A deep warmth filled Jack’s heart. He knew he’d asked a great deal of her – and Yori – to cross half the known world to join him in England. Yori had readily agreed in order to expand his horizons, Akiko because of her love and loyalty for him, enshrined in their vow: Forever bound to one another. But following their encounter with the dockhands, Jack imagined his friends’ initial impression of his fellow countrymen wasn’t that high. So he saw it as his duty to guide and protect them in his own homeland, just as they had done for him in Japan – not that Akiko needed protecting!

‘And you, Yori?’ asked the captain.

‘A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles, Captain,’ replied Yori. He glanced over at the two bedraggled and fuming dockhands clambering back on to the quayside. ‘Since we’ve yet to make friends here, we may stay a while!’

Captain Spilbergen laughed. ‘Well, if you’re looking for somewhere to lodge, I can recommend the Mermaid Inn in Cheapside.’ With that, he bid them farewell, then reboarded his ship.

Noticing a number of dockhands gathering at the end of the quay, one with a smear of horse dung still visible on his cheek, Jack turned to his friends and clapped his hands. ‘Come on, let’s go and find my sister!’ he urged, picking up Akiko’s pack and handing it to her, along with her bamboo bow and quiver of hawk-feather arrows.

‘Can we perhaps freshen up first?’ Akiko asked as Jack ferried them swiftly along the wharf and through the muttering crowd of longshoremen. ‘I’d really like a bath before I’m introduced.’

‘Of course,’ said Jack, not slowing his pace until they were clear of Somers Quay. No stranger to Japanese customs, he was well aware of how important cleanliness was to Akiko. And after a year at sea he too could do with a long soak, a decent meal and a good night’s rest. As eager as he was to see Jess, he wanted to appear at his best for their reunion. Besides, after seven years, one more day wouldn’t make that much difference. ‘Let’s head to Cheapside.’