Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools (42 page)

Max sniffed suspiciously. 'If he had the map all that time, how come he didn't go back for the treasure himself?'

'He did. He tried three times over his lifetime, and each expedition was hounded by ill-fortune. On his third attempt he barely escaped with his life. He was planning to have one last try when he was injured in the battle for the palace. He knew his time had come and he must have decided that somebody else should have a chance at it.'

'Huh.' Max tossed his head contemptuously. 'He was probably stark staring bonkers. Most likely drew the map himself. I wouldn't have any faith in an old scrap of paper like that.'

Sebastian looked at Cornelius. 'But
you
believed his story?' he asked.

The little man nodded. 'Every word,' he said.

'Well, that's good enough for me,' said Sebastian. 'We'll leave just as soon as you're completely healed.'

'Just a minute!' said Max. 'I don't understand. You've just turned down the offer of gold crowns, so clearly
money
doesn't have that much interest for you. So why go chasing after treasure?'

'For the adventure,' said Cornelius. 'The thrill of finding something that nobody else has ever found.'

'Yes, but let's not be too rash about this. I mean, we're onto a good thing here, we don't want to just throw it away . . . do we?'

Sebastian smiled. 'Don't worry, old friend. If you'd rather stay here, I'll understand.'

Max looked at him for a moment and then shook his head. 'You know I can't do that. I promised your mother I'd look after you.'

'She'd never know,' Sebastian told him. 'You could just settle down here, eat everything in sight and get nice and fat.'

Max sighed. 'It's an inviting prospect, sure enough,' he said. 'But, no, I suppose I'd better come with you. It's going to involve travelling on water, isn't it? Buffalopes don't like water.'

'Buffalopes don't like a lot of things,' murmured Cornelius.

Sebastian handed the map back to him. 'Here, keep this safe until we're ready to leave,' he said. 'Judging by the look of you, I'd say a few more days should put you right.' He glanced at Max. 'As for you, I'd advise you to eat every last scrap they give you. Once we're on our way, the food isn't going to be quite so plentiful.'

'It's marvellous, isn't it?' said Max disgustedly. 'No sooner do you get comfortable in one place than the young master has a desire to move on again. Honestly, sometimes I could just spit, I really could!'

At that moment the gates at the top of the stables opened and the ostler came in carrying buckets of food.

'Oh goody,' said Max, cheering up considerably. 'Din-dins!'

It was time to go. Max had just eaten his final leisurely meal at the royal stables and now he was being harnessed once again to Sebastian's caravan. Cornelius had saddled up Phantom and filled the saddlebags with provisions for the long journey.

There was to be no ceremonial send-off, no bands playing, no trumpet fanfares, all of which suited Sebastian fine. He was glad to be getting away because later today, he had been told, Prince Rolf of Bodengen was due to come visiting; and Sebastian knew that he could not bear to stick around and watch that.

He was just about to climb up into the seat of the caravan when Cornelius gave a polite cough. Sebastian turned to see somebody approaching: the cloaked and hooded figure of a woman.

She removed the hood from her face and Sebastian and Cornelius went down on their knees.

'Would you leave without saying goodbye?' she asked reproachfully.

Sebastian frowned. 'I thought we had already done that,' he said. 'And you shouldn't be out by yourself. It's dangerous to go without an escort.'

'I thought this occasion was worth the risk,' she told him. 'You know that you are all very special to me.'

'Clearly not special enough,' muttered Sebastian.

'Don't be bitter,' she told him. 'It doesn't suit you.' She indicated that he should stand and she came closer until she was facing him. 'I have made arrangements for your mother to receive the yearly payment of gold crowns. A trusted messenger has already left with it. Now you need have no worries on her behalf. She will have enough to live out her life in luxury'. She reached under her cloak and handed a heavy cloth bag to Cornelius. 'And here is a full year's payment, Captain Drummel. For services rendered.'

'Thank you, your majesty,' said Cornelius, bowing low. 'I am grateful for your kindness.'

She looked at Sebastian. 'And since you would take no reward for yourself, I have something else for you.' From around her neck she produced a pendant hung on a leather thong. It was beautifully worked in gold and precious jewels and was fashioned in the shape of an eye, with a glittering blue pupil. She reached out and hung it around his neck.

'This amulet,' she said, 'is supposed to keep the wearer safe from harm. It has been in my family for generations. It is really only supposed to be given to members of the royal family, but I think in this case we can make an exception.'

Sebastian lifted the amulet in his fingers and examined it. 'You are kind,' he said.

'I don't suppose it's worth asking where you are bound?'

Max opened his mouth to reply but snapped it shut again as Cornelius elbowed him in the ribs.

'We're not sure ourselves,' Sebastian told her. 'We're simply going wherever the wind takes us.'

'Well then, I pray that one day it will blow you back in this direction. Then perhaps you will stay awhile and tell us of your latest adventures.' She thought for a moment and smiled. 'Remember how we met?' she asked. 'How I nearly brained you with that chamber pot?'

Despite himself, Sebastian smiled too. 'And I called you a stupid girl,' he said. I couldn't get away with that now.' He paused. 'It's strange, but it seems like so very long ago. And only a few moons have come and gone since then.'

There was a silence while they stood looking at each other.

'I will always remember our time together,' she assured him. 'When I am old and grey, I will tell my children of my adventures with Sebastian, Cornelius and a buffalope called Max.' She looked across at his companions. 'Look after him for me. Don't let any harm come to him.'

'We won't, your majesty,' said Cornelius. 'You can count on us.'

She nodded, and Sebastian saw that once again there were tears in her eyes. She reached forward and kissed him softly on the cheek.

'May good fortune go with you,' she said. And she turned and walked quickly out of the stables, pulling up her hood as she did so. Sebastian stared after her, the fingers of his right hand playing with the amulet. There was a long, long silence.

'Well!' said Cornelius, rather more loudly than was necessary. 'The time's passing. We've got quite a distance to travel before nightfall.'

'My feet are aching at the mere thought of it,' muttered Max. 'You don't think we should put it off for a few more days, do you?'

'No,' said Sebastian, turning back to the caravan. 'We've put if off for long enough. Come on, let's go.'

Cornelius vaulted into Phantom's saddle; Sebastian climbed up into his seat and slapped the reins against Max's flanks.

'Here, go easy!' complained the buffalope. 'We're not even out of the blooming stable yet, and already you're being heavy-handed. My hide is still surprisingly tender, you know!' But he started obediently forward and they moved away from the stables, round the side of the palace and out onto the road beyond.

'We've a fine day for it,' observed Cornelius, gazing up at the wide blue stretch of sky.

'Yes,' agreed Sebastian. 'It couldn't be better. Here's to adventure and the open road.' He glanced back towards the palace and thought he caught a glimpse of a white-powdered face gazing down at him from an upstairs window; but when he looked again, there was nobody there. So he turned to face the way ahead and he didn't look back again.

Follow the adventures of Sebastian, Cornelius and Max in Book Two:
Sebastian Darke: Prince of Pirates.