The Valley of Appraisal: A Tale of Realmgard

By J.B. Norman

Today’s the day Kat Darkstone has been waiting for! Today’s the day Kat begins her Adventuring Licence test!
In order to become a qualified adventurer, Kat has to overcome the infamous Valley of Appraisal, a relentless course designed to push the aspiring young adventurers of the city of Porthaven to their absolute limits.
But Kat isn’t coming unprepared. Her entire family has been helping her train for her foray into the Valley of Appraisal. Best of all, Kat has the assistance of her magically-inclined friend Scarlet, an adventurer in her own right. All in all, Kat has a good feeling about this.
As Kat and Scarlet brave the Valley of Appraisal, Kat’s sister Dunstana and best friend Amara have taken it upon themselves to prepare an unforgettable celebration of Kat’s triumph over the Valley. All in all, Dunstana and Amara have a good feeling about their plan.
But will there even be anything to celebrate? Will Kat be able to conquer the Valley of Appraisal? Will she be just another aspiring adventurer to have her career cut short before it can even begin? Read this all-new Realmgard adventure and find out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.B. Norman
• Release date: Nov 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005478995

J.B. Norman

J.B. Norman lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where he pretty much lives and breathes writing. When he is not writing his own books, he is editing books written by somebody else. He wanted to write a book since he was about nine years old; upon discovering that "Viking" was no longer a viable career option, he finally sat down and did it.

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The Valley of Appraisal: A Tale of Realmgard

J.B. Norman

Published by J.B. Norman at Smashwords.

Copyright 2021 J.B. Norman.

Cover Art Copyright 2021 Joel Balkovec.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, locations, and events are either products of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously.

This book is available in print at select online retailers.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

www.realmgard.com

Table of Contents

First Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Preview Chapter: Forward, the Lyte Brigade

About the Author

To the good folks at Renaissance.

Chapter 1

Dunstana Darkstone would like to tell you about the Official Porthaven Guild Authority Schematic Corpus for Comprehensive Licensing Aptitude and Placement Testing. In her opinion, that name is at least twelve words too long.

Clearly, everyone else feels the same. Most people save their breath and just call it the Adventure Test.

In a place like Realmgard, you don’t have really to take any tests to be an adventurer, you just have to take a few steps in whatever direction you’ve decided you’re going. But you do have to take the Adventure Test if you want to join an officially-licensed guild with other officially-licensed adventurers. Dunstana isn’t really sure why. She asked her dad once, and he explained that it was something about insurance and liability and income taxes and dental benefits.

It was boring, so Dunstana stopped listening. She figures she’ll ask again in a few years when she’s old enough to take the test and actually has to care about things like income taxes and liabilities.

Besides, she’s a pirate.

And pirates don’t have a Guild Authority. They have the Brotherhood of the Coasts.

They don’t have guilds, either. They have crews. And parrots. And cannons. And awesome hats.

Dunstana has been thinking about sticking a feather on hers.

On the other hand, the very shiny and official-looking guild badges that official adventurers get to officially wear do look pretty cool. Maybe, Dunstana realises, instead of a feather, she could stick a badge on her hat. But then she’d have to wait five years for that. She can get a feather now.

Dunstana hasn’t really been paying attention to much of the how, or the why, or the income tax parts of the Adventure Test. What Dunstana has been caring about is the fact that her big sister Kat is right about to take the final part of the Adventure Test. Kat has just turned fifteen, which means she’s finally old enough to become a fully-licensed, Guild Authority-sanctioned adventurer and go off to income tax to her heart’s content. She’s been studying and practicing for the test for almost a year. Dunstana helped, mostly with target practice.

And she just thought of one more way she can help Kat.

Kat? she calls. Are you okay?

Kat doesn’t answer, and just keeps staring out the window.

"Kat?" Dunstana repeats.

Kat jumps a little and turns toward Dunstana with a weak smile. Hey, Captain Kid, she murmurs.

Are you okay? Dunstana asks.

Yeah, Kat answers, turning back towards the window. Just tired of waiting, and getting kind of tired of people asking me how I’m feeling.

Sorry, Dunstana mutters. But, uh, if it’ll help, I brought a Princess Moonflower, Dunstana says, holding up one of her army of pink-haired princess dolls. This one isn’t just a regular Princess Moonflower, but Super-Motivational Encouragement Princess Moonflower. See? Kat, look! She frowns towards her sister’s back. You’re not looking!"

Kat turns to see the doll. It has the same pink pigtails and button eyes as any of the other Princess Moonflower dolls, but one notable difference. In her fabric hands, she is holding up a little sign that reads Believe in yourself and you can do anything!

Thanks, Captain Kid, Kat says, giving her sister a small, but sincere, half-smile.

*

On the first day of Kat’s tests, the rest of her family comes with her to the steps of the Guild Authority building.

Estelle hands her daughter a small bundle. I made you lunch, she says.

Thanks, Mom, Kat says.

Her father approaches her, puts his hands on her shoulders and smiles down at her.

You’re a Darkstone, the Admiral says. You’ve got this. Make us proud.

I’ve got this, she repeats, hoping to convince herself to believe it.

Good luck! Dunstana calls after her as she mounts the steps. She turns expectantly to her parents. Can we get ice cream?

At the end of a very long day, Kat comes down the steps of the Guild