Chapter 23

"...and then after realizing he didn't really like her, she apologized and agreed to marry Bob. Isn't that romantic?"

I looked back at where Rose was croaking away on Minerva's horse.

"Totally, Rose," I said. "It was the most romantic story I have ever heard."

"Quit being sarcastic!" she squawked. "I practically cried when she told me that story." She sighed then asked, "Where are we going again?"

"The last I heard we were going after Conrad," said Minerva. "But we haven't been doing much in looking for him."

"I thought he would leave more sign," I complained. "Seeing how clumsy he is in doing things. When we were kids it was the easiest thing in the world to find him when we pl..."

My voice trailed off when I happened to look up from the ground. For the first time I realized we had left the woods. We were now standing on a ridge that opened up giving us an amazing view. Down below were hills rolling onto each other in green waves, which were lined in the distance by a line of towering mountains. The hills were dotted by occasional huts, flocks and ponds. Flowers, orchards, and wheat fields were also visible. To me it looked like a whole other world.

It was! It wasn't the bustling city I was use to, filled with smoke, creaking noise, garbage, and dirty beggars. This was totally different. I had never imagined anything like this could ever exist, only in fairy tales.

To top the whole thing off, the sun was setting, giving the wonderous valley a glow of joy. I had seen sunsets, and they were anything but this. They never had filled the whole sky with its rays of pink, gold, red, orange, and even purple. It was amazing what clouds and the sun could do when clashed together in a brilliance of billowing light.

I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of awe and wonder. I felt chills run through my body up to the very roots of my hair. It was incredible. Where, I wondered, has this been all my life? Where have I been?

Rose, as usual, was the first to talk. "Wow. I've seen a lot of sunsets, but never have I seen anything like this." I think I heard her sigh before she snapped, "Shut your mouth, Lance, you look like a fish!"

I did so, but the feeling didn't leave. Without turning around I asked, "What is this place?"

As if she understood, Minerva answered quietly, "It is your kingdom, Lance. It is Adelfos." She let this sink in a moment before adding, "And just at the edge of those distant peaks is Gaul."

Somehow I was able to tear my eyes away from the scene to look at her. She had a very peaceful, yet longing look on her face as she studied the mountains. Gaul was her homeland, if I remembered right. I resolved that as soon as I found Conrad I would take Minerva to Gaul. Or course I had been planning to go there all along, but now, I had a purpose. She deserved it, the poor girl. Hopefully the land of horses would keep her safe from who ever was looking for her.

I suddenly realized for once Rose wasn't saying anything. I guess she was enjoying this 'romantic' moment and I turned away, rolling my eyes ever so slightly in her direction.

I didn't even need eyes on the back of my head to see her glare.

We descended the ridge and entered that magical valley. I think I practically got blinded from looking at the sunset so much. Rose continued her senseless chatter about all the fairy tales she had heard of.

"Rose, you know you've got to be quiet once we find a farm house to stay in," I said.

"Nonsense," she scoffed. "If the household has a couple of cute guys in it, I'll have to talk! Besides they would look at you really funny when you tried to explain why you were carrying around a frog."

I remembered the T clan, and was grateful Rose hadn't been with me there. She would have been proposing right and left; and I think Tabitha's father would have demanded a little more than year before he let her marry one of his sons.

"Please, don't propose to anyone, we might get kicked out. And don't talk to much either, we don't want to creep too many people out. In fact I think I'll just explain your presence by saying...your my dinner, proving that I'm very poor and desperate, and then they'll feed us twice as much."

Rose yelped in protest and made such a racket, I was forced to say I was 'just kidding'.

"How could you, threatening to eat your own cousin? And a frog no less. Didn't you know frogs are unhealthy? Even if they don't have warts, they can still make you sick. But you are already sickening, Lance, you know that?"

By this time we had entered a populated area and the farmers that were returning home turned to look at Minerva and I, wondering who it was that was sqawking. I just gave them all a sheepish grin and glanced at Minerva, who looked as if she didn't know whether to be amused or embarrassed.

One old man, with a bald head came and began walking casually at my side.

"I see you two are strangers," he said, looking at Ares, with whom he had a safe distance. Smart guy.

"Yes, we are," I said. "How could you tell?"

"Well, when you've only got two hundred people living in one spot, it is easy to tell whose who and whose not. Where are you from?"

"The capitol."

"Ah," he said nodding his head in agreement. "That's a great place for news. What's been going on lately? The last we heard was of the capture of our Prince Lance."

"Prince Lance was captured!" cried Rose.

The farmer looked behind him and Rose showed her presence by skillfully hopping to the top of the head of Minerva's horse. The farmer's eyes went from Minerva to the frog, with a strange expression. I saw now why he really wanted to talk to us, to see the source of strange noises.

"Yes, surprise, surprise, it was me who talked. Now what were you saying about Prince Lance being captured?" She glared at me as if I had just done a horrible crime in not telling her immediately.

But the farmer was no longer interested in my well fare. He looked at Rose and asked, "Where did you learn to talk?"

"At the feet of my mother," she shrugged.

"Your mother could talk too?"

"Of course, dimwit!" snapped Rose. "My mother was the most educated female in all of Osmond. She has been all over the place from Gaulania to Rebezonia! She has a library of thousands of books that contain thousands of bits and pieces of things you've never heard of. People from all around have come to visit her because of her knowledge and beauty. Beauty, oh, my mother was the most beautiful mother ever! I think I take after her, don't you think?"

The farmer looked at her, dumbfounded. "Well, I don't know. I've never met your mother. But she sounds very wonderful. I never knew frogs could be so educated."

"Thank-you," said Rose, smirking at the compliment. "Although I didn't listen to her much, I suppose I can still be called smart, even for a frog. I think I am the most educated frog in the world, don't you think so?"

The farmer furrowed his brows in confusion. Poor guy, he didn't have the slightest idea what he was hearing anymore. He was about to ask for a clarafication, but then Rose changed the subject.

"By the way, I and my fellow companions are looking for a place to stay. Do you know of a place?"

"There are no taverns in our humble valley," admitted the man. "But I will be glad to let you in my home. It is not often we get visitors. Please, follow me, I am called Bob."

Rose's eyes widened and she smiled brightly. "Oh, that's nice. I like that name. My name is Rose, this is Minnie and that arrogant young man is..."

"Jesse," I interuppted, "My name is Jesse. Excuse my cousin, she is very talkative. Thank- you, Bob, for letting us stay your house."

Rose glared at me, while Bob bobbed his head up and down with a grin on his face. "No problem. Just glad I can be of help."

As we followed him, Rose began muttering to herself and I could clearly hear my name being mentioned several times. I just hoped she wasn't spreading bad gossip about me onto Minerva. Hopefully Rose didn't remember all the stupid things I did as a kid, before she was turned into a frog.

Bob's house was a simple hut made of adobe, and a straw thatched roof. It was definately differentfrom the brick and stone buildings I was use to. I guess they were influenced by the Gauls a lot and I had heard that the Gauls were slightly on the side of being 'barbarians.' But Bob and his small flock seemed quite decent and civilized.

His wife, two teenage daughters, and dog, all came out to greet him. They greeted us warmly, actually the wife did, and so did the dog. It jumped and yipped, which made Ares very grumpy. The two girls were about thirteen and fifteen and they just looked at us shyly until Rose started talking, then they seemed delighted and confused at the same time.

Before I was dragged into the house, I went with Bob to put up the horses. He didn't have room in his little stalls so I put the two horses in a small pasture.

"Would you mind helping pitchin' some hay for the cows, as well, son?" asked Bob.

"Sure," I said, very glad that I had sometimes lowered myself to help Conrad in the stables. "I'll be happy to help. Where's your pitchfork?"

Bob started nodding his head again, this time towards the fork that was leaned up against the stall wall.

He decided now was a good time to ask questions. "Where are you, the frog and your wife headin'?"

"The girl is not my wife," I said, almost snarled. "She and the frog are my cousins. We are on our way to Gaul. But we have lost a friend on the way. Have you seen another stranger here lately? A young man with plain brown hair and whose probably grown a beard by now. He would have had a horse with him. Good quality horse, almost the size of mine. Your daughters would have probably called him good looking, but really..."

Bob chuckled. "I've seen him, without your descriptions, Jesse. He's a stranger, and that's all I need to know. He went to stay at the small village five miles from here. He was actually asking about a young man and woman, and described you and Minnie. Tomorrow I'll take you there."

I felt so relieved I could have hugged the old man while he nodded at my happiness.

We were getting Conrad.