Valiant Valerie (Ballad of Valerie of Mor #1)

by Elizabeth Stevens

  “Ah, well the old shipwrights found a kind of tar mixture that leviathans can sort of bond their skin to, you see. Sailors have been using leviathans to drive their ships for hundreds of years!”

  “Even in the ocean?”

  “Sometimes, aye. Though, oft sails are the better choice on the open water. Depends on the design of the ship too. The bottom needs to be the right shape for the leviathan to fit into. Some of those big ships just can’t be made the right way.”

  Valerie nodded. “Is he stuck there forever?”

  Captain Griffin laughed, “Oh, no. Per can unstick himself whenever he wants. Though, he’s only young. The older, bigger leviathans sometimes decide their barge is more like a shell than a job.”

  “You mean he’s going to get bigger?”

  He chuckled. “Oh, yes, he’s only a little’un. I found Peredur when I was seven and raised him myself. He can still be a little wayward, hence the tumble before, but he’s learning. It’s a new boat, see. Per’s only been on the job a few months.” He smiled fondly down at the leviathan’s head and Valerie was sure she felt a rumble that felt like the purr of a giant cat.

  “Cap’n!” one of the crew called.

  “‘Scuse me, Miss Vera,” he said and left her again.

  She decided to see what Jonathan was doing. She could not find him anywhere on the deck, so she went into the cabins.

  The cabins were made up of two bedrooms – one each for the captain and first mate – a bunkroom, a kitchen with long trestle table that fit all the crew, an area for storing boxes and barrels, and a small area for holding animals.

  The first mate had kindly given Valerie his room for the trip and Jonathan found a spare hammock in the bunk room, though he had said he would not mind sleeping on the deck. He was keeping all their things in the room with Valerie though, so she wondered if he had gone to check on things.

  She paused outside the door, hearing his voice inside.

  “…I won’t. I promised. Though, I think it’s past time to.”

  She opened the door and he whirled around guiltily, his hands behind his back.

  “Who are you talking to?” she asked, frowning.

  Jonathan blinked slowly. “No one. Myself.”

  She stared at him. When they were younger, she used to be able to stare at him long enough that he would fold and tell her whatever she wanted to know. She should have known that this was no longer the case.

  “No one, Val. Just thinking aloud.”

  “What about? Anything I can help with?”

  He smiled. “No, thanks. Just thinking about a song I said I’d write for Hugh. My newest task is to try to compose songs of my own. It’s a lot harder that you’d think.”

  “You could write one about me and my gallant adventures!” She grinned, though she knew she was not at all exciting enough about which to write songs. Maybe after my quest though, she thought.

  “Yes, I could. ‘Valiant Valerie’, I could call it.”

  “That’s not half bad,” she laughed. “Hugh could make a minstrel of you yet.”

  Jonathan picked up his lute with one hand, his other still behind his back. “You go on and I’ll catch up.” He lifted his lute. “Might take this up to play some songs tonight. After dinner. What do you think?”

  “Sounds good,” Valerie replied and left him to whatever mysteries he wanted to keep.

  That night, after they had eaten and the crew had finished their chores, they sat around on the deck of the barge and Jonathan and some of the crewmembers took it in turns to play songs for the others.

  The sky was clear and Valerie could see many stars shining down on them. She wondered what her father was doing, and if he was terribly angry with her. Surely he must not have been, otherwise he would have made Jonathan bring her home.

  She wondered what Jeanna was doing, whether she was eating again. She wondered what her fellow trainees, now full-blown knights, were doing. Was deWynstryngham already a captain of his own squad? Were the new trainees as hapless as she had felt during her first year?

  The barge bobbed a little as the leviathan settled. The captain had tied the barge up for the night and, though the leviathan was free to swim about, he apparently liked to stay connected to the barge overnight. Valerie assumed this was to make sure they did not drift apart while he was sleeping.

  Peredur had surfaced enough that his nose was out of the water and the barge had risen and fallen a few times while he got himself comfortable. The captain told them to expect a lot of that during the night, but also said that it was often quite a pleasant feeling, as though you were floating.

  Valerie listened to the songs a little longer, but felt her eyes start to droop. Jonathan was playing now, so she slipped away without disturbing him. He fit in well among the sailors and they had accepted him with open arms. Valerie they put at more of a distance, but she put that down to being a girl. Still, she envied Jonathan’s seemingly easy ability to adapt to any situation. She smiled though, for it was a side she had never seen to him before and as much as it surprised her she was interested to see it.

  Valerie undressed and got into the very narrow bunk, hoping she would not fall out in her sleep.

  Chapter Twelve

  When Valerie woke the next morning, the sun was up and the barge was moving again. She heard a noise and found Jonathan snoring, sitting on the floor of the room with his back against the wall. His head lolled about a bit and she stifled the urge to laugh.

  She got out of bed, got dressed in her new yellow dress, and left him asleep. She had no idea what time he had gone to sleep, and thought he could probably do with as much sleep as he could get.

  The next few days were filled with a pleasant, lazy sameness.

  There was not a lot to do during the day, so Valerie watched the landscape drift by and sometimes chatted to the crewmembers. Jonathan sparred with her once a day, much to the surprise of the barge’s crew and Captain Griffin. The first day, they each challenged her and she bested all of them with ease.

  The nights were filled with talk and song, and companionship. Valerie felt more at ease as time went by and was pleased to have a chance to sit in the background and watch others interact. She had had very little chance to do that in her life; her birth had nigh necessitated she be at the foreground of everything.

  They floated along in this manner for four days.

  On the fifth day, when they were nearing their destination, all was peaceful.

  Jonathan and Valerie had just finished sparring, and they were having a rest and a mug of water, when the barge lurched.

  “Do you think Per was avoiding more debris?” Valerie asked.

  “I don’t–” Jonathan was interrupted by a shout and they ran to see what the commotion was.

  “We’re under attack!” the first mate Ingram yelled.

  He was holding up Captain Griffin, who leaned against him heavily with an arrow sticking out of his side.

  The barge lurched again and Captain Griffin cursed.

  “Per can feel the Captain’s pain. It’ll feel like his own. We have to block the pain somehow,” Ingram called over the noise of yelling.

  A more determined-sounding shout began, underlying the crew’s cries of distress.

  “Pirates! They’re boarding!” Jonathan yelled, pulling his sword from his belt. “Vera, I need you by my side!”

  There were seven or eight pirates swarming over the side of the barge, dripping wet, as arrows rained down on the deck. They were dirty and their clothes were little more than rags hanging on their gaunt frames. They smiled cruelly, baring yellow teeth – the few teeth they had among them, at least.

  “There must be more on the bank!” Ingram said, running out of the cabins with a sword.

  The captain was nowhere to be seen. Valerie hoped he was safe. If the leviathan’s writhing was anything to go by, the captain was in a lot of pain. The deck weaved and bobbed as though they were
sailing over a turbulent sea – so Valerie had heard, anyway.

  Valerie pulled her sword as well and ran at the oncoming pirates, trying not to fall on the turbulent, slippery deck. The other crewmembers all had weapons now and had engaged pirates as best they could while dodging arrows. Valerie looked around, but Jonathan was out of her sight. She panicked for a moment, but was soon distracted by a pirate in her face.

  “Hello, deary,” he snarled as he swung his blade at her.

  She jumped back, pushing his blade away with her own.

  “What’s a nice young thing like you doing out here with that sharp sword?”

  He slashed at her again and once more she blocked, she tried swinging at him, but he dodged out of the way.

  “Where does a girl like you learn how to fight like that?”

  Valerie was standing facing the bank, with the pirate in front of her. Suddenly, as though in slow motion, she saw an arrow arc towards her. She shifted a step to the right and back and, as she had hoped, the pirate in front of her shadowed her movements, stepping forward and left, and earned an arrow in the leg for his troubles. He howled and swung at Valerie again.

  She heard cries around her, but could not stop to see how the others fared. She feared for Jonathan, as she had not seen or heard his calls.

  One problem at a time, she thought.

  The pirate advanced, hobbling a little with the arrow still lodged in his leg. His eyes gleamed and his intent was clear; kill everyone and take everything. Valerie hated the idea of actually killing anyone, but knew it was her or him – and she knew which she would rather. She attacked with renewed vigour, keeping in mind everything Sir Gillam had ever taught her. She watched her opponent, judged when he would move, and made her strikes. She cut him once, twice, three times before he growled and seemed to lurch forward for one final attempt on her life.

  She pushed her sword forward with all her might. She felt resistance for a moment as the tip forced its way through his skin, then it felt to Valerie like the sword was pulling her. Valerie ended up face to face with the man, her sword buried in his lower chest. He growled again, but it did not sound like his heart was in it. She watched the light in his eyes go out and stood there for a moment longer.

  Eventually, the silence she had not noticed was shattered and she heard blades clashing and men yelling. She put her foot on the pirate and pushed him off her sword. She whirled around and ran to assist the closest crewmember she saw, a young man called Ivo.

  There was still no sign of Jonathan, but she told herself she could not do anything if she kept worrying. She fought by the men’s sides until the pirates were either dead or had jumped overboard and were swimming back to the bank.

  She stood, panting next to Ingram. He was covered with blood and sweat, and she hated to think what she looked like. She span around, surveying the damage and checking that all enemies were dead or gone.

  Scattered around the deck were the bodies of eleven pirates and one crewmember. It was Edwin, the youngest of them all. His throat was slashed and his eyes stared skyward pitifully. Ingram and four remaining crewmembers stood around, looking worn out and horrified. Captain Griffin was still nowhere to be seen, and Valerie had not seen Cook at all. Jonathan also, was nowhere in sight.

  “You did well,” Ingram said, holding out his hand.

  “Thanks. Not so bad yourselves.” She shook his hand.

  “Where’s your brother?”

  Valerie looked around. It was then she noticed that no arrows had fallen for some time, and the deck was still once more.

  Well, as still as floating on water can be, she thought.

  “I–”

  “Val!” Jonathan’s voice was muffled and she turned in the direction from which it came.

  “Jon!” Val rushed over to him.

  He was climbing over the side of the barge, soaking wet with a dagger between his teeth. He ran over to her and she hugged him fiercely.

  “Where did you go? You said you needed me by your side!” She threw a terribly weak punch that he probably did not even notice, feeling awfully emotional after her first kill and the realisation she’d been half afraid he was dead.

  “I know, I know. I’m sorry.” He pulled her close again and she buried her head in his chest, heedless of the state of his clothes.

  “Where did you go?” Ingram asked, sounding suspicious. Valerie wanted to jump to Jonathan’s defence but he spoke quickly.

  “To dispatch the archers. There were only three. I came back as quickly as I could. But, though archers, they were good fighters.”

  The first mate crossed his arms and did not look convinced. “Really, Jack? Or, should I call you Jon? Val?” He looked at Valerie. She gulped.

  Jonathan sighed. “Let’s dispose of the bodies and we’ll tell you our true story.”

  Ingram hesitated before nodding. The others stood behind him, looking too worn out to care even if Valerie and Jonathan had been the ones who attacked them.

  Valerie looked at Jonathan in shock. She would leave the story-telling to him. She had no idea what tale he was going to concoct for these men. Surely, he was not planning on telling them the acual truth?

  Later, when the deck was cleared and Edwin had been given a water burial – the pirates had merely been thrown out on the bank – Jonathan and Valerie sat down with Ingram and the others. Captain Griffin was asleep in his bunk, and Cook was tending to him. Cook apparently doubled as their medic.

  Ivo, Zachary, Eli and Holland seemed much less wary of Jonathan and Valerie than their first mate, who still narrowed his eyes as he waited for them to tell their tale.

  “I will take you to be trustworthy men and tell you our truth if you will keep it with you,” Jonathan said the traditional words of Binding Oathship.

  Valerie gasped audibly, knowing now that he did intend to tell them the truth. These words had long stopped being a string of curtesy but had become words of magic. No one who said them could lie, and none who answered could pass on the knowledge they were given outside of others who had made the same oath.

  “I will keep it with me,” all five men responded, looking eager to hear a story that required such strong oaths.

  None now outside their circle could hear their words. Valerie had no need to say anything, as Jonathan had included her in his words.

  Jonathan took a deep breath. “Before I begin, I acknowledge Griffin and Cook to know our truth.”

  “And I will answer for them,” Ingram said.

  Jonathan nodded. “I am Jonathan Brennen, and I accompany Valerie Redford, Crown Princess of Mor.” The men all looked at her in surprise. “We are on a mission to find the wizard who will grant Valerie a quest so she can prove her worthiness to graduate to a knight of her father’s Senior Corps.”

  Ingram sucked in a breath. “No wonder you’re such a fighter, lass… Er, princess.”

  “Please call me Val.” She smiled, cringing inwardly at how simpering she sounded.

  “And what’s your role in all this?” Ivo asked Jonathan.

  “I’m trained as a minstrel and have been Valerie’s friend since we were very little. Her father took me in as a ward when I was six.”

  “Why did ya feel the need to lie to Lawrence and Emme?” Holland asked.

  Jonathan sighed. “It was not ideal and I wish we had not needed to. But Valerie was…over-prepared, you could say, and we needed to look the part. We did not know what we would be walking in to and, by the time we knew we were safe, we had begun our story. It seemed unfair to load the knowledge on them.”

  “But it’s all right for us?” Ingram scoffed.

  Jonathan shrugged. “Our safety was in danger the moment you felt you could not trust us. It was better for us and for you to know the truth.”

  Ingram nodded appreciatively. “All right then.” He turned to Valerie. “Any why do you feel you need to prove your worth? Surely, the realm would be pleased its next monarch wan
ted to be in a position to keep it safe?”

  It was Valerie’s turn to scoff. “If I was a man perhaps. The Council feel that is a position better suited to my husband.”

  “Oh. You’re married?” Ivo asked.

  Valerie felt heat rush through her cheeks. “God, no,” she laughed awkwardly. “They want me to marry, but I refuse to have him. This quest is supposed to make them see my point of view.”

  “I wondered what your husband thought of you running away with another man.” Eli smiled.

  “Well to be fair, I ran away on my own and he came to find me,” Valerie said.

  The crew laughed and Valerie felt that perhaps they took more meaning from it than she had meant.

  “It is good to hear joy after such sorrow,” Cook said, coming up behind them, wiping his hands on his apron. He took a mug from Holland and sat on a barrel.

  “How is he?” Ingram asked.

  “Sleeping, though not peacefully. I think I’ve stopped the blood for now. I’m surprised Per isn’t more active.”

  “Is their Link strong?” Jonathan asked.

  “Very.” Ingram nodded. “It was forged on an already strong bond. The Cap’n hand-reared Peredur from the egg. They were inseparable until Per got too big for the buckets and tubs Cap’n could find.”

  “I can help,” Jonathan told him.

  “How?” Ingram leant forward.

  “I’ve dealt with Links. I can see into it and try to cut off the pain flow. I’d suggest severing it altogether for the time being, but that may not be helpful in the long-term.”

  “How do you know about Links?” Valerie asked.

  “I just do. Stay here.” Jonathan’s retort surprised her, so she said nothing more as he left with Cook and Ingram.

  Valerie sat and listened to the men talking. They had started reminiscing about Edwin. Her mind began to wander and she was eventually lulled by their soft voices.

  She was jerked awake by the barge rocking.

  “Per won’t like your Jonathan interfering,” Holland noted.

  Valerie wanted to say he was not her Jonathan, but was interrupted by the barge deck smacking her in the forehead. She shook herself and got up, trying to ignore the pain exploding behind her eyes. The men were trying to hold themselves steady as the deck kept bucking. Valerie had not ridden many unbroken horses, but she had seen enough of the horse training to imagine how distressed Peredur was.