Part II: Journey
It took two years before another opportunity arrived.
Valentina was eating her lunch when she heard it. Singing! And not just the birds singing, but the sweet voice of another girl. How many years had passed since the last time she heard someone else sing?
She ran to the window, looking to the forest. She could hear the song echoing through the trees but still couldn’t see anyone.
“Hey! Help! Help!” Valentina screamed. “Is someone there? Help me!”
The singing stopped abruptly. She went silent, scared that maybe it was just one of her father’s people. But then she saw a movement. A moment later, a girl appeared through two trees. She was on horseback, wearing common traveler’s clothes, and her curly red hair shone around her head. As the girl looked around, Val couldn’t help but notice how adorable she looked.
Valentina smiled, feeling her heart race at the prospect of rescue.
“Hello?” the girl called as if she was trying to find the source of Valentina’s voice.
“Up here!” Valentina screamed, leaning a little further out the window and waving her arms in the air.
“Hey, what are you doing up there?” the girl called back.
“I’ve been imprisoned. Can you help me?”
The girl brought an arm up to shadow the sun from her eyes. “Imprisoned?” she asked, voice alarmed and loud. “Well, tell me how I can help.”
“Wait a minute!”
Valentina ran back into her room and grabbed the blankets from the wardrobe. She tried to knot them to the windowsill, but her fingers were shaking. Valentina took a few deep breaths, closing her eyes. This was no time to be scared; if she handled this right, she could be out of here in a minute, free once and for all.
Valentina opened her eyes, secured the blankets as fast as she could, and got up on the window. This was her moment. She looked down one last time to be sure the girl was still there—which she was, looking up and waiting—before she lowered the makeshift rope to the ground below. Then she began her descent.
The first steps were uncertain, but Valentina kept going. The open air felt strange after all this time, as did the sunshine on her skin. She stopped halfway down, feeling her hands starting to lose strength.
“I’m still here!” the girl said. “You’re doing great.”
Her words were encouraging; Valentina wasn’t alone in this. So she kept going down, little by little, step by step. Eventually, she ran out of rope, but there was still a little distance left to the ground.
“Come on, you’re almost there,” urged the girl in a soft voice. “All you have to do is jump.”
Valentina took a deep breath as she prepared herself for the moment. She could still get hurt, or the girl could be someone untrustworthy, but it was too late to go back now. Another opportunity like this may never come again. Valentina closed her eyes and then she let go of the blankets.
Sudden terror overwhelmed her as she fell, but then she landed just as suddenly on something soft. A large pile of leaves on the forest floor, she realized, as she tried to get to her feet.
“Nice to meet you,” said the same girl’s voice from before. Valentina turned around, seeing her rescuer smiling at her. Had she prepared the leaves as Valentina was climbing down? It was a nice gesture. The girl had short, curly red hair, beautiful blue eyes, and skin as fair as her own. But it looked fresh and soft while Valentina’s was unhealthily pale.
“I’m Agnes,” she said, offering her hand. “What’s your name?”
Valentina got up with her help. She hesitated to answer the question, too scared that Agnes would realize who her father was.
So she answered, “Call me Val.”
“What were you doing up there in that tower?” Agnes asked.
“It’s a long story.”
“I have time.” Agnes frowned. “You’re shaking. Have you eaten yet?”
“I was just starting to eat when I heard you…” She was so caught up in the moment she’d barely thought about it. But now that it had passed, Val felt her stomach complaining and her limbs trembling.
“Come on,” Agnes said. “Let’s find a place to rest, and I’ll prepare you some food.”
Val followed her through the forest as Agnes lead the horse by her side. Every tree, plant, and animal she saw fascinated her. The world seemed so new and marvelous as she got further away from the old tower.
“It’s so beautiful,” Val gasped as she stopped to pick a flower from a nearby bush.
Agnes smiled gently. “It’s just a flower. Haven’t you ever seen one before?”
“Not in many years,” Val said, so low it was almost a whisper.
Val was afraid that she would be annoyed, but Agnes barely said anything as she continued to guide Val and the horse through the trees.
“What’s its name?” Val asked, looking up at the horse’s dark eyes and shining mane, so different from the pictures she’d seen in her books. So alive.
“I call her Hera.”
“May I touch her?”
“Of course.” Agnes moved to the side, letting Val come closer.
Val slowly raised her right hand. The horse’s glossy coat was warm to the touch, and Val could almost feel Hera’s health and vitality with just her fingertips. Val smiled, and felt something she hadn’t in years: she was happy to be living in this moment.
“What happened to your shoes?” Agnes asked after a little while.
Val looked down at the rags wrapped around her feet and knotted at the ankles. “These are the only ones I have.”
Agnes blushed, and Val felt a little uncomfortable at the questioning. At some point, she would have to tell the truth. Maybe it was naïve to trust the first person who passed by, but Val had to take risks if she wanted to gain her freedom.
“Wait here with Hera. I’m going to look for food.” Agnes opened one of her bags and pulled from it a bow and arrow.
Val noticed that there was also a sword packed in the bags around the horse, together with a few changes of clothing. She felt safer knowing Agnes was ready to face any danger they may encounter. But who was she and what was she doing in the forest? Val thought it would be best to ask about this another time.
Agnes started to walk away, but then she turned back one last time. “Will you be all right on your own?”
“Yes, thank you.”
And then Val was alone once more. This was her first time exploring the world outside the tower, and she was overwhelmed. She touched the leaves of the closest trees, smelled the flowers, and brushed her fingers on the grass, then sat down close to Hera, gazing at the blue sky above her. It was so beautiful. It was all too much. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
She was free.
She was free to do anything she wanted, to go wherever she pleased.
When Agnes arrived with two rabbits she’d caught, she found Val in tears.
“What happened?” Agnes kneeled close to her.
Val tried to calm her breathing. “These are happy tears.”
Agnes looked concerned. “What happened to you? How did you end up in that tower?”
“Can we talk after we’ve eaten? I promise I’ll tell you everything,” Val said, still needing a moment to gather herself.
Agnes nodded. “You must be starving.”
Agnes lit up a fire and prepared their rabbits. Her skinny fingers were agile, and in just a few minutes, she had cooked enough food for both of them. It was the best meal Val had in ages. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate freshly cooked food and not some old thing someone had left under her door. Agnes was smiling kindly at her, and Val felt a little tingle in her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. She felt her cheeks heating up and looked down, clearing her throat once she was done with her food. “I’ve been inside that tower for seven years,” she said at last.
“Seven years!” Agnes gasped. “Why?”
Val stared back at her, finding a mix of surprise and confusion on Agnes’ face. Suddenly she struggled to put her own story into words; it all sounded so overwhelming and awful when she tried to explain. “Someone locked me up.”
“I don’t understand,” Agnes said, shaking her head as if unable to comprehend the idea. Val wished she had come from such a place of kindness and innocence, too. “Who would do such an awful thing?”
“My father, King Jorge of Pouso Dourado,” Val said. “He said he would come back for me when I got older to marry me off. I knew I had to leave before it was too late.”
Agnes’ eyes turned wide. “A princess stuck in a tower? And by her own father?” she asked astonished. “I’ve heard stories of princesses who are kidnapped, but never by their family.”
There was that naivety again, Val thought to herself. She had never met anyone before that found this behavior surprising. Sure, she knew in her heart that her father had done awful things. But until then, Val believed no one else could see how terrible his acts were.
“That’s awful. I’m so sorry.” Agnes’ voice was so sympathetic that Val nearly sobbed. She made Val feel cared for after so long on her own. “Can I help you somehow?”
Val played with the rest of her food, unsure if she could trust Agnes. “I just need a new place to live where people don’t know who I am.”
“I live in Belo Vale, just a kingdom away,” Agnes said, sounding more certain than Val could imagine being about anything. “And I know for sure that the king and queen of Magalhães would accept you with open arms. Let me accompany you on your way.”
“Would you do that?”
“It would be my pleasure, Your Highness.”
* * *
Val found it hard to sleep that night. Although the tower had been her prison for years, it had been a sturdy place, safe. But her own feelings were as confusing as anything else that had happened today—how could she crave something she had previously loathed?
“What’s wrong?” Agnes asked from her left side.
“There’s so much noise.” Val shifted in the sleeping bag, unsure how to put her swirling emotions into words. Hours earlier, Agnes had insisted that Val should sleep on it, saying she was used to sleeping on the forest floor after so many years.
The forest was alive even at night, and a loud growl from some animal somewhere in the distance sent shivers down Val’s back. “Do you think monsters will find us here?”
Agnes started to laugh, but then she saw the serious expression on Val’s face. “There aren’t any monsters. These are just stories people tell kids so they will stay in bed all night.”
“What?” Val said, indignant. “They are very real. You might upset them if you say they’re not.”
“All right. I’m sorry.” Agnes bit her lip. “I’ll keep watch until you fall asleep. How about that? Then you can be sure no monsters or bogeymen will get you.”
Val agreed and closed her eyes. It took a few more hours, but when she finally dozed off, she had her first good night’s sleep in years, knowing she would wake up to a whole new world.
* * *
The following morning, their journey began in earnest. Val was full of questions about everything she saw, and Agnes patiently answered everything she was asked. She taught Val how to find the forest’s edible plants and berries, how to hunt and trap small animals for food and how to avoid the dangerous ones. Val would get tired easily, and they had to stop a lot to let her rest, but thankfully, Hera helped them catch up on lost time.
The first time Val saw a lake she let out a delighted shriek and ran to the edge of the water. She touched the shining surface and laughed at seeing her own reflection: a girl with messy blonde hair and green eyes looking back at her. It was a blurry image of herself, and yet she was surprised at how much older she looked.
“Go in, you need to clean yourself,” Agnes said.
“Are you telling me I smell?”
“Maybe,” Agnes said teasingly.
Val shook her head in amusement. “Turn around.”
She waited until Agnes had turned her back before taking off her dress and testing the temperature with her fingertips. It was cold. But she was used to cold water after all those years in the tower.
As she slowly immersed herself in the lake, the chill made her skin tingle pleasantly. Val covered her nose with one hand, remembering how her mother had told her to do in her baths when she was just a child and went underwater. When she came up again, she was smiling.
Then she remembered she wasn’t alone when she saw Agnes sitting on a rock with her back to her. Val cleaned herself the best she could, being careful with her long hair. When she was done, she got out with her teeth chattering, grabbed her clothes and ran behind a tree.
“You can turn around now!” she said once she was proper again. But just as she finished putting her dress on, her hair got stuck in the material. “Uhm, Agnes? Can you give me a hand?”
She heard the soft steps coming closer and then a warm hand touching her skin. Val felt goose bumps forming on her neck and arms, and suddenly she found it hard to breathe. Agnes was so close now that she could smell the faint fragrance of sweat and leaves from the other girl. Slowly, Agnes’ fingers brought her hair free. But she didn’t step away, taking her time to style Val’s hair into a long braid.
“There. Now you won’t get stuck anymore,” Agnes said when she finished.
Val turned around, finding Agnes’ blue eyes staring straight at her. She was so beautiful. It was hard to think straight with her so up close.
“I’m going to clean myself now,” said Agnes, clearing her throat suddenly.
Val nodded and then shook her head, finally realizing she should be the one turning around now.
* * *
Val still found it hard to sleep on her second night away from the tower. She was too agitated and uncomfortable. Sure, her old bed hadn’t been the most comfortable, but at least she had blankets and a ceiling above her. Here, she could hear all the insects in the night and feel the cold air on her skin.
“What’s wrong?” Agnes said.
Val froze where she lay; she hadn’t realized Agnes was still awake. “Sorry. I’m just restless.”
She heard Agnes turning around, and turned her head to meet her eyes. Agnes brushed her hands through her messy hair, trying to clear it out of her tired looking eyes. She looked cute with those red curls all over her face. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Maybe.” Val bit her lip before asking, “You never told me why you were in the forest that day. I just feel like I’m holding you back from something more important.”
“Oh, slow down.” Agnes brushed her hands on her face with a groan, clearly trying to be more awake than she truly was. “No, you aren’t disturbing my journey. In fact, I was heading back this way anyway.”
“What do you do for a living?”
Agnes seemed to hesitate. “I’m a messenger. I was sending a message to another kingdom, and now I’m returning home.”
There was an awkward silence for a few minutes.
“What do you want to do now that you’re out of your tower?” Agnes asked after a while. “What is your dream, Val?”
Val frowned. Her dream was to be free and yet, it still felt strange that she had achieved it. She hadn’t actually thought about what she’d do once she accomplished that. “I don’t know.”
“That’s all right,” Agnes said. “You still have plenty of time to figure it out.”
“I guess you’re right.” Val turned on her back, watching the stars. There seemed to be so many of them, and the full moon was shining brightly that night. She smiled, suddenly thinking about all the times she had read about this same scene happening in so many books before. Now it wasn’t just words on a page, it was reality.
She hoped with all her heart that she was ready for the things she had only read about. Like romance, adventures, and all kind of journeys.
“Agnes…. Have you ever been in love?” she asked impulsively.
“Once or twice,” Agnes answered. “I find people fascinating and easy to love.”
“Do you love men?”
“I love men, women, and people who are neither or both at the same time. Why you ask?”
“Because I think I can only love women. Is that wrong?” Val asked, thinking about how her father had been so insistent on marrying her off to a man.
She felt careful fingers on her chin. Val looked back at Agnes, and her eyes were full of compassion and understanding. “There is nothing wrong with you. Don’t ever let anyone convince you otherwise, Val.”
Val was sure her face was going to hurt from smiling so much these past few days.
“Think you can sleep now?” Agnes asked.
“I think I can. Thank you, Agnes.”
* * *
For the rest of the week, their journey was peaceful and uneventful. Val was growing stronger from spending more time in the sun and fresh air, eating different foods and learning to love the freedom that she gained. It was still terrifying sometimes to be outside. She had this weird feeling of being followed, sometimes afraid that she would wake up one day and realize it was all just a dream. Val realized it was going to take some time before she felt confident enough that this could be her new life.
Fortunately, Agnes was there to teach her things she’d missed.
“Here, you have to aim just an inch above the target,” Agnes said as Val prepared a shot with a bow and arrow, Agnes adjusting her grip. The touch of her fingers against Val’s skin was exhilarating. “Now, pull the arrow and let it go when you feel ready.”
Val did as she said, breathing in slowly before releasing her grasp—and the arrow fell just a few feet away. She looked down, feeling defeated.
“I don’t think I’m made for the hunt.”
“Let’s try it one more time,” Agnes said with excitement. “If it doesn’t work, that’s fine.”
Val tried again and again but failed each time. She could see Agnes wanted to help so badly and her disappointment was even worse because Val wanted to please her in return.
“How about we try something different?” Agnes walked over to a tall tree and pointed upwards. “Think you can get the pitangas?”
Val looked up and saw the tree was full of the little red fruit. She smiled and nodded before starting to climb the nearest branches. She was careful at first, trying to find the best ways to place her feet on the tree, but soon enough she got the hang of it. In just a few minutes, she collected enough fruit to last for two days.
“That was amazing,” said Agnes, visibly impressed as Val alighted from the tree.
The compliment gave Val a warm feeling, and she smiled shyly. “Thank you. My mother would secretly let me play in the trees on the palace grounds when I was little. But Father didn’t like that very much.”
“If I may ask, what happened to your mother?”
“She died just before I was left in the tower. The plague took many of our people at the time, but I survived.” Val felt a brief stab of grief in her heart. It didn’t hurt as much as it once had, but she still missed her mother terribly.
“I’m glad you got to know her,” Agnes said wistfully. “Sometimes, I really wish I had known my own mother.”
“You never met your mother?”
“Not my biological one. She died just after I was born. But my father married my stepmother when I was very young, and she has been just as much a mother to me. I believe our hearts will always grow to love as many people as we can fit in our lives.”
Upon hearing these words, Val felt her heart expanding just a little bit more.
* * *
Unfortunately, on the second week, they encountered problems. It was just after dinner when Agnes stopped in her tracks, seeming to listen attentively to something far away.
“What’s going on?” Val asked, looking nervously at the trees around them.
Agnes brought one finger to her mouth and took her sword out of the bags. A minute later she whispered, “I need you to be very quiet right now. Take Hera, and get as far away from here as you can.”
“What about you?”
“There are soldiers approaching. I’m going to check this out, and then I’ll find you.”
Val could hear them now, heavy steps and low whispers. She hopped on Hera’s back and stared anxiously at her friend.
Agnes hesitated for a moment before running over. She took Val’s hand and left a chaste kiss, making Val’s heart skip a beat and a warm blush rise to her cheeks.
“Be careful,” Agnes said before leaving.
Val guided Hera between the trees, urging her to gallop as fast as she could. She didn’t know where she was going, just that she had to get as far away as possible.
But after a few minutes, she heard it. The first sounds of a battle. Sword clashing against sword and men shouting.
Val made Hera stop, looking behind her. She still couldn’t see anything from here, and every instinct screamed for her to run. That was what Agnes had told her to do. But what if Agnes was in danger? Should Val just leave her there?
She thought about Agnes’ smile. How cute she looked when she was preparing food for them, frowning in concentration as she built a fire. And how warm her fingers always felt against Val’s skin even if they only brushed together for a moment.
Val could almost feel the ghost of her lips on the back of her hand.
Hera was beginning to get restless. She pawed at the ground and almost unseated Val.
“What do you think?” Val asked, unsure of what to do next.
The horse only groaned impatiently in response.
Val got down, mind racing as she tried to come up with a new plan. She considered tying Hera’s reins to the nearest tree but thought better to let her roam free. If anyone got close enough to hurt her, the horse could just run away.
“I’ll be back,” Val said before she started to run back the direction she’d come.
She followed the noises of battle, hiding behind trees and stopping every few minutes to be sure no one could see her coming. Finally, from behind a tree near the meadow where they had spent the night, she saw them.
Agnes was swinging her sword between two soldiers, quickly managing to outmatch them on her own. She was graceful and agile in all her movements, even if her style was clearly not as trained as the one her opponents had.
On the other side, there was another fight going on. A dark-skinned man was in a fist fight with a pale blonde boy. They were strangers to Val—had Agnes gotten involved in a fight that had nothing to do with her?
The sound of a body hitting the ground called Val’s attention back to Agnes. She seemed fine, but one of the attackers lay dead at her feet. Agnes turned around, trying to fight the remaining soldier but Val could tell she was getting tired. Val searched around her, hoping to find something to help, anything—maybe she couldn’t fight with a sword or her bare hands, but she couldn’t just sit here. There was no time to be rational. She grabbed a thick branch and rushed into the meadow. Neither Agnes nor the soldier saw her coming from behind, and, just as Agnes fell from the man’s left hook, Val raised her weapon. Swinging it with all her strength, she brought it crashing down on his head.
He collapsed to the ground, head bleeding profusely, and lay still.
“Val?” Agnes asked, eyes wide.
Val began to shake as she gripped the branch tightly. Her eyes were locked on the body. She had done that. She had hurt someone, possibly even killed them. The thought terrified her.
“Hey, it’s all right.” Agnes stepped closer. “He was going to kill me. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be dead.”
Val nodded and tried to relax her shaky fingers.
“Who’s this?” the dark-skinned man asked, looking between the two girls. He was taller and leaner than Agnes, but wore the same sort of clothing she did.
“My friend,” Agnes said. Slowly, she took the branch from Val’s hands and looked right into her eyes. “We’re safe now. It’s all right. It’s all right, Val.”
Val finally came out of her stupor. She collapsed into Agnes’ arms, closing her eyes and resting her head against her shoulder. Agnes embraced her, and the reassurance slowly helped her calm down.
When was the last time she had been hugged? It must have been her mother, but Val couldn’t recall a specific time. She hated that she couldn’t remember it anymore.
Agnes held her tight, and Val felt her own heart beating as fast as a bird’s wing. It wasn’t the fight or even its aftermath that she found overwhelming; it was being in Agnes’ arms. This was safety and affection and so many other feelings that she had forgotten. She had only known Agnes for less than two weeks, but the thought of losing her now was unacceptable.
Val moved away, trying to regain her composure. But her legs weakened when she saw a trickle of blood flowing down Agnes’ face. “Oh, no! Are you hurt?”
Agnes brushed her hand dismissively over her face. “Yeah, it’s just a scratch.”
Val glared at the bodies on the ground, recognizing the bright sun on their uniforms and armor for the first time. “These are my father’s soldiers. Do you think they were looking for me?”
“I’m not sure,” Agnes said. “But we’d better be careful.”
Someone cleared their throat. Both Agnes and Val turned to the man who was waiting for them, his arms crossed in an impatient stance. He was clearly still waiting for answers.
“Right,” Agnes said. “Val, this is Nando. Nando, this is my new friend, Val.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Val said in a small voice.
“Friend, huh?” Nando raised his thick eyebrows. “Where did you find her?”
“She fell from the sky,” Agnes said with a smirk.
“All right, kid.” Nando ran to Agnes’ side and gave her hair a little tousle. “I’m just glad you’re fine. Didn’t think it would take this long to find you again after we split. That wasn’t a good plan, by the way. We’re not doing it again.”
Agnes moved out from under his big hand. “Don’t ruin my hair.” Nando tried touching Agnes’ hair again, and she just slapped his hand playfully.
Val smiled at the scene. There was something almost sibling-like in their relationship. She wondered what would be like to have siblings or friends who were so affectionate with you. Val only knew this kind of love from the books she read.
“This is fun and all, but we should probably get the hell out of here,” Nando said, taking a look around. “Luckily, these guys had something that’ll help.”
He vanished behind a stand of trees and returned leading two horses, a large brown mare similar to the type that her father’s troops used in battle and a smaller white one. “I’m guessing you have Hera?”
Agnes shot Val a questioning look. “She’s waiting for us a few minutes from here,” Val said.
“Good. Let’s go.”
Nando got onto the brown mare while Agnes and Val took the white one. They rode for ten minutes before finding Hera, still waiting for them at the same spot.
Val ran to her, already attached to the horse.
“I think you lost Hera, Agnes,” Nando said with a smirk as he watched the horse rest her head gently on Val’s shoulder.
Agnes shook her head but smiled nonetheless. “She’s in good hands now.”
Val turned to look at Agnes and felt a fluttering in her chest at the image of her on top of the white horse. She was like a mix of a princess and a knight out of a fairytale, with her bright hair and regal expression. The thought made Val blush before she looked away.
* * *
After a few more hours of hard riding, Nando brought the horses to a halt. “I think we’re safe enough for now. Let’s get some sleep.”
They secured the horses to a nearby tree and left them some apples Agnes had in her bag. Nando started a fire, and the girls sat down on the forest ground in silence. Val was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open, her mind in turmoil from the day’s events.
“You can sleep,” Agnes said. “I’ll be on guard.”
Val gave her a small good night wave and lay down, covering herself with Agnes’ long, warm cloak. She drifted in and out of sleep, as Agnes and Nando spoke quietly around the campfire. When she heard her name, she tried to stay awake but kept her eyes closed.
“She was stuck in a tower when I found her,” Agnes’ voice said.
“In a tower?” Nando repeated, sounding incredulous. “Why?”
“You’ll have to ask her—I didn’t want to pry. And even if I did, it’s not my story to tell.”
For a few minutes, Val could hear only the crackling of the fire.
“Ready to go back home?” Nando asked eventually.
“I’ll be glad to spend some time with the family before my next journey,” came Agnes’ answer. “Do you miss my brother?”
“More than anything.” Nando’s voice was warm and gentle now. “I think I’m going to do less traveling, Agnes. It may be my time to settle down.”
Val heard the sounds of someone shifting on the grass. When Agnes spoke again, she sounded wistful. “I know the feeling.”
“Maybe the girl can be your new partner in this job.”
Val didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. Before she knew it, she was asleep.
* * *
When Val woke up on the following morning, the sun was already high in the sky. She rolled over sleepily, frowning when she couldn’t see Agnes nearby. But Nando was still around, clearing away the ashes from their campfire.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said, sounding more excited than anyone had any right to be this early.
Val was starting to realize she didn’t like morning people.
Nando walked around the meadow, kneeling to pick some berries from a bush nearby. Val blinked a few times before fully waking up and going to his side. She saw for the first time the way he favored one leg but tried not to let it show on her face.
“What are you doing?”
“Saving food for later.” Nando put most of the purple colored berries into a pouch and offered Val the rest. She took one and moaned at the overwhelmingly sweet taste. “Good?”
“Wonderful.” Val munched on the fruit for a few seconds before she had to voice her question. “How is your leg?”
Nando looked down with a deep frown. “It’s hurting a bit, but I can take care of it when we get home.”
“Do you mind if I take a look?”
Nando shrugged before sitting on a nearby log and carefully straightening out his leg. Val brought his pants up and discovered he had already bandaged a badly bruised ankle. They didn’t have any more bandages after last night’s battle, so she ripped a piece of her own dress and cleaned some dried blood from his skin before putting a fresh dressing on it.
“Your bandage was just a bit too tight. Does it feel better now?” Val asked.
“It does. Where did you learn that? Weren’t you stuck living in a tower?” Nando stopped then, a hint of guilt in his brown eyes. “I’m sorry. Agnes just mentioned it briefly.”
“My father imprisoned me there, many years ago,” Val said without hesitation, as she finished applying the improvised bandage.
Nando looked horrified. “What sort of father does that to their own child?”
“Apparently, King Jorge of Pouso Dourado.”
“King Jorge? You’re King Jorge’s daughter?” Nando asked, sounding surprised.
“Yes, do you know him?”
“Not personally, fortunately. But I’ve heard many stories about the awful treatment of his people and his love for war.” Nando hesitated for a second before saying, “I’ve heard the stories about his daughter too. How no one had seen her for so long. People were speculating if maybe she was too sick after the plague to be around others. But you were just…there. All this time…”
“Stuck in a tower for seven years? Yes,” as Val said these words, she gave him an ironic little smirk, but quickly shook her head. She didn’t want to feel so out of touch every time people asked about those awful years she spent locked away, but it was hard not to be annoyed.
Nando shook his head, anger showing on his face. He stared at the trees for a minute before looking back at Val, taking her hand in his. His skin was warm against hers and it brought a nice feeling to Val’s heart. “Thank you,” Nando said. “For helping me with my leg. Where did you learn this if you were locked away for so long?”
“I still got bruised sometimes.” She shrugged, thinking about the times she fell when she tried to climb the highest shelves in her tower. “I was alone, but I had books to teach me everything. If there was no one else to help me, I helped myself.”
“A smart and resourceful girl. I think I can see why Agnes likes you.”
“She does?” Val tried to hide the excitement in her voice, but Nando smiled confidently at her anyway.
But before they could continue, Agnes came back with the horses. “Ready to go? We are just half a day away now.”
“We’re ready,” Nando said, sending a last knowing look at Val before moving away.