Dragon Clan #4: Gray's Story Page 6

  Gray said, “I want to buy some maps. Can you direct me to the best place to find a variety?”

  That brought a reappraising shift of Bear’s eyes, then a smile. He pointed further down Front Street. “There’s a good man I know. Come with me.”

  They walked together, Gray keeping a wary eye out for Caldor or Prater, or both. With Bear steering the way, they slipped through the throngs of people as easily as Gray might do on a deserted street. Bear took him into a small shop that advertised books.

  Bear greeted the proprietor as an old friend. After a few friendly exchanges, Bear made sure no other customers were present. He said, “This is my new friend, Gray. If we may, could you show us a few things you might have in your backroom?”

  The slender old man hesitated for only an instant, then relented. “Of course.”

  He turned and unlocked a door behind the counter and shooed them inside, before closing it. The tinkling bell on the front door would notify him of any customers entering the store. He said, “What were you looking for, young man?”

  “I’m not sure. Maps and charts, for sure. I want a selection. Good ones. Accurate and with information about each place, if possible.”

  Bear said, “It sounds like you want an atlas.”

  “I don’t know what that is,” Gray admitted.

  The shop owner chuckled and said, “It’s what you just described. I have three for sale, all different, so at least two are full of incorrect information.”

  “Do they cover the whole kingdom?”

  Bear and the shop owner passed a look between them. The shop owner said, “More like this whole part of the world.”

  “I also want maps and charts.”

  “I have them, too. Maps of the Raging Mountains, the Sand Isles, the swamps of Megara, the Northlands, and so on. I have over two hundred, but I’m assuming you only wish to buy one or two. If you can narrow down the area, I’ll show you what I have.”

  Bear said, “Gray, rest assured your choices of maps will go no further than this room. Only a very few people even know of the maps contained here, and less are allowed to see them.”

  The shop owner said, “If Bear had not asked, in person, you would not have been allowed inside the door. I would not have sold you as much as a book. My collection is for my own research, so selling any is only by request of a few people.”

  Gray decided to trust them. “I would like to see maps or charts of what lies across the Endless Sea. I know ships travel there, but it is always kept a secret. I’d like to know why, and what is there that others are keeping from us.”

  The shop owner glanced at Bear and said from the side of his mouth. “Did you prompt him?”

  “I did not. Not one single word or suggestion.”

  The shop owner turned to Gray. “In that case, I’d like to more properly introduce myself. My name is Shailer. My maps are at your disposal on one condition. We will both understand that condition before we shake hands on an agreement.”

  Gray looked at Bear, who shook his head and said, “This is between Shailer and you.”

  The proprietor said, “I, and my good friend Bear, are seekers of knowledge. To achieve what we wish to know we rely on a web of informants, some paid, others voluntary. We don’t give a damn which star we were born under or your political affiliations. Do you understand me so far?”

  “I think so.”

  “Think so is not good enough. We are in possession of information that would most certainly cost lives if released. If we choose to share that same information with you, it gives you a responsibility that may be more than you wish.”

  Gray sputtered, “How can I give you my word when I do not know what we’re talking about? I mean, if what you tell me puts my family in danger, I cannot agree.”

  Shailer cocked his head and replied, “While you are correct in what you said, I will make myself clearer. I do not care that you are part of the Dragon Clan…, the king’s court, or one of the Sherriff’s spies. I assure you that if the information I share holds any danger to you or your family, you have my permission to share it with them. Otherwise, you will tell no one about it. Nothing.”

  “I can agree to that,” Gray said, stunned at the promise, as well as the very long pause after mentioning the Dragon Clan. They know.

  The old man clapped his hands together then held one out to shake. “Welcome to our little club, Gray.”

  “I suppose Caldor and Prater are also members,” Gray said.

  Bear snorted, “Most certainly not!”

  That news was more shocking than the revelation of a secret society that he’d been invited to join. Gray said, “I am at a loss in a dozen ways.”

  The two men laughed. Bear said, “There are things in our world that are mysteries. Not magical or spiritual things, but common, everyday mysteries that others know the answers for.”

  Shailer continued, “For instance, the Endless Sea is not endless nor is it a sea. It is an ocean, and ships are able to cross it, yet only one does.”

  “The Lady Marion?”

  They exchanged looks again. Then Shailer said, “It took us over ten years to find that.”

  Bear just smiled and nodded for Shailer to continue.

  “We know there are people across the sea,” Shailer said. “Yet we know of nobody who has gone there except the crew of the Lady Marion. Bear has provided casks of ale to ply the sailors of that ship, but none admits to setting foot ashore. We have no idea of what lies over there.”

  A slight woman appeared from behind a curtain with a tray of cups. She flashed a smile intended only for Gray, or that is the way he saw it. She poured hot cider for the three of them, and indicated they should sit on the three chairs in the room, chairs Gray hadn’t noticed until now.

  “My youngest daughter, Kelby,” Shailer said with a teasing smile. “No, she has not yet taken a husband, but that is to be understood. Who would marry such an ugly girl with her obstinate personality?”

  Gray thought she’d be insulted. However, she laughed and said, “Who would want the daughter of a senile bookseller? If you had provided a proper income, maybe I’d have that husband you always speak of.”

  She swept from the room. The three of them sat and sipped warm cider. Kelby didn’t reappear to Gray’s disappointment. That was probably just as well because he wouldn’t concentrate on the topic at hand, but only on the girl. The talk turned to maps, and Shailer pulled one from a shelf and opened it. He pointed to several items along the coastline, and to the Marlstone Islands, a five-day sail from the port of Shrewsbury.

  The light was dim in the room, and Shailer found two lamps. He and Bear discussed several aspects of the map in detail while Gray’s eyes went to the far side of the ocean on the map. It was barren, devoid of names or places.

  Gray listened but said nothing. The information they exchanged was mostly guesswork, with some drunken statements by sailors who were known liars. Other things were identified only by guesses. None seemed factual. Gray decided that he could not make any serious error by asking one more critical question since the pair seemed to know everything about him, but an answer might protect his family. “Tell me about the green dragons.”

  Bear and Shailer glanced at each other with blank, innocent expressions. But Gray had been watching them closely. Bear’s left eye twitched, just the slightest of twitches, but enough for Gray to know they were aware of them.

  Shailer said, rolling a chart and banding it. “Why don’t you tell us?”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  After examining three more maps, all with vague and conflicting drawings of the coastline of Breslau, Gray came to the decision that they were all probably wrong. Worse, he believed it intentional, as did Bear and Shailer. Someone didn’t want people in the Northlands Province to know what Breslau looked like, how it was ruled, or anything else.

  The sun was down before Bear settled himself into his chair and lifted a new cup of hot tea. Looking at Gray, he said, “I think it’s ti
me to tell us of your green dragons.”

  The information Gray had already gained would never have been gathered without their help, and he had promised to share, as they had. He decided it was in the best interest of the Dragon Clan to share at least part of the information. “A few years ago green dragons arrived here. They fight our red, tans, blacks, and even our greens. Having spoken to three different friends of the Dragon Clan, all confirm that the greens must come from another land. They first appeared in Fleming.”

  Bear said, “So a search for their origin has begun, I assume.”

  Shailer listened carefully, then reached for another map as he spoke. “Your friends telling you this may be wrong in their assumption. If you look at this map, Shrewsbury is further down the coast, located at the tip of a peninsula. It is also the first port of call for the Lady Marion when she returns from Breslau.”

  Gray said, “No, the green dragons are seen flying near Fleming.”

  “Look at this map, my friend. The ridge of mountains that makes up that peninsula is where they might nest. North of Shrewsbury, south of Fleming. It’s the same distance from those mountains to Fleming as it is to Shrewsbury.”

  He was right.

  Bear said, “It would also make sense for anyone arriving from Breslau to get off the ship there. It’s a much smaller port with fewer eyes watching.”

  Gray reached for his refilled cup and realized he had not seen Kelby slip in to pour more cider. But his mind quickly returned to the implications the two had pointed out. They were right. Shrewsbury was a better place to arrive, with fewer eyes to watch. The dragons flying over the Fleming Bay could be a ruse to confuse the Dragon Clan, or it might be as simple as good hunting for the green dragons up north of Fleming.

  Then there was Caldor and Prater. How did they fit into the subject? He felt certain that they did, but he didn’t know which side they were on. Tessa leaned to theirs, but she was not sure and didn’t trust him too much. But he had been helpful. Of course, that may have been a ploy to get closer to her.

  The appearance of Prater on the road now seemed even more suspicious. However, how could he have known Gray would walk out of the desert at that place?

  The biggest question and the one he’d been sent to resolve was why had a dragon-bonded newcomer, or other, helped Raymer escape? It would be easy to lose sight of that objective with all the other information he was learning. A simple answer came to mind, and he paused, looking at the wall with blank eyes as he considered it. Suppose that person had not intended to help Raymer. Perhaps Raymer’s escape was a coincidence or red-herring. What if it covered up something else? Or drew attention away from another activity that helped the others?

  Bear said, “This is all very interesting, but if I might impose on you, Gray. I’m terribly hungry, and the walk to the Red Bear is safer with two.”

  Shailer stood and as they walked into the front room of the bookstore said, “I would join you, but I would like to spend some time with my maps and studies and meet again in a day or two.”

  That sounded both reasonable and met the needs of all. Outside, after short goodbyes, Gray drew in his first lungful of damp, night, sea air. Down the street, three sailors sang a sea chant, but he wasn’t sure if they all sang the same tune. A man wearing all black was slinking in the shadows. An older woman who tried to appear and act young tried to draw them nearer.

  Bear navigated their way up the hillside and into the Red Bear Inn. He took Gray’s arm and steered him to an empty table near the fireplace. “I hope this is fine with you. I get cold these days, or I should say these nights.”

  “I like the warmth.”

  Bear smiled, “I’m sure you’re used to it.”

  Answering would reveal another small fact. It seemed Bear never let up. Gray said, “I will need sleep soon. This has been a long day.”

  “It may get longer. Quickly gather your wits about you.”

  A hand found Gray’s shoulder, and he turned to see who it belonged to. Caldor stood at his side and a little behind. “My name is Caldor, and I believe we have a friend in common. An athletic woman called Tessa?”

  Gray had two conflicting thoughts on how to respond. He could deny knowing Tessa, or he could ask how Caldor knew that he was her friend. Instead, he stood and shook Caldor’s hand, grinning and nodding his head like he was the uneducated second cousin from the backcountry.

  “It is very good to meet you. I enjoyed the time I spent with Fleet and the little time with Tessa.”

  “Fleet has spoken of you many times,” Gray said while thinking that each of those times Fleet warned that he didn’t trust Caldor.

  Caldor turned to Bear. “May I join you?”

  “Of course. We were just about to eat.”

  While the two of them talked, Gray scanned the dining room for Prater. When he didn’t see him, he wondered if he might find him ransacking his room upstairs while Caldor held their attention, or perhaps outside in a dark alley where he could watch all who arrived or left.

  He also realized that the two men were not friends, but more acquaintances. Bear gave the appearance of being a little slow, and often confused. But in the bookstore, Gray had seen another Bear, one quick and intuitive. He decided to speak little, think first, and let Bear, a master at gathering information, do most of the talking.

  Bear signaled a serving girl and asked for three fish dinners, bread, and ale for all three. He didn’t consult them, and nobody objected.

  “So you arrived today?” Caldor asked Gray.

  Gray decided to confront Caldor with a question of his own and see if he stumbled. “Today? How do you know that, if I may ask?”

  “I saw you enter with your travel belongings around mid-day.”

  Chagrinned, Gray said, “Please excuse my abruptness, but I’m normally a private person and wondered.”

  “In Fleming, there’s not much that’s gone unnoticed,” Caldor said, an irritating smile that others might take for humor.

  Gray and Bear passed a brief look that told they recognized the smile. “The fish is very good,” Gray said, trying to keep to safe subjects.

  Caldor leaned closer. “Do your people eat a lot of fish?”

  The obvious inference was Gray’s family lived in the drylands where there was little water and no fish. But Oasis had a lake teaming with them. Without a pause, he said, “Yes we do. My mother was fond of baked fish, but I like fried.”

  Bear gave a small nod of approval as he bit into a handful of still warm bread. The tension at the table had increased a notch with Gray’s answer.

  Caldor turned to Bear. “I have not seen you bidding on cargo lately.”

  “That’s because I haven’t.” Bear didn’t offer any excuse or explanation.

  But Caldor then said, “Perhaps in a few days. Some ships that carry interesting cargo are due. I believe the Lady Marion will arrive in a day or two.”

  He had stressed the name of the ship only slightly as he watched for reactions. Gray realized he hadn’t reacted because he’d missed the mention of the name while thinking of Kelby, the girl in the bookstore. Bear was simply too wily to fall for such an obvious trap.

  Bear said, “The Beacon is also due, and I’ve heard it may have bolts of clothing from across the sea.”

  Caldor couldn’t conceal his reaction at the mention of across the sea, although he tried. He patted his lips with his napkin and said, “Where would that be?”

  “A rumor, only. I heard a sailor talking to another one night. He was sitting over there.” Bear motioned to a table near them. “He said his captain heard that cargo from across the Endless Sea brings gold down to Shrewsbury, but you know how mariners lie when they drink.”

  “They do indeed,” Caldor agreed.

  But his eyes looked worried. Gray was still on his first mug of ale while the other two were on their third. Gray intended to make his last the whole evening. However, Caldor stood and excused himself with apologies and promises to continue talking
another night.

  Bear said, “He seemed upset when I mentioned Shrewsbury.”

  “Yes, he did. Upset or worried. Maybe both.”

  “You did well, Gray. I thought I’d have to help you, but you handled yourself in a way I like. Mostly you knew when to keep your mouth shut, and finding a business partner like that is a blessing for me.”

  “Partner?”

  Bear laughed. “Well, it is true that I have not asked you formally, but I thought you might consider being a paid agent for me and for my shipping business. I am too old and fat to travel these days. Besides, I have to remain here and keep an eye on that woman who runs my inn, or she’ll steal even more from me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I thought that I may expand my purchases of cargo. A good place to do that might be Shrewsbury. There’s less competition and some interesting cargo, so I’ve heard.”

  “Heard from imaginary sailors?” Gray asked.

  “Think about it. I’ll send you there, and you will have to explore the options on cargo purchases and shipments. I wouldn’t expect you to keep our business relationship a secret. Others would know of it from the first, and they’ll understand your interests in ships and cargo. Of course, if you may also have other interests of your own, but they are not my concern.”

  Gray liked the idea. It was simple and believable. He had already decided to travel to Shrewsbury when he had first examined the map in the rear of the bookstore. The idea that the others disembarked there made sense, too. It explained why nobody in Fleming seemed aware of strangers in their midst. Doubly odd when rumors in Fleming seemed to spread through the streets faster than a man could run.

  His new friend and benefactor, Bear, also knew far more than he let on, especially about the Dragon Clan. He allowed hints to slip without ever making a firm statement about it, but the hints were often so direct there could be little doubt. Gray also suspected Bear thought him part of the Dragon Clan and hoped for verification.