by LeRoy Clary
The dogs started barking before they were half way along the fence. A tan retriever and two black and white mixed-breed dogs raced to see who would arrive first. A woman working in the garden stood and waved as she arched her back to relieve some of the pain.
A man and two young boys emerged from the barn. From their appearance, they had been working in the dirt earlier. Each was covered in brown soil, from hat to feet. Tanner noticed a field recently plowed, the soil on top still looked damp.
Carrion and Tanner hopped the fence and approached them. Introductions were quick, and a meal was offered before they could ask to pay for one. The woman, who was about Tanner’s age, asked if they would enjoy eating in the shade of the trees behind the house where there was a breeze.
While the men washed in a tank of water, she entered the house and began the meal. A girl of no more than ten appeared, then shyly disappeared almost as fast. Tanner offered to help with the meal. The father said, “Not much to prepare. Bread and sliced goat. Fresh apples or pears on the trees. You just missed the cherries by a few days, but you might still find a few if you look.”
Carrion said, “This is about as nice a farm as I’ve ever seen. You must work hard to keep it like this.”
“It is hard work,” he said. “Then just when you’re done fighting drought, insects, and rabbits, you think it’s all over and what happens? A dragon appears. Flew right over us this morning. You see it?”
Carrion jammed a thumb at Tanner, “He sleeps late, so I was caring for our campsite.”
“A red, it was,” the farmer continued. “Big one, too.”
“Take any of your animals?” Tanner asked, fearing the answer.
“Nope. Not a one. It turned south right above us like it was following the road to Racine.”
Carrion had settled into a chair beside a sturdy table made of split planks. He leaned back and looked up at the blue sky. “Racine, there’s a name I haven’t heard for a while. I used to know a young lady there. But that’s a tale for another time.”
The farmer glanced at his two boys and nodded in agreement. He said, “It’s bigger now. New people moving in. Lots of them.”
Tanner glanced at Carrion. Then he asked, “Where do they come from? Up North?”
“Nope. They mostly keep to themselves and don’t talk much. But I think they come from across the sea, at least, that’s what some of us believe. They come with odd ways of talking, and they don’t join in, but we’ve seen their kind around here for many years.”
“Their kind?” Carrion asked, examining the trees in the orchard.
“Scared. Where they come from must not be a good place. They arrive here with nothing. Those already located here help them a little, but they don’t have much to provide. I’ve offered them jobs to help with my crops, but usually I just get shoulders turned from me like I’m trying to poison them. Like they’re scared to work.”
Carrion said, “I notice that’s an odd way you trim the fruit trees. It must take a lot of work, a lot of people.”
“It is, and I could use more help, but it’s worth it because it keeps them growing low to the ground so picking is easy. Those stakes spread the branches. The fruit grows larger too, gets more sun. It sells for more.”
“Where’d you learn to do that?” Carrion asked as the first platter of food was placed on the table.
“Heard some of those new people in town, Racine, talking about it at the inn a few years ago.”
“Too bad you can’t get them out here to help. It looks like they know how to grow fruit.” Carrion’s voice was soft, but Tanner caught the meaning and waited for the farmer to continue speaking.
The rest of the food was brought, along with a pitcher of milk. A few words thanking various gods were said, and then the ritual was offered to Carrion and Tanner to thank any they wished, but both refused. Guests ate first, of course.
The bread was fresh, soft, and contained a few spices Tanner didn’t recognize. The meat had a smoked flavor, and the cheese was sharp. He ate everything and finished with an apple he sliced with the knife worn at his hip.
He caught the farmer looking when he removed the seeds and slipped them into his purse. “One of the best apples I’ve had. I’ll dry the seeds and see if I can get them to grow at home.”
“Where would that be?”
Hesitating, Carrion said, “Up near Fleming, not far from the King’s Summer Palace. Ever been up that way?”
“Can’t say I have. Now we’ve got enough work for ten to do today, so if you don’t mind, when you’re done, please feel free to take your leave.” The farmer smiled at them while making the statement, but it appeared false as if he’d somehow been insulted, or figured out they were Dragon Clan.
Carrion stood and flashed a smile warm enough to melt the wax from a candle. “We also have business to attend. Come on, Tanner. We have a fair distance to go before dark.”
Tanner stood, slightly put off by the sudden change in the farmer’s attitude. But he followed Carrion’s lead and thanked them, leaving a full copper coin on the chair when he stood. They slung their packs and headed for the road as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
With the farm behind, Tanner said, “What happened?”
“You did. First, a dragon flies right over their farm, then we come from the same direction. Then you start saving your apple seeds like any Dragon Clan.”
“Those are small clues to put together if that’s what happened.”
Carrion said, “Listen to me. People survive by noticing the most trivial things. One may be coincidence, two a question to be answered, but three is a certainty. He knows you’re Dragon Clan.”
“Do you think he’ll tell anyone?”
“Like for the reward? I doubt it, but he’ll tell his neighbors for sure. The word will spread, but you and I will be far from here by then.”
Tanner relaxed. They passed more farms, and the ground generally dipped lower. Near midday, a wagon passed. He wanted to ask for a ride since the wagon was empty, but Carrion shook his head. When the wagon was further away, Carrion said, “If he wanted to offer us rides he would have.”
“How far to Racine?”
“Morning, I’d think. The land near there is hilly, as I remember. Before dark, we’re going to find ourselves a perch and see who’s following us. Don’t turn around.”
Tanner fought to keep his eyes ahead. “How many?”
“One.”
“How long has he been back there?”
Carrion said, “I noticed him as we left the farm. He was out on the road behind some brush.”
Tanner continued a few more steps. “That makes me feel better. If it was someone from the farm, I was going to be really upset with myself. I assume he’s staying well back from us?”
“It may be one of the guards from the monastery. That’s what makes the most sense to me.”
They walked on, taking their time and talking. Once Tanner caught sight of the follower when he turned to answer a question. “He’s still back there. I didn’t look, he’s just so bad at keeping out of sight I couldn’t help myself.”
“Could he have followed us all the way from Shrewsbury? I don’t think so, but I never looked behind.”
“I’d have seen him. No, he picked us up on the road by the farm. See that hill ahead? The road bends around it, and we can’t see where it goes.”
Tanner smiled and shrugged. “We’ll be out of his sight. Maybe there’s some cover we can hide behind and wait.”
“If there is, I suggest we do it. He makes me nervous back there.”
As they followed the road at their normal pace, it started to turn to the right. They were suddenly out of sight. On the hillside were boulders, not as large as Tanner would like, but if they crouched down they’d be hidden. He looked at Carrion.
Carrion’s eyes were focused on the same place. “Let’s do it.”
They ran up the slope, and each dropped behind a boulder. Tanner was grateful to no
tice Carrion used his ears to listen for the follower instead of trying to peek out. Tanner did the same, despite the difficulty of resisting the urge. He slipped his bow and strung it. He pulled an arrow and waited.
Running footsteps sounded. They were close. Tanner stood, spun and loosed an arrow. Before it struck the road in front of the man running, he had another pulled and ready to let fly.
Carrion shouted, “Halt.” He also had his bow held ready.
The arrow still vibrated four or five steps ahead of the man. Tanner took three paces down the hillside and paused again. Carrion eased closer, then motioned for Tanner. Carrion angled to the road so he would be behind their follower.
Tanner took the front, saying, “Just stand there and wait for us. Don’t be foolish.”
Carrion didn’t speak as he eased up on him and removed the knife from his hip. Then he spun him by the shoulder and pulled a scarf from the front of the face. “It’s a boy.”
Tanner had noticed. The clothing was shabby and dirty. The cheeks were almost bare. The clothing hung on him as if merely bone lay below the shirt and pants. Dirt streaked the face. Tanner glanced at the broken fingernails. What remained was black. He saw no weapons.
“Who are you?” Carrion demanded, his voice angry.
“Devlin.”
“That means nothing to me. Why were you behind us?”
“I was going into Racine. That’s all.” The voice was submissive and scared. The boy stood shorter than Carrion, but where Carrion had wide shoulders, the boy slumped and looked defeated. He refused to meet their eyes.
Tanner said, keeping his voice softer and more friendly than Carrion’s. The boy looked small and no more than fifteen or sixteen. “That’s a lie, and we all know it. Where do you live? The truth.”
“I used to live in Racine, but they made me leave.”
“Why?” Tanner asked.
“For stealing.”
“What did you steal?” Tanner persisted, determined to get the story out of the boy in short responses if necessary.
“Lots of things.”
Tanner sighed. This might take a while. “What things?”
“Apples. Grapes. Bread. Fish. Carrots. . .”
He sounded like he was going to continue listing food when Tanner raised his palm for him to stop. “Anything besides food?”
The boy glanced down at the tattered, soiled clothes that hung on him.
Carrion said, “The knife’s rusty and the tip’s broken. There are chips on the edge.”
Tanner said, “Why were you following us?”
“Food.”
“Why not just ask a farmer for a meal?” Tanner said, thinking back to the meal he’d just eaten, even if he had slipped them a copper coin. They hadn’t known he would, so the meal had been free.
“They send the dogs after me.”
Carrion said, “How long did you live in Racine?”
“Always.”
Carrion met Tanner’s eyes. “He might help us.” Then he turned back to the boy, “Devlin, do you know your way around the city? I mean, if we want to go somewhere and not be seen, can you take us?”
“Yes.”
Carrion reached into his bag and pulled his mixture of nuts, dried grapes, and dried meat. He started to pour some into his hand, but shrugged and handed the whole thing to the boy. “That’s for you. There’s more if you come with us and do as we say.”
While chewing, the boy nodded eagerly. They continued on the road until late in the day when the road crossed a small river. Downstream was a campsite, complete with fire pit and place to spread their blankets. There was also a deeper pool of water.
Carrion said, “Looking like you do, you won’t be much help to us. I wish we had soap, but for now, you get into the water and wash your clothing and yourself. Don’t come out until you’re clean.”
“It’s cold.”
“Of course, it is. Hell, that water was snow on those white mountains a few days ago but here’s the deal. You get clean and then you can eat. One or the other.”
Tanner dropped his things and waited. The boy resisted. Then Carrion pulled more food from his bag and spread it out, looking as if he was trying to make up his mind of what to eat. Devlin went to the water’s edge and removed a boot too big for his feet. He wore no stockings. He finally pulled his shirt off and dropped his pants, placing them under his arm and he walked into the deeper water.
Once there he sat and began splashing dribbles of water at himself. Carrion shouted, “Wash that hair and I’ll cut it for you later. Use the sand to scrub the soot and dirt off. And work on those clothes, too.”
“You're sort of mean to him,” Tanner said.
“We don’t want him recognized when we take him back to town. We’ll get him something else to wear, too. In the meantime, we’ll feed him and try to find out whatever’s in that brain of his.”
Tanner said, “I expected you to feed him and run him off. I’m impressed that you’re taking such an interest.”
“And I’m just as surprised that you are not. As my appointed leader of this expedition, I am truly disappointed in you.”
The smile was still on Carrion’s lips, but Tanner knew he’d missed something. Instead of trying to figure it out, he said, “Tell me.”
“Tell you what? The critical item you failed to see about Devlin?”
“Which is?”
“Now that he’s cleaner look at his arms.”
Tanner turned. Devlin was washing his shirt, but his arms were now pale instead of soot-stained from too many fires. His arms from his shoulders to his wrists were tattooed with writhing dragons.
Carrion said softly, “He’s one of the others.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Tanner stood and kicked off his boots. He didn’t bother rolling up his pant legs. He waded to Devlin and took an arm. Looking at the designs. The ink was dark blue; the overall image was drawn crudely. The left arm depicted a dragon from the neck to head, thin as a snake. The other arm showed three heads, one above the other, each with an open mouth as if eating the next.
“What’s this?”
Devlin yanked his arm back. He looked ready to swing a fist.
Tanner took a step back, so he was out of reach. “Hey, I’m sorry. What is that on your arms?”
Devlin calmed. His fingers uncurled from the fist.
“We’ll talk later,” Tanner said. “Get yourself clean while there’s still time for the sun to dry you.”
Carrion walked into the water to his knees and said, “Come on over here, son. I might as well get that hair cut so you don’t have to wash it again.”
With a skittish glance at Tanner, Devlin went to Carrion, who motioned for him to sit down in the water. Carrion took hold of a fistful of hair and used his knife to slice it off. Then he continued, grabbing a handful and stretching it out before cutting it to the same length.
When he finished, it looked like someone had chopped it off with a knife. It hung wet, ragged, and choppy. Carrion said as if telling the truth, “There. Much better.”
The hair had reached past the boy’s shoulders. Now it was semi-uniform length about as long as a finger. Carrion said, “Wash it out and slick it back. You’ll look like a new man.”
A new man. He looked like a boy who had his hair caught in some farm equipment. Tanner suppressed a snicker as he decided that if he needed his hair cut, it would be done at home. However, Devlin stumbled from the water with his hair slicked back, his skin clean, and his clothing cleaner. Tanner finally admitted to himself the boy was hardly recognizable, which was the intent.
Carrion dug out the food they had stolen from the store in Shrewsbury and spread it on his blanket. Tanner did the same. Then, Carrion gathered wood and started a fire, grumbling the whole time that he was the only one who did any chores.
As they settled down, Devlin scooted closer to the fire. His pants and shirt steamed on the sticks they hung on, but he didn’t have any others. Tanner had a spare sh
irt. He handed it to the grateful boy. It hung on him like a nightshirt, which was good because it helped fight off the night chill.
“Tell us about Racine,” Carrion said. “Better yet, tell us about you.”
Devlin hesitated. Then he sighed and said, “I lived there.”
“Did you live in a house?” Carrion persisted.
“No.” Then Devlin glanced at Tanner and realized he needed to explain. “I found places to hide.”
“In the winter?” Carrion asked.
“The rain made me cold.”
Tanner said, “Friends or family?”
The boy shook his head and cast his eyes to the ground. He flinched when Carrion reached for more firewood.
The tattoos?” Tanner asked.
“I’ve always had them.”
Carrion gave an exasperated look to Tanner before saying, “There’s a lot of hills around here. I remember Racine has hills too. Are there places where we could be up high, and you point out the different parts of the city?”
Devlin smiled for the first time. “Yes.”
“Okay, then that’s what we’ll do,” Carrion said. “In the morning, we’ll find a place to sit and talk. Don’t let your clothes get too dry or they’ll catch fire.”
Tanner said, “Use that shirt over your other for tonight.”
The boy looked even younger, maybe sixteen was a stretch. His frail shoulders and spotty beard almost gave the appearance of an old man. Give him a cane and white hair and he’d fool anyone. Tanner considered those ideas, as well as understanding that most of his appearance was from poor nutrition. He probably only ate a few times a week, and then only what he could steal or forge from what others threw away.
Living in the city wouldn’t give him much time to learn to hunt. Most of the time he was the hunted, as people tried to keep Devlin away from what they owned.
Tanner went to sleep. Later, he woke as Devlin tried stealing his backpack. As usual, Tanner had slipped a strap around his arm. In the moonlight, he slowly shook his head. Devlin pretended to go to sleep again. So did Tanner.