Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools (36 page)

'Better that than to skulk in the shadows while a liar and a coward lords it over your kingdom,' said Cornelius. 'But, Princess, I'm only airing an opinion. It's entirely up to you to do what you think is right and just.'

There was a long silence, during which the trickling of the stream seemed to rise to a roar. Then Peg spoke.

'Your highness, if it be your wish, I'll come with you and fight at your side.'

Princess Kerin smiled at her friend and shook her head. 'No, Peg. I thank you from my heart, but your rightful place is with your husband and children.'

'And yours is with your people. Listen to what your friends are telling you, I believe they too speak from the heart.'

'I do not doubt it. Now, Peg, please be on your way and may good fortune guide you safely home to the arms of your loved ones.'

The two women embraced again and then Peg stepped away, grabbed the bridle of her equine and swung herself nimbly up into the saddle. But she hesitated a moment and leaned down until she was close to the princess.

'I'm off then; but if you ever want the help of Peg o' the Hills, you just come looking for me. Whatever happens back in Keladon, there'll always be a hot meal and a roof over your head, should you have need of it.' She glanced quickly across at Sebastian, then smiled slyly. 'You was right,' she whispered. 'He is a good-looking lad!'

The two women clasped hands for a moment; then Peg kicked the flanks of her equine and it moved off across the stream and up the gentle slope of a hillside. When she crested the rise, she reined in her mount for a moment and waved. Then she was gone, racing down into the valley beyond.

Princess Kerin stood gazing after her for a while. Several moments passed and then she realized that three pairs of eyes were watching her. Max too, having slaked his thirst, had stopped drinking and had ambled back downstream a little to see what would happen next.

She walked over to him and stroked his battered horns with her hand. 'I haven't thanked you, Max,' she whispered. 'You were absolutely magnificent back there.'

Max considered this for a moment. 'I was pretty incredible, wasn't I?' he said.

'Your poor horns, they're absolutely ruined. I wish I could do something to make them better.'

'Hmm . . . you haven't got any fresh pommers on you, by any chance?'

'Max!' said Sebastian.

'Oh, all right, it was worth a try!'

Princess Kerin turned away. 'I . . . I need some time alone. To think,' she told them; and she moved to the edge of the stream and away along the riverbank.

'Don't take too long, your highness,' Cornelius called after her. 'Don't forget, somebody may have followed us from Brigandia.'

But she didn't reply. Sebastian sighed and slumped down beside his friend at the water's edge. He felt tired and travel sore, but he knew that there was still more to do. He wrenched off his boots and cooled his feet in the river, letting out a great sigh as he did so.

'Oh yes,' he said. 'That's good.' He glanced at Cornelius and the thick crust of dried blood that had seeped through the chain mail at his shoulder. 'You should let me clean that wound,' he said. 'It could become infected.'

Cornelius made a dismissive gesture. 'I'll clean the wound when all this is over,' he said. He stared along the bank to the solitary pacing figure of Princess Kerin. 'I don't envy her the decision,' he said. 'It'll take guts to go back in there after what's happened.'

'But what else can she do?' asked Max. 'That's the trouble with being a member of royalty. You're not equipped to do anything else with your life.' He gave Sebastian a sly look. 'Perhaps she could try being a jester. She couldn't be any worse than some people I've heard.'

'You watch it,' Sebastian told him, but there was no real venom in his voice. The truth was that he thought Max had been positively heroic back in Brigandia. Without him, they'd never have got out of there. He was about to say something to that effect but Cornelius punched him on the arm.

'Hey up!' he said.

Sebastian turned his head to see that Princess Kerin was striding back towards them with what looked like new determination.

'You're right,' she told them, as she drew near. 'Why should I take this lying down? It's him that's in the wrong, not me.'

'To Keladon?' asked Cornelius.

'To Keladon,' she said. 'To take back the city . . . or die trying!'

They camped that night within sight of the walls of Keladon, a short distance from the main road that led to the city gates, so that they'd be able to see if anyone approached from the direction of Brigandia. Nobody did.

'Probably too busy licking their wounds,' Sebastian told Princess Kerin. 'Let's face it, Kasim won't be in too much of a hurry to tell Septimus that he's let you escape.'

He and the princess sat with their backs against a mighty tree, watching the road for signs of life.

'Where has Cornelius got to?' she wondered. 'He's been gone ages.'

The little warrior had headed off towards the main gates some hours back and appeared to have had no trouble getting in.

'He said there were a few things we needed,' said Sebastian. 'I hope one of them is food, because I'm absolutely starving.'

Princess Kerin shook her head. 'I don't see why we didn't all just go in there. I feel like we're wasting time, sitting here.'

'We need to wait for the right moment,' Sebastian told her. 'Tomorrow morning, when the market is at its peak. Half the population will be out on the streets and the rest of them within earshot.' He smiled at her. 'And don't worry, they'll listen to what you have to say.'

She studied him for a moment. 'You know, I haven't even thanked you, have I?'

'Thanked me? For what?'

'For coming after me. For risking your life for me back in Brigandia.'

Max, browsing on the grass a short distance away, gave a meaningful cough.

'Yes, you too, Max. All of you. I will be for ever in your debt.'

'Oh, don't be silly,' protested Sebastian. 'I just . . . we just . . .'

'I know it would have been easy for you to slip away and leave me to my fate. But you didn't. Why?'

'Because . . . well, because I . . .' Sebastian sat there looking at his feet, unable to say the words that were in his heart. 'What I'm trying to say, Princess, is that I . . . I really—'

'He loves you,' interrupted Max. 'Quite obviously.'

Sebastian shot a withering look at the buffalope. 'If you don't mind, I'll speak for myself!'

'Well, I'd get on with it if I were you. She's liable to be an old lady by the time you get around to it!'

'Is that true, Sebastian?' asked the princess.

'What, that you'll be an old lady?'

'No, you idiot! What Max just said.'

He turned back to look at her. Her lovely face was inches

from his own and his heart was pounding in his chest. 'Oh, well, I . . . I suppose it is . . .'

Her eyes were burning into his. He had the impression that every muscle in his body had turned to jelly. He just sat there, staring back at her.

'I think she would like to be kissed now,' said Max quietly.

'Will you please attend to your own business!'

'I'm only saying—'

'Shush!'

He took the princess in his arms and pulled her closer to him. The world seemed to stop turning. For a long, impossibly beautiful moment, there was nothing but the two of them, clinging warm to each other under the glittering canopy of stars. Then he leaned forward to kiss her—

'Ahem!'

'Not now, Max!'

'Ahem!'

It wasn't Max. It was Cornelius, who was standing a short distance away, a couple of parcels tucked under his arms. Sebastian and the princess broke apart quickly and sat there looking distinctly sheepish.

'I hope I'm not interrupting anything,' said Cornelius.

'Nothing too spectacular,' said Max.

'Good.' Cornelius moved closer. He sat cross-legged beside them, set one of the paper parcels aside and began to unwrap the other. 'I managed to scrape together a few croats for food,' he said. 'It's not much. Some bread and cheese, a gourd of local wine . . .' He opened out the sheet of paper and set the food down in front of them.

'Cornelius, you're a marvel!' said Sebastian. He tore off a hunk of bread and a slice of cheese and handed them to Princess Kerin. As she took them, her hand touched his and they exchanged smiles. They all ate for a while in silence. There were no goblets, so Cornelius passed around the gourd and they each took a swig. The brew was rough but warming.

'What's it like in the city?' asked the princess, as she handed the gourd back to Cornelius.

'Ripe for revolution,' he told her. 'Everywhere you go, people are talking about you, wondering if they'll ever see you again. Some of them have bought the idea that you've been spirited away by an evil magician . . .' He nodded at Sebastian. 'Many others are not convinced by the story at all. I heard quite a few voicing their suspicions about King Septimus. Believe me, it won't take much to tip those people over the edge, and if they go, the others will follow.'

'I wish I had your confidence.'

'You'll be fine.' Cornelius set aside his food and reached for the other parcel. He handed it across to her. 'This is for you,' he said. 'I think it will help tomorrow. I didn't have the money to pay for it, so I had to find a merchant who was willing to accept my personal promise of payment. Luckily, as a member of the Crimson Cloak, my credit is quite good.'

Princess Kerin hesitated for a moment, then tore open the paper to reveal a beautiful dress in a vivid shade of red. 'Cornelius,' she said. 'It's beautiful!'

He shrugged. 'Tomorrow, when we ride through those gates, you must look every inch a princess,' he told her. 'We'll only get one chance at this. Let's give it our very best shot.'

She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. 'You've both been so wonderful—'

'Ahem!'

'Sorry, Max. You've
all
been so wonderful. I won't forget it. When all this is over – if it goes the right way for us – I will reward you both.'

'Let's not worry about that now,' said Sebastian. 'Let's just get through tonight. We should try to get some rest.'