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We all hurried over to the tree and sat down, glad to be off our feet. Every part of me was aching, and I thought I’d be paying for that night on the floor for a good while. Within minutes we were hungrily tucking into bacon sandwiches, and Blaise produced mugs of hot, steaming tea for us all.
‘I can’t believe how easily magic has come back to me,’ he admitted. ‘It’s like I never lost it.’
I tried not to feel uneasy at the thought, remembering how he’d feared that the restoration of his powers would corrupt him. He seemed to have forgotten those worries already and was smiling as he tucked into his breakfast.
Then again, I could hardly blame him for that. I’ll say one thing for Blaise. He could manifest an excellent bacon sandwich.
‘This is so good,’ Romy said happily. ‘Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a hot shower right now.’
‘I wonder how Keely’s doing,’ I said wistfully.
She gave me a sad smile. ‘I’m sure she’s missing you like mad,’ she said. ‘But it won’t be long until you’re back with her. Chin up.’
I nodded. ‘I’m sure she’s missing you, too. You know she’s going to want to know every little detail when I get back.’
Romy laughed. ‘Maybe don’t tell her about the rat,’ she suggested. ‘I don’t want her thinking that’s what my life is going to be like from now on.’
‘It won’t be,’ Blaise promised. ‘We just need to find the island and meet the Tremaynes, then hopefully, we can start again. And let’s hope that sword’s where you think it is, Wulfram.’
Having eaten the sandwiches and drunk the tea, we reluctantly got to our feet and continued along the steep path through the woodland towards Polkayne.
‘Maybe,’ Romy said breathlessly, ‘there’ll be a better inn there.’
‘I think that’s guaranteed,’ Blaise said, laughing. ‘Although, perhaps we could come up with something more comfortable if necessary. Maybe a cabin in these woods?’
‘Ooh,’ she said happily. ‘That sounds much better. Do you think you’re up to that?’
‘Only one way to find out,’ he said.
I said nothing. Something that had bugged me last night had just returned to nudge me. I kept trying to think what it was, and why it was worrying me so much.
‘You okay, Wulfram?’ Romy asked.
I nodded. ‘Yes, fine. Don’t worry.’
‘Well then,’ she said, touching my face, ‘turn that frown upside down.’
I smiled, resolved to push whatever it was that was bothering me away and concentrate on the moment.
The woodland cleared, and we found ourselves on the cliff top, looking down over the sea.
Now that it was daylight we had a clear view for miles, and it was obvious that the island hadn’t returned overnight.
‘Oh, please hurry up and come back. I really don’t want another night like the last one,’ Romy pleaded to the empty sea.
I gazed up at the sky and as I did, a vague memory stirred.
‘Blaise,’ I said thoughtfully.
‘That’s it!’ Blaise cried suddenly. ‘That’s St Kayne’s church.’
He pointed to the little building not too far ahead of us, its steeple a welcome sight after our long walk.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘We’re nearly there.’
He was almost running in his eagerness to reach the church. Romy clearly didn’t have the energy to even try to keep up and followed at a more sedate pace with me walking by her side.
‘Is something worrying you?’ she asked curiously. ‘You’re being very quiet, and you’ve got a weird look on your face, like you’re trying to work something out.’
