A Blaze in the Dark (A New Dawn #1)

Chapter 45 - Sebastian (Part 2)

"Any idea how much longer the little show is gonna take?" The Lord of the Port of Diligence asked. "Both my men and animals are growing restless."

"Not too long now. I'm guessing." George engaged in a staring contest with Uncle Tom, which ended with the latter patting Alex on the shoulder and adjusting the brand new quiver strap that had been on her breakfast plate. A present from the General.

"Feeling better, My Lord?" Lord Simon squeezed himself in between him and George. "I've heard of your fever. Must have been quite the scare."

"Yeah, I'm good."

Thanks to Uncle Tom and Healer Mark's secrecy, the rumour that was doing its rounds in the castle was that an inexplicable spike of fever had struck him down last evening. Sebastian was quite happy with that—it was less embarrassing than everybody knowing that he had blacked out and had screamed at things that hadn't been there.

Alex waved at his relatives, then came skipping down the marble stairs where Stable Master Richard was waiting with Billy. As she swung her leg over the saddle, he looked away.

"Are you sure you're alright, My Lord?"

"I'm fine."

This was one of those moments where he just had to pull through, to get used to Billy again. 

He didn't regret his decision; it was better for the horse to go. Even back in Laneby, it has always been Alex who had taken him out to ride. Surely Nick had learnt to trot and gallop on Billy, but to him, the stallion had become the replacement for the old rag doll that Fox had accidentally thrown into the river when a silly game had gone wrong.

As Alex approached them, George nodded at Lord Simon, who raised his hand and beckoned his men to get the horses moving. About two dozen of the Lord's men rode in front. The rest carefully waited until they had passed them to close the ranks. On his right, Sebastian was flanked by Alex and the Lord. On his left rode George.

Throughout the city, people stopped as the caravan passed. They pointed fingers at him, whispered their theories of his mission. Countless children gawked at him with their mouths wide open, with a few of them running alongside and waving as though their life depended on it.

At first, Sebastian smiled at them, even waved back. But the streets of Sundale were long, and he quickly grew tired of the constant attention. The small gilded gate turned wider with each clop of the horseshoes on the cobblestones. It didn't matter anyway; apart from a few sour faces here and there, the crowd's enthusiasm remained a constant high.

The city walls marked the end of Sundale and the beginning of a much calmer ride. No more cheering and screaming, only the horses dashing on the sandy road on the right bank of the River Faith. There was a whiff of impending rain in the air, but so far the Gods were keeping their waters.

"My Lord, this is a snail's speed," said a brown-haired man with bronze skin. "At this rate, we'll never make up for the delay."

"I know you and your manhood wish to get home, Benjamin." Lord Simon chuckled. "If I had a wife who spreads her legs as easily as yours, I'd be worried too. Two gold pieces she's warming your brother's feet as we speak."

"Not gonna bet because it's probably true." Benjamin smiled warily.

"That's so wrong," Sebastian huffed. "One should always defy the Goddess of Lust, even more so when one is married. Marriage is a holy vow, sworn to the Gods, and should never be broken."

The bald Lieutenant who rode next to Benjamin glanced over his shoulder. "You know a lot of the teaching of the Fourteen, My Lord, and of marriage too. How old are you?"