Dragon Clan #5: Tanner's Story

CHAPTER NINE

The three of them walked the streets. People jostled them, others moved out of their way, and more than a few cast hateful looks in Devlin’s direction. Otherwise, few paid them any attention. The city was used to travelers and strangers. Although smaller than Fleming by half, the port city flourished with buyers, sellers, sailors, travelers, and those who profited by them.

Carrion led them unerringly to the market square. He paused near a vendor selling meat pies and purchased three while asking where they might find clothing. The pie seller gave confusing instructions, but before the pies were eaten, they stood before a short, round woman with pink cheeks matching her overall appearance.

“I want to buy this boy. A shirt, pants, stockings, and boots,” Carrion said.

“He surely needs all that. And a bath.” She said, twitching her nose, but not moving to help display her goods.

Carrion pulled a large silver coin, flipped it in the air with his thumb and snatched it back just as the woman reached out. He curled a lip and said, “It appears to me that you have nothing we’re interested in.”

They left to the sound of her curses. Further, down the aisle, they found another woman selling clothing. Tall and thin, she greeted all three with a smile when they paused in front of her stall. The clothing displayed was used, colorful, and in good repair. She said, “Do you see anything you like?”

Carrion stepped forward and said, “Yes, there is. I like your smile, and it’ll earn you a proper fee, I’m thinking.”

“I’m married, but always appreciate a compliment, good sir.”

“I simply meant that we have not been treated so well since we arrived this morning. We’ll do business with people that are friendly. Have you anything to fit my new friend, Devlin? The odd-looking young man with us?”

“Not so odd looking if he wore clothing fit for a man instead of a child. I think he might be a handsome young man with proper pants and shirt. Each will cost two small coppers, but he can have his pick of colors. I’ll hem or mend anything needed for no charge.”

Tanner said, “Boots, too. I don’t see any.”

“Can’t sell you them, but when we get your friend dressed properly, I’ll take you to an honest man who will sell them. His stall is just a few steps away. I do have stockings if you wish.” She nodded to a table with stockings of every color and size.

“Get over here so she can judge your size, Devlin,” Carrion said, pointing to a green shirt.

“Too small,” she said.” Then she turned to Devlin. “Show me a shirt you like.”

He pointed to a blue one.

“Too small, again, but how about this one?” She held up another blue shirt, almost the same color, one with long sleeves. It had, at least, two tears that had been expertly mended.

He nodded.

She glanced at his waist and legs and selected a pair of pants that had so little wear there were no patches. “Go behind that curtain and change. Be quick about it.”

Devlin looked at Carrion for confirmation, then moved to the curtain. He emerged a different person. The filthy clothing in his hand had been charcoal, but that had not been the original colors. They were intended for someone a head shorter. Now he would fit in on any street they'd been on, drawing no negative attention, except for the bare feet.

Carrion nodded in approval. He turned back to the woman. “Now that you know his size, can you select another shirt and pants, and we need six pairs of stockings if you don’t mind. The colors won’t matter.”

“Mind? That’s what I do here,” she laughed as she held up another shirt and waited for Devlin to smirk his approval. She wrapped the entire contents in a rag and tied it. Then she walked with them to a cobbler’s stall and introduced them.

In no time, Devlin wore his first pair of stockings and from another friendly vendor, boots that were hardly worn. The smile he wore convinced more than one he was daft as they wove their way in and out more of the sellers, buyers, lookers, and thieves. Twice people had tried for Carrion’s purse.

When they reached a leather smith's stall Carrion placed his purse on the counter. The old man with a hammer and scissors on hand said, “Replace the thongs or sell you something that won’t be taken.”

“Tell me about the second choice,” Carrion said.

The man reached to a shelf under the counter and placed a flat envelope of soft leather in front of Carrion to examine. There were leather strips, but also a hole in the leather, the edges stitched with heavy cord. A large brass button lay on top.

He said, “You tie it to your pants like most, but when a cutpurse snips the cords and expects to grab and run, the button sewn on the inside of your pants fouls his play. Same with pickpockets. They can’t get it free.”

“We’ll take three. Six buttons. Needle and thread, too, if you please.”

“Cost you eight smalls in total,” his voice said he was willing to barter.

“Nine, or no deal,” Carrion said, his voice sounding final. It took a moment for the leather smith to realize he’d been offered more than he asked. He offered to sew the buttons, but Carrion refused.

Tanner said, “You can point us to a good inn. A place with solid food, clean beds, and a place where the captains of ships tend to gather.”

“That’ll be the Anchor Inn,” he pointed. “Right down that street there. Ask anybody or look for the blue anchor over the door. If you insist on paying me nine, I’ve been watching your skinny friend hiking up his pants since you’ve been here. I have a belt that’ll fit him. Too small for most and it has been hanging here in my stall taking up space for a summer or two. No charge.”

They headed in the direction the Leatherman told them, pausing only long enough to buy three bananas, a fruit none had ever eaten, but people near the stall seemed to enjoy them. The vendor told them the strange fruits had arrived on ships from a far-off land. After struggling with the removing the peelings, they found the fruit sweet, but too soft to be enjoyable.

The sign with the blue anchor leaped out at them from the side of a building. The front door sat on one side of a building made of tan stone while the rest of the wall facing the street was a row of small windows, most of them propped open for circulation.

Tanner and Carrion headed for the door. Devlin said meekly, “I’ll wait for you here.”

They both turned. Tanner said, “What are you saying?”

“I’m not welcome in there.”

“Your arms are covered, your face is reasonably clean, your clothing is like others. What’s the problem?”

“The owner chased me with a stick from behind here for looking for something to eat in what they tossed out.”

Carrion stepped closer to Devlin. “Listen, I’m going to teach you how to act. Hold your chin up. No, a little higher. That’s right. Now, look me in the eye. Do not look away until I do. Hold your shoulders back just a bit. There.”

Tanner stepped up, “Devlin. Now look at me. No, remember the three things Carrion said for you to do. Okay, act like we’re meeting for the first time.”

It took several tries until Carrion was satisfied with Devlin’s stance, but when he was, they entered the inn. Maritime memorabilia lined the walls. Rigged ships, paintings of other ships and faraway places, and even a section with ropes tied in fancy knots told they catered to sailors. The clienteles were older, many wore uniforms with gold piping, and the atmosphere was constrained.

A dozen men sat at tables in small groups, most positioned where they could keep an eye on the street outside, as well as any who entered. There was a man at a small counter beside a door. Carrion approached him before sitting on a stool in front of him. “We need a clean room with three beds.”

“Our rooms are either private or four to a room. No exceptions.” The voice was neither friendly or cold, just impersonal.

“I meant to say that while there are three of us here, the fourth will join us later. Of course, I’ll pay for him now, and he can reimburse me.”

“Put your names on this register and pay me first. Three coppers for the room and food per day, as much as you can eat all day long or until we run out. You pay the girls for your drinks. No rough stuff or pinching the girl’s bottoms, or you’re out on the street.”

“I’ll pay for two nights, now. But I may need to stay longer and expect the room to be there for us if we need it.”

“Of course. The second room through this door and up the stairs.”

Tanner noticed Devlin trying to maintain the haughty expression, but he still looked like a scared kitten. When the clerk’s eyes flashed by him without pause, Devlin’s cheeks instantly turned pink. Once in the room, each claimed a bed by placing their belongings on it.

Tanner asked, “What now?”

“Without a coin in this town, we’d be treated as poorly as our friend, Devlin. I want each of you to sew one of the brass buttons on the inside of your pants, and I will too.”

“Why should I?” Devlin asked, not protesting, but not understanding the instructions.

“To carry your coin. A man with a purse and a few coins can go anywhere. You only have to draw out your purse and jangle it to gain respect. Such is the world we live in.” Carrion talked as he turned the waistband of his pants out and threaded the needle. He soon had one of the new coin purses inside his waist, buttoned at the top and the thongs tied through a hole. He practiced flipping it outside and drawing coins. He slipped it back inside and nodded, satisfied.

Tanner was next, and then Devlin. Carrion handed Devlin several coins, all copper, but enough to make a decent noise if he shook it. With his back turned to Devlin, he passed several coppers, silver, large and small, and two gold to Tanner. Tanner looked at him questioningly.

“In case, I am robbed. Never keep all your coin in one place.”

Tanner agreed. He placed the flat pouch inside his waistband after buttoning it, and the purse all but disappeared. He said, “Now what?”

Carrion said, “That meat pie filled me. Why don’t we go down to the docks? Look at boats. Maybe talk to a few people.”

“Then what?” Tanner asked.

“Dinner here. A late night of sipping ale and listening to loose talk. Never know what you might hear. Devlin, can you lead the way to the docks?”

“Which ones? Where the ships are, or the fishing boats?”

Carrion said, “Why not take us to both? I can use the walk. Besides, I’d like to see the city.”

They left the inn and strolled away from the central marketplace down to the waterfront. The inns nearer the waterfront were louder even during the day. Women often stood beside the doorways enticing sailors to come inside and enjoy themselves. Tanner thought more than one looked right at him when they made their pitches.

A fight with one stumbled into the street. Whistles blew, and constables arrested five sailors. The stores were shabby, the merchandise more so. Strong drink and the presence of pretty women seemed more important than quality dry goods, food, or hardware. Curved knives favored for slicing rope were for sale everywhere, as were waterproof cloaks and droopy hats to shed water.

But there were ships. At each stood an officer, usually at some sort of make-shift desk. He answered questions and quoted prices. Carrion did the talking. He asked general questions, but always managed to find out the ports of call. Only two of the six ever traveled to the Marlstone Islands, and one of them had recently dropped porting there for a city far down the coast named Rockwall, a dreary sounding place by all description.

Carrion asked why the ship no longer sailed to the Marlstones.

“People there are unfriendly. Like they don’t want our business. Twice we had crewmen disappear, one right after asking questions about the lands to the east. The locals became upset and threatened to beat one for discussing forbidden subjects. The Captain refused any of the crew to go ashore after that.”

“It sounds like a place for me to stay away from because I’m always curious and ask questions. Where else would you suggest a man go where he can discuss buying from one land and selling in another? For profit, of course.”

While he talked, Devlin and Tanner stood back, as if respectful of a wealthy master. While Devlin watched for pickpockets or thieves, Tanner watched for danger or odd reactions to Carrion’s questions that could present problems. He saw nothing to alarm him so far.

They were working as a team, Tanner realized. Devlin said little, but already his contribution was massive, if you considered what would have happened if he had not stopped the thief in the marketplace from stealing the entire purse Carrion wore. Now his natural instincts and life experiences were protecting them.

What are we going to do with him in the future? Tanner shrugged the thought away, not wanting to think of it, and not able to help himself. Their plan was to sail to the islands. Perhaps farther.

He stole a glance at Devlin and tried to see him as others did. With the shorter hair, and cleaner appearance, and his new clothing, the boy looked almost respectable. There was still more work needed for him to pass as middle class. He’d talk to Carrion about a real haircut, a trimming of the scraggly beard, and the dip in the river had only removed surface dirt. He needed soap, hot water, and time. Now that he thought of it, so did he.

Carrion had spoken to the officers of all five sailing ships. He pointed to the fishing fleet. “Let’s go down there.”

They walked along a narrow road, but even as they neared the boats, the boats looked no bigger. A ship is for crossing a sea. A boat is for a few days in calm weather and returning to port. Besides, as they walked nearer, the stink of dead fish increased. There were five piers, each with smaller docks jutting from them.

Most had boats tied up to them. There were people either unloading them or working on them. Lines needed replacement, nets repaired, scraping and painting. Everybody was busy. Carrion again took the lead. He spoke to several, asking general questions and hinting that they might be interested in passage to the Marlstone Islands.

“Nasty place,” One fisherman said, as he repaired a net hanging beside a boat. “But pretty.”

“It’s the people that are nasty?” Carrion asked.

“Yep. Didn’t always be that way. A while back, a man could have a good time in Marlstone City.”

“What happened?”

“New people started moving in. Took over the businesses and made sailors unwelcome. Wouldn’t let them eat in restaurants. Closed most of them, anyhow. Only one Inn over there now, and you don’t dare say anything in it because the serving women are spies. Least that’s what they say. I haven’t been there in a few years.”

“It takes one of those big ships to get there?”

“Nope. There’s good fishing east of the Marlstones. A lot of this fleet used to go there for the big hauls, especially in the spring.”

Tanner looked out over the fleet, inspecting the boats, and noticed Carrion was doing the same. But it was Devlin who spoke. “These little boats can go all that way?”

The fisherman chuckled, but his hands never slowed with his net repairs. “Some prefer to take these. Fewer restrictions. Better yet, are the little frigates you used to see carrying mail and light cargo up and down the coast. Used to be quite a few of them crisscrossing the Endless Sea. They’re slim and fast, but carry next to nothing in the way of cargo.”

Carrion asked, “Why would they name it the Endless Sea if there’s another side to it?”

“That’s because once you’re out there in the middle of it, no matter the size boat, it looks and feels endless until you see land.”

“If those frigates don’t cross the sea anymore, what do they do?”

“Most got beached years ago when the need to carry a few people back and forth ended. Some still struggle to make ends meet, but the truth is they’re not much use for anything. Can’t carry enough fish or cargo to make it worthwhile. The only people who want them have a need to go fast. Smugglers and the like.”

“I see,” Carrion said. “I guess if nobody wants them, they beach the ships or sell them cheap. I’ve never seen ships like that.”

“If you look around here you’re in the wrong place. Up where the sailing ships dock, beyond them. Smaller docks there. Old ones almost falling down. You’ll see how worthless they are if you go up that way.”

A few more minutes of idle chat and Carrion motioned with a wink that it was time to go. They walked away from the fishing fleet and back to the cargo ships, and beyond. At the rickety piers were three smaller ships, narrow, and with masts looking too tall. An open deck covered most of the main deck, but a small door led to a deck below. Small round windows went from the bow to the stern, many of them open to the sea air.

Instead of approaching, Carrion steered the three of them close enough to read the names on the bows, but no closer. The Rose, the Edna, and the Far Seeker. He said the names out loud and looked at Tanner and Devlin. “This is what we’re going to do. None of us is going to show interest in any of those three ships, but I want to know everything about them. Especially the Far Seeker.”

Tanner raised an eyebrow.

“Look at her. Sails hardly patched, new paint on the hull, and the ropes on the rigging looks new. The other two are ready to be beached.”

He was right. Two of them looked unseaworthy, especially the Edna. But with gold one of the two might be refitted. The price of either of those ships was probably cut-rate. He tried to look beyond the obvious rot, worn equipment, and poor maintenance. He would not wish to sail on either.

Carrion said, “We’ll sit in the inn and listen to others talk. You and Devlin might stroll down by the pubs near those ships and listen, but never ask a question or show interest. We’ll spend a day or two and see what we come up with.”

Devlin said, “I know a few people. I can ask.”

“Which is like standing on a rooftop and shouting our business. No, we do it my way, but I appreciate your offer. If this doesn’t work out, we might try your friends.”

Tanner said, “Let me get this straight for Devlin and me so we understand your orders. You’re asking us to sit and appear to enjoy ourselves while serving wenches bring us food and ale?”

“Essentially. But that’s the gist.”

Looking at Devlin, Tanner said, “This is going to be hard for us.”

They were still laughing as they entered the dining room at the inn.