Valley of the Soul

Chapter One


"Mama!" Haydon called from near the window. "There's horses on the road! Fancy ones!"

"That's nice." Arien sat at her kitchen table, trying to make sense of the drawing in the old book before she had to leave to work at the sanatorium. She'd never learned to read, but she didn't think that mattered, at least not with this book. It was full of pictures, detailed illustrations in colored ink. Even if she couldn't understand the words, she recognized the things they represented.

"Mama!" Haydon pulled on her skirt and she looked down to see him on the floor, balanced on one hand while his legs dragged uselessly behind him. "Horses, Mama! You have to come see!"

She sighed as she stood and scooped him up. "Horses come by every day, Haydon."

Haydon wrapped his hot arms around her neck. "Not quarry horses! Nobles' horses! Three pretty ones, all brushed and shiny! With fancy saddles!"

Balancing him on her hip, she pulled the curtains. Sure enough, there were three fine horses prancing away down the road. "Well, I'll be."

The three noblemen pulled their mounts to a stop and dismounted near Constable Marsden, who stood not far down the road. One was old and limped a little as he walked, but following him was a tall, slender young man with a purposeful stride. The third man dwarfed the other two combined and Arien sucked in her breath as he lumbered around the horses.

"Dien " she whispered, leaning close to the open window.

"Who are they, Mama " Haydon asked.

"Men from the castle," she said, watching the old man follow Calder Marsden into the ravine. The young man and Dien ' she was certain it was him, even after almost six summers ' stopped to talk to a nearby group of villagers and quarry workers.

"Can we go outside and see the horses Please "

Arien hesitated for a moment, then felt Haydon's forehead. Still too warm, but she hated to disappoint him. "Of course we can, sweetie."