Dragon Clan #5: Tanner's Story

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It took seven more days to reach the Marlstones, two of those days fighting through storms with seas higher than the railings. The ship took several waves over the bow. The water rushed across the decks sweeping it clean of anything not secured, but no men were lost.

Tanner couldn’t image what it must be like to have a storm strike when your ship has been burned, your sails are ashes, and most of the rigging went up in flames. How could Captain Brice keep his ship turned into the wind and waves to prevent striking broadside and rolling it over? If the Far Seeker survived burning, most would agree it should have sunk in the storm.

But he didn’t believe it did. Captain Brice would manage to survive, even if his ship did not. He was that kind of enemy. What Tanner did know is that the closer The Rose sailed to the port of Marlstone, the stronger the itch on his back grew. The red dragon had arrived ahead of them. He spent the morning after the attack in the tiny ship’s cabin guarding the door while watching Carrion in a trance with the dragon. Carrion said that it flew over two islands before settling on another.

Carrion had watched the approach through the eyes of the dragon. He wanted to make sure the island was uninhabited, and that there was ample prey for it to feed upon. He also wanted to make sure there were no green dragons waiting to attack and kill the red. If the red spotted one before Carrion, it would instantly attack.

But now they stood at the same spot where they spent a good portion of the trip, standing at the port rail where they enjoyed the brisk sea air, the warmth of the sun, and they were mostly out of the way of the crew.

Ahead lay the port of Marlstone, empty of other ships and appearing forsaken. The pier, warehouses, and lack of people made the scene almost like a lonely painting on canvas. Tanner said, “From a distance, the island is beautiful.”

Carrion said, “Nobody seems excited enough to welcome us.”

The pier stood empty and remained so as Captain Jamison navigated The Rose closer. When no small boats were dispatched to help her dock, he ordered his own to be lowered. A small line was fed to the to the rowboat. It rowed to the dock, and two sailors quickly climbed a rusty ladder and pulled the small rope that was attached to a larger one. In no time, The Rose was pulled to the side of the dock and tied without the help of a single islander.

The silence was eerie. Tanner sensed the awkwardness of the crew and their confusion. Fisher, the first mate, was sent off to locate the Harbor Master. Nobody else departed from the ship. Nobody seemed to want to.

Fisher returned with two men in tow. Their skins were darkened from the tropical sun, and they walked so slowly they appeared serene. Captain Jamison met them at the top of the gangplank and offered to shake hands. They refused.

Words were exchanged and then the two men calmly departed and walked back up the pier as if on an afternoon stroll. Captain Jamison headed their way. He said, “They don’t want us here. We can’t buy supplies or water.”

Tanner said, “Do we have enough to reach our destination?”

“I planned to gather them here, as well as refitting the ship for whatever we need.”

“Is there anything critical we need?”

The Captain shrugged. “We could use a few repair items for the ship, but the refit took care of nearly everything. But we do need water and food to continue. I’m sorry, I expected to buy all we needed here.”

Carrion said, “If the only things we need are water and food, maybe I can help.”

“Do you know these people?” The Captain asked.

“No, but if we examine your charts again, I may be able to help.”

Captain Jamison shot him a questioning look and then said, “Our other option is to sail back to Princeton, maybe Fleming, and load the ship with supplies.”

The response made Tanner wince. Word of their destruction of Fleming hadn’t reached them. Tanner didn’t want water or food from there. He felt convinced that one of them was drugged. He suspected what Carrion was offering. The red dragon. Carrion could see through the eyes of the dragon and locate fresh water and perhaps food.

Tanner said, “We would like to look at your chart of the islands, please. Then we’ll talk and decide what to do.”

Reluctantly, the Captain turned and took them to his cabin. He unrolled the chart and used weights at the corners to hold it down. Marlstone, the island, and port were located on a sheltered bay of the largest island. But there were over a dozen larger ones, two of them nearly as large.

The depth soundings showed both of the other islands had waters deep enough for The Rose, and both had rivers emptying into the ocean. A closer look revealed that one had a settlement. The other was listed as uninhabited.

Either might be better. If the residents of the first were cooperative, it was the better choice. If not, the uninhabited island would provide water. But they needed food. There were bound to be coconuts and other fruits, but a voyage across the ocean eating coconut three times a day didn’t sound enticing.

A third island off to the side of the island chain caught Tanner’s eye. Smaller by half, the notes beside it said that it had a friendly population. A small river wound through the town and beyond from inland. The last entry caught his attention. It said, “Inhabitants do not consider this island part of Marlstone.”

He stabbed a finger at it.

After reading the notes, Carrion gave him the nod.

Captain Jamison settled back and said, “Never heard of Bangor but from what I see it will take only a day to sail there. If it does not work out, we can decide what to do. It’s not like we’re in desperate need.”

Tanner said, “I’d like to go there.”

“If they consider themselves something other than Marlstone we stand a chance. It seems that Breslau has influence over this entire port. The government and every business are controlled by Breslau. I’d heard some of it, but nobody has ever mentioned it is like this.” Captain Jamison said. “Let me get my men busy.”

As Tanner watched Carrion communicating with the red dragon in their cabin, he heard the shouts and orders of the ship departing. He expected the ship to sail from the harbor and turn east. The change in the roll of the ship would alert him, but it didn’t come.

Carrion finally sat up and said, “The island next to Bangor is even smaller but has good water. We saw two goats, but no other large animals and few fruits, but maybe it’s worth a look. The eyes of a dragon look for food and danger. Anything else is lost.”

“We haven’t turned,” Tanner said.

“Probably still in sight of Marlstone. Why turn and give away our intentions and maybe foul the chances for the next ship? Which might be us as we return.”

The humid, hot air drove them back out to the deck. The island was almost lost to sight, as Carrion predicted, The Rose turned east and north. The wind was mild, the ship moved slowly and remained standing upright, nearly level. When Tanner was about to mention it, he spotted a dark mass of clouds forming.

An afternoon thunderstorm approached, and with it, the wind increased, then blew hard. The ship heeled over and sped across the water like a water bug being chased by a spider. The rain struck and came in sheets, driving them back inside to suffer the stifling wet heat. Both took naps.

Back on deck, the Captain came to Tanner. After pleasantries and a status of the ship in general, the Captain said, “With your approval, we’re sailing around the other islands at a distance they won’t see us. We’ll arrive near dawn, so it’s not going to slow us.”

“You’re angry.”

“The seas should be free. What Breslau is doing isn’t right. Now they’re controlling the only place to resupply. I’m sure other ships have given up.”

“There’s more to your anger,” Tanner prompted.

“I’m a sailor. I want to sail to strange places and see what they have to offer. Breslau is shrinking my world. I don’t like it.”

Tanner watched the smudge on the horizon that was Marlstone. He said, “I think I understand. When we get to Breslau are you certain The Rose can outrun any of their ships?”

“Any I’ve heard of, but they may have built some I don’t know. My worry is that while you two are ashore doing whatever you plan to do, two or more ships may blockade me.”

“Are there options?”

“Yes. We could put you in a dingy to row ashore while The Rose sails to deep water where nobody can see her.”

“How would you know to come get us?”

“That’s a problem I’ve yet to work out.”

They left it at that. The following morning the ship slowly sailed into the mouth of a bay and lowered most of her sails. The ship rotated enough for the bow to point at the mouth of the bay, ready to escape. The men stood by the sails.

Nobody attacked.

The island was lush. A single mountain rose before them, the slope falling down the side almost to the water. Only a thin strip of beach allowed people to build and farm. The green of the foliage was darker green than Tanner had ever seen, and the water bluer. Palms and bananas dominated the lower slopes.

A large rowboat with two men, each pulling a pair of oars put out from the village approached at a stately pace as if they couldn’t be bothered rowing any faster. As it neared, a man sitting in the bow wearing a colorful red shirt called out and asked for permission to board.

He climbed a ladder lowered over the side of the ship and climbed aboard with a smile and a tip of his straw hat. The others stayed in the rowboat. He was dark-skinned, tall, and thin. His teeth were the whitest Tanner had ever seen, and perhaps the biggest. He shook hands all around and welcomed them. In a few sentences, he offered to replenish their water and provide fruits, vegetables, salted meats, and fish.

He drove a hard bargain, speaking for the people of the entire island. They didn’t get many visitors and seldom had the opportunity to sell their goods for hard coin. The price was set high but not outrageous. Tanner would have paid far more, but the first rule of successful negotiations is to make the other party think they won. The ship dropped anchor where instructed and the man returned to his boat and rowed ashore to arrange the food.

Captain Jamison lowered two of his boats, and each carried empty water barrels. They rowed for the creek and up it far enough to fill the barrels with fresh water. In no time, five more boats rowed in their direction, one containing the spokesman, who again came aboard to inspect the supplies with the Captain.

A boom with a pulley swung out over the rowboats and sailors lifted loads of food, fresh, smoked, and dried. The Captain inspected it all and accepted it without exception. It was far superior to that normally found on ships.

The ship’s boats returned, and the barrels of water were hoisted aboard. Then they went back for more water. The Captain had told the men to empty any barrels that could hold water because where they were headed had little.

Tanner watched as cases of dried, salted fish were brought aboard. Smoked meats that were goats, pigs, and sheep were stored. Other wicker containers held figs, raisins, almonds, and more. A few new to him. Then there were fresh and dried beans, peas, and yams.

It seemed to Tanner that they took on far more than they required. All had been brought aboard, but more small boats laden with food were heading their way. The Captain noticed Tanner’s concern and whispered, “If you’ve ever been on a ship that’s run out of stores you’d understand.”

Tanner didn’t resent the quantity, nor did he resist the rising price. He simply hadn’t ever calculated how much food eighteen men eat in thirty, or more days. But the water barrels also kept arriving. He raised an eyebrow to the Captain over them.

“Walk with me,” the Captain said, as he moved their conversation away from other ears. “Breslau is dry. A desert on a coast with mountains barely a day’s walk inland. To my knowledge, there is only two rivers, that large one south of the Bay and a small one at Breslau City. I have no idea where we might collect more water, so I’ve ordered every barrel we can spare to be filled.”

“I wasn’t questioning your decision.”

Captain Jamison placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder. “I know that, or you’d be swimming by now.”

Tanner laughed.

Captain Jamison didn’t.