'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.
Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools Page 29