Lord Henry and Ronald weren’t the only ones determined to learn the identity of the young man. Valerie was tired of being a prize for a gaggle of knights with their eyes on her father’s throne. She wanted to find out who this strange but gentle lad who claimed to love her was. She bribed one of the maids into giving her a peasant’s gown, boots, and cloak, and stole a long knife from the kitchen for protection. She joined a few of the maids in a carriage bound for the valley. The maids were too busy laughing and gossiping amongst themselves to notice her.
The carriage ended at a big old house in the valley, where several of the maids obviously worked or had relatives who worked. She figured this was as good of a place to start her search as any. Perhaps she could find a ride into town here, or they would let her a room for the night.
She was about to go up to the front door and knock when she saw two shadowy people in hooded cloaks walk out from around the back of the house. She followed them, ignoring the fact that she and they were trespassing. They vanished in a puff of soft white smoke before she could figure out who they were.
Valerie received her second major surprise of the evening when she heard the sound of horse’s hooves seconds after the cloaked pair left. She watched a handsome black stallion charge into the barnyard, barely missing her. A tiny puppy sat in front with the horse’s rider, and a cat perched between it’s ears. She couldn’t make out what the rider looked like in the deep purple twilight, and he was too agitated to have seen her. She followed him to the main house.
He was staring at a spotless kitchen when she, the cat, the dog, and the horse joined him at the door. “It...it happened again!” he gasped. “How did they clean themselves?”
“How did what clean themselves?”
“The pots and pa...” The last thing Peter Tork expected was to hear THAT voice in THIS room. That warm, loving, sweet, brilliant voice. He turned around slowly to face Princess Valerie. She wore a faded peasant dress, old boots, and a worn cloak, but he’d know her anywhere. “You...you...you...”
“That’s a funny way to say ‘hello,’” Valerie commented with a laugh. “My name is....”
“You...you...you’re Princess Valerie.”
“How did you know?”
“I’ve studied your picture so many times, I probably know your face better than my own.”
Valerie turned red again. There was something about this boy that made her insides feel like a warm apple pie. “Thank you, Sir...”
“Oh, I’m no Sir. I’m just Peter Tork, the kitchen boy in this house.” He stared at the floor. “I really shouldn’t be talking to you. I’m only a peasant, and you’re a princess. I’d probably be thrown in jail if your father knew I was even looking at you.”
The object of his affection burst into laughter. “Daddy isn’t here, and I assume your master isn’t, either, since you look like you just came home.”
“I, um, just got back from a ride,” Peter said quickly. “I don’t have a master. I work for my father. He should be home soon.”
“You work for your father?”
Peter nodded. “He’s not my real father.” He showed Valerie the medallion on the leather string around his neck. “I don’t know who my real parents are. Lord Henry found me on his doorstep when I was a baby.”
Valerie inspected the medallion. “That’s beautiful, Peter. The symbol on it reminds me of the crest of a very, very old family. The last members were friends of my grandma and grandpa, but they died over twenty years ago. Their only daughter and her husband, a wealthy knight and musician, disappeared. No one ever found out what happened to them.”
“Your...your...Your Highness,” Peter stammered, “would you like to see the barn? That’s where I live.”
“I’d love to, Peter Tork.”
Sir Jones tugged on Valerie’s dress. She swept the puppy into her arms. He licked her hand and gazed at her with his huge brown eyes, and she giggled. “How adorable!” Not to be outdone, Sir Dolenz did a somersault and chased a mouse all over the kitchen before letting it go. Valerie took him in her other arm and cuddled both animals. “You’re both so cute!”
Sir Nesmith just rolled his eyes. Valerie set the cat and dog on the floor and went over to the tall, dark horse with the white star. “You’re such a handsome animal. You have a beautiful mane. I love how it goes over one eye. Reminds me of how a friend of mine wore his hair.”
Peter gulped. “Um, Your High...Valerie, I’d be careful. Sir Nesmith doesn’t really like anyone besides me, Dolenz, and Jonesey to...”
Sir Nesmith, however, nudged Valerie’s face gently. She stroked his chestnut fur and murmured into his ears. “You’re a good horse. Familiar, too.” She frowned and looked up at Peter. “Did you say Nesmith?”
Peter nodded. “That’s his name, or what he answers to.” He picked up the other two. “The cat is Sir Dolenz, and the dog is Sir Jones, but I call him Jonsey.”
”Sir Nesmith...” Valerie sighed sadly. “Those are the names of my closest friends, my bodyguards, and my protectors.” Peter saw a tear glimmer in one eye. “They vanished suddenly five months ago. My father searched all over the kingdom for them. He thinks they abandoned us, but I know they’d never leave me without telling me. Someone must have kidnapped or imprisoned them, or worse.” The tears finally spilled over before Valerie could admit her worst fear...that her three closest friends in the world were truly lost to her.
Nesmith nudged her again, and the cat and dog rubbed against her ankles. Peter thought Dolenz and Jones almost looked as if they were crying, too. The horse let out a small, sad neigh.
Peter put his hand on Valerie’s shoulder. Unthinking, she flung herself into his arms. Peter hoped she didn’t see how surprised and happy he was to have her there. “Come on, Valerie. I’m sure they’re all right. Why don’t we go to the hay loft and talk about it?”
Valerie was so upset, all she could do was nod.
Peter felt like he was walking on air as he showed Valerie around the barn. They finally ended up in the hay loft, eating leftover biscuits and tea and laughing as he told her about his pets’ antics.
“I wish I could have seen that!” Valerie grinned. “Did Dolenz really knock the pepper into Ronald’s tea on purpose?”
Peter nodded. “He doesn’t like Ronald very much, and Ronald doesn’t like him, either. He’s allergic to him. That’s why he never comes out here.”
“I can’t say I blame him.” Valerie settled back against the rough wood of the barn, Sir Dolenz nestled in her lap. “I like your barn. This is very cozy, with the animals and all.” She let her mind wander as she drowsed in the warm, musty hay. Peter was such a strange fellow. So naive yet so intelligent. Kind and gentle and sweet in a way most men were discouraged from being. He liked her for her, not because she was a princess or an heiress.
Peter looked a bit like the mystery man. He had a similar build, though he carried himself much differently. He didn’t swagger or strut. He spoke with a sweet baritone that could have been a less confident, lower version of the voice the man used during the maze trial. The British accent the man used at the second trial sounded fake and kept drifting in and out. His poorly cut hair was exactly the same dark blond as the knight’s, though the knight’s was longer. She saw a bit of it peeping out from under his hat when he kissed her hand.
Peter smiled. “It gets drafty in the winter, but it’s nice and cool in the summer, and it keeps the weather off me, my friends, and my guitar.” He sat as close to her as he dared. “So, what brings you out here? I’ve heard you don’t leave the castle often.”
Valerie’s face hardened. “I’m looking for the man who won the first two trials. He rides off the moment the sun set, and no one can find him, not even Daddy’s best men.” She sighed in frustration. “Who am I kidding? If Daddy’s knights can’t bring this man out of hiding, how will I do it? I don’t even know where he went or who he is, or if he really loves me or just thinks of me as a prize!”
Peter took Valerie’s hand. “I know him, Valerie. He loves you with all his heart. He loves you as much as I do. He wants to make you happy.”
“You...know him? How do you know him? Do you know where he is now? Where can I find him?”
Peter turned pale for a minute. “He’s...um...busy. He’ll be around for the contest.” He shyly took his guitar down from the wall, hoping to change the subject. Valerie watched him with some interest. “Wo...wo...would you like to hear me play? I’ve written some songs, and...”
As Valerie looked at the guitar, her blue eyes seemed to gain a whole new fire. “May I try your guitar? I love playing the guitar. It’s one of my hobbies at home.”
Peter’s eyes widened. He NEVER met a girl who played guitar before! Most of the maids teased him about what they saw as a silly hobby, one that wasn’t as practical as sewing or woodworking. He was so surprised, he handed Valerie his guitar without saying a word.
Dolenz fled her lap for Peter’s as she cradled the guitar. Peter closed his eyes and listened to the music, running his fingers across Dolenx’s fuzzy back. The cat purred contentedly. Jonesy curled next to Valerie.
*She’s really good,* Peter thought as he listened to the instrumental song. “Did you write that yourself?”
Valerie nodded. “Yes. I play my guitar and work on my songs every day.” She strummed the guitar, the haunted look returning to her eyes. “My friends used to play along with me. Robert was a terrific guitarist, Georgie liked the drums, and Davy sang along and played a tambourine one of the ladies of the court gave him. They were all fantastic singers, too. Georgie was better than many of the court performers.”
“Would you like to hear one of my songs?” Peter asked shyly. “You could sing along, if you want. I love to play, but I’m not a very good singer.” He smiled. “Here’s an easy one to pick up, and it’s good for nighttime. I call it ‘Come On In.’”
Valerie sang softly as he played one of his favorites of his songs. Jones even howled quietly. Peter felt content for the first time in his life. Here he was, doing the one thing he loved most for his best friends and the smartest, prettiest girl in the kingdom. The soft, full moonlight threw shadows over the farmyard, giving the barn an air of mystery and enchantment.
“That’s a great song, Peter,” Valerie finally said. “You’re really good, better than most of the musicians in Daddy’s court. You should be writing songs for the kingdom, not cleaning pots and pans.”
“Do you really think so?”
“I know so.” She nodded. “Do another one.”
“Let’s see. I like this one. I wrote it after Cook had her little boy. I call it ‘Lady’s Baby.’ I’ve worked on it forever.”
Peter and Valerie were so lost in the music and in their thoughts of each other, they didn’t pay attention to anything else. *I can’t lie to her anymore,* he decided as he finished the song. *She’s too nice to be lied to. I have to tell her who I am.*
“V...v...valerie...”
Valerie snuggled closer to him. “Yes, Peter?”
“Valerie, I really...”
“Yes?”
Peter looked into those blue eyes. “Val...I have something to tell you.”
She leaned closer to him, closing her eyes. “Yes?”
“I...I...I...I think you look beautiful in the moonlight.”
“Thank you, Peter.”
Peter Tork had never kissed a girl in his entire life...and he was certain no other girl could kiss like Valerie. It was...sweet. Squishy. Kind of like a ripe peach in the heat of summer.
“Was that a kiss?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Can we do it again?”
“Uh-huh.”
They were about to kiss again when Peter heard Nesmith’s frantic whinnies. “What is it, boy?” He poked his head out of the loft. A group of large, muscular men in dark clothes threw loops of rope around Nesmith’s neck and head, trying to control the horse. More men came up the ladder to the loft, carrying gleaming swords and knives. Two of them looked like the fishermen Peter rescued Jonesy from.
“Valerie!” he shouted, “run! Get out of here! Go find help! We’re being attacked by thieves! The animals and I will alert the household.”
“No!” she exclaimed. “I’m not leaving you. I can help. I’ve taken fencing since I was old enough to pick up a sword.”
Peter took Valerie’s shoulders. “Val, these are nasty ruffians. If they get you, they might...well, they probably won’t kill you, but they won’t be nice, either.”
Valerie shook her head. “We’re in this together. You’re not shaking me off that easily, Peter Tork.” She grinned. “Besides, nothing this exciting ever happens in the castle!”
“But Valerie...” Dolenz let out a screech, arching his back as the two fishermen who abused Jones appeared at the top of the loft ladder. “But Valerie, we don’t have much time, so why don’t you go with us?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Valerie crawled over to the two men as they reached for Dolenz. He swiped at two of their hands; she stamped hard on the others. Both men tumbled down the steps, falling onto several other men who were about to join them. Valerie and Peter climbed down the steps easily. Dolenz and Jones had a soft landing on the pile of thieves as they leaped from the loft.
Dolenz and Jones were the first to come to Nesmith’s rescue. Dolenz made a flying leap onto one man’s head. Jones bit the leg of another man as hard as he could. Peter hit a third over the head with his guitar. Valerie got into a duel with two men at once. She finally hit one over the head with the handle of her knife and dropped a horsecollar over the head of the other. Jones and Dolenz dropped a sandbag on the head of the last, gnawing the rope with their teeth until it broke.
If Peter hadn’t been in love with Valerie before, he was besotted by her now. “Wow,” he gasped. “You’re good! You handled those guys like a real pro. Are you sure you’ve never left the castle before?”
Valerie winked at him. He almost passed out. “You’d be surprised what a girl learns in fencing class these days.”
Peter went over to Nesmith to check his neck for rope burns. “Are you ok, boy? Did they hurt you?” Nesmith snorted and shook his head.
As Peter and Valerie went to find rope, Jones noticed some activity by the loft ladder. Two of the men in the pile were beginning to emerge, and the others were groaning and trying to untangle themselves. “Hey!” one of the fishermen squawked, “the Princess and that little blond jerk are getting away! Let’s get ‘em!”
Peter was about go after them with his guitar again when a loop of rope dropped over his torso, pinning his arms to his chest and making him drop his instrument. “Hey! What’s going on?” He struggled, but the rope held firm. He was lifted into the rafters and left to dangle above the heads of the goons.
“Peter!” Valerie had little time to react. The barn was filling with more ugly, thug-like men. They dragged Valerie over to the door. The two fishermen scooped Dolenz and Jones into their arms, ignoring their angry cries. They laughed as they wound fisherman’s twine around the two animals, then bound their muzzles with rags.
“No! Stop it!” Valerie reached for her knife, but one of the men knocked it out of her hand. She was easily bound and gagged with the same twine and rags that held the animals prisoner. Nesmith kicked and bit and whinnied as loudly as he could, finally escaping out the door and down the road. Two men went after him, but they came back a few minutes later, claiming the horse had vanished.
Peter watched in horror as one of the men stroked Valerie’s cheek. “Shame we can’t have her, but the Boss said we couldn’t hurt any of them. He’s gonna do somethin’ with Her Highness, and he wants to kill the blond kid himself.”
Peter’s eyes widened. “Kill me? Why would he want to kill me?”
“I dunno, kid.” One of the fishermen smirked at him, revealing a mouth with many missing teeth. “Maybe you cheated him, too.”
“I didn’t cheat you! I gave you something for Jones!”
“Yeah, two stinkin’ pennies and some rock!” He grabbed Peter by his shirt as he swung back and forth. “I’m gonna take the cost of that mangy furball outta your hide, boy!”
“Hey, enough!” The second fisherman swatted his friend over the head. “We ain’t supposed to hurt the kid, remember? Not that much, anyway. Let’s tie up the kid and leave him in here. The Boss will be around to get rid of him as soon as he takes our pretty little princess here to the Glass Tower.” He pinched Valerie’s cheek, ignoring her growl and Peter’s wail.
The first fisherman frowned. “The Glass Tower? What’s that?”
“Boss said we’re gonna take her over to the old Dragon Tower on Fire Hill. There ain’t been any dragons there for centuries, but there’ll be plenty of other things to make sure she don’t get loose.” He grinned widely. “And we’re gonna get some real money for bringin’ her in. He’s even gonna make sure we get good jobs when his kid’s the new king.”
“What about me?” Peter called from the celing beam. “Could you get me down? I’m getting a little seasick.”
“Yeah, we’re gonna get you down!” Peter gulped when one of the fishermen leaned over and flashed a long, sharp knife. It passed by his throat for a brief second before the man whipped through the rope holding him to the rafters. He landed on the floor in one thud that knocked the breath out of him.
Valerie shrieked as the men roughly wound rope around Peter’s arms and legs. He was bound so tightly he couldn’t move at all. Rags were flung over his mouth and eyes. They tossed him in Nesmith’s stall. He tried to struggle, but it was useless. The rope was too tight. He heard laughter and the sounds of Valerie’s muffled screams and the angry cries of Dolenz and Jones, then distant hoofbeats. The hoofbeats finally faded away, leaving only the regular night noises.
He felt like crying. He could only hope his father or brother or the farm hands would find him and free him. He wondered who the “boss” was and what he could possibly have against him. The servants all liked him and his pets, and no one at the castle knew that the mighty knight who won the trials was really a shy servant.
He felt horrible. He couldn’t protect his best friends OR Princess Valerie. Why did he ever believe he was a knight? He’d never win the princess’ heart. She probably hated him now. Why would she want to marry a peasant? She should have someone clever and elegant, someone with style, grace, and charm. He was a fool whose only friends were a cat, a dog, and a horse...and he couldn’t even save THEM.
It seemed like decades before the sound of hoofbeats were heard in the quiet night. Two voices penetrated the normal creaks and groans of the barn. *That must be the Boss.* Peter gulped. *Please, don’t let me die! Let me get back to Valerie and my friends! I’ll never see her again, or Nesmith and Dolenz and Jones! I’ll never play my music again, or become a court musician, or win Valerie’s heart!*
Peter’s heart beat faster as muffled footsteps and hoofbeats came closer and closer. Something tugged the rags off of his face. He let out a cry when the first thing he saw were a pair of enormous dark brown eyes. As he focused, he saw the familiar white star on a chestnut-colored forehead and the long, spindly legs.
“Nesmith?” The horse let out a snort and nodded. Two figures in dark hooded capes waved their hands over the rope on his arms and legs, while Nesmith nuzzled his face. “Nesmith, I’m so glad you’re back! I knew you wouldn’t abandon me!” The rope snapped and gave way, and the two figures helped the shaky Peter to his feet. “You must have gone to find help!”
The shorter figure brushed the hay from his clothes and hair, while the taller one kept watch at the door for any more goons. “Thank you.” He frowned, trying to see under the hood. “Who are you? Why are you helping me? I’m not worth it. I’m a terrible knight. I let thugs kidnap Valerie, Jonesy, and Dolenz, and they tried to hurt Nesmith. A real knight wouldn’t let bad people hurt his friends and the woman he loves!”
The smaller figure reached over and gently brushed a lock of choppy gold hair from Peter’s eyes. Nesmith nudged him, trying to make him feel better. “If only I had those swords. They helped me win the trials. Maybe they could help me rescue Valerie and my friends from the Dragon Tower.”
Nesmith grabbed Peter by his tunic sleeve, trying to drag him on his back. The smaller figure nodded and helped him. “What are you doing? Nesmith, this is no time for a ride!” He frowned at the other figure. “Do I know you? There’s something about you that seems so familiar. I’ve seen those hands before.”
The other figure returned. He waved his hands, indicating the door. Peter listened; Nesmith’s ears pricked. “That’s hoofbeats. Nesmith, we’d better get out of here, before the Boss arrives and kills us.” He slung his guitar over his shoulder. “We’ll sleep in the woods, then get the swords and go to the Dragon Tower at dawn’s first light.” He turned to thank the pair who freed him, but when he looked in their direction, all he saw was glittering white dust. “Hey, what happened to them? I wanted to tell them how much of a help they were!” He sighed. “Oh, well. Let’s get out of here. I don’t think we’re safe here anymore.”
Chapter 6
Chapter 8
Back to Emma's Stories
Home