Jedrek And The Pirate Princess

By David Littlewood

After a blacksmith and his wife find a baby hidden in the bushes near their smithy, they decide to take him in and raise him as their own.

According to a mysterious old man, he is to become a dragon slayer. Jedrek grows up completely unaware of this, until one day when he rescues a stranger from a group of bandits.

Plunged into a world of magic swords and derring-do, he sets out to rescue his sister from the clutches of an evil magician. On the way, he meets pirates, dragons, unearthly creatures and a beautiful princess, who isn't quite what she seems to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Next Chapter
• Release date: Jan 1, 2022
• ISBN: 4867455946

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

THE FIND

Many moons ago, in the far-off land of Calvania, there lived a blacksmith and his wife. They were hard-working people and, despite being poor, they were happy together because of their love for each other. They had been childhood sweethearts as long as they could remember so it seemed the most natural thing in the world that they should marry as soon as they were old enough.

The blacksmith, whose name was Rhydon, became famous in the land for his ability to work metal. People came to his forge not just to have their horses shod, but to have their knives and ploughs sharpened as well. Just occasionally one of the villagers would ask to have a new knife or a new plough made and then Rhydon would really be able to show off his skill and produce a wonderful piece of ironwork.

Then there was the odd time when one of the nobles who lived in the castle overlooking the village would bring something for Rhydon to fix. They had their own smiths but none of them could work metal like Rhydon. The problem with this was that the nobles often forgot to pay him for the work he did for them – they were far too busy hunting and shooting to worry about such things – so the blacksmith had to work twice as hard to make up for it.

The beautiful woman who worked by Rhydon’s side was called Clarissa. Everyone said she had the most wonderful smile that could light up a whole room. However, it was also true that Clarissa kept a secret sorrow close to her heart – one that would suddenly cause the clouds to cross her face: she had no child. Yes, even after years of marriage, she and her husband remained childless.

When Clarissa and Rhydon were alone, she would often cry on his shoulder as he tried to comfort her. Come now, my dear, he would say, aren’t we happy enough together, just the two of us?

Clarissa would admit that she was very happy and had the best husband in the world, but that did not stop the tears from flowing as she thought of the empty space in their house where children should have been playing. Night after night, she prayed to the Eternal Spirit: Oh Eternal Spirit – grant my request and give me a child.

But, on one particular day, things were destined to change. True, the day had begun ordinarily enough with Clarissa sweeping out the smithy as usual. It was springtime and the sun’s rays were coming through the window and dancing on the pewter pots and pans that Rhydon had been making. She hoped they would find buyers for them soon as the food that would be on the table next week depended on it.

But as Clarissa swept and hummed to herself, she became aware of another sound. She stopped and listened – it wasn’t the sound of the birds. No, this was far more strident. She went to the door and opened it and heard that the sound was coming from behind a clump of bushes about 20 yards from the smithy. It was a cry, a cry just like she’d often longed to hear in her own home – that of a child. In fact, it sounded very much like the cry of a baby.

Burning with curiosity, Clarissa dropped her broom and made for the clump of bushes. The cry grew louder to her ears. She peered behind the bush and there, lying on the rough ground, was the figure of a tiny infant. As she came closer, she saw that the baby was wrapped in a white woollen shawl. Nothing unusual in that, except that the shawl was so finely made that it had obviously belonged to someone who was a member of the nobility, rather than a commoner.

This is so strange, said Clarissa, eyeing the child, who did not appear to see her as it seemed more intent at that moment on crying hard enough to make its lungs burst. There, there, she said, gathering the child in her arms, her motherly instincts welling up within her. Don't cry, little one. As she rocked backwards and forwards, the child’s cries gradually grew less and less until it was quite still and was staring at Clarissa with big blue eyes.

Clarissa soon discovered that the child was a boy. But who did he belong to? She looked around to see if there was anyone who may have left the child but she saw no one. Obviously the person must have put the child down and slipped away unnoticed. But why would anyone leave a baby on the ground?

Clarissa looked around for clues, but all she saw was something wrapped in a piece of rough cloth lying near where the baby had been. She stooped down and picked it up. Whatever it was, it seemed hard and quite heavy, as if it was made of metal. What’s more, there appeared to be more than one piece. With the child nestled in her arms, she had no opportunity to examine it, so she picked it up – with some difficulty – and took it and the baby, who was now just whimpering rather than crying, back home to the smithy.

CHAPTER 2

THE SWORD

"W hat on earth have you got there? was all her husband could say when Clarissa walked into the smithy with the baby. Whose baby is that?"

Clarissa explained how she’d found the baby just a few minutes before. Her husband looked puzzled. But people don’t just leave babies lying around, do they? he said incredulously.

No, of course not, she said. But he was there on the ground when I found him. Then, dropping the heavy bundle on the table she added: He came with this.

What is that? Rhydon said as he unwrapped the bundle. It’s a sword! he exclaimed. Only in pieces.

Clarissa looked on the table. There was a sword broken into four pieces. Rhydon put them together and she saw that the pieces gleamed in the early morning sun that came through the window. There is something written on the blade, said Rhydon. What does it say? Being a simple blacksmith, he had never learned to read but he knew his wife had mastered at least the basics of reading and writing.

Still holding the child, Clarissa read the letters along the metal of the sword: N-E-E-R-W-A-N-A. Neerwana! she exclaimed. What does that mean?

No idea, said Rhydon. Is it some ancient language? It’s all very strange. He scratched his head with his work-worn hand. The broken sword appears to have come with the child. And this name written on it. Why?

At which point, they were both distracted from their musings as the said child opened his mouth and bawled lustily.

He’s hungry, said Clarissa. There was a skin of milk nearby, so she raised it to the child’s lips and, after a few attempts, much to her relief, he started sucking the milk. He looked, she reckoned, about six months old.

There, there, little one, she said, we'll look after you if no one else does.

Rhydon heard her words: Surely the child belongs to someone. We’ll have to enquire around for his mother and father.

And if they’re not found, he belongs to us, said Clarissa gazing down at the child, who was contentedly feeding. A gift from the Eternal Spirit in answer to my prayers.

CHAPTER 3

THE INSTRUCTIONS

As she said this, Clarissa suddenly looked up and there, in the corner of the room, stood an old man. She started, wondering how he had got there unnoticed but, before she could speak, he said: That child is entrusted to you for a time. One day he will go from you and accomplish a great thing. Until then, fulfil the trust that has been given to you by the Eternal Spirit.

Clarissa opened her mouth to reply but the old man had vanished. She looked round and there he was standing over on the other side of the room. How could he have got there? He spoke again: You will call him Jedrek.

Jedrek? Why? asked Clarissa, by this time totally confused. But the old man had gone again. What does it mean? she murmured.

It means ‘Strong One’, said a voice behind her. She started as she turned and saw the old man again. But all will be revealed in time. Till then, be faithful in the task given to you! Clarissa went to speak again but the old man was gone.

Who were you speaking to? asked Rhydon who had just gone out for a moment to fetch some wood.

You won’t believe this, said his wife. She told him what had just happened with the old man and what he had said to her. You sure you weren’t imagining it? said Rhydon dubiously.

I knew you wouldn’t believe me, said Clarissa crossly.

Yes I do, but it’s all very strange, said Rhydon. Then his face suddenly changed as he stared at the wall behind his wife. Look there! he cried.

Clarissa whipped round and there was the little old man – the same figure of the old man that she had seen before. The light from the window was falling on him, making him shine with an unearthly glow.

Who are you? asked Rhydon.

That is not for you to know at present, said the old man. But you need to know this child has been entrusted to you by the Eternal Spirit. Raise him well!

But why us? said Rhydon, utterly perplexed. And what about the broken sword that was with him?

You are a smith, said the old man. The boy will learn your trade and one day will forge the Dragon Slayer.

Forge the sword? said Rhydon. I could do that myself!

The sword will resist all, apart from him who is chosen to wield it, said the old man with a smile.

Why? asked the blacksmith.

Because of the power within it, said the old man. He looked at them as though he could see through them. You have good hearts. Now take your trust and fare you well!

Just a minute, cried Rhydon. Where does the child come from? But all he was talking to was the wall. The old man was gone.

Rhydon turned around looking both puzzled and frustrated. Pretty fix, he said to his wife, who was smiling at the baby. What on earth shall we do?

Make a cot for Jedrek? suggested his wife.

CHAPTER 4

A STRONG BOY

For the rest of that day the blacksmith worked at making a cot for the baby. Of course, being a craftsman, he was able to do it very well and soon a beautiful cot stood in the