Dragon Clan #2: Raymer's Story

CHAPTER TEN

Raymer led the way from the army campsite, taking a more southerly direction as they moved west. Now and then he caught a glimpse of the peak of Bear Mountain above the other hills and the tops of the trees. Each time he asked himself if he was doing the right thing. Each time he decided he was, renewing his confidence.

They kept to the heaviest forests and found five more encampments of soldiers, all without fires. They circled each, going wide, always to the south and to the west. Always with doubt foremost in Raymer’s mind.

The first rule of the Dragon Clan is protecting the family. The second is secrecy. His father had said that loyalty is third. He had also said, sometimes one conflicts with another. If loyalty is third, and being loyal to Quint places his family in danger, does he have the right?

He didn’t share the thoughts as he paused to examine a possible route ahead. The gap between two hills grew more than enough foliage to conceal them from the hilltop on the right, but to get there, they would expose themselves for at least a hundred paces. The alternative would route them ten times further, but probably would be safer.

Normally there would be no question about taking the safer route, but time was the other factor. Arriving in Northwood a day late was not acceptable, but not arriving there at all was worse.

He motioned with his hand for the longest route and saw a nod of agreement from Quint. “Go slow during the first part. No noise.”

Ander looked both scared and excited. Raymer smiled to himself. Ander wished for excitement in his life, and his wish had come as true as if a magic queen had tapped her wand on his forehead.

He saw movement up on a ridge. He froze.

Only his eyes shifted as he glanced around. They were in shadow, but not a deep shadow. The molted design of the leaves of a tree was all that hid them. He looked up again at the ridge.

Nothing there, but he knew something had moved. Maybe a mountain goat or deer. Slowly, he turned his head and imagined what a man could see from that perch. He could see the entire area, and look right down on them. The shifting shadows wouldn’t hide them for long.

There was a wide valley to his left, one they had avoided because it was too exposed. A good thing they had. A lookout up there would have his eyes fixed on the valley, examining everything. But he wouldn’t watch directly under his feet unless movement, sound, or color drew his attention.

Their filthy clothing would help hide them. Ever so slowly, Raymer caught the attention of both men behind him and raised his eyes to the ledge, telling them without words where the danger lay. If he moved a little closer, he would be able to throw a rock up to where the man stood.

Raymer eased one foot ahead. When it settled, he shifted the other, his eyes shifting from where to place the next foot to the ledge above. He saw the man make a half turn, facing almost away. The faint conversation drifted down. Raymer moved faster while the man was distracted, hoping his peripheral vision didn’t catch them.

Ten more steps and they were almost under the canopy of branches and leaves when the guard spun. His face looked directly at them. Thankfully, all three had stopped, Ander in mid step.

There hadn’t been any noise, so he must have seen something. After several long, slow breaths to calm himself, the guard turned away. Raymer held up his hand for them to remain still. He had played hide and seek games growing up, and a good method to locate a foe was to play dead then suddenly turn.

The guard did exactly that. He had noticed something and became suspicious. When he didn’t see it again, he tried to trick them by looking away, then spinning and trying to catch them.

When it didn’t work, he eventually looked off into the distance again, but now and then his attention returned to their location. The third time he did, they were safely under the heavy canopy and moving down a game trail out of his sight.

Raymer kept his eyes on the ground searching for any signs of the heavy boots soldiers wore, as well as watching the tops of the few hills they saw. While moving south, the hills that carried travelers to the north side of Bear Mountain became more broken, with jagged granite creating obstacles they had to bypass. The ground became rougher, with sharp rocks.

“Time to test these sandals,” Raymer whispered.

“Haven’t seen any of the soldiers for quite a while,” Quint said. “Are you sure you know where you’re going?”

Raymer smiled, “I’m sure I don’t because I’ve never been there. But I have directions in my head.”

“If you can get us through to the south I think we’ll be fine. They are not marching yet,” Quint said. “Too bad the army prevented us from locating the cave with my supplies. Now I suppose we’re truly on our own.”

Ander said, “I think nearly all the troops are in place for the advance, and they’ll start moving west at night. They’ll pause and sleep during the day so they won’t be discovered. A sneak attack may end the battle almost before it starts.”

Quint almost smiled. “Much the same as my thoughts. Since when did you learn military tactics?”

“When I learned to outsmart beautiful women while courting them. Soldiers are far more predictable. I got the women.”

In other circumstances, they might have laughed and boasted of their conquests, but for now, Quint just placed a massive hand on Ander’s shoulder for a brief second and smiled.

The ground became rougher in the late afternoon, some places forcing them to climb small cliffs, or drop down steep areas where they had to sit and slide. But they saw no more soldiers and their pace increased. Raymer kept Bear Mountain to his right and adjusted their course whenever he caught sight of the peak. However, it seemed no closer.

Quint said, “My sandals are doing great. Nice work, Ander.”

Raymer glanced at Ander and found a face flushed pink and a smile that couldn’t have been wider.

A small river slowed them from heading west until they found a fallen log upstream that allowed them to cross the deepest part. Swimming was not the problem, but getting wet shortly before sundown when they didn’t dare light a fire was. They managed with being wet up to their knees and didn’t slow until darkness forced them to stop.

Huddling under a cedar where the fallen needles had built up a few inches, as soft as any mattress, Ander smiled.

“What’s so funny?” Quint demanded.

“Nothing. It’s just that I was bored. Look at me now.”

Quint said, “You look like dog crap. Your clothes are filthy and falling apart. A dog wouldn’t drag you home.”

“Exactly. More has happened in the last two days than in my entire life.”

Quint growled, “Then too bad for you.”

“Exactly. There I said it again, but that’s my feelings.”

“We may die tomorrow,” Quint said.

Raymer held up his palm to Quint. “Knock it off. I understand what he’s saying. If we die tomorrow, he will have something to brag about in his afterlife.”

“That makes no sense,” Quint said, spilling his food from his blanket and wrapping it around his shoulder to fend off the chill. He turned to Raymer. “I have the impression there’s more to what we’re doing than you’ve told.”

“I’m torn in my thoughts. I may violate a trust.”

Ander scooted closer, “How so?”

“In my world, there are laws. Family comes first. Then secrecy of everything about the Dragon Clan. Third is loyalty. I’m worried that my loyalty to Quint, and now to you, violates the first two laws.”

Quint hesitated before asking, “How?”

“I’m taking you to a place that does not exist except for the few of the Dragon Clan and a very few who are not part of the family. A southern route pass Bear Mountain is unknown. Anyone who attempts to venture there is turned back, and very few ever try because of the tales.”

“Like what?” Ander asked.

“My people in the Raging Mountains also watch for intruders. Instead of killing them, we frighten them away. At night, usually. We sneak into camp and place the bones of sheep or calves beside each sleeper for them to wake and find the next morning. We leave the fake footprints of beasts that cannot exist in the dirt. Sometimes we make strange noises with two pieces of wood rubbed together, or rattle antlers.”

Quint said, “That almost sounds like fun.”

“It can be. Near my home, I’ve watched hunters wake to find dead chickens hanging from branches all around a campsite. Just five or six dead chickens swinging in the breeze and the hunters talk with each other and get themselves scared. Next thing you know, they’re packed up and running home with tales that are probably ten times what really happened.”

Ander nodded, “I can see that happening.”

Raymer continued, “Do it often enough, and people spread tales and lies. Nobody comes near our homeland these days. The same is probably true of the route we’re taking.”

Quint said, “You’re telling us this so that if strange things happen, we won’t be scared, but you’re also violating your family’s trust by telling us. Showing us the way also, may put them in danger if we tell others about it.”

The night closed down as clouds obscured the stars, and the night sounds increased as if encouraged by the darkness. Two owls traded hoots, a chipmunk scurried near them before disappearing in a rattle of leaves. The flap of bat wings came and went. Raymer allowed the night sounds to envelop him with their normalness. The night music was soothing.

He said, “There is another consideration, too. I do not know the members of the family of Dragon Clan we might encounter. They may have different rules than my family. If three strangers came to our lands, knew about us, and some of our secrets, we might not let them live to tell about it.”

“We’ll promise not to tell,” Ander said, but his joke fell flat.

Quint turned to look at him. “Would you trust the lives of your family to three strangers?”

“Well, no.”

A strained quiet had descended on them before Quint spoke again, this time to Raymer. “I will make you one promise. If we should be successful, I will guarantee that you and your family will have the gratitude and debt of my family for all time. I will promise that with my life.”

The last of the day’s light faded, and the moon had not yet come up, but their eyes had adjusted enough to make out shapes. All of them ate from their diminished food stores, then with blankets draped around themselves, they sat still lost in their own thoughts. The silence dragged on.

Quint asked, “Still having fun, Ander?”

The answer came after a short time, “Fun isn’t the right word. Adventure is closer, but not right. Has my heart slowed since that wall fell in? No. Would I do it all over again? Yes.”

“You’re an idiot. Raymer and I have reasons to do this.”

Ander snickered a soft sound that conveyed his eagerness and joy. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

Raymer said, “I understand. And by the way, these sandals you contrived are still in good shape. We have a spare pair. Thank you.”

“What we need is to get the two of you some decent clothing that won’t tell the world you’re escaped, prisoners. Maybe a few bows instead of these poles we’re carrying, so we look like hunters,” Ander said.

Quint said, “Those poles you’re speaking of in such a disagreeable manner are called staffs. In the right hands, they are far better weapons than swords or knives and deserve respect.”

“I’ll take a sword, any day,” Ander said.

“I’d call you a fool, but ignorance of the truth is all too common in royal lines,” Quint snorted.

“You should know,” Ander snapped.

Raymer didn’t miss anything during the exchange, especially the fact that Quint didn’t deny the accusation. He liked the idea that Ander stood up for himself. He also liked the idea that Ander seemed to instinctively understand Quint’s direct humor. Most didn’t.

Ander said, “That old man back there, he said some things we should talk about.”

“We are,” Raymer said. “If what he said is the truth, and I believe it was, we probably do not need to fear pursuit. We made it.”

“Yes, like leaping from one fire into another,” Quint said.

Raymer drew in a deep breath, enjoying the mixture of scents of the forest. The cedar and pine, the moist earth they stirred with their feet, and the chill of the night. “We’ll get there in time to warn them.”

“You’re sure?” Quint asked.

Raymer felt Ander’s eyes on him. He shrugged. “No, I’m just trying to reassure you and make you feel better.”

Quint laid down and rested his head on his forearm. His breathing grew steady and deep. He said in a voice so soft the night breeze carried the word away, “Thanks.”

“It doesn’t count until this is over. I have a feeling that tomorrow you may not be thanking me,” Raymer said.