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FOR long and long thereafter Valentine went traveling through the world seeking counsel from sages and magians as to how John Ball might be transformed from stone into his own flesh and blood. Far and far he went and long and long he was away; many a sage and many a magian he talked with, but no one could tell him how his friend might be restored.

At long last he turned back to his father's city, his heart heavy with the hopeless thing he had to tell. But still his heart, heavy as it was,