‘Great story, Ross,’ Egea said after they had dealt with the monsters. ‘What I don’t get, though, is that if this happened hundreds of years ago, how come you’re still around to tell it? Do your ‘people’ live for a really long time, or something?’

Ross blinked at her for a moment. ‘Pardon me? Oh, no, I am not that old, merchantess. When Xanadu fell, the Queen at the time, who was pregnant, managed to escape, along with a number of servants and a small contingent of my people, by secret ways out of the palace. They fled across the sea on a ship, much like this one, that was prepared for just such desperate and unforeseen instances.’

‘And this Queen was your mother?’ asked Wyvera.

‘My great-great-great-grandmother,’ said Ross.

‘Astonishing…’ said Primus.

‘The small contingent of Xanadunians settled elsewhere in Gard, at a location that I am not permitted to reveal to you, and kept the old ways and traditions of Xanadu alive, passing them down the generations of our small, exiled remnant. That is why I am still able to wear the magnificent garments of Old Xanadu.’ He gestured to his turban and flowing robes.’

“Magnificent”… Horatio thought. That’s one word for them…

‘It’s also how it is that I am trained in the ancient spellblade arts of Xanadu. They were taught to me by my father, who in turn was taught by his father, and so on, right back to a soldier who escaped on the original ship with my mother. In this way, a small remainder of my people have lived on in secret from the Braxians, watching and waiting for a time when we might rise once again like a phoenix from our ashes and repay Brax for the evil he did to us.’

‘So what are you doing this far north on a ship with us,’ asked Horatio, ‘and not at this secret location with your “people”?’

‘Ah.’ Ross’s eyes darted around at the party, at the Owen the other traveller, at the crew-members, at the sea captain, seeming to test and consider them, before finally settling on Horatio again. ‘I think I can tell you this. I judge that you are worthy. In any case, we have already found ourselves fighting alongside each other against the monsters of Brax.’

‘Tell us what?’ asked Silvia.

Ross licked his lips. ‘Some time ago, the remnant of my people came to hear of an object called the Clarent Sword, which has the power to vanquish the Demon King Brax once and for all. At the same time, further rumours and the increasing prevalence of monsters in Gard indicate that the Braxians are on the brink of summoning Brax himself, waking him from his slumber where he was sealed up by the last hero to wield this sword, to once more rain down untold destruction and horror upon our world. I seek this Clarent Sword. I believe that this is my opportunity to overthrow to overthrow Braxia and drive the monsters from my ancient homeland, to rebuild and repopulate it to its former glory. I believe that I am the next chosen hero to wield the sword and repel Brax, perhaps even defeat him forever. The rumours that came to us indicate that the sword may have been found somewhere in the North of Gard. Have any of you heard of it?’

Silvia opened her mouth and started to say something, but Egea, who was sitting next to her, elbowed her sharply in the ribs.

‘Ow!’ Silvia shot the trader look of indignation. ‘What was that for?’

‘I’m afraid we haven’t heard of this “Clarent Sword”,’ Primus lied. Next to him, Olivia bit her lip. Horatio supposed this made sense. They didn’t know if they could fully trust this stranger, yet. But what if Ross really is the hero destined to find the Sword, Horatio thought, instead of me? He glanced over at Ceres, who had been listening with rapt attention, and now wore an uncomfortable frown, most likely because she didn’t like that Primus had lied to Ross about their not knowing anything about the sword.

‘Ah, that is a shame,’ said Ross, though Horatio was pretty certain he had taken note of the little episode between Silvia and Egea. How could he not have? ‘Well, in any case, that is what I am travelling in search of. If any of you do know anything about it or its whereabouts, or discover anything to do with them, I would be most grateful if you could let me know.’

‘Of course,’ said Primus. ‘And so is this how you met Owen?’ he asked, most likely to change the subject, eyes flitting to the second traveller who sat wrapped up in his cloak, his eyes hidden underneath the brim of his feathered hat. ‘Are you travelling together in search of this “Clarent Sword”?’

‘What?’ said Owen. ‘No! Ross and I only just met when we arrived at this ship together.’

‘Oh,’ said Ceres, ‘I thought that you were travelling companions who had been journeying with each other for some time?’

Ross and Owen looked at each other, then each laughed.

‘That is not the case,’ said Ross. ‘The two of us only met when we came to Vishay and found ourselves seeking passage on this same ship, to Whitehall. We had never encountered each other before until four days ago in Vishay.’

‘Then you’re not a Xandunian?’ Primus asked of Owen. ‘What brings you this far North, then, young man?’

Before he could answer them, some more monsters attacked.