragement. Derk just laughed and headed outside, instantly looking for somewhere to sit. It was quiet outside the kitchen, the summer sun starting its slow descent toward the horizon. Chickens clucked somewhere and a few people wandered the streets, finishing up their errands or work before going home for evening meal. He shook the bag of greens, not sure if this was the way to do it. He felt like a fool. Drying greens. Is this what he signed up for? It was a far cry from the brawl which had gotten him into this in the first place. Derk shook the bag, feeling the dampness start to seep through the fabric.

  Two people came around the corner and Derk smiled at the priestess Sindra, and the Wielder, Devra, arm in arm as they approached the kitchen. He whistled in greeting and Devra waved at him, both of the women smiling as they walked toward him. “Meal’s not done yet,” he said, holding the bag of greens at his side. “Asa’s fixing with some priestess in there. He’s quite the cook, apparently.”

  “You’re in for a treat if Asa’s in the kitchen,” Devra said. “Hes a better cook then our mam, though he’d never admit it.”

  “Do be sure to save me a plate,” Sindra said, pulling her arm out of Devra’s. “Maybe two?”

  “Are you not going to share the meal with us?” Derk asked, genuinely curious. Apart from meal times Derk rarely had a chance to talk to the priestess. Last night she had turned in shortly after prayers and during the day she rode in the cart with Devra and Asa. There would be others at the meal but through careful planning he could maybe sit next to her or at least share an interesting story. He had to endear himself to the beautiful priestess somehow.

  “I’m afraid not,” Sindra said, shaking her head. She tucked her hands into her sleeves despite the warm weather. “I have to go into the town and meet our guide, the one who is going to take us into the Freewild.”

  “Well make it three plates to be saved because I’m coming with you,” Derk said suddenly. Devra seemed a bit surprised but Sindra’s smile dropped from her mouth, a bit of panic showing in her eyes. If Derk hadn’t been so focused on her he might not have seen it, as she wiped all apprehension from her face before answering.

  “It won’t be necessary, Derk. I know where the tavern is and as a priestess, I don’t need protection.” She smiled warmly at him but Derk was curious as to why she wanted to go by herself, almost as much as he simply desired to go with her.

  “It’s not for your protection, not that I wouldn’t lift a hand to keep you safe.” Derk tried to think of a reason to tag along without seeming to obvious. “I’d just like to go with you. I’m…well, I’m bored here at the temple, to be honest and I could at least pick up a game of cards at the tavern. Plus, I hear the band playing at the Last Stop is very good.” This was true. Kaela the priestess had mentioned it to him in an earlier effort to get him out of the kitchen. “I do like music. I’m a good singer, maybe I’ll take up with them and leave you lot to find the chalice yourselves.”

  “I hope not! We like having your company,” Devra said, taking the bag of greens from him. “Sin, you should take him. He’s probably going crazy in the temple. Though promise me you won’t run away with the band, Derk. I’d come but I have studying to do.”

  “It really isn’t needed,” Sindra said, insisting. “Besides, our guide might…he’s a bit…to himself. I don’t want him to feel surrounded.”

  “So you’re meeting him in a tavern where a band is playing?” Derk chuckled. “Bad planning on your part already. What’s one more person? And besides, he’s going to have to meet the rest of us sooner or later. Half now, half later? Or one third, I suppose, since he already knows you, right?” The argument was sound enough. Sindra looked to Devra, defeated. Devra just smiled back, skipping into the kitchen with the bag of greens. Derk offered his arm to Sindra, hoping she wouldn’t snub him. A quick narrowing of her eyes is what she gave him before she took his arm in his and together they walked down the street.

  “Have you ever been to the Last Stop?” Derk asked, trying to keep the conversation light. “Or Bluemist?” It
was Derk’s first time in the town at the southeastern most point of the Tyeskin Barony. Last Stop was the name of many a tavern bordering the Freewild.

  “I’ve been to both,” Sindra answered, seeming a bit distracted. She managed to look up at Derk and he wondered if her dark skin was as soft as it looked. Her dark grey eyes were large, flecks of black dotting the irises. A smile tweaked the corners of her full mouth; if she noticed Derk staring she didn’t say anything. “If you can manage to wake early, the Mist is a sight to see.”

  Derk surprised them with his ability to fall asleep in the saddle. Asa had asked for lessons but Derk thought better of it. He laughed out loud, glad the priestess was joking with him. “I think I can pull it off. I like things that are a sight to see.” They walked for a few blocks without saying anything, Derk looking over the people in the town and glad to see a few were staring. He felt Sindra’s hand grip his arm a little tighter. “Are you afraid of something?” he whispered.

  “No, it’s just…well, people are looking. You’d think they’d never seen a Forester before.” She laughed, sighing quietly afterward. Her grip on his arm loosened slightly.

  “You’re the first I’ve met though my father told me my great-grandfather met one.” The people from the Forest of Clouds showed up in the older, first stories of the Valley but now they were rarely seen. Derk had never thought he would meet one and now he was walking down the street with a Forester, a beautiful Forester woman.