Treasures - Book 4 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter 8

Jobyna lifted her eyes to behold the cascading waterfall. The secret of the valley made her feel glad. As they passed by the rocky, pathless spot she had traversed with Luke and Sabin to go to the valley a few days ago, she hummed softly.

Julian barked at her, "Singing won't help you none. Not when King Elliad gets his hands on you." He muttered, "Yes, and a fine bit of promotion I'll get for this easy bit of work. Best thing I've done all year is to become a knight. King Elliad knew what he was doing when he selected me to be in his special Watch Patrol at Litton. This is the second time I've been to see him personally and present him with valuable information. I wish I had that drawing she did. The king doesn't know what the seal looks like either. Won't that be something to tell him about? Still, he's got ways of making her talk. She'll be made to tell him where this seal thing is." 

Julian rode along with a loathsome smirk on his blotchy bloated face.

Icy drizzle descended from ominous black clouds overhead. Jobyna pulled the hood of her cloak up over her long copper brown hair. The sprinkling turned into a torrential downpour and cold drops trickled down her face. Before long her clothes were heavy with moisture from the late afternoon storm. Julian spurred them on, keeping the pace up, in spite of mud splashing upwards from the slushy road.

~~~~~

Another company was out riding, moving back towards the knights' tower at Mayhew.

Sabin rode with Sir Dorai and three knights after showing them the valley and searching for Luke's sister.

It had seemed the same to Sabin, a very ordinary rocky place with several grassed pockets, and some trees by a stream. A quick search made it obvious that Jobyna had left the valley. Prints from her boots were here and there in the sand, and recent signs of a horse were visible.

One of the knights found a fine piece of parchment snagged in a bush; it was torn, the signs and symbols difficult to discern. Sir Dorai carefully folded it and placed it in his pouch for future study.

"For a thorough search of this place, I'd need fifty men," Sir Dorai said as he mounted his horse and beckoned them to leave the valley.

Speaking over his shoulder he called, "Or maybe a couple of hundred men; then we could turn over every stone."

~~~~~

Luke showed improvement today. He swallowed a little soup, and although it hurt his jaw to chew, he managed to swallow some bread soaked in broth.

Aided by two monks, Luke walked to the door and back before collapsing on his bed. They did not talk to him, except to answer his questions, which were uncoordinated and repetitive.

"Where's Sabin gone?"

To which they said, "Not far, he'll be back shortly."

"Have they found my sister?"

"No, they've not found your sister but are searching for her."

"Did they find Sabin?"

"Yes."

Luke's thoughts were less jumbled today. He was recovering quicker than the monks expected. He lay on his bed dozing and the monks kept a damp cloth over his eyes. He was bewildered as to his whereabouts. When he voiced his concern, the monks replied, "You're somewhere safe. Stop worrying!"

Once, during a coherent moment, he opened the door and found his way barred by two soldiers. Luke retreated into the room and asked, "Am I a prisoner?"