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beside him. Sebastian saw that he was carrying his handmade crossbow, the one that slotted together from a set of beautifully engineered metal pieces. This was the same weapon that had proved so useful on their recent visit to Brigandia.
     
'What's that for?' asked Sebastian anxiously.
     
'In case,' Cornelius told him, but didn't go into any more detail.
     
Sebastian flicked the reins and Max started forward, grumbling every step of the way.
     
'Oh really, this is too much! I'm expected to pull this heavy caravan when not a scrap of food or water has passed my lips. My old master never treated me in such slipshod fashion, I can tell you!'
     
Sebastian sighed. Max was very fond of singing the praises of Alexander, Sebastian's father. But Max was remembering him as he was at the height of his fame, when everything was going well. Later, when he lost favour with the king and fell on hard times, the picture was not quite so rosy. There were several occasions when Max had gone without food or water because Alexander was so preoccupied with his plans for a 'comeback'. But Max didn't choose to remember them.
     
They travelled in silence for several hours, and at first there were no real problems. The morning mists had soon dispersed and the forest rapidly filled with the joyful sounds of birdsong, the first they had heard since entering this place. Sebastian realized that it must have been the presence of the huge tree serpent that had driven other creatures from that part of the woods and he said as much to Cornelius; but he noticed as he did so how the little warrior's eyes kept moving back and forth to survey the trees all around them.
     
'What are you worried about?' he asked nervously.
     
Cornelius shrugged. 'I'll just be glad when we're out of these trees and onto open ground,' he said.
     
Sebastian could understand what he meant. Even on a bright, sunny day like this one, the surrounding trees provided plenty of cover for anybody who might choose to follow them, and wherever he looked, he was aware of leaves and bushes stirring, as unseen creatures slunk deeper into the shadows. As the three friends travelled onwards, it was hard to shake off the notion that they were being watched; but by who or by what it was impossible to say.
     
They were moving through a particularly dense area of forest when it happened. Once again, as if by magic, the birds all stopped singing and the only sound was the restless rustling of the forest canopy high above their heads. Sebastian and Cornelius gazed around, feeling distinctly anxious.
     
'I don't care much for this,' muttered Sebastian fearfully. 'Do you think it's more tree serpents?'
     
'Who can say?' said Cornelius. 'But clearly something has changed. Perhaps we should try and—'
     
But he didn't finish the sentence. He snapped round in his seat and lifted the crossbow, ready for use. There had been a sudden movement in the branches of the trees away to his left.
     
'What was that?' asked Sebastian.
     
'I don't know. It was moving too quickly. Try and get that fleabag of a buffalope going a bit faster.'
     
'I heard that!' said Max. 'There's really no need to—'
     
'Shhh!' Sebastian flicked the reins and Max dutifully picked up the pace a little, but it was hard to get up much speed on these rough woodland tracks, and Max, hungry as he was, clearly wasn't inclined to hurry.
     
Sebastian was suddenly aware of another movement in the branches of a tree away to his right. He caught a glimpse of a long, muscular body, tawny in colour, moving through the patches of green foliage.
     
'See that?' hissed Cornelius.
     
Sebastian nodded. 'What was it?' he whispered.
     
'Some kind of panther, I think . . . Oh, there's another one!'
     
A second lithe creature had just run along a branch to their left. Cornelius raised the crossbow but was unable to draw a bead on the big cat.
     
'Maybe they're friendly,' suggested Sebastian.
     
'I very much doubt it – we need to get