The Shadow Scrolls: Series Book One, The Vale of Blood. PD Ph.D. Lorenz

and peel her off of the piglet only to throw her aside like an empty burlap sack where she fell with a whimper. Jonathan had never felt such a surge of chemicals in his veins. His heart leapt like the little piglet had as it left the arms of Bart the butcher and before he could even think, he had smashed the boys’ nose and had him pinned against the stone wall with one hand on his throat and the other with a fist full of nappy brown hair. Poised and ready to slam the back of James’ head against a stone, he stared down into the blood spattered and defiant eyes of his would-be nemesis.

      Suddenly, he found himself dangling above the boy as he was being held one-armed by the vice like grip of his Sir-ness, Bart of the Forest.

      “That will do, boy.” Bart turned Jonathan toward himself like a door swinging on a hinge and looked approvingly into his deep green eyes… “You can beat your enemy down, but never, never kill him. That’s not your decision to make,” Bart stated with what seemed to be an echo in the hot anger filled ears of young Jonathan.

      Then, as quickly as it began it was over, and Jonathan found himself on the muddy ground once again. He could feel the steely eyes of James the Younger burrowing a hole into his chest, but he brushed it aside and made his way over to the girl. Offering his hand down to her, he cherished the moment she placed her hand in his and heard her speak for the first time.

      “Thank you, my prince,” she whispered.

      …”And that was the first time that I saw her,” stated Jonathan to his attentive little brother.

      “Have you spoken to her since then?” questioned Samuel.

      “Not once, not even in my dreams.”

      “That’s not right. I’ll tell Ma’, she’ll make it right.”

      “No, you won’t,” Jonathan stated flatly.

      “Yes… I will,” jested the younger.

      “No, you won’t,” responded the elder with a touch of anger.

      “Oh, yes,” said Samuel as he rose from the shoreline and threatened to run in the direction of home.

      Jonathan rose in unison with the little skunk and grabbed him by the arm as the younger tried to pull away. Samuel giggled in his own silly way and tried to pull away again, but Jonathan picked him up and tossed him into the river’s awaiting water. He then jumped in after the little one and together commenced a war of water that lasted nearly a quarter of an hour before they were then interrupted by an ironic twist of fate.

      From the forest that lay up river there emerged a war party led by soldiers of the kingdom riding upon the magnificent coursers of the royal stables. At the moment, they had just completed a scouting trip of the southern border lands, and when they stopped at the banks, Jonathan was more embarrassed than Samuel when they were caught frolicking in the water. They instantly stopped, water dripping from them like the end of a morning rain. Among the party was an older James the Younger in training as a would-be soldier with mentors of the royal soldiery. Also among the would-be warriors was she, the girl Jonathan had rescued seven years earlier. He had seen her many times since their very first encounter, but still had never spoken to her. He didn’t even know her name. Jonathan stood dumbfounded.

      The war party hardly took notice of the two peasant looking boys, but one amongst them did and she smiled at Jonathan as he stared in awe. It was his “princess.” She was dressed in battle fatigues and sat atop a mocha colored horse that was also arrayed in the dress of war. Together they matched, with her darkened leather garbs and a saddle of the same shade. The way that she was seated in the saddle made it look like they were nearly one. An array of small daggers with red stones was lined end-to-end up the left forearm of the girl, but it was clear that her main fighting weapon was a crossbow that was slung over her head and hung upon her back. It had the distinct characteristics of his father’s craftsmanship, and in an instant, he wondered if he himself had had a hand in its formation. To Jonathan, she seemed to fit the position like a veteran of the realm, although it was clear that she was merely in training due to the way that the true veterans had been barking orders to the trainees.

      Upon hearing the gruff growls of the battle hardened mentors, both James the Younger, the “princess,” and two other newling’s scampered from their horses and to a small wagon being pulled behind a servant-at-arms. Once there, they produced watering troughs and cups and commenced to fill them at the river’s edge. It was a sight that produced in the heart of Jonathan a sense of humility and jealousy all at the same time, for there was his nemesis at the side of his princess and they were both in training for the greatest desire of his own heart, to be a soldier of the realm. The feelings flooded his soul once again just at the moment he had completely forgotten the tiff earlier in the day.

      “Why don’t you go and talk to her?” interrupted the young Samuel.

      “What?” Jonathan questioned as he nearly shook his head to clear his daydreaming state.

      “Go and talk to her.” repeated Samuel.

      “I couldn’t.”

      “Yes you could… You know that you want to, right? Or are you tongue tied brother?” There was an air of challenge in the young ones’ tone and Jonathan sensed warm blood filling his still water doused face.

      “Never mind,” shied Jonathan at the dare.

      “Then I will for you,” Samuel stated as he started to make his way in the direction of the war party.

      “No, no, I’ll do it,” was the older brother’s answer.

      Jonathan approached the party tentatively, waiting for the right moment when the girl would be alone and not busy attending to the others. The moment presented itself after she had finished her duties and when she had at last begun to attend to her own courser. For a moment, she was alone by the water and Jonathan snuck below the sight of the rest of the soldiers including James the Younger.

      “Hello,” he spoke with a conscious effort to keep his voice from shaking.

      “Hello,” she replied with a voice that sounded like some kind of music to Jonathan. Her beauty was still just as intimidating as it had always been, and Jonathan could feel the great gulf between them threaten to grow into a wider chasm. He fought it off with the only words that came to his mind at the time.

      “Do you remember me?” he questioned. The pause hung in the air like a note in mid-orchestration. Her face had a kind expression, but the words hadn’t come just yet. It was impossible for Jonathan to discern what her anticipated answer would be and his inner conversation clouded his emotions… “Has she ever thought of me the way I have thought of her?” he mused.

      “Ho’ there,” boomed a voice that broke through the moment like a stone that breaks the ice of a thawing creek. It was James the Younger, mounted upon his steed and dressed in his own battle array. He managed to move his horse between the girl and the drenched Jonathan. From his height, he addressed the still dripping weapon master’s apprentice.

      “It’s not proper to approach a soldier without an invitation to, piglet chaser,” bellowed James. His condescending manner of speech reminded Jonathan that the privileges of the wealthy included an education in the tongue of the upper class. “Who is looking down upon whom now, apprentice?” said James.

      “Still polishing the saddle of your master’s horse, hey youngling?” retorted Jonathan.

      “Yes, well, by the time I join the war effort and am actually using the weapons that you grovel to create, you will still be fetching water for your Ma’ from this river here.” It was a stinging accusation and before Jonathan could react, the veteran mentors demanded that they continue on their journey.

      James deliberately kept his horse between Jonathan and the girl until she had mounted hers and the party was off once again. As they disappeared into the forest, the girl shot a glance behind her and in the direction of Jonathan. It was a moment he would remember for years to come. Samuel slowly scuttled next to his brother with a tethered