'So,' she said, in a low, slightly husky voice, 'you're here at last.'
Adam gestured for Sebastian to climb down from the caravan and led him and Cornelius closer to the mouth of the cave. A delicious meaty smell issued from a black cauldron suspended over the fire.
'Come meet our guests, sister,' said Adam.
The woman got up from her seat and turned to face the newcomers. Sebastian snatched in a breath. He couldn't help it. He had expected some grizzled crone like Magda, the sly old harridan he had encountered in Keladon; but this woman was young and quite beautiful. Her most striking feature was a pair of tawny yellow eyes that seemed to appraise Sebastian like a wildcat observing its prey. But her full lips curved into a smile and she said, 'You are most welcome, elfling.' She nodded to Cornelius. 'You too, good sir. I am sorry for your loss.'
Cornelius stared at her suspiciously. 'What loss?' he growled.
'I'm not sure,' she replied evenly. 'But I sense that you are grieving for someone . . . or something . . .' She lifted a hand to her temple for a moment, as though thinking. 'I'm getting a word,' she said. 'A name, perhaps? Ghost . . . Spectre, something like . . . no, wait, it's Phantom!'
Cornelius stared at her with open suspicion but Sebastian was simply delighted by her skills.
'How could you possibly know that?' he cried.
'I told you my sister had special talents,' said Adam. 'We call it the gift of the Inner Eye.'
'Still sounds like witchcraft to me,' muttered Max.
Sebastian flashed him a disapproving look. 'Watch your tongue,' he hissed. 'We're guests here.'
'Please, don't stand outside,' said Leonora. 'Step into the cave and warm yourselves at our fire. Supper will be ready presently.' She beckoned them inside, and Sebastian and Cornelius did as they were told.
'Hey, what about me?' said Max indignantly. 'Would somebody like to unhitch me from this wagon?'
'I don't think the invitation extends to buffalopes,' said Sebastian quietly. 'You wait here – I'll sort you out later.'
'Oh, well, that's lovely, isn't it! You get to warm yourself by the fire and I have to stand out here like . . . like some common animal!'
'I've got news for you,' murmured Sebastian. 'Despite what you think, you are an animal. So please try and behave like one!'
He stepped into the surprisingly warm interior of the cave and took a seat on one of a series of logs covered with animal hides that were arranged in front of the fire. Cornelius and Adam found places opposite him. Sebastian could see that the cave was indeed well appointed, though all the furnishings seemed to have been handmade from branches and logs reclaimed from the forest.
Having ensured that her guests were comfortable, Leonora resumed her own seat. 'You have travelled far,' she said. Sebastian wasn't sure if it was a question or an observation, so he didn't answer. 'But you still have a good distance before you,' she continued. 'And you are heading for a world where water is king.'
'They're going to the port of Ramalat,' said Adam. 'Sebastian told me earlier. They have business there.'
'Business, indeed! And tell me, brother, did you find our guests where I said they would be?'
'Sure enough. I was just in time too. They were having a slight difference of opinion with a tree serpent. The big one you saw in your dream. I finally managed to put an end to him.'
'Ah, good. The forest is well rid of that old rascal. You have tried enough times, brother, to—'
'Just a minute,' interrupted Cornelius. He looked at Adam. 'Your sister told you that we would be there?'
Adam nodded. 'She had a dream last night. She saw you entering the forest at that very spot and knew of the danger waiting high above you. She begged me to go there and be ready to help you.'
Cornelius looked at Leonora with new respect. 'In that case, madam, we are in your debt.'
Leonora waved a hand in dismissal. 'Do not trouble yourself,' she told him. 'I only did what I could to help. And besides, I wanted to meet you.' She turned her head to look at Sebastian, and he felt the hairs at the back of his neck bristle. There was something about the power of her gaze that made him feel quite uncomfortable.
'Nevertheless, we are grateful,' he assured her. 'I saw the bones of many travellers who were not given help.'
'You came from Keladon,' she said. 'You were loved and valued there, but something made you leave . . .' She closed her eyes and lifted her hands again, then began making a strange scrabbling motion, as if clawing information out of the very air in front of her. 'I see you at the top of a tower,' she said. 'A very tall tower. And you are fighting an evil man . . . a tyrant.' She paused for a moment, as though trying to 'see' more. 'The tyrant falls!' she exclaimed. 'And you are a hero! But . . . something happens and you cannot stay there. You leave because of . . . because of' – she opened her eyes and stared at him with an intensity that made him blush – 'a woman,' she concluded.
There was a long silence. Then Cornelius spoke.
'Well, she's certainly got you figured,' he told Sebastian. He turned to Leonora. 'My friend here has a weakness for a pretty face,' he said. 'One day it's going to land him in real trouble.'
'Indeed.' Leonora continued to stare at Sebastian, as though trying to puzzle him out. 'And I believe that many women will have a weakness for him,' she said. 'He is fair of face, is he not?'
Cornelius shrugged. 'If you say so.'
'You were a jester in Keladon,' said Leonora. Again she made the scrabbling motion. 'I see you on stage, performing for a noble court . . . but I do not see many people laughing. Why would that be? I wonder.'
Max's mournful voice came from outside the cave: 'Believe me, you'd understand if you'd seen his act!'
'Go to sleep!' snapped Sebastian. He smiled apologetically at Leonora. 'You'll have to excuse him – he has an opinion on everything.'
She nodded but did not stop staring at him. 'He is the funny one,' she said.
There was a long uncomfortable silence while Sebastian thought about that. What exactly was it supposed to mean? Was she proposing that the two of them should team up for some kind of comedy double-act? It was a worrying thought.
Then Leonora said, 'The food is ready. Adam, fetch wine for our guests!' She ladled a thick, glutinous-looking stew into earthenware bowls, while Adam fetched a wineskin from the back of the cave and poured red liquid into metal goblets. Leonora passed out the bowls, and as she handed Sebastian his, her fingers brushed against the back of his hand and he felt a shudder pass through him. Startled, he tried to concentrate on his stew, which had a delicious earthy flavour, and the wine, which tasted rich and fruity. Even Cornelius, who was not much given to passing compliments, observed how good it was.
'How do you manage to find supplies in this wild spot?' he asked.
'Oh, everything we need is right here in the forest,' said Adam with evident pride. 'The stew is made from javralat meat and wild vegetables. The wine comes from a secret grove of blood berries which we harvest every year.'
'So why leave?' asked Cornelius.
'I beg your pardon?'
'You told Sebastian that you leave the forest from time to time, but that you keep returning.'
Adam nodded. 'We leave if there is a strong enough reason to. Perhaps some adventure bids us get up and go . . . or perhaps Leonora has a vision of the future that leads us to something worth investigating.'
'Ah yes, her powers of prediction! So far we have seen her speak accurately about that which has already happened. But little about the future. Why is that?'
'It's more difficult,' explained Leonora. 'The past I can do so easily. But to look into the future, I must be alone with the person who seeks to know what is to come, and they in turn must be ready to accompany me. Then I can give them glimpses of what will be.' She smiled at Cornelius. 'What about it, little man? Would you like to learn about your future?'
'I would not,' said Cornelius without hesitation. 'As far as I'm concerned, that is something that no man should h
ave access to.'
'Why ever not?' Sebastian asked him. 'Surely it can be helpful to see what lies ahead?'
'I do not doubt it, but for my part I would rather go into the future in blissful ignorance. Too much information can be a dangerous thing, Sebastian – and knowing nothing can mean a happy life.'
'Yes, but supposing we'd met with Leonora before we entered the forest? She might have warned us against taking that path. And then, who knows, maybe Phantom would still be—'
Cornelius suddenly set down his empty bowl. 'I'm tired,' he said. 'If you'll forgive me, I think I'll turn in.' He gave Sebastian a meaningful look. 'You could do with an early night too,' he added.
'Oh, not yet. I haven't finished eating.'
'No. Umm . . . well . . .' Cornelius got to his feet. 'See you don't leave it too late – we need an early start in the morning.' He bowed respectfully to Leonora. 'Madam, good night. I thank you for your hospitality.'
'Why don't you use one of the chambers deeper in the cavern?' suggested Leonora. 'You'll be warmer and more secure in there.'
Cornelius shook his head. 'I'm used to sleeping outdoors,' he said. 'I'm sure I'll be fine.' He shot one more meaningful glance at Sebastian and went out into the darkness. Sebastian suddenly felt like a naughty child, determined to stay up past his bedtime. What was Cornelius so worried about anyway?
It was at this point that Adam started yawning. 'Do you know, I'm rather tired myself,' he announced. 'Been quite a day, what with one thing and another.' He got up from his seat. 'Good night, Sebastian. If I don't see you in the morning, I trust that the rest of your journey will be better than your entry into Geltane Forest.' And with that he turned and headed for the stone corridors at the back of the cave. Which left Sebastian and Leonora sitting alone at the fire.
Sebastian was suddenly rather nervous. He glanced up at Leonora and she smiled at him, lifting the wineskin.
'A little more?' she suggested.
'Why not?' he said, almost defiantly. He watched as she filled his goblet to the brim, but in truth he already felt very light-headed. 'This stew is delicious,' he said, simply to break the silence.
'I'm glad you approve. I like a man who enjoys his food.' She was still looking at him intently and he felt decidedly self-conscious. 'So, Sebastian,' she ventured, 'are you a man who is afraid to look into his future?'
Sebastian shrugged. 'I'm not afraid of anything,' he said. He picked up the goblet and took a big gulp of the warm red wine. 'I'll have you know, I'm considered quite a hero in Keladon. It was me who led the army into the city to depose the evil King Septimus. In fact, I single-handedly vanquished him in calmed ombat . . . I mean, armed combat.'
'Ah yes, the man I saw on the tower!' She leaned closer. 'And what about this woman who caused you to leave it all behind?'
'Princess Kerin. Or rather, Queen Kerin, as she is now. But wasn't then . . . if you see what I mean.' Sebastian realized he was rambling and made an effort to pull himself together. 'Talk about ingratitude! I was the one who made her queen. Well, not the only one, obviously, but the main one. So I came away to try and forget her. It's like Cornelius says – plenty more sish in the fee!' He glanced suspiciously at the goblet of wine and set it down carefully on the ground.
'But what compels you to go to Ramalat?' persisted Leonora.
'Oh, it's not Ramalat really. That's just the starting point. We're going to—' He caught himself just in time. 'I . . . really shouldn't talk about it,' he said. 'It's a secret: Cornelius says I've to tell nobody.'
'Quite right,' she agreed. 'You never know who you can trust.'
'Oh. I trust you!' he protested. 'After all, you saved us from that serpent. It's just . . . well, I did promise Cornelius, so . . .'
'I understand. Really. A secret is a secret.' She smiled at him. 'Well then, Sebastian, do you think you are ready?'
'R-ready?'
'To look into your future.'
'Umm. Oh, well . . . I suppose . . .'
'Good.' She leaned closer and extended her hand, one finger pointed towards his face. 'I want you to relax,' she murmured. 'Let every part of your body relax. We're going to take a journey, you and I, into your future. But first . . .' The tip of her finger touched his forehead and a strange warmth flowed out of the end of it. The warmth seemed to travel throughout his body and he was just about to say how strange it all was when he found that he could not even open his mouth. He tried to move but there was no strength in his muscles. The nearly empty bowl of stew slipped from his hand and fell to the floor where, without a sound, it broke into several pieces. Sebastian registered this even as a black hole seemed to open at the back of his skull and spread outwards like a growing stain, until it had claimed him completely.
He knew nothing else for quite some time . . .
CHAPTER 4
THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
When he woke, he was still slumped in front of the fire; or rather, what was left of it. The wood had long since burned away and all that remained was a heap of cold grey ash.
The broken bowl still lay scattered at his feet and the half-empty goblet of wine stood beside it. He felt terribly groggy, as though he'd drunk much more than he actually had, and when he got unsteadily to his feet, he realized that his shoulders and knees were aching from having slept in such an unnatural position.
He gazed blearily around the interior of the cave, but there was nobody else about and he could only surmise that Leonora had left him asleep and gone to her own bed. He imagined himself dozing off in front of her and felt mortified. What if he'd been snoring? Or, worse still, drooling like an imbecile? Clearly he had been more tired than he thought. He had the distinct impression that he'd missed something very important but couldn't for the life of him think what it might be.
He turned and stumbled towards the cave mouth. Stepping out into the night, he took a much-needed breath of fresh air and looked around. Max was slumped on the ground beside the caravan, fast asleep and snoring at an incredible volume. Presumably Cornelius had unshackled him before turning in for the night. Sebastian felt vaguely guilty since that was usually his task. Cornelius himself, as was his usual custom, was lying under the caravan, all bundled up in his bedroll. Sebastian fumbled around in the back of the caravan, found his own blankets and, wrapping himself up in them, lay down beside Cornelius and fell swiftly and deeply asleep.
He dreamed he was back in the cave, sitting with Leonora beside the blazing fire. She was talking to him in a low, hypnotic tone but he couldn't make out what she was saying; the words seemed to fragment around him like a blizzard of falling snow, and he was really only aware of her big, tawny eyes staring at him, seeming almost to devour him with their intensity. It occurred to him that she was even more beautiful than he had first thought and he just sat there, gazing at her in helpless devotion.
Suddenly she reached out to him and opened her hand to reveal something set into her palm – a strange oval of smooth, raised flesh. As Sebastian stared at it, a layer of skin slid back, revealing an eye gazing steadfastly up at him, the same tawny colour as the ones on Leonora's face.
Sebastian woke abruptly to the sound of Cornelius bellowing beside him. He sat up quickly and banged his head on the underside of the wagon. Turning to his left, he saw two dark shapes struggling beside him. Cornelius, lying on his back, was wrestling with a tall figure kneeling over him. A shaft of moonlight filtering through the spokes of a wheel revealed the man's face. It was Adam. In the same glance Sebastian saw that one of Adam's hands was trapped inside Cornelius's breastplate. The little warrior had both his hands gripped tightly around Adam's wrist and was attempting to pull him to the ground.
Sebastian Darke: Prince of Pirates Page 3
