The ride back home was a silent one. Sebastian appeared lost in thought. Something constantly nagged him but he couldn't put a finger on it. Why did he suddenly feel so down? He couldn't explain the cause of his mood swing. Thunder seemed to understand his masters sad countenance and he snorted in concern. He tossed his head sideways and gave Sebastian a concerned look.
"I'm okay boy",Sebastian said and patted Thunder's mane. "I'll be fine".
Nicklaus who had been silent since the beginning of their ride home finally spoke out.
"Why did you help that woman?",he asked.
"I don't know",Sebastian said. "I just couldn't stay back and watch the King torture her that way".
"You risked your life Sebastian", Nicklaus said. "No one dares to challenge the King and whoever does loses his life".
"I didn't challenge the King",Sebastian said sharply. "I merely pleaded with him to spare the woman's life".
"What you did was seen as challenging him",Nicklaus argued stubbornly. "The gossip would be out and about. The fearless man who challenged the King and got away with it".
"So you think I'm fearless",Sebastian said and grinned at Nicklaus. "You finally admit it".
"I'm being serious here Sebastian", Nicklaus said.
"Okay fine",Sebastian said in resignation. "Maybe I did challenge the King. But I meant no harm. I just had to save her".
"Was it because you knew the woman spoke the truth?",Nicklaus asked.
Sebastian sighed.
"Maybe",he said. "It just didn't feel right to punish her that way. I mean, she's so old and weak. She could have died".
"The King doesn't care about that", Nicklaus said. "There's no one to stop or question him if he actually killed the woman. He's the King".
"That's terrible",Sebastian said. "Just because he's King doesn't give him the right to take a life when he feels like it. He's not a god. Bloody tyrant".
"Be careful with your words Sebastian",Nicklaus chided him. "He may be ruthless and a bloody tyrant, but he's still the King. Why are you so upset anyway?".
"I don't know",Sebastian said. "Let's just forget about it".
Nicklaus was ready to forget about it. The fact that the King saw Sebastian and didn't suspect the resemblance was pure luck on his side. He hated keeping the secret from his best friend but he had no choice. And he didn't want to be the one to let him know about it.
"Don't tell mother what happened",Sebastian said abruptly.
Nicklaus had no intention of telling Evaleen or his own mother about what happened so he was surprised when Sebastian suggested it.
"Why?",he asked.
"She will get upset if she finds out I almost got into trouble with the King",Sebastian said. "We can't let her know we went to the Kingdom square".
"Alright",Nicklaus said. "But next time, when I say we shouldn't do something, try to agree with me. If we hadn't gone to the Kingdom square in the first place, we wouldn't have been so close to getting punished by the King".
"We saved a life",Sebastian said and shrugged. "If we hadn't gone, we wouldn't have been able to help that woman. She's probably still alive because of us".
"Why do I bother arguing with you?", Nicklaus asked in exasperation.
Sebastian grinned, his good humour returning.
"Because you know I'm always right",he said.
Nicklaus shook his head and gave up. When it came to arguments with Sebastian, he always lost. So he tried to stay away from it as much as possible.
"I have to hurry home now",he said as they branched a path that led to another direction. They were in the woodlands now. A place filled with tall trees and flowers. The ground was covered in green vegetation and here, people planted the food they ate. The woodlands were mainly occupied by peasants. Farmers who couldn't afford a bigger apartment in the better part of the Kingdom. The woodlands was a magnificent place if one could only open his eyes to see it.
"I thought you were coming with me to have lunch",Sebastian said.
"I was. But then someone decided to go to the Kingdom square and waste a lot of time and now..."
"Okay I get it",Sebastian said and chuckled. "See you tomorrow".
"Go straight home",Nicklaus said and gave him a pointed look.
"I'm not a kid Nicklaus",Sebastian said, but a mischievous smile played on his lips. "I'll get home in time".
"In time? Seb...."
"Hiyaaa!",Sebastian spurred Thunder and the stallion took off instantly, cutting short whatever Nicklaus had to say.
"Say hi to Aunt Beatrice for me!",Sebastian shouted over his shoulder as the stallion raced farther away.
Nicklaus watched him go with a tired expression. He was relieved though. Here in the woodlands, no one knew Sebastian had a striking resemblance to the King. So no one would get curious and start some questioning.
He turned his horse towards the other path and headed home. His mother would be awaiting him by now.
Sebastian and Thunder flew like the wind as they galloped deep into the woodlands. He felt a run would clear his mind so he spurred the stallion on and Thunder obliged and increased his pace, leaping over thick roots and fallen trees. They galloped passed the great river of Duville and the tall monstrous mountains and continued down the woodlands. Sebastian threw his head back and let out a joyous shout and Thunder neighed in response. They both felt the thrill of flying threw the wind and feeling so free.
Suddenly something caught his attention and he turned his head sharply to the left. A pair of wings! Or was it? He reined in Thunder and the stallion skidded to a stop. Sebastian turned and looked back at the spot where he thought he saw something. He had ridden for so long and he was far past the woodlands. There were no more tall trees and vegetation. The land here was barren and nothing grew, no even a blade of grass. Dead tree limbs littered the ground and little pools of brown water had collected in different potholes. The air was thick with an acrid smell and Thunder began to fuss. He tossed his head and reared, moving backwards, unsettled in the strange surrounding.
"Calm down boy",Sebastian said and tried to calm the disturbed stallion. Something clearly spooked him. Thunder suddenly reared backwards and Sebastian had to grip the reins tight in his arm so he wouldn't fall off. The bad energy of the place didn't sit well with Thunder. He quickly turned the stallion around and they trotted back a few paces.
He swung his leg off the stallion and landed lightly on his feet. Patting Thunder, he whispered to the unsettled animal.
"Stay here boy. I'll be right back".
Thunder tossed his head and nudged Sebastian in worry.
"I'll be fine",Sebastian assured the stallion. "I'll just have a look around and then I'll come back. Stay here".
He patted the horse one last time and then turned around. Picking his way over fallen tree limbs and dirty water, he walked towards the spot that had caught his attention. Had it really been a pair of white wings he saw? Or did the setting sun play a trick on his eyes? There was only one way to find out.
He jogged as quietly as he could towards a deserted corner where something had caught his attention. Here the trees grew thickly with large leafy branches, obscuring the light of the setting sun. It was dark and gloomy and he began to pick his way through the maze of tangled roots that zigzagged on the damp earth. He was super alert. He wasn't with a single weapon so he had to be extra careful.
A twig snapped ahead of him and he froze. Someone or something was coming towards him. As swift as a predator, he scaled up the nearest tree and hid within the branches, staying still so he wouldn't make a sound.
The footsteps got closer and closer and Sebastian held his breath, unsure of what he would see. And then everywhere became quiet. Sebastian listened hard for the slightest sound. There was none. His heart knocked wildly in his chest in anxiety and anticipation. He peeked out from the thick branches and his eyes widened in shock.
A young girl stood at the foot of the tree and behind her back were great white wings. It was an Angel.