Finding Valor (24 page)

“What about him?” Tim jerked his head at Josh without actually looking at him.

“I’m giving him my tent.”

“You don’t need to do that.” Josh didn’t want to be separated from his friends.

“It’s all right. I’ll sleep with Prudence.”

Josh froze. That meant Prudence was close, somewhere inside the camp’s boundaries. Josh kept his emotions locked down. The last thing he wanted was to put Wisdom on alert. He pointed his thumb at Hunter and Shep as they disappeared around a bend. “I’d rather stay in the barracks with them.”

Wisdom grabbed Josh’s elbow and tugged until his ear was next to her mouth. “You’re young, inexperienced
and
a Veyjivik. Even with the Book of the Dead’s prophecies, it’s going to be hard to persuade everyone that you’re our only hope of defeating Dominance. You need to separate yourself from the lower classes.”

Josh ground his teeth. “I’m not going to be a part of any society that separates its members into
classes
.”

“Get off your high-horse. You could feed a family of five for a week with the money you spent on those shoes.” Wisdom curled her lip as she pointed at Josh’s feet.

Heat spread across his cheeks. His Air Force Ones had cost nearly two-hundred dollars, and they weren’t his only pair. “That doesn’t mean I think I’m better than anyone else.”

“These people need a leader they can look up to. They need a hero, not a friend.”

“Hanging with Hunter and Shep isn’t going to change who I am.”

“Maybe not, but it
will
diminish your image and tarnish your reputation. Wait until you’ve won a few hearts and minds; then you can ‘hang’ with whomever you want.”

“Fine.” Josh had no intention of staying long enough to win anyone’s approval, much less their hearts and minds. As soon as he learned where Wisdom had hidden Prudence and the Book of the Dead, he’d snatch the book, kill the crazy bitch and get the hell outta Dodge. “At least let me help you move your things.”

“So you can search for the Book of the Dead?” Wisdom chuckled. “I don’t think so, but nice try.”

She waved to an old man with a cane. “Harry, come on over. I’d like to introduce you to Valor.”

Josh extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Harry.”

Moving faster than most men half his age, Harry smacked Josh’s ass with his cane. “That’s Mr. Crawford to you, sonny.”

“Jeeze!” Josh resisted the urge to rub his stinging butt. He glared at Wisdom, who was obviously trying not to laugh. She’d set him up.

“Inheritance Crawford is in charge of documenting and keeping the Ozark Mountain Mages’ history and records. He can tell you how everyone is related, where they came from and who they’re most loyal to.”

“Great.” Josh tried not to groan out loud. Grandma Abrim loved to pull out her genealogy charts and quiz him on family history. It always bored him to tears.

“Harry, I want you to give Josh an overview of the history of the three regions.” She rested a hand on his arm. “And just so you know…his full name is Valor Veyjivik and he’s the rightful heir to the throne.”

“Well, I ain’t no Veyjivik and I don’t bow to no king.”
 

Josh grinned. At least there was one mage that wasn’t impressed with his royal status. He couldn’t help but like the old fart.

~***~

The time passed much quicker than Josh expected. Inheritance “Harry” Crawford was grouchy as hell, but he made history and genealogy come alive. Instead of boring Josh with names and dates, he told stories. It was fascinating as well as disheartening. Clans started feuds for the slightest offense and held grudges for-freaking-ever. How was he supposed to unite such a diverse and volatile group of people? He refused to resort to death pledges. If more mages had shown a little more restraint, maybe their entire world wouldn’t be teetering on the brink of civil war.

“Valor?” Wisdom poked her head through the flap in Harry’s tent. “I need you to come with me.”

“Mr. Crawford was just getting ready to tell me how the Veyjivik mages gained control of the Cumberland region.”

“You can have another history lesson tomorrow. It’s time for combat training.”

Josh’s pulse increased. He used to be nearly unbeatable in the paintball arena. But he doubted Wisdom’s soldiers trained with paintballs. “What kind of combat?”

“Magic.”

Crap.

“I hear you were finally able to curse someone. That’s a huge improvement.”

“Twice. But it was the same guy and he’s a total ass.”

“Let’s see how you do against some of my rebels.” Wisdom led him down a path, past a huge greenhouse full of plants, a lake surrounded by fishermen and an outdoor kitchen.
 

“You produce all your own food?”

“Hardly. Even with mages working around the clock, the greenhouse barely produces enough vegetation to prevent vitamin deficiency diseases. The last time anyone caught anything out of that lake was two months ago—and it was only a snapping turtle.”

“Then why are all those people trying to fish?”

Wisdom stopped and stared at the fishermen, standing shoulder to shoulder, casting, watching, waiting. She sighed. “Hope. It’s the only thing most of them have left. That, and their pride.”

“Pride?”

“Most of the men out there are too old or sick to work in the greenhouse or hunt. None of them are fit for combat. But they all refuse to accept charity. As long as they’re fishing, they’re working, whether they catch anything or not. And as long as they’re working, they’ve earned the right to eat.”

“You mentioned hunting. The deer are so plentiful where I live, they’re considered pests. But I didn’t see any signs of them here.”

“That’s because we’ve hunted them to extinction within a hundred miles of camp. If rabbits didn’t gestate so fast, we’d have starved by now.”

A vision of collecting rabbits from snare traps flashed in Josh’s mind. It happened so fast, he wasn’t sure whether it was a flashback or a recovered memory. He hoped it was the latter. If he could break the barrier in his mind, he could have all his memories…including the sexual ones. “Channie and I trapped rabbits.”

Wisdom grabbed Josh’s elbow and spun him around to face her. “Do you remember doing it, or are you just repeating something someone else told you?”

“I remember it.” Josh tasted bile. “I also remember skinning and gutting them.”

“That’s a false memory. You tried, but you never managed to complete either task.”

Josh shivered. “I can still remember the smell.”

“I’ll do my best to keep you out of the rabbit rotation. It’s too bad all the chickens are gone. You were a great egg gatherer.”

“I was?”

Wisdom laughed and rolled her eyes. “What do you think?”

Another memory, just as quick as the first, flashed behind his eyes. Vicious birds, biting, scratching, crowing, flapping…feathers and chicken poop everywhere. “I hate chickens.”

“Ah…you do remember.” Wisdom clapped him on the back. “Better get a move on. Timmy doesn’t like tardiness.”

“Timmy?”
Please, don’t let it be that giant of a man that already hates me.

“Intimidation Nesbit’s in charge of training. You met him this morning.”

Josh groaned out loud before he could stop himself.

“Don’t worry, he gets a little rough with slackers, but he’s never caused any permanent damage.”

Great.
“Why didn’t you say something?”

“I just did. The training arena is around that bend.” She gave him another pat on the back, that was more shove than pat. “If you run, you might make it before the starting whistle.”

Josh tore down the path, but a shrill, long whistle blast echoed through the hills before he reached the bend. He slowed down to a walk. No point wearing himself out if he was already late.
 

He spotted Hunter and Shep in a large corral with about two dozen other men and boys. All the different gem-colored shields reminded him of a basket full of Easter eggs. Hunter grinned and waved. Josh yelled a warning when Timmy-freakin-Nesbit hurled a bowling ball-sized sphere of magic at him. It shattered Hunter’s shield into a thousand emerald shards. Hunter flew backwards and landed on his ass.
 

Josh vaulted over the split-rail fence and ran to Hunter’s side. Shep was already there, shielding his brother.

Tim smiled, but it would have looked more friendly on a rattlesnake. “Get back, both of you.”

Shep inched back, but kept his shield over Hunter.

“Shepherd Feenie. If you wanna be a part of my army, you will obey orders.” Tim blasted Shep, shattering his shield and knocking him to the ground as well.
 

Josh stretched his shield to include Shep. It still felt strong, but it took three times as much energy to hold it in place.

Tim pointed at Josh. “You may be the crown prince, but on the field of battle, the strongest mage gives the orders. Lower your shield.”

“Do you promise not to hurt Shep or Hunter if I do?”

Tim flexed every muscle in his body and gathered the light into a huge ball of energy in front of him. Bolts of miniature lightning zapped between his hands. Every mage, except Josh, hunkered down and covered their heads. “This is your last warning,
Prince
Valor.”

Josh stood up and poured every bit of energy he could gather into his shield.

Tim hurled his lightning ball of magic at Josh, but it ricocheted off his shield like a beach ball hitting a brick wall.

Tim raised his shield just before his own magic smacked into him. His shield didn’t fare any better than Hunter’s or Shep’s had. He landed on his back, but kicked out and jumped to his feet without using his hands, as if the ground were a trampoline.
 

Timmy’s eyes bulged until it looked like they’d pop out of his head. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Turn my own magic against me!”

Josh shrugged then spoke to Hunter out of the side of his mouth. “Is that unusual?”

Hunter licked his lips. “It’s impossible.”

Tim pointed at several cowering mages. “You, you, and you. Front and center, now!”

They scrambled to obey.
 

Josh could guess what was coming. “Let Hunter and Shep sit this round out. I’m the one you’re pissed at.”

“I’m the one that gives the orders. Stay where you are.”

“Ah, crap. I’m sorry guys.”

“I’d rather stay here where it’s safe.” Hunter grinned at Josh. “They ain’t gonna get through your shield, no matter what they throw at us.”

Shep groaned and wrapped his arms around his knees. “I hope you’re right, little brother.”

“Don’t call me that. You’re only ten months older and I’m bigger than you anyway.”

“I can still whoop your ass.”

“Guys!” Josh wanted to knock their heads together. “I need to concentrate.”

They both whispered ‘sorry.’ Shep closed his eyes.

Josh didn’t blame him.
 

Tim pointed at the mage on his right, a brute almost as large as he was. “Sustained attack.”

“Your curse had to have damaged his shield. I don’t want to burn the crown prince.”

“Do you want to
join
him?”

The mage looked as if he were considering it then bowed his head. “No, sir.”

“Then do it.”

The mage held one hand in front of his body. Blue light formed in his palm then flowed towards Josh.

He appreciated the guy’s reluctance to curse them and didn’t want to use his own power against him so instead of repelling the energy, he absorbed it. His shield grew stronger.

Tim shoved the mage aside and shot his own bolt of sustained energy at Josh.
 

He absorbed that energy as well.

Tim’s face turned red, then purple. “What are you waiting for?”
 

The other two mages added their magic to Tim’s, but it only made Josh stronger. And not just his shield. His entire body drank in the extra energy. It was too much.
 

“You need to stop. I don’t know how long I can hold on.”

“Do you surrender?” Timmy growled the words.
 

Josh knew he’d never gain the respect of these men if he backed down. “No.”

“Company, attack!” Timmy sang the first word, drawing out the last syllable, then barked the word ‘attack.’
 

The entire group of mages fired their own streams of magic at Josh.

“No! You don’t understand.” Hunter waved his hands over his head. “He’s gonna blow something—or someone—to smithereens. He cain’t help it!”

A few of the mages broke off their attack. But there was still too much energy pouring into Josh.

He panted with the effort of holding all that power. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck.

Shep yelled, “Blast the mother trucker.”

Mother trucker?
Josh gritted his teeth. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“And I don’t want to die. Blast him before you blow us all up.”

Hunter tugged on Josh’s pant leg. “Just blow up a tree or something.”

Josh shifted his attention to a giant oak about a hundred yards away. He cupped his hands in front of his heart, palms out, and
shoved
the energy away from everyone.
 

The tree exploded with a
boom
that shook the ground. The post-blast shockwave knocked everyone, except Josh, Shep and Hunter to the ground.

Hunter stared at Josh with wide, glassy eyes. “I’m sure glad you’re on our side.”

Shep blinked and shook his head, as if he were trying to get water out of his ears. “Damn.”

“Come on.” Josh slung an arm around each of their shoulders, Hunter on his right, Shep on his left. “Help me check on everyone else.”

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. Tim’s ass was full of splinters, but that was the worst casualty. Josh expected him to tear into him, but when he limped out of the first aid tent, the first thing he did was try to shake Josh’s hand.

Josh prepared to have every bone in his hand crushed. Tim’s grip was firm, but not painful.

“I’m ready to swear a death pledge to you.”

“That won’t be necessary. Your word of honor is all I require.”