Dragon Clan #4: Gray's Story

CHAPTER SIX

Gray didn’t know how to react to Caldor and Prater speaking together on the dock. He was certain that it was Caldor from the description he was to seek out, and there could be no mistake about Prater.

Prater had pretended to befriend him on the road while asking too many questions. Caldor was not trusted by Tessa but might provide valuable information. Gray half-turned his head away as they strode in his general direction. The mugs of wine arrived in time for him to lift his mug to help hide his face.

Bear scooted his chair part of the way around the table, placing his body between the two men and Gray. “You might consider wearing a hat to conceal that wild hair. It’ll let you hide behind the brim.”

“What?”

“Son, I’ve been around the bush a time or two. I like you, or I’d mention you to Caldor and let him do with you as he wishes. He eats at my inn a few times every ten days, you know. Actually, I think you do know. We, you and me, will have ourselves a little private talk later.”

Gray sank into his chair. He refused to meet Bear’s eyes.

“Oh come on, drink up and watch the show. Do you think they’re unloading that ship in front of us for any other reason?”

Bear’s twisting of the facts drew a smile from Gray. He watched a crate being lowered onto a cart, but the mule pulling the cart only saw the large thing coming in its direction. It heed and hawed, trying to escape the menace by twisting and bucking. A lone tender tried to calm the beast, drawing laughs and guffaws from the watching crowd.

Bear laughed with the others and then asked, “I don’t suppose you know that other man with Caldor?”

“You’ve met?”

“This morning. On the road.”

“You approached him?”

“The other way around.”

“I thought that might be the case. They’ve gone on up the hill, so you’re free to look around again. Unless you have something else to do, I’d like to speak to you in private.”

“There is one thing I wanted to do if you don’t mind.”

“Maybe I can help. What is it that’s so important?” Bear asked.

Gray had decided that if he didn’t trust Bear, it didn’t matter. Bear already intuitively knew far more than he should but running an inn gave him insights that others might not have. He might also help Gray in ways others couldn’t.

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?”