Perhaps it was a festival or holiday.
Eel Port possessed a large harbor. Much like Bliss, the walls extended into the water on either side. A long series of nets hung from a chain strung between piers. Only a single gap allowed entrance to the harbor, wide enough for one boat at a time.
Seeing the town filled Spicy with a new dread. But Rime and the other goblin children were inside somewhere, so that was where he had to go.
The dragon continued his labored breathing, but he showed no signs of stirring. Spicy didn’t dare get close. So much blood stained the deck.
The boat bumped into a rotted pier that looked like a branchless tree trunk. A large cluster of stinking weeds grew around it. Spicy pulled up the bow rope and did his best to tie the boat off. Other debris floated nearby, but nothing as large as the boat. The seaweed served as a makeshift blanket of camouflage but wouldn’t help much if any humans sailed past.
Hog pulled herself up. She ejected water from her mouth several times and looked about warily. “Fire gone?”
“Yes, Hog, it’s gone. No more fire. We’re okay.”
But before Spicy could say anything else, she slipped back under the waves. Her ripples headed towards the harbor.
“Fath?” Spicy hissed. “I need to leave. I’m going ashore into town. I don’t know where Hog went. Keep an eye out, but you should be safe here. The boat looks like just another piece of trash out on the water.”
Fath didn’t reply. Spicy went to the side of the boat. The closest harbor net was only a few yards away. But there was no telling how deep the water was. He felt his courage crumble. Perhaps if he could get closer to the nets, he might climb along to where he could clamber up a dock.
There were noises as the town woke up. A lone man was visible out on the dock working at his boat. A pair of guards were now patrolling. As morning brightened the waterfront, he saw others: women, children, men, dogs. Sneaking in wouldn’t even be possible. He felt selfish relief. He got back into the boat and sat huddled with his knees drawn up to his chest.
“We came all this way so you could cower?” Fath said. The dragon remained coiled at the stern, his one eye watching.
“It’s light out. Someone will see me.”
“You promised a map. Whatever your own agenda, you gave your word.”
“I can’t. I’ll sink into the water.”
“Then walk along the sea floor until you make land. If you don’t leave this boat, I’ll cast you into the waves myself.”
Spicy got up. “Okay. I’m going. Just give me a chance.”
“This disaster has all been because of my giving you a chance. This is your last one. Find the map. Or I’ll find you no matter where you hide.”
Spicy nodded. He turned to jump in time to see a rowboat heading their way. On board were three men in leather armor. One man rowed. The other two had crossbows aimed and pointed in his direction.
He raised his hands. Behind him he heard a soft splash. Fath was gone. The rowboat was momentarily out of view as it cleared the gap between the harbor nets.
“Anyone else on board?” one of the soldiers shouted as they drew closer.
“No, sir. It’s just me.”
“And who are you?”
“I’m Spicy. I’m a humble slave of my master. He’s a book trader named Somni. He perished while crossing the water.”
“All right. Shut up.”
The rower pulled their boat over and it bumped into Spicy’s boat. Spicy winced, waiting for either troll or dragon to attack, but the water was still. The men grabbed him and hauled him onto the rowboat.
“Care to tell us why you’re dressed in a bathrobe?” the soldier asked.
Spicy looked down at the robe. It was filthy. “Can’t escape when wearing this, my master always said.”
This got a laugh out of the soldiers. A hand clamped down on him and forced him to sit. Their full attention was on him. Spicy was about to enter Eel Port, and he could only wonder where the dragon and troll were now.
Chapter Twenty-One
One soldier made a cursory search of Spicy’s boat before tying off its bow line to a ring on the stern of their rowboat. Then they towed it back into the harbor. They didn’t appear particularly concerned about Spicy.
Had they seen the troll? Surely not, for they wouldn’t have chanced even boarding the boat if that were the case.
One of the soldiers, who was wearing a large gold hoop earring, took the bolt from his crossbow and dry fired it before slinging the weapon around his shoulder. “So who’s your master again, gob? Or more accurately, who was your master?”
“Book trader named Somni. He was old.”
“Was he now? Never heard of him. And what exactly happened?”
“It was his heart. It gave out while crossing.”
The rowboat passed into the harbor and finally bumped into a floating dock, where the men tied it off and hauled the boat from Bliss in to be secured.
Spicy almost lost his footing as he was shoved off the rowboat and up a gangplank.
More humans were moving about at their work, some fishing from the dock while others dumped buckets of refuse and filth into the very same water. No one paid the goblin or the soldiers any attention. But other soldiers patrolled the waterfront and the walls.
The soldier with the gold earring shoved Spicy against the brick wall of a shuttered building. The man patted Spicy down and went through his pockets.
“A book trader, you say?” Gold Earring asked.
Spicy nodded. “Books, yes, and hides. Deer leather and goat. Bear skin, too.”
The other two soldiers came over and appeared impatient. “What did you think the gob would have on him?” one asked. “Cut his throat and dump him in the water.”
The second nodded. “Just another mouth to feed.”
“Hold on,” Gold Earring said. “There’s something not right here. You say you and your master crossed the sea on your own? In that boat? Why is the mast burned?”
“A cookfire got out of control.”
“Did it now? And your master’s body? Did you eat it or throw it over the side after you poisoned him?”
“I didn’t murder him! I served him loyally. I kept his books and ledger in order.”
Gold Earring laughed. “So we have a learned gob, then, do we?” He grabbed Spicy’s hands. “Looks like you’ve seen some work. Not just a napkin-folding pillow fluffer, then, are you?”
Spicy didn’t know what that was. He remained silent.
The men took a moment to deliberate.
“He might be worth something,” one soldier said. He had long sideburns that crept below his jawline.
“I don’t know. What’s the point, if no one’s buying? Let’s finish him and be done with it and go scrape up some breakfast.”
Spicy knew this was his opportunity to run. But he was tired and his legs were wobbly from his time on the water. It was as if the ground was moving beneath his feet. Just as he had geared up to try for an escape, Gold Earring seized his arm.
“Wait!” Spicy said. “What if I have information about some of your soldiers who might have gone off and left their post?”
Gold Earring looked at him skeptically.
Spicy swallowed. All the spit had vanished from his mouth. “A man named Lord. He had at least twenty men with him. He was raiding the Monster Lands, and we ran into him and his company up on the north shore of the Inland Sea.”
“Lord’s gone and deserted along with half the company from the North Fort, eh? And this is news? That rumor’s older than the mold on the ration bread. Maybe you missed the fact that the Zealot’s right outside our front gate.”
Sideburns smirked while drumming his fingers on the hilt of his dagger.
“That’s not all,” Spicy said, trying not to stumble over his words. “Lord’s dead. Before we crossed, a few of his men came to the village of Bliss. They had been attacked. Ambushed by a dragon.”
The soldiers laughed.
<
br /> “A dragon, you say,” Gold Earring said.
Spicy nodded. “And a troll. They might be crossing the water right now and heading here.”
“A dragon. Well, boys, we might as well take our own lives because we’re truly doomed. A dragon is here.”
“Don’t forget the troll,” Sideburns said.
“Oh, yes. Trolls, dragons, goblins, zealots. What’s next? Gryphons?”
Gold Earring yanked Spicy and led him down a crowded lane. The other two soldiers fell in behind, Sideburns never taking his hand from the dagger.
“Don’t kill me,” Spicy said.
“Kill you? Nah. You’re far too amusing for that.”
Whereas Bliss had streets of mud and wood, Eel Port had stone cobbles. Everything was much louder, as shoes clomped and carts clattered. Even the voices of the men and women shouting and conducting their business carried further until the noise blended into a cloud of overwhelming sound.
The first goblins Spicy saw were all engaged in menial tasks. He saw no outward signs that they were slaves. They were as dirty as the humans.
Spicy tried to make sense of the situation. Despite the soldiers on alert and the mention of a scarcity of food, the humans of the city appeared to be conducting their daily activities without alarm. But Gold Earring had mentioned the Zealot and the army outside the walls. That explained the campfires.
Gold Earring stopped at a large square where a few merchants had stalls with items of produce for sale. The selection was slim and the fruits and vegetables looked sickly.
“All right, lads, I’ll take him from here,” Gold Earring said.
Sideburns snorted. “What, you actually think you’ll get a price for him? Not a chance we’re letting you go alone, then.”
“Yeah, well, all three of us will be a bit suspicious, don’t you think? You’ll get your cut. I’ve never shorted you on anything.”
Sideburns looked at the third soldier, but the man was distracted by the stalls. The closest one had a tray with a few scraps of curled and dried bread for sale.
“A few minutes ago, you wanted to kill him,” Gold Earring said. “Now off with you. You’ll get a few pennies out of this by doing absolutely nothing.”
Sideburns gave Spicy a push. Gold Earring yanked the goblin along and walked quickly away from his fellows.
“News about Lord, eh?” the man said in a hushed tone. “We’re going to talk, you and I, and you’re going to tell me everything else you know. But first we have to go see someone.”
They went down a side street where lines of laundry hung between windows. A stray dog fell in, barking at Spicy, but Gold Earring kicked it away. It yelped and vanished down an alley. Finally, they arrived in a doorway where a young boy wearing a cap and a shiny red velvet vest blocked the door.
“Is he in?” Gold Earring asked.
“Who wants to know?” the boy said.
“Announce us or so help me, I’ll box your ear.”
The boy opened the door and Gold Earring pushed Spicy along inside.
The house smelled strongly of cloying smoke and spices. Several candles burned next to shutters that kept out most of the daylight. In the large front room several men were lounging on legless couches propped up on wooden blocks. One man smoked a long pipe and exhaled the smoke from his nose while suppressing a cough. Another had two young girls under his arms and ignored the newcomers.
A lanky old man wearing spectacles had his boots up on the arm of a couch he had to himself. The man was older than the others. Greasy strands of unkempt hair ran down to his shoulders. He wore a frilly shirt with billowy sleeves. In his hand was a small book that he snapped shut when he saw the two enter.
“Brought you something, Harold,” Gold Earring said. He shoved Spicy forward.
Harold sat up and looked Spicy over. “A goblin. How novel. Does it defecate gold or do any tricks? And why’s he dressed up in a bathrobe?”
“He has news about Lord and his platoon.”
“Does he?” Harold leaned closer. “Tell me what you know.”
Gold Earring put a hand on Spicy’s shoulder. “Hold on. What’s this worth?”
“Right now, very little,” Harold said. “Let the goblin speak. Don’t worry, Chui. Depending on what I hear, I’ll cut it out of your debt.”
Gold Earring gave Spicy a small shove. “Go on. Tell him what you told me about Lord.”
“I know some,” Spicy said. “But I want something for my information.”
“Hey,” Gold Earring said. “Tell him everything or you’re going to get hurt.”
Spicy shook his head. “My master told me to never give anything away when you can get paid for it.”
“Paid for it? My men were about to stick you and dump your body. Be glad you’ve had a few extra moments of your life. How about that for payment? I’m sorry, Harold. This gob’s gone sun crazy. His master died out on the sea and we found him outside the harbor. He says Lord was killed up north along with most of his men.”
Harold made a placating gesture to the soldier. When he spoke, it was with a calm and kind voice. “You’re in no position to bargain, my little friend. If you have information, it’s time to share it. I offer you your life. If you know something of use, I’ll even fill your belly.”
“That’s not enough,” Spicy said. “I’m looking for some goblins who were brought here from Bliss. Sold as slaves. Get me this information, and I’ll tell you everything about Lord. Because he might be dead, but some of his men still live.”
Harold arched an eyebrow. “Well, now I’m intrigued. Who was your master, exactly?”
“Somni, a book and hide trader.”
“And this master taught you to be a negotiator?”
“The gob might have killed his master,” Gold Earring said.
“Then more the fool him and bully for our little friend. So, murderer and silver-tongued broker of books and furs and news from behind the front lines.”
“Hides, sir,” Spicy said.
Harold laughed. “Chui, you’ve made my morning. Consider your debt halved. Now get out of here.”
Gold Earring nodded but lingered.
Harold cocked his head. “Is there anything else?”
“What if the gob has real information? Like what the zealots are doing out there? The commander will want to know.”
“Well, that’s my information now, once our goblin friend shares it with me. All things which will be traded for. But it’s no longer your concern. Our business is at an end.”
Gold Earring bowed and backed out of the room.
None of the other men appeared to even notice.
“Okay, hide trader,” Harold said, “time for our negotiations. You have something you need to know first. How may I be of service, besides getting you something more dignified to wear?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Spicy gave Harold the slave buyer’s name.
Meanwhile, one of his men handed Spicy a wool shirt and a pair of slacks that appeared to be made from a sack. But Spicy pulled the clothes on, happy to be free of the robe.
Harold sent the pipe smoker off with instructions to find any records of August Dufresne’s arrival and any registered trades among the merchants.
Spicy was offered a plate of sliced pears in some sort of syrup and a glass of beer. Spicy had sampled beer before and hated it, but he was hungry and thirsty and drank the brown, frothy liquid down. It was bready, bitter, and made him belch. The pears were too sweet. When the plate was finished, he wasn’t offered more.
Harold once again returned to the couch and picked up his book. How he read in the dim light, Spicy didn’t know.
He sat on the corner of a couch and waited. The beer made his head fuzzy. About an hour later, the pipe smoker returned and whispered to Harold.
Harold sat up and set his book aside. “August is at his guild stock house, or at least his merchandise is. Six new goblins. That’s what you’re looking for, isn’t it?”
“Yes. One older boy my age and five children.”
The pipe smoker sat back down on his own couch and nodded.
“My man says yes,” Harold said. “That’s helpful to you, isn’t it? My information is reliable. I have, after all, a reputation to uphold.”
“I need to know where this stock house is. I want to see them myself. Get them out.”
Harold nodded. “All in good time. I’ll take you there myself. But first, share what you know about Lord.”
Spicy started his tale with the raid on the goblin villages in Athra. He tried to include as many details as possible about who the raiders were who had traveled with Lord, how many of them there were, and what weapons and plunder they had, all while relating this as if the raiders and his book- and hide-trading master Somni had shared a night with them at a campfire some two weeks in the past.
“They shared much with your master,” Harold said.
“My master got them drunk on rice wine. He had secured a good bundle of deer hide they had stolen from the goblins.”
“Did he now? Your master is quite the clever one and I’m sure the world is diminished with his loss. But tell me, how do you feel about these men having murdered so many goblins in the course of their raid?”
“I…I…” He forced himself not to think about his mother or all the dead he had seen. Harold waited with keen interest. “I didn’t know any of the goblins up in the hills.”
“That wasn’t the question. I asked how you feel. Surely hearing about a human killing your own kind must stir something within you.”
Spicy found it impossible to keep his feelings from overwhelming him. He felt his eyes sting. “They’re monsters, the men who did that. The goblins have little to take. To murder them is…”
“Inhuman?” Harold chuckled. “It’s imprecise language, I know. But then what did you learn about Lord and how he met his fate?”
“We heard later from the survivors when we made it to Bliss. They said he was chasing a dragon treasure up in the mountains. And that the creature came out of its cave and killed him and most of his soldiers.”
Goblin Apprentice Page 10