"I shall quest for a new master. An enlightened new master." So declares Conrad the Good, court jester to the cruel Count Otto of Schwarzenberg, who frequently punishes Conrad with a whip. Conrad makes good on his promise, stealing away with his beloved Christa and his trusty horse, Blackspur. As they travel, their small troupe grows . . . and so do their problems. For the road brings not only freedom, but plague, fierce winter storms, and a ruler even more vicious than Otto.
Summary Conrad the Good is the court jester of Count Otto of Schwarzenberg. Fed up with Otto’s harsh treatment of him, Conrad escapes to seek an “enlightened” ruler who will respect him and give him freedom. Christa the Fair, Conrad’s beloved, joins Conrad and disguises herself as a boy so no one they encounter will think their relationship improper. After hiding in a monastery and rescuing a boy named Max, who joins them on their quest, the three of them happen upon the fortress of Lord Manfred of Rosenberg, who Conrad hopes will accept their troupe into his employ. Manfred, however, is even crueler than Otto, and soon Conrad must confront a seemingly impossible task in order to save himself and his companions.
This collection features fiction titles selected for older middle school readers who are ready for longer, more layered stories that explore growing independence and changing perspective. Selections include realistic and speculative fiction with increased emotional and narrative complexity, offering stories that look beyond immediate experience and invite readers to engage with broader questions about identity, belonging, and the world around them.