Sebastian Darke: Prince of Explorers (34 page)

Max went along with them to provide muscle, which proved useful when a large gruntag came lumbering out of the undergrowth – to be faced with a buffalope charge. Keera and Salah came along with them one day; Sebastian gave them a guided tour of the treasure in the hold, but it meant very little to the Jilith – they described the precious jewels and gold coins as 'pretty'.

In the evening, safely back at Sanctuary, Sebastian went to spend some time with Aaron. The old man was a fountain of knowledge on just about any subject and Sebastian found his conversation fascinating. It was becoming increasingly hard for him to think about leaving Aaron behind.

Almost before he knew it, it was the eve of their departure and he went up to the throne room one last time. As he pushed open the doors, Phelan came towards him, looking furtive.

'What's going on?' Sebastian asked him.

'Nothing,' he said. 'Just some last-minute business. I'll see you downstairs.' He went out, closing the door behind him.

Sebastian approached the throne and noticed immediately that a few things had changed. Many of Aaron's precious possessions seemed to have been removed – and lengths of jungle vine trailed along the floor, disappearing behind wooden boxes that had been placed strategically around the room. The vines appeared to have been soaked in a sticky black substance, much like the resin used to waterproof the ark.

'What are those for?' asked Sebastian, but Aaron simply made a dismissive gesture.

'Nothing for you to worry about,' he said. 'Just a few arrangements for after you've all departed. Something in the way of a surprise.'

'A surprise for who?' asked Sebastian.

'Ah, now that would be telling! Come and have a seat. As tonight is a special occasion, I have opened a bottle of wine I've been saving.' He indicated a dusty old bottle standing on a table with two golden goblets. 'I used to have quite a collection of fine wines,' he said, 'but over the years it has gradually dwindled away. A few bottles here, a few there – you know how it is. But I always swore that I would not drink this last bottle until my task was complete.'

Sebastian sat down in his usual seat and, filling the goblets with the dark-red liquid, handed one to Aaron. 'What's so special about this wine?' he asked.

'Oh, this one bears King Sesam's crest. This would have been from his very own reserve.'

'Won't it have gone off by now?' asked Sebastian.

Aaron chuckled. 'A fine wine improves with age,' he said. 'Everybody knows that.' They both lifted their goblets and sipped at the contents; then spat it out with a sound of disgust. 'So much for that theory!' spluttered Aaron; and then he laughed delightedly. 'Imagine – all those days and nights I longed to open the ruddy bottle and when I finally do, it tastes like buffalope pee!'

Sebastian laughed too. He liked the old man immensely and enjoyed being in his company. Why wouldn't he agree to accompany them to Veltan?

'Look,' he said. 'About tomorrow . . . Surely there's some way we can persuade you to change your mind?'

'We've been through this before,' said Aaron, shaking his grey head. 'I'm staying here. I have things to do.'

'What things?' cried Sebastian. 'I mean, please don't take this the wrong way, but you're helpless on your own. Who will bring you food and drink?'

'I shall have no need of it,' Aaron assured him.

'But you'll die.'

'All men must die, Sebastian. And I'm already living on borrowed time. I've had my life. Now I'm more concerned with the youngsters, about making sure they have an opportunity to escape from this awful place. Come . . .' He lifted a waterskin from beside his seat and rinsed out the goblets, then filled them to the brim. 'A toast,' he said. 'And since the fine wine is long past its best, we shall have to make do with water.' He raised his goblet. 'Here's to the children. To their new life in Veltan – and to those who will help make it happen.'

Sebastian drank, and the water tasted surprisingly cool and sweet.

The following morning Sebastian woke at first light to find that he was alone in the small chamber. He grabbed the animal-skin backpack that Keera had made for him, into which he had already folded his jester's outfit. Then he went down to find Cornelius packing his own things for departure; Max was watching him and offering plenty of unwanted advice. Most of the children were awake, throwing their various bits and pieces into their own packs, while Phelan, Salah and Keera wandered around giving instructions.

Max saw Sebastian approaching and gave him a disparaging look. 'Oh, so you're finally up?' he observed. 'Amazing how some people can sleep at the most inappropriate times.'

'I was tired,' Sebastian told him. 'What's for breakfast?'

Cornelius jerked a thumb towards the fireplace, where the usual pot of rusa stew was bubbling aromatically over the flames. 'Same as always,' he said. 'Between you and me, I'm getting a bit sick of that stuff.'

'We've only been eating it a few days,' Sebastian told him. 'These poor kids must have been eating it all their lives. Still, I know what you mean. The first thing I'm going to do when we get to Veltan is order something exotic. You know – something with some spices in it. It's a big port: they're sure to have some fancy restaurants there.'

'I think you may be getting ahead of yourself,' said Cornelius calmly. 'Perhaps you should have said if we get there. As in,
if
the ark doesn't sink and
if
the water dragons don't gobble us up and
if
Aaron's right about there being no more rapids between here and Veltan.'

Max studied the little warrior for a few moments. 'You're a right little ray of sunshine, aren't you?' he said.

Cornelius smiled. 'Coming from you, that's probably quite a compliment.'

A quick breakfast was eaten, mostly in silence. Everybody was aware that this was the big day, their chance to escape from Sanctuary. Nobody was sad to leave the place. It had been their prison for far too long. Instead, there was an atmosphere of rising excitement.

As usual, Keera came over with a bowl of stew for Sebastian – as if he were incapable of serving himself. 'Here,' she said, pressing it into his hands. 'Did you sleep well?'

'Fine, thank you.' Sebastian looked at her thoughtfully. 'Keera, are you positive you want to come with us? I'm sure that Cal and you could make it back to your village if you decided that was the best thing. I'd understand.'

Keera looked insulted. 'I told you before, my place is with you.' She glanced across the room at Cal, who was sitting near the fireplace, wolfing down his own breakfast. 'Cal says that he will come too.'

'Really?' Cornelius seemed none too happy at this news. 'Surely he'd rather head back to his own people. He's fulfilled any obligation he made to us.'

'He says he promised my father he would look after me,' said Keera. 'So he will not abandon me, no matter what happens. I have told him to go back, but he just won't listen.' She looked at Sebastian. 'He is jealous of the two of us.'

'Er . . . um . . . well, there's absolutely no reason why he should be!' protested Sebastian, aware that Cornelius and Max were enjoying his discomfort.

'Of course there is! He knows that you have asked me to be your
mate
.'

'Er . . . yes, I've been meaning to have a word with you about that. You see, Keera, where I come from, a mate is just—'

But he was interrupted by a sudden crash. Glancing up in surprise, he saw that Phelan, his meal finished, instead of stacking his clay bowl to be washed as usual, had simply flung it against the nearest wall, smashing it to pieces. For a moment everybody stared at him in silence. Then Salah, who was sitting beside him, grinned and flung her own half-eaten meal against the wall, making a great splash of stew and broken pottery. Suddenly the idea caught on and all the children were throwing their bowls at the wall, the sound of the shattering clay echoing around the empty room.

'What's got into them?' asked Max irritably. 'They're behaving like . . . like animals!'

'It's a symbolic gesture,' Sebastian told him. 'It's their way of saying that they're never coming back to this terrible life.'

Max grunted. 'I understand that,' he said. 'But what are they going to eat out of when they're on the ark? Their pockets?'

'He's got a point,' said Cornelius.

Phelan got to his feet and looked around the room. 'It's almost time,' he announced. 'But first we go to bid farewell to Aaron.'

'Yes,' muttered Max. 'And perhaps you'd like to tell him about the horrible mess you've made with all that broken crockery.'

'It won't matter to him,' said Phelan mysteriously.

All the children shouldered their packs and followed him up the stairs. Sebastian and the others did the same; Sebastian felt particularly awkward when Keera took his hand as if they were sweethearts. Only Cal chose not to accompany them, saying that he had not been invited up before and didn't see why he should bother to go now. Nobody felt like pointing out that he was being rude so they left him to it.

Aaron was sitting on his throne, bidding farewell to the long, respectful queue of children. Sebastian noticed that the old man knew them all by name and had a special last thought to impart to each. He was like a doting grandfather taking leave of his grandchildren.

As they drew nearer to the throne, Sebastian noticed Cornelius gazing thoughtfully at the resin-soaked vines running across the stone floor.

'What
are
those things?' he whispered.

'I'd say they are fuses,' Cornelius muttered. 'And presumably the boxes he has placed around the room are stuffed with explosives, like the thunder-sticks we used in Brigandia.'

Sebastian was horrified. 'But . . . why would he have explosives in here?' he hissed.

Cornelius shrugged. 'Perhaps he's planning to go out with a bang.'

Sebastian would have asked more questions but they were now approaching the throne.

Cornelius stepped up first and bowed to Aaron.

'Ah, Captain Drummel,' said the old man. 'I am putting all my faith and the lives of these children in your capable hands. It is a great responsibility. Please don't let me down.'

'I won't,' Cornelius assured him.

'Good man. I have a parting gift for you.' Aaron reached down by his feet and lifted a small glass lantern. It looked old and battered and there seemed to be no chamber for oil. Aaron placed it carefully in Cornelius's hands. 'The Lantern of Krelt,' he said. 'Now wherever you travel at night, a light shall go with you.'

Cornelius was clearly surprised. 'But surely you must leave this for others who may come to this city?' he reasoned.

Aaron shook his head. 'There will be no place for it when I am gone,' he said. 'Take it with my best wishes, and may good fortune travel with you.'

Cornelius bowed his head and stepped aside. Sebastian, still holding hands with Keera, took his place.

'My good friend the jester,' said Aaron. 'I trust you are a happier man now that you know you can be funny. I have a gift for you also.' He produced an old leather-bound journal, which he pressed into Sebastian's hands. 'As I promised, here is my account of the fateful history of this cursed city. Take it and give it to your Mr Peel with my best wishes. And tell him to heed its warning well.' He studied Keera for a moment. 'And who is this delightful creature?'

'Er . . . oh, this is Keera,' said Sebastian, tucking the notebook carefully into his pack. 'From the village of the Jilith. She's my, er . . .'