Sebastian Darke: Prince of Explorers

by Philip Caveney

  Joseph laughed again and slapped a bony hand against a skinny leg. 'I'll bet that one is hard to please!' he observed.

  'You have no idea,' said Sebastian.

  'So . . .' Joseph studied them thoughtfully. 'It's settled then.

  You will take Salah with you.'

  Sebastian smiled at the girl. 'Happily,' he said. 'She is a bit of a chatterbox, but I suppose we'll manage.'

  She grinned back delightedly.

  'When will you be ready to leave on your quest?' asked Joseph.

  'Soon,' said Cornelius. 'There's a small matter to deal with first. Speaking of which . . .' He got to his feet and bowed politely to the old man. 'If you will excuse me, I have some more preparations to attend to.'

  'Of course,' said Joseph, waving a hand in dismissal. 'It has been a pleasure to meet you.'

  'Shall I come too?' asked Sebastian.

  'No, you stay and rest,' said Cornelius. 'You'll need to be fully recovered if we are to lead the battle against the Gograth army.' He turned. 'Come on, Max, you can help. Or would you rather stand around drinking chai all day?'

  'Do I get a choice?' asked Max, but he backed his huge frame out of the doorway. Cornelius followed him, leaving Sebastian and Keera sitting side by side. Sebastian glanced at her and saw that she was still staring into the globe, as though imagining herself in that tiny city.

  'She is pretty, is she not?' said Joseph unexpectedly; and Sebastian glanced up in surprise. Keera lifted her head too, her face reddening.

  'Umm . . . yes. Yes, she is,' agreed Sebastian, 'now that you mention it.'

  Joseph grinned and glanced knowingly at Salah. 'Makes you wonder about the prophecy, doesn't it?' he said.

  The girl nodded gleefully.

  'The . . . prophecy?' echoed Sebastian.

  'You are not familiar with the story?' Joseph asked incredulously.

  'Umm . . . well, some of it. The bits that Keera has mentioned to me. All that stuff about smiting the Gograth. I mean, I'm not a professional smiter or anything, but I'll give it my best shot.'

  'She didn't tell you about the last part?'

  'Umm . . . which part is that?' asked Sebastian nervously.

  'Where the Chosen One takes a woman of the Jilith tribe as his wife?'

  Sebastian stared open-mouthed at the old man. Then he looked at Keera, but she lowered her gaze demurely and said nothing. He was beginning to get a very bad feeling about all this.

  'A . . . wife?' he said feebly. 'Oh, crikey!'

  CHAPTER 9

  DAY OF RECKONING

  Sebastian woke suddenly from a deep sleep. A hand was shaking him roughly by the shoulder. He opened his eyes and blinked up into the grinning baby face of Cornelius.

  'It's time,' said the little warrior.

  'Time?' Sebastian sat up and yawned. He was quite healed from his injuries, but he had got used to sleeping late. 'Time for what?'

  Two moons had passed since he had visited Joseph's hut, and during this time Cornelius had finalized his preparations for the battle with the Gograth. Only the previous night, he had told Sebastian that everything was ready: they would go into action just as soon as an opportunity presented itself. Judging by the jubilant expression on his face, that opportunity had arrived.

  'Time to do some smiting,' he said.

  Sebastian glanced apprehensively through the open doorway of the guesthouse. He saw that it was still dark outside. 'The . . . the sun's not even up,' he protested.

  'It's just before dawn. Cal is here. He and his hunting party have chanced upon a group of Gograth sneaking around close to the village. Obviously they mean to launch an attack, but we shall turn the tables on them.'

  'Uh . . . yes, but . . . does it have to be right this instant? Couldn't we attack them at a more reasonable hour? After breakfast or something?'

  'Time waits for no man,' Cornelius informed him. 'And this is a perfect opportunity.' He slapped Sebastian on the shoulder. 'Come on, dress yourself and prepare for battle. If you get a move on, you'll have time for a cup of chai.'

  Sebastian groaned, but nodded. Cornelius went outside and Sebastian dragged himself out from under the fur covers and pulled on his clothes and boots. He strapped on his sword and stumbled out into the chill air of early morning. Cornelius was crouched beside the campfire with Cal and his hunting party. The rest of the villagers were waiting expectantly in a large circle around them.

  Cal studied Sebastian with insolence in his eyes. His fellow warrior, Galt, was with him – a big shambling fellow with muscular arms and a shock of red hair. Unlike most of the Jilith, he wore his beard long and scruffy, and though of a cheerful disposition, he didn't seem all that bright. The two men looked like they ate, drank and slept for the pursuit of wild beasts.

  'This one's getting too used to lying around.' Cal grinned and handed Sebastian a cup of chai with perhaps rather less reverence than the elfling had become accustomed to. Cal made no secret of the fact that he took the Chosen One legend with a large pinch of salt. He had even said, in Sebastian's presence, that as far as he was concerned a man made his own luck and that legend had very little to do with it.

  'I need my rest,' Sebastian told him. 'Because I, er . . . have to preserve my powers. Particularly when there's a battle coming up.'

  'Hardly a battle,' Cal assured him. 'A small hunting party – nothing special. We could take them all like that.' He snapped a dirty thumb and forefinger together.

  'Yes, but we don't want to,' Cornelius reminded him. 'We only want to kill some of them. The rest must be allowed to escape so that they can summon help. And remember, when they arrive in greater numbers, we have to retreat. They must believe that we are scared.'

  Cal scowled. 'It is against my nature to run from any enemy,' he said.

  'I understand that. But the shame will be worth it once we have them within range of our spears and arrows.' Cornelius turned to address the other villagers. He climbed up onto a log so everyone would have a clear view of him. 'The moment is at hand,' he roared. 'You all have your appointed tasks. See to it that you carry them out to the best of your ability. And remember, when we come back, there won't be much time. Every one of you must be ready to fight to the death.'

  'Excuse me . . .' interrupted a mournful voice.

  Sebastian looked up in surprise. A strange apparition was lumbering towards them. It resembled one of the huge lizards he had fought on the treasure island of Callinestra, but there was no mistaking the voice. Max was encased in a curious assortment of armour. A huge padded saddle of rusa hide covered his flanks, a metal-studded breastplate hung around his neck, and some enterprising villager had even fashioned him a kind of helmet, which fitted ingeniously around his curving horns and protected his nose and cheeks. His brown eyes stared dolefully through two tiny slits. 'I feel ruddy stupid,' he complained. 'When you mentioned armour, I imagined something majestic-looking. But I just caught sight of my reflection in a pool of water and I look like a yarkle.'

  'Not at all,' Cornelius told him. 'You look . . . noble. Doesn't he, Sebastian?'

  'Er . . . yes,' said Sebastian, trying very hard not to laugh.

  'You look . . . like a . . . force to be reckoned with. I certainly wouldn't want to face you in battle.'

  'You're just saying that,' grumbled Max. 'I can see you're trying not to laugh.'

  'No I'm not! Anyway, I'd rather look a bit of a twit than wind up with twenty arrows sticking out of my backside. Remember the fuss you made on the plains of Neruvia, when those Brigands shot just one arrow into you. You claimed you were dying.'

  'I thought I was,' said Max gloomily. 'How was I to know it was just a flesh wound? Oh well then, if that's all the sympathy I'm going to get, I'll return to my chariot.' He turned and trudged away, revealing that the armour was ingeniously styled to allow his tail to poke through. Again Sebastian felt an irrational urge to laugh out loud, but managed to restrain himself. This was no time for humour.

  'Come on,' said Cornelius. 'Cal, y
ou lead the way.'

  Cal and Galt set off into the jungle, carrying their throwing spears. Sebastian and Cornelius fell in behind them.

  'Are these the only warriors we're taking?' asked Sebastian nervously.

  'Of course. We want the Gograth to come after us, don't we? They won't do that if we have half the village in tow.' Cornelius grinned delightedly. 'We must be heavily outnumbered. That will embolden them, make them want to crush us. Hopefully they'll throw caution to the wind.'

  Sebastian shook his head. 'You're loving this, aren't you?' he observed.

  'Of course!' Cornelius chuckled. 'These are the days I live for, when the blood runs hot and the foe is at hand.' He gazed up at Sebastian. 'It's not for you, though, is it? Oh, you'll give of your best when push comes to shove, but I expect there are many things you'd rather be doing.'

  'I have to admit, fighting's not my favourite pastime,' said Sebastian.

  'Hmm.' Cornelius lowered his voice so that Cal and Galt would not overhear. 'You know, somebody was telling me a bit more about that prophecy last night. It seems that the Chosen One is expected to take a wife from amongst the women of the village.'

  Sebastian shrugged. 'It's just an old folk tale,' he said. 'I wouldn't put any faith in it. Besides, what would Jenna say if I returned to Ramalat with a wife on my arm?'

  'Something fairly salty, I should imagine. So . . . Jenna's still uppermost in your mind, is she?'

  'Of course. Just because we're apart doesn't mean I've forgotten her.'

  Cornelius smiled. 'Good for you,' he said. 'She's a special lady, that one.'

  They followed the narrow trail as it led deeper and deeper into the jungle. Sebastian wondered how Cal and the others managed to find their way through the thick undergrowth. To him, every trail looked the same. He started to ask Cornelius something but Cal turned and lifted a finger to his lips.

  'Quiet now,' he whispered. 'We are close.'

  Sebastian did as he was told. He watched Cal and Galt creeping along the trail without making a sound and tried hard to emulate them, horribly aware of twigs cracking beneath his boots and foliage rustling as he brushed by. He couldn't help feeling like a great clumsy oaf beside them.

  Now Cal paused for a moment, listening intently. He pointed into the jungle to his left and stepped off the trail, gliding in amongst the trees with the grace of a panther. The others turned to follow and now Sebastian found it really hard going. Ferns and thorns snagged against his clothing, insects buzzed around him and he was aware of a thick sweat beading his forehead. By comparison, Cal and Galt looked as if they had set out on nothing more than a pleasant stroll.

  Suddenly Sebastian flinched as he heard a noise coming from up ahead: the unmistakable clink of armour. He watched as Cal knelt behind a screen of bushes and peered through them. Sebastian crouched down and took a quick peek. Ahead of him, a party of Gograth were moving slowly and silently towards the village, their swords held ready for action. It was clear that they were about to attack the Jilith.

  Taking a deep breath, Sebastian slid his own sword from its scabbard as quietly as he could. He watched and waited, his heart beating rapidly. Beside him, Cornelius was expertly assembling his miniature crossbow. Once he had slid a bolt into place, he lifted the weapon and took careful aim on one of the creatures in the midst of the group. There was an abrupt hiss and then the Gograth warrior halted in his tracks; the bolt had struck him in his thick neck, just above the breastplate. He fell to the ground and his companions stopped and stared stupidly down at him.

  'Now!' roared Cornelius. And they all burst out from cover and ran straight at the enemy.

  It went exactly as planned. Taken by surprise, the Gograth put up only a token resistance, and in a matter of moments half their number had fallen beneath the flashing blades of their enemies. The rest turned and retreated in complete disarray. Cornelius managed to rein in Cal and Galt, allowing the surviving Gograth to make their escape.

  'Tell General Darvon that this is how the Jilith vanquish all their enemies!' Cornelius bellowed at their retreating backs. 'Tell him that the Gograth are cowards who hide behind the backs of their women.' He seemed to be searching for more insults, so Sebastian weighed in with one of his own.

  'Tell him that the Gograth smell of rusa poo!' he yelled.

  Cornelius gave him a pitying look. 'Embarrassing,' he said.

  'Don't you know how to give a decent insult?'

  'We don't need to insult them,' said Cal. 'Killing them will be enough.'

  'What do we do now?' asked Sebastian.

  'We wait,' said Cornelius calmly. And he settled himself down on the ground and took out his pipe.

  They didn't have to wait very long. Soon enough, they heard the booming of drums, the blasts of great horns; and something else – a distant rumbling that seemed to shake the earth beneath them.

  'What was that?' muttered Sebastian. 'Sounded almost like thunder.'

  'That was thunder,' muttered Galt. He lifted his head and sniffed the air. 'Rain's coming,' he said matter-of-factly.

  'What?' Sebastian looked at Cornelius. 'Did you hear that? Rain!'

  'Yes, yes,' said Cornelius, waving a hand dismissively.

  'But . . . what if it starts falling before the Gograth reach the village?'

  'Don't worry, it's nowhere near us,' insisted Cornelius, but his smile had lost some of its confidence.

  'If we can't set light to that conflagrus—' began Sebastian.

  'You're sounding more like Max every day,' snapped Cornelius. 'Now stop griping for a moment and let me listen.' He did exactly that for a moment, then nodded approvingly. 'Sounds like they've summoned plenty of reinforcements,' he said. 'Good. The more the merrier.' He glanced sternly at the two Jilith men. 'Don't forget what we agreed now. We have to run. If you try to stand and fight, you'll mess up the whole plan.'

  'Yes, yes.' Cal nodded but he looked far from happy. 'I just don't like to think of them boasting about how we ran before them.'

  Cornelius gave a grim smile. 'Don't worry – if everything goes according to plan, by sundown there won't be many of them left to boast about anything.' He lifted his head. Now the approaching sounds were unmistakable: the dull clunk of armour, the crunching of vegetation being crushed underfoot and the rising clamour of drums. And then, booming above them, another peal of thunder, closer this time.

  'Cornelius, that doesn't sound very far away,' whispered Sebastian.

  'Will you pipe down? Here, Cal, be a good lad and climb a tree. Let's see how many of them are coming.'

  Cal sprang to the nearest trunk and vanished up into the canopy in a couple of lithe bounds. Everyone waited below. Sebastian felt beads of sweat welling on his neck and running down his spine. For what seemed like an age there was silence from above. Then he heard Cal say, 'Okrin's blood!' A moment later he came scrambling down again, and though he tried to act casual, his face had gone several shades paler.

  'How many?' asked Cornelius.

  'More than I've seen in my entire life,' admitted Cal. 'At first I thought a great wind was flattening the jungle. Then I looked again and saw it was the Gograth. Looks like the whole tribe's turned out.'

  Cornelius grinned. 'Excellent,' he said. He slapped Sebastian on the back. 'Come on,' he said. 'Let's make for a clearing and give them a good look at us. We want to be sure they follow us all the way back to the village . . .'