Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)

“I have grown up hearing stories about your bravery and how you help others—for a price, of course. I knew of no other who is capable of helping my village.”

“What do you offer in exchange for my help?”

Thomas smiled and popped a piece of cheese into his mouth.

She raised her chin and spoke with pride. “I am a skilled mapmaker, and I offer you my services in exchange for your help.”

“She is a good mapmaker,” Thomas said, his words garbled, since he had not finished all of the cheese.

Magnus turned to him. “You saw her maps?”

Thomas nodded as he swallowed, then pointed to Reena. “Show him.”

Reena quickly dug several maps out of her sack, moved the food out of the way and spread out one map after another. “This one is of the village and the earl’s land, including his keep.”

Magnus looked it over carefully. “You drew this?”

“I have a fine and steady hand with a quill—good eyes and a mind that remembers what I see.”

He studied the map for several minutes, then rolled it up to glance over the second map.

Reena was fast to explain. “This is of the land that sits adjacent to Culberry land. It is Dunhurnal land; I have mapped some but not all. It is beautiful, though the keep is in sad neglect. Some believe that Peter Kilkern is attempting to gain the land to advance his holdings and wealth. If that is so, my village will surely starve, for our men travel there now to hunt.”

Magnus rubbed his chin while he studied the map with intent interest.

Reena felt a sense of hope. The Legend—she silently corrected herself; Magnus, his name was Magnus, and she must remember to refer to him by his given name—looked truly intrigued with her maps.

He rolled the map up and looked at the next one. “This is my land.”

“Aye,” she said with pride.

He looked at her. “You have been here before this visit?”

“Nay, I learned my mapmaking skills from my father. He was in this area and recorded the landmarks. I simply copied his, though now I could do a more detailed map of your property and your keep.”

“And the price for a map of my land and home would be my helping your village?”

“Nay,” she was quick to say. “I offer my mapmaking skills to you whenever you would need them.”

“You would then be my official mapmaker.”

“If that is what you wish in payment for your help, then so be it.”

He considered her offer and she prayed hard—very hard that he would agree.

“Why did the village send you and not a man?”

She took no offense at his question. It was odd that she, a woman, and a small one at that, should journey on her own to request help from the infamous Legend. “The village does not know I have come here seeking your help, and if my father had known what I was about he would have forbidden me to come. He would be more upset with himself that he could not journey here himself.”

“He is ill?”

“He suffered a broken leg while hunting for food for the village. He now suffers a severe limp and is limited in his activities.”

He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table. “You are a wee bit of a lass to be traveling these parts on your own.”

“I can see to myself.”

Thomas disagreed. “A good gust of wind would pick you up and carry you away.”

“I would like to see it try,” Reena said defiantly.

“She has courage,” Thomas said, looking to Magnus. “She did not fear me and spoke right up about wanting to see the Legend. Most quake in their boots before they meet you.”

“I heard the Legend was feared but that he was also a fair man.” And seeing him now, the puppy asleep at his feet, offering her food and listening to her plight, Reena knew this to be true. But she also understood why he was feared. It was simple; he feared nothing. “Your skill is fighting, my skill is mapmaking. Think how much easier it would be for you if you knew the lay of the land before you proceeded into battle.”

“I have men who supply me with that information.”

“But you will have the information there in front of you for you to study again and again. You will know where paths and streams connect, where rivers flow and merge, and the boundaries of lands. It will all be at your fingertips whenever you wish to see it for yourself.”

Magnus remained silent, though he kept an eye on her. He looked to be considering her offer, and again she prayed for a favorable decision.

“How do I know this is your work?” Magnus asked.

“A fair question,” Thomas said with a nod and broke off a chunk of bread.

Reena agreed. “Aye, it is, and I will be glad to demonstrate my skills for you.”