Valiant Valerie (the Ballad of Valerie of Mor Book 1)

Chapter Fourteen

Valerie and Jonathan had packed up their belongings, loaded Perry's saddlebags and went in search of a second horse.

The dock at Southport bustled. It was one of the busiest places Valerie had ever seen. It made her realise how sheltered her life was in some respects. Sure, she had travelled. However, she started to wonder if she was only taken to previously approved towns and villages until the day she ran away.

People brushed past her as she pushed through the busy crowd. Jonathan was at her side, leading Perry and carrying the extra bags with the clothes and other necessities bought from Kailan.

Ivo had offered to let them leave Perry and their belongings on the barge while they searched for another horse, but Jonathan felt it was easier to take everything with them and continue on. Ivo understood and Valerie said they would call if they needed anything.

"Southport is a trustworthy place, but there's no use in Ivo and the crew staying longer than they need to," Jonathan said as they pushed on down the dock.

"You've been here before then?"

He nodded absent-mindedly. "Once or twice with Hugh." He was looking around and, try as she might, Valerie had no idea what he might have been looking for.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take anything?" she asked for what seemed like the umpteenth time. She was only carrying her pack on her back and, while it had more in it than when she left the castle, it was still nothing compared to what Jonathan and Perry were hauling.

"It's fine, Val," he said, obviously not really paying attention.

"What are you looking for?"

"Just keeping an eye out. I thought I saw... Oh, never mind." He adjusted the strap on his shoulder and looked at her. "I need to go and see a friend. She should be able to let us know who has horses for sale."

"She?"

"Mm. Fina. Her father's the blacksmith. She's worked for him since her brother died in the war," Jonathan said, but rather as though he was not really paying attention.

The crowd was finally starting to thin and the ground beneath them had turned from boardwalk to dirt, and was sloping upward. Valerie had a better chance to see around them now that she could see more than people's heads and crates.

The path wound up into hills dotted with houses and other buildings. Smoke rose in wisps above many of the houses and Valerie could see people bustling about. There were farms around the buildings, and she could see people hard at work. Southport looked like a thriving town that seemed to have been barely touched by war or plague.

That or they're incredibly resourceful, she thought.

Who are? she heard Ivo ask.

Sorry. Talking to myself.

She felt him smile. Not to worry. Call if you need anything.

Will do. Thank you.

She felt his presence diminish slightly and wondered if perhaps she was getting a better handle on keeping their background thoughts out.

"Where is the blacksmith?" Valerie asked.

"About halfway along the main street." Jonathan pointed up the hill as though he could see it. Maybe he could. Valerie certainly could not.

"And the mountain range is ahead of us?" she asked, looking past the town. Behind it rose a mountain range, the tops of which were jagged and snow-capped.

"Yes. So we need to head in this direction anyway." His step hesitated. "You do know it's that mountain range, don't you? We are going in the right direction?"