Dragon Clan #4: Gray's Story

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Gray returned to his cabin and spent the rest of the day looking at the charts, maps and graphs, but his heart and mind were not in it. He kept thinking of what the missing chart held. What had he not seen or recreated? What did the intruder want to keep hidden from him?

If the chart had not disappeared, chances were he would have studied it for a short time and put it away, never realizing it was special. Now, it was all he thought about.

The rolling of the ship became more pronounced as the day progressed. Then, as the rolling increased, the ship changed course and pitched instead of rolled. The pitching was less, but as it slid down the backside of a wave, the ship tended to plow into the next. The bow took the brunt of the storm, first driving into the waves, then popping to the surface like a cork in a stream.

The timbers groaned and creaked, but the three passengers soon adjusted to the noises. Anything not secured slid off tables and crashed to the floors. The windows in the cabins were closed and latched against the swirling rain. All three passengers climbed into beds, empty bowls ready at their sides to fill with the results of seasickness.

The day ended with them falling into restless sleep. The ship passed the storm in the night, and they woke to a clear dawn. None of the three climbed from bed at their regular early times. Once on deck, Gray found the crew not as friendly as before. A few actually avoided him, and one scowled when he thought Gray could not see his face.

The Captain must have investigated the theft, and they found out about it. Gray ignored the slights. The breakfast was served late, and it was a mere pittance in comparison to what had been served on prior days. Gray made his way to the upper deck and sank into the chair, breathing deeply of air that did not tilt and twist. Anna appeared at his side.

Anna said, “I heard the crew say the storm pushed us a full day’s travel closer to Fleming. We may arrive tomorrow afternoon.”

“You sound like you’re in a hurry.”

“I share a cabin with a girl who cannot be allowed to see the dragon on my back. Do you have any idea of how hard that is?”

“I think the crew knows that I told the Captain about one of them stealing that map.”

“So that’s why our service has been so bad today.”

“If we were departing at Fleming, it would make little matter. However, since we’re going on, I will discuss it with the Captain and try to find a compromise.”

Kelby made her way to the top of the stairs. “Am I intruding?”

Anna said, “No, please come up.”

Gray stood and offered his chair. “The air up here will do you good. I know it makes me feel better. I’m going to go to my cabin and study the charts, anyway.”

“Are you trying to avoid me?” Kelby asked, her voice sounding hurt.

Gray winced. She had managed to ferret out his intention in a matter of only a few words. The fact was, he didn’t want to make a mistake and fall in love with a normal. It had happened to others of the Dragon Clan but was discouraged. Clearly, he should keep his distance. “No, of course not. We’ll spend time together at midday.”

He glanced at Anna for support. She hid behind a vacant smile, but her eyes twinkled. Gray left the deck as if evacuating it during a storm.

In his cabin, he paused at the door, as he did every time after the theft. His eyes roamed, searching for the smallest detail that had shifted. Under the open windows, he’d placed blankets, each spread on the floor with a corner of each turned. Any foot would shift them. At the barrels of tubes with the charts, he had placed them in a fan. If any was moved, or removed, he could notice instantly. Since he entered and left by the connecting door, he tossed a towel to the bottom of the door leading to the passageway. If any sailor entered, the door would swing inward and slide the towel to the wall.

After satisfying himself nobody had entered the cabin while he was gone, he strode to the desk and removed another chart from the bin and unrolled it. The chart contained the Marlstone Islands, detailed sketches of the main city on the largest island, and even smaller sketches for towns and villages, each street carefully drawn. A few buildings were drawn and labeled. As expected, the ports, moorages, and depths of the water were detailed, along with any obstructions.

Gray’s eyes took all that in as he anchored the chart with the weights. He moved his attention to the streets of the city labeled Marlstone Town. Beside the streets were three piers extending into a protected bay, indicating a major shipping destination, however, why? The islands appeared small. If cargo ships went there, they must load and offload significant amounts of cargo to be profitable. What could the islands require or provide to justify that amount of ships?

His eyes drifted to the lower left edge of the chart. A row of symbols was drawn there. He identified sheep, goats, pigs, and a drop of water. A carrot and perhaps an egg were there, but others were unknown, although the drawings for things may have changed since the chart was made. They could also be symbols from another language or land, but at a guess, they were supplies available in the islands. The drop of water indicated drinking water.

In the lower right corner was another strange symbol. It looked like the crown that identified King Ember and all his fathers before him, a familiar sight on official documents. But the crown was different. Instead of the three points of the triad raised above the rim of the gold crown, there were five. A mistake?

No, the map was too well drawn for such a mistake. It indicated another royal line. The idea of another royal line was a new subject. He had only heard of one. If true, the image indicated not only another royal line, but one that used a similar identification. It could not be a coincidence.

The two kingdoms know of each other. First the others with their green dragons, and now a possible kingdom related to King Ember. What did it mean? Were they somehow meaningful and connected? Was Breslau the kingdom of five points? His first reaction was to think so.

It could be, but it could just as easily be a kingdom to the north or south. He memorized the image of the odd, five-pointed crown and rolled the scroll and reached for another. As the sun set, he had studied five more, none of which revealed any startling information. However, it was astounding how much information each contained.

The last had shown the bay around Fleming. He pulled out an earlier chart that also showed most of the same area. One of the underwater obstructions was placed closer to the shore. Another was missing.

That revealed why the Captain purchased so many charts. Which was correct? A good chart would be worth an entire ship if it was accurate.

Kelby came to his side. “Are you eating with us or still avoiding me.”

“I’m hungry,” he said, avoiding the second part of the question. “Let’s eat.”

Anna was already sitting at the foot of a bed, a bowl of fish stew balanced on her lap. She winked at him, but he had no idea of what it meant. She said, “How is your studying going?”

Kelby answered first, “Just like my father. He spends more time looking at a map or chart than it takes to read an entire book.”

Gray had the desire to defend himself. “A chart holds more information than a book if you spend the time to study it.”

“If that makes you smarter, then you must be very intelligent,” Kelby said, her voice sharp and pointed.

Anna covered her grin with the back of her hand. Then she averted her eyes and concentrated on her stew.

Gray reached for bread and filled his mouth, all the while trying to avoid looking at either of them. He said, “Are we still going to dock tomorrow?”

Kelby said, “I’d think a smart man like you would know.”

Turning to her, he said, “I was thinking of asking you to sit up on the top deck with me and watch the sunset.”

“I’d love to.” Her eyes suddenly softer.

He carried bread and cheese, along with a tankard of watered wine up to the deck. Kelby took the only chair while Gray leaned on the railing. The wind was soft, the air crisp, and the ship moved as if across a painted ocean. She spoke of her future. He expressed his feelings and desire to travel. They talked until late into the night, and into the early morning.

Gray managed to drag himself out of bed early and opened more charts, finding a few to be similar to others he’d already studied. He unrolled one in the late morning and noticed the land displayed was on the right side of the chart. His instinct was to turn it upside down. But the writing was right side up. There was a large semi-circle of a bay.

One word leaped to mind. Breslau. He looked to the top for a title. It said The Shoreline of the Eastern Ocean. He let his eyes roam the chart and found depths of water inked in, but no city names or natural features of the land. The large river snaked to the sea near the bottom, and again depths were provided, but no names.

Anna stuck her head inside the door. “We dock before evening. I suggest you be on deck with your girlfriend for it or get a new girl.”

Before he could thank her, she was gone. He rolled the chart and placed a small ink mark on the outside so he could quickly locate it again. Then he unrolled every remaining map and chart. If it contained something he wanted to know more about, he marked it. There were no more of Breslau.

There was one map of the drylands in far too much detail to be comfortable. It even showed the double-blind canyon where Oasis Lake was now located. It was an older map. All but the lake was shown, including the large stream that fed it. People trying to cross the drylands with a similar map would walk right into Oasis searching for water.

Before he panicked, he calmed. Over the years, there were probably hundreds of similar maps made. The watchers would keep people away. He went to the cabin the girls used and found it empty. He went to the top deck and joined them. The coastline was now coming into view.

They watched the town of Fleming grow from the rocky shores. When the docks were in view, Kelby spotted her father and Bear standing side by side, waiting. They must be greeting all the ships arriving in port. She waved and called. When the gangway was in place, she was the first off the ship and into the arms of her father.

Gray introduced Anna, and all five of them strolled up the hillside to the Red Bear Inn. Kelby told her story, and of her rescue by Gray, almost excluding any help by Anna. She explained that it took, at least, three days before she felt herself, and how the entire town of Shrewsbury was under the influence of a drug. But there were people who remained normal. Then she explained the construction of the buildings and the repairs to the docks.

Bear said, motioning to Kelby’s father, “We also have news. King Ember has made several veiled comments about ending the Dragon Clan threat and expanding the kingdom. He is also secretly massing an army to the south of the kingdom as if he might invade Kamer, but that is a diversion, we think. The troops will be closer to Shrewsbury than we like.”

Gray caught on. “You’re thinking that instead of an army from Breslau invading us at Shrewsbury, King Ember is planning on sending his troops over there.”

“Actually, we believe that is what he wants us to think,” Shailer said, stroking his white beard as he smiled at his daughter. “In my research, I have found that I trust little of what the king says or does. He is a fool. Remember his failed attempt to attack and defeat the Northlands only a year ago?”

“Fleet was there,” Gray said.

“Would you consider that a plan made by a master tactician?” Shailer asked.

“No. It all hinged on secrecy, although it might have succeeded if Raymer had not used his dragon to attack the army.”

Bear said, “I will agree that the initial attack might have taken Castle Warrington, but the Earl would have rallied his men in other parts of the kingdom and counter-attacked. King Ember would have eventually lost because he had no supply lines. His army would have starved in a month.”

Gray listened carefully. Bear sounded as if he studied the engagement enough to know what he was talking about. A serving girl placed mugs in front of each of them. Bear asked her to deliver bread, butter and preserves to the table. The dining room was nearly empty, and he suggested that she seat any patrons at the far end. Being the owner had its privileges.

“How does that relate to Shrewsbury?” Gray asked when she departed.

“Our king is a fool when it comes to war. He is overconfident and believes himself a military genius. Let me tell you what Shailer and I believe is happening and we desire your input.”

Gray nodded for him to continue.

“We think that our greedy king was approached by another. A deal is struck for King Ember to send troops south near Kamer. He will have them in position to send the troops to Shrewsbury to sail across the Endless Sea to Breslau and help their king defeat his enemies. First, they have to repair the docks and then they constructed lodging for King Ember’s troops before they sail. In return, the other king will support Ember.”

“That sounds exactly like what’s happening.”

Shailer said, “But what if it’s not?”

Bear continued, “Suppose the other king double-crosses him and lands his ships filled with troops in Shrewsbury, instead of the other way around. Shrewsbury is where all the supplies are waiting for Ember’s soldiers. All of Ember’s troops are then massed far to the south where they cannot protect his royal city of Princeton. The other army is between the castle and Ember’s troops. They have a good road to march north.”

“The war is over before a single arrow flies,” Shailer said. “They capture the castle at Princeton along with King Ember.”

Gray almost added a comment about the others, and the green dragons but bit it off. His eyes went to Anna. She hadn’t missed a word. Her bowl of meat stew sat full, untouched.

Gray said, “We would have a new ruler from across the Endless Sea.”

Bear nodded and gave a sideways glance at Shailer as if asking permission to continue. “We all know how bad a ruler, King Ember is. We have no idea of how much worse a foreign king might be. He’d care little for us, but expect taxes to fill his treasury and repay the costs of the war. At least, that’s the way it has always happened for a thousand years.”

Shailer said, “They might even bring their green dragons to enforce their rule. The owners of the green dragons may be working with, or for, the other king. They may be jealous of any who have similar powers over dragons.” He kept his eyes on the pipe he couldn’t seem to keep lit, his voice soft but powerful in what he had to say.

A quiet filled the room until Bear added, “I care little for our king. However, I’m afraid we’re soon to have another, one harsher, who will be quick to punish. From the little we know of his methods. We can infer that he’ll rule with an iron hand, giving preference to his home kingdom.”

Gray understood Shailer’s explanation had directly threatened him and the entire Dragon Clan. Or maybe that was not precise. He had perhaps intentionally warned the Dragon Clan instead of threatening it. One way or the other, the invaders had to be prevented from defeating King Ember.

The irony was not missed by Gray. The Dragon Clan would have to fight on the side of the hated king who had lost his father to a dragon, the same king who had made it a lifelong goal to kill all the Dragon Clan. Gray said, “This plan sounds like a story a father tells a son to illustrate a lesson instead of the truth.”

Bear leaned across the table and fixed Gray’s eyes with his own. “The real question is what do you believe?”