Dragon Clan #3: Fleet's Story

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Fleet paused at the door long enough to hand the woman the large silver, and then he slipped the smaller one into her palm as a separate transaction. “John-the-pie-maker drinks your finest ale today, at least, a few mugs when he stops by. I trust that will also pay for beverages for my servant and me for three days or more?”

Her eyes were centered on the coin, but she relented with a heavy sigh. “Sir, if you would leave me a tenth-silver, I would be happy to provide those few things, but this is far too much to pay.”

“Keep it. There may be other small things I need although I cannot think of them now and we needn’t haggle over pennies in the future. And don’t forget the water in my room.”

“Freshwater at least twice a day!”

“We’re going out to do some business. Please see that our room is not broken into.” With that, he strode outside without waiting for a response.

The street was a principle thoroughfare, with wagons passing each other with room to spare. However, most people walked in twos and threes. Fleet paused at the door long enough to scan everyone in sight to make sure he had seen none before, and then he remembered the faces and clothing of all he saw. If he noticed the same person again, he would want to know why.

Tessa was like a young girl at her first dance. Her eyes darted everywhere, but she didn’t take the time to draw it all in. Instead, she was more like a butterfly that wanted to briefly taste each flower in the garden.

“Eyes down, servant,” Fleet muttered the words and he adjusted his shirt and finished examining the people in sight. The weight of the coins sewn into the hem felt proper and reassuring. He tossed his shoulders back, lifted his chin, and walked back up the street to the main intersection.

At the guardhouse, he turned to his left, which placed them on the same road that they entered the city. The downward slope of the ground increased, and trash littered the edges of the walls and at any curbing. From the smell, much of it was animal waste, and rotting food. And also a sharp scent of sour milk. Up the hill there must be a dairy. The stench was gagging, but he ignored it.

Tessa said, “Gods rotting in hell wouldn’t smell this bad.”

“Careful how you place your feet, woman. You wouldn’t want to end up lying in whatever is at our feet.”

As the road got closer to the water, the buildings were shorter and with less repair. The side streets were narrow and dark, despite the daylight. At night, they must be terrifying. Fleet noticed the types of businesses also changed. These catered to drinkers and cheap food. The men they saw were harder, and many gave Tessa more than a casual glance.

She said, “Did you refer to me as ‘woman’? If so, why?”

“People have big ears. They wonder at small things that don’t fit like you and me are going to do while we’re here.”

“I could never live in this filth.”

A Barker dressed in bright blue offered ale, women, gambling, and music, all within the blue door to his side. Another displayed a table of knives. A single glance showed they were poorly made and useful only for stabbing from the back. He also sold iron knuckles for fighting and finger rings with stubby blades for slashing skin.

“Can we go back to the inn?”

The ships lay only a block ahead. Fleet continued walking until he reached the street labeled as ‘front’. There were ships chandlers selling anything needed or wanted for a sea voyage. They specialized in supplying captains with whatever they ordered, legal or not. But most of the business consisted of canvas, ropes, timbers, pulleys, cleats, and other hardware for the ships.

The bay side of the street had a wooden sidewalk and several areas with tables or benches where people gathered to observe the ships at anchor, or tied to the piers. Many were doing business of some sort, but most were watching the ever-changing show of loading and unloading cargo and passengers.

Fleet found a pair of unoccupied chairs that afforded a good view. As he sat, a waiter appeared from a café across the street and asked his pleasure. Realizing everyone sitting, held a mug or a plate of food, Fleet said, “Do you have a decent wine?”

“Beer or ale.”

“Two mugs of your best ale, then. And a plate of cheese.”

The waiter held out his hand. “Two snits, sir. Before I deliver.”

Fleet had a small copper already in his hand. “I expect you will bring me change.”

The conversation around them centered on the ship directly in front. It had arrived only this morning. He quickly figured out that it was from a land so far away that only a few ships a year came from there. That held Fleet’s interest until another man mentioned a dragon.

Both Fleet and Tessa turned at that word. The speaker was a braggart, talking louder than most and very impressed with himself. An older man, one dressed in better clothing than most, leaned closer to Fleet and lifted his cane to point to the newly arrived ship.

“Have you interest?”

Fleet shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“Watching the cargo unload, are you?”

“What business is it of yours, if I may ask.”

The man edged closer, turning his head to ensure nobody was listening. “Your dress tells me you’re not from here, and besides, I’d know you if you were. You appear on the day that ship arrives, and you take up a position where you can watch it. All this tells me that you expected the arrival and have come to greet it in some manner.”

“If I say that you are mistaken?”

“Then I’d have to say you are a liar, sir. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m called Caldor. I buy and sell what the ships bring, and if you have information that will make me a profit, I will pay handsomely.”

Tessa looked about to tell him they were not interested, so Fleet said, “Interesting. I buy my own cargo, but we can always talk. I notice that you said, people call you Caldor, but you never said it is your given name.”

The old man grinned. “Perceptive, intelligent, and direct. I like that.”

“I accept your flattery. Please be seated and we’ll talk.” Fleet found he liked playing the role of someone important.

Pointing with his cane, the man said, “This ship only holds interest to me because it has traveled so far to arrive here. The shape is different, the sails are set further back than other ships, and even the men look different.”

Their ale arrived. He chatted with the old man while they watched the cargo unload and were ready to move to the next observation point on the street when Tessa nudged him. She was watching another ship, one further away. He didn’t see what had caught her interest.

She reached for a slice of cheese from the plate he held, and as her mouth neared his ear, she said, “Look at the stamp on the cargo.”

Fleet turned to look as he sipped his ale. A large wooden crate much like the rest was being lowered from the ship to the pier by a rope and pulley system. Like other crates, the sides held black writing indicating ownership or delivery instructions, but it was too far away to read. However, below the black letters on the crate was the image of a stylized dragon; a green dragon.

Fleet’s reaction was to leap up and race closer to the other ship, but instead, he turned to the old man. “Caldor, what do you know about that ship over there?”

“Consigned. Cargo only. You can’t bid on it, so no profit to be made.”

“Too bad. I have business further down the street to attend to, but we are staying at the Red Bear. You might join us later for a meal and refreshment?”

“Delighted.”

Fleet stood and turned to walk further up the street, which would take them closer to the ship with the green dragon on the cargo. He found another place to sit and order an ale, as he watched. As he finished nursing the ale, and the sun was near midday, Tessa nudged him again.

This time, her eyes were looking well beyond ship in front of them. Far out in the bay movement caught his attention. Flying from right to left was a dragon. A green dragon.

It flew in lazy flaps of its wings. The head turned and looked to the land as if it was looking right at Fleet.

But his back didn’t tingle. No tickle, twitch, or sharp pain. It was as if he was not part of the Dragon Clan.