Chapter 74: Valerion

The morning dawned peacefully.

A light mist shrouded the clearing where the small group had spent the night. Dew gathered on the grass and the wheels of the carriages, glistening in the first light of dawn.

Among the trees, birds began to sing, filling the air with soft sounds that heralded the start of a new day.

Inside his tent, Adam slowly opened his eyes.

For a few seconds, he lay there, staring at the canvas ceiling that swayed gently in the morning breeze.

From outside came the sounds of the camp waking up: the crackling of firewood as the fire was stoked, the clinking of tools, the murmur of voices still half-asleep.

Adam exhaled calmly before sitting up.

As he stepped out of the shop, the cool air gently brushed against his face. The clearing was bathed in a golden light that was beginning to filter through the tree branches. Some merchants were already awake, moving among the carriages as they checked ropes, boxes, and sacks of merchandise.

Near the fire, a man was slowly stirring an iron pot.

The aroma of a light soup mingled with the smell of burning wood.

“Good morning.”

The merchant who had accepted Adam’s escort the night before greeted him.

Adam nodded slightly.

“Good morning.”

The man handed him a bowl of hot soup.

Adam took it and sat down near the fire. The heat of the flames contrasted with the cool morning air. He sipped the soup slowly as he watched the camp gradually come to life.

Adam finished his soup and set the bowl down by the fire before standing up.

He walked a short distance along the edge of the clearing. The damp grass crunched softly beneath his boots. From there, he could see the path continuing through the trees, winding toward the distant hills.

In the distance, the merchant raised his voice.

“We’ll leave in an hour.”

Some men responded with nods.

Adam calmly drew his sword.

The black blade reflected the soft light of dawn as he began to practice some simple movements.

A couple of merchants watched from a distance. One of them muttered something to the other, impressed by the precision of the movements, but Adam paid them no mind.

After a few minutes, he sheathed his sword.

The camp was almost ready.

The horses were hitched to the carriages. The ropes were tightened. The merchants climbed into their seats.

The wheels began to turn slowly.

The road to Bretan opened up among the trees, illuminated by the golden morning light.

Adam sat down behind his carriage.

…

The journey was proceeding relatively smoothly, with nothing particularly noteworthy happening.

Adam lay back in the rear of the carriage, his eyes closed, letting the gentle breeze from the road cool his face as the vehicle moved slowly along the dirt road.

The constant rocking of the carriage was almost soothing.

The young woman who had played the instrument the night before was doing so again now. The soft notes floated through the air, making the journey much more pleasant.

From what he had heard from the two guards who had survived the previous attack, the girl was the daughter of one of the merchants in the convoy.

Adam hadn’t asked much about her.

He wasn’t interested in her, either.

The night before, they had exchanged a few words—nothing more. There was no reason to get any more involved.

As they made their way down the road, they came across another caravan of merchants heading toward the same destination. Several armed mercenaries escorted them, and one of the merchants approached to ask if they could travel together.

Adam thought it was a perfect idea.

The more people there were on the road, the less he would have to intervene personally if anything happened.

The constant creaking of the carriage wheels filled the air, mingling with the distant voices of the merchants and the occasional sound of horses.

Bored, Adam opened his eyes slightly and turned his gaze toward Asterin.

“Asterin, can you tell me a little more about Britain?”

Asterin looked at him with her golden eyes.

“So you want to know the history of my homeland…? But I won’t tell you too much. I’ll tell you about a knight.”

The carriage continued on its way as her voice grew softer.

“Many centuries ago, when Britain was still young, and wars had not yet ravaged the land, there lived a knight named Sir Valerion.”

Asterin slowly crossed her arms.

“He was not the strongest of the kingdom’s knights. Nor was he the most famous. But he was the most loyal.”

Her golden eyes shone with a distant gleam.

“Sir Valerion served a king who had united many lands under a single crown. He fought by his side in countless battles, saw many heroes fall… and witnessed the end of an era.”

The sound of the carriage wheels accompanied her words.

“When the king was defeated in his final battle, the other knights either died or fled. Only Valerion remained.”

Asterin nodded slightly.

“The dying king handed him his sword and gave him one last command.”

A brief pause.

“’Return it to the sacred lake, from whence it was taken.’”

Adam could hear the wind rustling through the trees as she continued.

“Valerion walked for days until he reached the lake. But when he saw the sword’s reflection in the water… he hesitated.”

Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.

“It was his king’s sword. The symbol of everything they had built. Throwing it into the water felt like betraying his memory.”

The carriage continued moving slowly.

“So he went back and told the king he had carried out the order.”

Asterin let out a small sigh.

“But the king knew him too well.”

“’You didn’t do it,’ he said. So Valerion returned to the lake. This time… he didn’t hesitate.”

Asterin looked up slightly toward the sky.

“When he threw the sword into the water, a hand rose from the depths and seized it before disappearing beneath the surface.”

There was a brief silence, broken only by the distant chatter of merchants, mercenaries, and guards.

“And so ended the story of that king’s last loyal knight.”

Asterin looked at Adam again.

“Sir Valerion was not remembered for his strength… but for his loyalty.”

Her golden eyes shone brightly.

“Sometimes, Adam, loyalty is the hardest form of courage.”

Adam fell silent, his gaze lost on the road.

…

In the distance, silhouettes began to appear. At first, those who saw them were puzzled.

The confusion soon turned to alarm. Several black dots emerged from the mist, moving at great speed.

They were arrows!

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