Sebastian Darke: Prince of Explorers Read Online Free Page B

upon you and your companions – and then I knew I had an answer. You have come to our aid, as promised.'
     
Sebastian gazed at her, puzzled. 'What do you mean?' he asked her. Then he remembered something that Cornelius had told him. 'I was told that you claim to know me . . .'
     
Keera smiled and nodded. She reached into a little animalhide pouch that hung from her belt and drew out what looked like a piece of parchment. She unrolled it carefully, handling it as though it were some precious artefact. 'This scroll has been passed down through the generations,' she said. 'It is given to each chief of the Jilith when he takes up his position. It is said to be part of an ancient prophecy and speaks of a mysterious half-man who will come to the aid of the Jilith in their darkest hour. Look . . .'
     
She turned the scroll round and held it out so that he could see it. The scroll showed a painting of a lean, wiry young man, dressed in long boots and what looked like a tricorn hat. Sebastian could see that the character had pointed elvish ears – he couldn't deny that there was a strong resemblance to him. In the picture, the figure was wielding a sword and was about to plunge it into the breast of a hairy beast-like creature that was evidently a Gograth.
     
Sebastian opened his mouth to say something but couldn't seem to find any words. In the end he just said, 'Oh.'
     
'Don't you see?' said Keera excitedly. 'Your arrival was foretold. You are the saviour who was sent to free my people from the terror of the Gograth!'
     

C HAPTER 4
ELF LORD
In the silence that followed Keera's remark, Sebastian considered his options. He could hardly ridicule what she'd just said. After all, she'd saved his life. But at the same time, the thought of taking on the might of the Gograth army was not a particularly appealing one. He'd met up with just a small band of them and had very nearly paid the ultimate price. Still, he had to say something . She was looking at him expectantly, waiting for his words of wisdom.
     
'Umm . . . well, Keera, that's . . . that's . . . remarkable.
     
I admit, it does look a bit like me, but—'
     
' A bit? Look at the clothes. Look at the ears!'
     
'But, Keera,' he said, 'do you not think that all this – strange as it may seem – could simply be some kind of coincidence?'
     
Keera smiled and brushed back her long hair with her fingers. 'Forgive me, but I know better than that,' she said. 'I mean, think about it. A strange half-man comes into the jungle from the outside world. He brings with him a tiny but mighty warrior and a magical talking buffalope. And what's the first thing he does when he arrives? He takes on the archenemy of the Jilith. You are the Chosen One, the Elf Lord that we have been promised for so long.'
     
'They attacked me! And I nearly got killed! That doesn't seem very heroic, does it?' The act of raising his voice sent a jolt of pain through Sebastian's chest and he grimaced.
     
'But it is spoken of in the ancient stories,' said Keera. 'The half-man will suffer terrible tribulations, but he will weather the violence and will rise up stronger than before. Then he will smite our enemies with such force that they will be vanquished for ever!'
     
'I . . . I'm not awfully big on smiting,' protested Sebastian.
     
'Of course you are!' said a voice from the doorway; and looking up, Sebastian saw Cornelius leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, a big grin on his baby face. 'Ignore him, Keera, he's just being modest. Why, if I were to tell you of all his victories, I'd be here till tomorrow evening.'
     
Sebastian stared at the little warrior in exasperation. 'Tell her!' he protested. 'Tell her I'm not a hero!'
     
'I will do no such thing,' retorted Cornelius. 'This is just like you, Sebastian, trying to downplay your abilities. But your modesty is misplaced. You should celebrate your magnificent victories, just as ordinary men do.' He smiled at Keera. 'The Chosen One is still