Dragon Clan #7: Shell’s Story

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Camilla said, “Are you even listening to me?”

“No, I’m watching that man from the inn. No, don’t turn around. He’s trying to hide behind the corner of a building, but it’s him.”

“Why would he follow us?”

Shell said, “To rob us?” He shrugged, “Or he suspects who we are? Or he wants something from us. Since we don’t need anything from him, I can’t see how he can help us.”

A boy with an apron that had been white at one time appeared at their table. “Two red wines and water, please,” Camilla said. Then when the boy departed she said, “You and I can sip wine, sit in the shade, and see how long our follower stays there. After our wine is finished, I think we should move down the street to another outdoor café and see if he follows.”

“If he does?”

“We may have to talk with him. I’m sure one of these strong, brave men unloading ships will have a husky friend, and between them, they can encourage that man to talk to us on our own terms. It may cost a copper or two, but I think it may be money well spent.” Her tone was conversational, without emotion or stress.

The ease of her statement pulled Shell back to reality. He peered at the expression on her face to find if she was joking and decided she was not. The ruthlessness of her idea surprised him, but then another question came to mind. How was it that she was so willing to do what was necessary to succeed in a conflict and he was not? Hadn’t he come all this way to fight a war? But she was much more adept at it.

The wine arrived, and they watched the activity on the piers, pointing out interesting aspects neither had ever seen. Shell continued to keep an eye on the man watching them while pretending to look at Camilla. The man didn’t move, speak to anyone, or conceal his presence.

Shell had never seen the ocean and knew Camilla had on a previous trip. The ships were large enough to carry cargo and a number of crewmen, but when he looked at the vastness of the water in front of him and tried to imagine that same scene in all directions, his mental capabilities failed. He simply couldn’t imagine such a thing.

A tall, arrogant, man wearing an expensive hat and shirt paused, introduced himself and offered to guide them about profitable purchases if they were investors and could afford his considerable influence, payment in advance. Both laughed and Camilla made short work of the explanation that said they were merely waiting for their uncle. The man quickly moved on when he understood they had almost no money.

A small man in rough clothing stopped at their table and stood in almost the same spot as the first. He removed his hat politely and waited to be recognized. Shell faced him. “Yes?”

“I believe you are new to Fleming and I’d like to offer my assistance—for a small fee.”

“You know Fleming well?” Camilla asked.

“This has been my home for more years than I care to remember. I own a small house and have set aside enough to get by, but I enjoy meeting and helping visitors.”

“The last man wanted to earn a fee, too. We have almost no money.” Camilla said.

Shell kept quiet, learning from both the small man and Camilla. She had not sent him packing, and that interested Shell.

He said, “Of course, I would appreciate you handing me a gold coin or two for my services, but I offer my help and friendship. If you allow me to help you, when it is time to leave Fleming you may leave me a small token of your appreciation, that would be nice, but if you cannot afford a coin, perhaps we’ll become friends and on your next visit you’ll search for me when you are in better circumstances.”

Camilla smiled and said, “We were thinking of moving to another of the outside terraces to watch the ships. Can you suggest one with reasonable prices, good wine, and an interesting view?”

He nodded as he smiled. “You’ve already chosen one of the best, but my personal favorite is down the street where the smaller ships unload. The wine is cheaper, of better quality, and if you request, they bring small loaves of fresh bread and jams for no extra charge.”

Camilla caught Shell’s eye. “Perhaps we should try that place. Shell, would you keep a keen watch while we relocate?”

He understood she was telling him to watch the man from the inn, who still lingered at the edge of the alley. “I will.”

Camilla stood as tall as the little man and ignored his rough shirt and baggy trousers as she took his elbow as if they were old friends. “Please show us the way, and would you be kind enough to share a glass with us?”

Her words and actions were so smooth that Shell lost track of the danger she posed for an enemy. They strolled down the street looking at businesses catering to the ships, past sailors, carpenters, sailmakers, cooks, dancers, and longshoremen. A pleasant chatter surrounded them, as they passed several other places to sip refreshments, watch, and conduct business. Nearly all provided shade from trees; canvas strung across poles or wood roofs.

“I didn’t catch your name,” Camilla said.

The man was enjoying himself. “Ah, I have carried more than a few in my lifetime, each with a story. These days I’m called Red, called so because my skin is so pale it turns in the sun.”

“Well Red, I am Camilla, and this is my older brother, Shell.”

“If I knew your business, I might help,” Red said as he pointed to several tables and allowed Camilla to select one.

She spotted one near the railing where the view would be unobstructed by others at the tables. When the waiter arrived, she asked for three glasses of their best wine, and Red requested a plate of bread with jam. Shell wondered at his insistence on the bread, but let it slide as he found a seat and adjusted the chair while watching the man from the inn take up a new position.

A thought came to him. The man watching might attempt to draw information from Red after he left them. He said, “There’s a man behind Camilla who is watching us. When you have a chance, turn and look. He’d at the corner of the building with the blue sign over the door. Tell us if you know him.”

“Why is he watching you?” Red asked without turning to look.

“We’ve never seen him before,” Camilla said. “But maybe you’ll recognize him.”

Shell said, “If he’s up to no good, he might intercept you and ask about us. I wanted to warn you.”

When the waiter returned, Red scooted his chair over to give him room to place the wine and bread on the table, and as he did, he glanced up at the road to where Shell indicated the watcher stood. His eyes only rested an instant on the man, then he reached for his wine and sipped, his attention turned back to them. “I recognize him. He’s an odd one. Not exactly a criminal, but he watches newcomers. He’s waiting for something or someone, they say.”

“Has he done that for a long time?” Camilla asked.

“About two months, maybe a little more. He eats at the inns and watches all who come and go.” Red leaned over the table and spoke softly, “Some say he’s Dragon Clan.”

Shell refused to look at Camilla at the revelation for fear his face might give him away. He said, “I thought most hate the Dragon Clan.”

Red shook his head. “Not so much, anymore. I think people are more tolerant, if not appreciative for what they do. I think secretly that most people wish to be like them.”

“What does that mean?” Camilla asked.

“Not meaning to offend you, but I’m just saying that being able to talk to dragons, and ride on their backs while flying from place to place and calling them down to fight their enemies sounds very exciting.” Red reached for one of the loaves of bread and tore it in half before biting into the steaming center.

Camilla said, “What did you mean by, what they do?”

Red paused with his chewing and sipped his wine, his eyes fixed on her. “Don’t you have stories about them where you come from?”

“Some. Tell me yours, though,” she ordered tightly.

Red spoke slowly and softly, after glancing around to be sure they were alone and no others were sitting too close and listening. “Well, they used to burn and kill as they fought against the King, they say. Now they’re more apt to help you if you’re in trouble. Then there are the stories about an invasion of Princeton from across the Endless Sea, and some say the only thing holding it off is the Dragon Clan. Now, I don’t know what, if any of this is true.”

Shell said, “I think what you said is probably true, as least from what we hear.”

Camilla settled back and relaxed. Her eyes flicked to the street. “Why do people think he’s Dragon Clan? He looks no different from us.”

Shell withheld a smile that threatened to form. He didn’t know if she intended the ‘no different from us’ comment as a joke or an accidental statement.

Red shrugged. “Can’t say. Never met him, myself. Just repeating what others say.”

“This invasion,” Shell said, “what can you tell me about it?”

“There’s a small port down south of here called Shrewsbury. They say it was supposed to take place there, last summer, or the summer before. The invaders had weapons, tents, armor, and everything else stored there, including a whole town where they got rid of the locals and were going to use as a base.”

“Red, who are ‘they’?” Shell asked.

Red jabbed his thumb at the ships and beyond. “Over there.”

Rather than being too inquisitive on the subject and raise the interest of their new friend, Shell said, “We’re staying at a house that rents rooms. Is that a good choice?”

“Blue door, up one street? Bossy woman doing the rental?”

“That’s it,” Shell confirmed.

“Better than most. She’s honest and keeps a clean house. No husband, a sailor lost in a storm, but she gets by.”

Camilla said, “Red, what do you know about ships? Our uncle is arriving on one, and I’m curious.”

“These ships here are for cargo. Funny thing about them, there used to be a lot more, and they sailed to places across the sea, but no more.”

She held her wine glass to her lips, but instead of drinking; she said, “Ever hear of a place named Breslau?”

Red’s expression changed to the same sort as if someone had stepped on his toes. It became twisted and painful. He glanced back and forth at them, then slowly pushed his chair back and stood. Without hurrying or saying goodbye, he turned and strode away.

Shell watched him disappear into the crowd, and said, “Well, that was surely unexpected.”

Camilla said, “I’m sorry.”

“You couldn’t have known,” Shell said, his eye still searching for Red. Then they fell onto the watcher, who pretended to look elsewhere. “I guess if we want to get rid of anyone bothering us, we just need to mention Breslau.”

“Can you sense Pudding?”

“He’s roaming the countryside, searching for a meal.”

Camilla said, “That must be a wonderful gift.”

“Or a curse, I’m not sure which it is. I have not felt the sting of a dragon since we entered Fleming. What about you?”

She shook her head. Then said, “I just cannot see why Red reacted that way.”

“He talked all about it until you mentioned that one word.”

Camilla’s eyes had tears at the corners, but an edge of determination controlled her voice. “Maybe I was not supposed to use that name if we were as innocent as we pretended. He knew from that we were not what we believed, and that scared him. I thought this would be easier. I came here to help our families, and I also think because my ego said I could do what others cannot. But the reality is that this is much harder than expected.”

While Shell felt much the same, he shook his head and forced a smile. “You know what? We only arrived this morning. Let’s give it a few days.”

“I suppose you’re right. A lot has happened, but I hoped Red would tell us about the city, where to buy weapons, who to trust, and what to avoid. I messed that up.”

Shell said, “I’ve been thinking of something you mentioned. Those men, the dock workers loading and unloading the ships are strong. Look at the chests and arms on them.”

“I have been,” a slight smile slipped into place on her lips.

“They lift and carry all day,” he ignored her smile. “If we find two of them, we can half-trust, they could deliver the watcher to us if we had a private location.”

Her smile increased. “Or, if I could get him alone for a few moments, I’ll bet I could get a look at his back and see if he has the Dragon Clan mark.”

“How would you do that. . . Oh!” Shell felt his face redden with some embarrassment, but mostly jealousy. He also feared for her safety.