Friends of the Crown - Book 1 of Heroes of the Realm

by Scott Van der Haeghen

  Chapter 5 – The Plot

  Bergen sent them off down the main road through the city. Soon they could see the gate opposite the one they entered the day before. As they neared the exit from Newellen, they saw a sign that caused them to both stop in the middle of the street. They turned toward one another and smiled. Without a word, they nodded and walked toward the stall next to the sign that read 'Riverboat to Wellton – One silver, To Groden - One silver and five. Cargo extra. Food extra. Sails at midday.'

  The man behind the counter of the stall watched them walk up; he looked them up and down and grunted. "No deals or barter for passage. Off with you!"

  Nev scowled at the man, but let Brey do the talking. His temper had been getting the better of him lately.

  "We can pay our fare, sir." responded Brey calmly.

  "Sir? I am the captain of the riverboat, Pride of Wellton. You call me Captain Gill, not sir." he admonished in a surly tone.

  "Sorry. Captain Gill, then." Brey apologized. "We would like to buy a trip to Groden please."

  Gill grunted again and shook his head in disgust. "The word is 'passage', not trip. Have you no sense, boy?"

  Now Brey felt his own anger rising. "We are bound for Groden and would like to go there as quickly as possible. May we buy passage to Groden on your riverboat, Captain?" he asked with forced patience.

  "Two silvers each." he responded shortly.

  "The sign says one silver and five!" exclaimed Nev testily, pointing to the sign. "You'll not get a copper more than that!"

  Gill stood and leaned over the counter menacingly and growled, "It's my boat and I will charge what I will for passage. If you don't like it, boy, you and your friend can walk!"

  "Why, Captain Gill, have you suddenly raised the price of passage?" asked a voice from directly behind Nev, it was a well-dressed gentleman who had approached unnoticed. "But an hour ago I paid a single silver for passage to Wellton." The man was fair of hair and clean-shaven save for his long sideburns, the current height of style in the capital city of Wellton.

  Captain Gill's demeanor changed instantly when he saw whom it was that had spoken. "Of course not, Mister Callum! I was merely quoting the price of passage plus meals. Apparently I was misunderstood by these young lads." He quickly removed his hat and smiled, showing gaps where several teeth should have been. "Of course the passage without food is one silver and five as it says there on the sign." he finished lamely.

  "We will take two, Captain, with food included please." said Brey with a winning smile. He opened the pouch at his throat, withdrew four silvers and handed them to the scowling sailor.

  "Pleasure to have you aboard." the captain growled. Gill directed the young men to the docks outside the walls of Newellen and the berth of the Pride of Wellton

  Mister Callum walked with them toward the docks. "I assume you are taking your first trip abroad?" he asked.

  "Yes, sir." replied Nev. "And thank you for helping us with the captain; I don't think he likes us much."

  "Don't mind Captain Gill too much, his bark is much worse than his bite, as you have seen." said the gentleman with a grin. "I travel a great deal and have sailed with him a few times, both down and back up the river. He once sailed the Great Western Ocean under the flag of the Crown. Though he never rose above the rank of ensign, he saved enough for his own boat and rates captaincy by virtue of ownership. He is a pretty fair navigator of the mighty river, so I'll not begrudge him his bit of audacity."

  "How far is it to the Groden from here? If it's not too much to ask, that is." asked Brey, not sure how to act around the obviously important man.

  "Not at all, lad, not at all." he replied with a wave of dismissal. "The journey from here to Wellton is usually three or four days, depending on weather. Gill will often layover for a day and then go on to Groden the next, hoping to pick up one or two more for the last leg. You should see the port of Groden in about six or seven days."

  "Hah! That's a good sight better than the three or four weeks or so on foot we had planned for!" exclaimed Nev, beaming. Brey nodded his agreement.

  Callum laughed a pleasant rolling laugh. "You had planned a three or more week journey on foot just to see Groden? There must be some prize at the end of so daunting a journey."

  "Well, Mister Callum, it's like this." began Brey. He went on to describe the purpose of their journey. He even told the man about their run-in with Fletcher and the reward. He would have thought better of it except that the man was obviously well off and would have no need to rob them. It may have been the easygoing manner and kindness, but for some reason he felt he could trust the friendly man.

  As Brey finished the telling, with occasional input from Nev, particularly embellishing the battles with Fletcher and Corporal Winrow, Callum raised his eyebrows in surprise.

  "I should say this adventure of yours has begun in grand style." he exclaimed, sounding impressed. "Two sword battles, a reward, and one minor squabble with a salty riverboat captain. I hope the rest of your journey is not a disappointment in comparison." He looked at the two young men and then began to laugh. Finally catching on the rib, the young men laughed as well. In a short time, they arrived at the river docks; Mister Callum pointed out the Pride of Wellton to them and they proceeded aboard.

  The riverboat had a shallow draft, nearly flat at the keel; it was plain, but well maintained. There was a large rudder astern, four slots for oars and a stout mast for the square sail used to propel the craft when the wind allowed. Though it was not more than twenty-five feet in length, it had plenty of space available for passengers in the form of two small huts built on the flat deck. Each hut had a table with two benches, and four bunks. There was a "sea stove" in each hut, consisting of a small iron stove on four legs set in a shallow trough of water to protect the deck from the heat and embers. Cargo space was limited to a small hold near the stern of the craft.

  The young men settled themselves in the forward hut or 'cabin' as the mate, Filbey, insisted on calling it. Mister Callum settled himself in the second cabin, noting the rest of his party would be along presently or he would have gladly bunked with them.

  They looked about the boat and then took in the docks in greater detail. The riverboat docks of Newellen were not what one would describe as attractive. In fact, it was a dirty and smelly place. Flotsam drifted under the four large docks, eventually taken by the current and swept on down the river. Buckets of waste were regularly thrown over the side of the few boats moored at the docks and still more thrown in from the shore a little way downstream. It occurred to Nev that there must be a better way to handle it all. He was about to mention it to Brey when his attention was caught by a group of men approaching the dock where they were moored.

  The three men seemed mismatched to his eye. One of them appeared to be a man of minor substance, though not as fine as Mister Callum in his dress or manner. The other two had a dangerous look about them. Nev distrusted them immediately.

  "Hey Brey, look at those men coming this way. There is something odd about them, don't you think?" he asked, nudging his friend with his elbow as they leaned on the railing of the riverboat.

  Brey looked at them for a moment. "What do you mean odd?"

  "I don't know exactly, just something not quite right. That one fellow looks like a sort of trader, but the other two look more like guards or soldiers or something."

  "Maybe the man trades valuable goods and needs protection." he responded, without much more thought. "Here comes Captain Gill. Perhaps we will get going soon." Brey was excited to get under way. The riverboat was going to carry them to their adventure even more quickly than they could have hoped for traveling afoot.

  Nev glanced at the men as they went into Mister Callum's cabin, feeling almost certain there was something amiss. He guessed it was possible that what Brey suggested was true and attempted to put it out of his mind. It stayed in the back of his mind, however, a
nd in time his suspicion would not only prove correct, but of the utmost importance.

  The sailor stumped along the dock to the plank that ran from the dock to the riverboat. "Filbey, you lazy dog, see that the provisions bein' delivered are stowed quickly! I want t'be under way in no more'n an hour!" The captain came aboard and checked the rigging, the rudder, and mast to be sure all was in readiness for the river voyage. The mate set about opening the hold and getting ready to load the items that were being brought to the dock.

  Within an hour, they were casting off and putting out into the current of the great river heading westward. The Groden River is a mighty waterway, as much as a mile wide at some points. It spans nearly the entire width of the realm, stretching from Mallock in the east to Groden in the west. The river serves as a vehicle for commerce throughout the land, bringing goods both up and down the river, making trade a business of great opportunity and importance.

  The voyage seemed exciting at first, due to the novelty of riverboat travel and the feeling that the adventure was finally getting a running start. However, after a few hours of watching the water slip by, their excitement began to wane. The riverboat put over to shore just before dusk and Gill handed Brey their rations for the evening, consisting of dark flatbread, tea, and dry cheese. They ate on deck while sipping the weak tea and watching the fiery sunset.

  "Should be a nice, bright day tomorrow." said Filbey, startling the boys. The first mate constituted the entire crew of the Pride of Wellton for the down-river journey. A crew of oarsmen would be taken on for the upriver journey. Filbey was a lanky fellow and a little slow-witted, but appeared to be a competent sailor nonetheless.

  Nev turned his head to look at the young mate. "How do you know that?" he asked.

  "Cap'n says, red skies at night mean no clouds the next day. He was a sailor for the Crown and he learnt a lot o' handy things like that." The lanky youth leaned against the rail near the travelers. "Where you fellas headin' to?"

  Brey turned a bit toward him and said, "We are going to see what is beyond the Crystalline Sea. We have been waiting all our lives for this adventure;" he enthused, "we are going to find riches and become famous!"

  Filbey laughed in disbelief. "Adventure is it? You must be awful rich to afford passage like that! And the Crystalline Sea is so far off, only a few fellas has ever seen it."

  "Well, we will." said Nev asserted. "We'll sign on to a ship heading that way and work our way up to the passage we need. You'll see."

  Filbey laughed again and said, "Good luck to ya!" With that, he walked off to see to his duties.

  "Can you believe his laughing at us?" fumed Nev. "We have planned and worked for this for so long, there's no way we will fail." He pause a moment. "We won't fail, will we, Brey?"

  Even though he felt a small doubt beginning to form in the back of his mind, Brey smiled and replied, "Of course not."

  They sat and talked of little things for a while longer and decided to turn in for the night. The bunks on the boat were very hard with little in the way of padding aside from their blankets and cloaks. Despite the uncomfortable beds, they slept well and awoke at dawn to the sound of Captain Gill barking orders to his mate.

  "Look alive there, boy! Untie the bow before the stern else we’ll swing into the current."

  "I know, I know." replied Filbey as he tramped by the shack in which the travelers slept. "I done it ‘nough times to know what t’do."

  "Don't be insolent, you laggard, or you can swim to Wellton!" came the captain's surly reply.

  Brey and Nev came out of the cabin in time to see the boat swing about as the stern line came loose from the tree to which it had been tied. Now they were facing into the current and the port side of the boat came around into a clump of branches, causing Gill to swear profusely.

  "Damn your eyes, boy, what in the name of the Creator are you doing?" he screamed. "We'll be fouled in the tree, you idiot!"

  "I didn't do nothin'! The rope slipped from th' branch!" he called over his shoulder as he ran toward the stern to try to prevent them from getting fouled; but there was little he could do to stop the boat from sliding under the low-hanging branches and getting her rigging caught in the limbs.

  "Damn!" swore the captain. "We're caught good now! Get the saw and cut off the worst of it. We'll have to pole our way out and bring her about quick." He began unlashing long poles from the side of the riverboat as Filbey ran to the locker near the hut where the captain and his mate slept in the stern of the craft to retrieve the saw.

  "Is there anything we can do to help, Captain?" asked Nev.

  Gill stood and was about to make a remark, then seemed to think better of it. "If you wouldn't mind helping the boy clear them branches, it would be a great help." he answered. Turning to Brey he added, "Could you grab one of these poles and help me shove her away as soon as the bowline is brought in?"

  Brey moved forward and picked up one of the long poles. "What do you want me to do?" he asked.

  "As soon as Filbey frees the mast, we need to push her away from the shore. Once he gets the bowline free, we'll pole her out a bit and then turn her about as fast as we can. It doesn't pay to be out of sorts in the current we're about to hit. There's sand bars and rocks in this stretch that can strand us or sink us." he said dropping the pole into the water on the landward side of the boat near the stern. "Drop yours in nearer the bow and get ready to push for all your worth, lad."

  It took Nev and the mate several minutes to get the largest of the branches cut through, only a few more needed to be cut before they could start to move. "She'll be free once I cut this last big one here, Cap'n!" called the young sailor. "Be ready to push now." He sawed furiously at the last large branch as Nev pulled it to one side to clear it more quickly.

  "A’right, push her out!" he yelled as the branch snapped off in Nev's hands. Brey and Gill bent over their poles, slowly pushing the boat away from shore. She began to swing out on the end of the rope.

  "I'll get the rope loose." called Nev. He ran to the bow and began pulling the rope to get nearer the tree to which she was tied.

  "Never mind trying to save the rope!" called the captain as he strained on his pole. "Just cut it at the cleat. I can replace a rope, boats are more expensive!"

  Nev sliced through the rope and felt the boat move more rapidly out into the current. The river narrowed a bit at this point and the current was swifter. Gill shouted for Brey to switch sides and push from the starboard to make her spin more quickly.

  "To the rudder, Filbey!" yelled the old sailor. "Be prepared to steer her straight down the middle!"

  "Aye, Cap'n." said the young man reflexively and ran to grab the large tiller.

  Gill eyed their position and the rate of spin and gauged the moment perfectly. "Haul in yer pole, lad!" he shouted to Brey, and they both pulled the long poles free of the water. "Hold her steady right down the middle, Filbey!" The relief in Gill's voice was clear.

  The captain wiped his brow with the back of his hand and pointed to port. Not more then eight feet away was a large sandbar only inches below the rushing water. "None too soon, lads. Thanks much for your help; I would not want to be stranded on a big lump like that." He shook his head, laid the long pole along the gunwale, and took the other from Brey and placed it with the first.

  Captain Gill walked back to relieve Filbey at the tiller and sent him forward to watch the way for sandbars and rocks. Nev walked over the Brey and they shook each other's hand. "Some excitement, eh Nev?" he said breathlessly.

  "You can say that again!" exclaimed Nev. "All that excitement made me hungry, what do you say to breakfast?"

  Brey nodded and they walked back to the cabin to make some tea and eat.

  During all the excitement, Mr. Callum and his men simply watched. Nev glanced at them as they entered their own cabin and his feeling of suspicion once again came to the fore. Why hadn't they helped or even offered to hel
p? He mentioned this to Brey as they sipped their tea.

  Brey was once again reticent to find fault with their fellow passengers. "Perhaps they didn't think there was anything they could do. There were only two poles and not much room for them to help you and Filbey cut the branches away." he pointed out. "Why are you so suspicious of them, Nev?"

  Nev considered this for a moment as he munched a piece of bread. "I don't know exactly. There just seems to be something a little off about those fellows. Not Mister Callum though really." He tilted his head and thought about it. "Do you suppose those fellows are going to swindle Mister Callum?"

  Brey chuckled. "I think you are thinking too much. Turn your mind toward our adventure, Nev! We have waited forever for this, let's enjoy it." he said expansively.

  "I suppose you're right, Brey. Sorry." he replied with a grin.

  The rest of that day, the boys spent in the company of Captain Gill. Out of appreciation for their timely assistance, he agreed to teach them the basics of river navigation. They found that rivers were a very different set of rules and a different set of mind; whereas sailing on the lake had been mainly about the direction of the wind and the set of the sails, the river is much more about the movement of the water itself. During that day, they learned much about currents as well as how to read the water for movement and depth. It was altogether an enjoyable and educational day.

  They had turned southwest on the third day out of Newellen and could really see the changes in the land as they sailed into warmer climes. The night before they were to arrive in at Wellton, Callum and the men with whom he traveled entered into a heated argument. Though they tried to keep their voices down, snatches of conversation could be heard. Seeing that they were being noticed, the merchant suggested they move into their cabin to continue.

  Nev's suspicion got the better of him again and wondered what they were arguing about. He thought Mister Callum was a good man and thought to help protect him by trying to hear what the argument was about, in case those men were indeed trying to swindle him. He moved as casually as possible down the rail of the boat toward their cabin until he could hear what was being said. His position by the rail was out of sight of the window but afforded him a good vantage for listening.

  "I'm telling you, it's too risky to try right now, Kabar. The Queen is there along with the whole Queen's Regiment. It'd be suicide to try it now!" he heard the shorter man they called Basker hiss.

  "Nothing was ever gained without risk, Basker." the sinister looking Kabar replied.

  The taller thug named Winton added, "I agree with Basker, it's too dangerous. Our heads would be in a noose in less than a day."

  "Nevertheless." was Kabar's only reply.

  Nev was quite surprised to here Mister Callum speak next. "Gentlemen, the die has been cast and the plan moves forward. Our men are already in place and prepared for what is to come. We make our move tomorrow; thereafter, if the Queen doesn't submit to our demands, then the consequences are on her head."

  "Jasper will meet us at the house after he has done his work." added Kabar. "The days of the Queen wind down and the time for our movement is at hand."

  Stunned, Nev moved quietly and quickly back toward his cabin and went quietly inside where Brey was relaxing in his bunk, sharpening his belt knife. He went to his bunk and sat down heavily, his mind racing at what he had just heard.

  "What's wrong, Nev?" Brey asked, concerned over his friends agitation. He jumped down from the top bunk and sat next to him. "You look positively sick, what's happened?"

  Nev snapped back to reality and hurriedly hushed Brey. He got up, closed the cloth covering of the cabin window, and turned to Brey. "I was right." he whispered almost too quietly for Brey to hear.

  "What? What do you mean you were right?"

  "Shh! Not so loud, we may be overheard!" he whispered as quietly as before. He hurried to the bunk, sat down next to his companion and told him what he had overheard.

  Brey was thunderstruck. "I-I can hardly believe it. Are you sure that's what you heard?"

  "As I am living and breathing, that's exactly what I heard." replied Nev holding his hand over his heart in the sign of the Creator.

  "What should we do about it?"

  "I don't know. We have to tell someone!" Nev shifted his gaze aimlessly around the room. "Maybe we can find a constable in Wellton tomorrow and tell him."

  Brey thought about that for a moment. "What if they don't believe us? Those men may try to kill us!" He suddenly had a vision of being attacked by the men and run through as they laughed about it. He started to get alarmed, but Nev grabbed his arm and calmed him down.

  "Only if they find out we said anything. If the constable doesn't believe us, he may not even ask them about it. We could just go on to Groden like nothing happened." he said in a placating tone.

  They discussed the matter for some time; in the end, the young men decided they would go to a constable the next day while in Wellton. Filbey had told them they would be in Wellton for a few hours while Captain Gill tried to find passengers for the remaining leg to Groden. They planned to disembark as soon as they arrived and find a constable as quickly as they could so that Mister Callum and his cohorts would not have time to escape before they reported them.

  The next morning, Captain Gill informed them they would be in Wellton shortly before noon and that if they got off the boat they had to make sure to return before he left three hours later; if they missed the boat, it was their loss.

  They docked as predicted just before noon. The young men were ready to disembark before the riverboat was even tied to the dock and jumped across to the dock and were off before Callum and his crones were even out of their cabin. The walked quickly through the sparse crowd looking for a constable, they spotted an army sergeant standing near a merchant's booth and approached him. He was a tall man, a hand taller than Brey at least. He was wearing the uniform of the Royal Army consisting of a crisp blue tunic over tight white trousers and polished black boots, three hashes on the right sleeve denoted his rank. His shiny black sword belt hung at a slight angle, allowing for the best access to the wire-wrapped hilt of his sword.

  "Excuse me, Sergeant?" Brey said hesitantly.

  He turned and looked at who had addressed him and answered. "What can I do for you?"

  Brey cleared his throat and asked, "Do you know where we might find a constable? We need to talk to one as soon as possible."

  The soldier assessed the young men before him with his deep blue eyes. "Is this something concerning the city of Wellton? Or something that has happened here at the docks?"

  "What's the difference?" blurted Nev without thinking.

  The soldier just smiled faintly at the young man's outburst. "The difference is that the constables are the law in the city of Wellton, but the Army is the law on the docks. Now, which do you need, boys?"

  Brey looked back toward the docks and saw Mister Callum and his men just walking off the dock where the Pride of Wellton was moored. "Tell him quickly, Nev." he said hurriedly. "They are coming!"

  Nev related to the soldier the conversation he had over heard two nights before. When he finished his tale, the uniformed man turned quickly and called to a private a short distance away. "Apprehend those men there." he said pointing out Callum and his men. "Bring them to the guardhouse immediately; I will meet you there." He turned back to Brey and Nev. "You two, come with me."

  The soldier led the young men into the modest guardhouse, which looked much the same as the one in Newellen, simple stone and whitewashed wood outside and unadorned wood inside. "You will need to surrender your swords so long as you are in the guardhouse." he said, holding out his hands.

  They handed over their blades and were directed to sit in a room off the main area and told to remain quiet. Only moments after being shut inside, they heard Callum and his men enter the outer room.

  "What is the problem, Sergeant?
" asked Mister Callum in a calm voice. "Your man was unable to tell me anything other then they had been instructed to bring us here." He did not feel as calm as he had acted, however. Is it possible their plans were known? Had Jasper been caught? No, the only way for them to have found out his own involvement in the plot would be if Jasper talked and it can't be that or they would have been put in chains almost immediately. It must be some sort of mistake.

  "I will get to that in a moment, sir. I must ask you to surrender you weapons while in the guardhouse. Corporal, please take their blades and see they are stored properly." The sergeant then asked Callum and his men to sit in the chairs in front of a long table in the middle of the room. He excused himself and went to the office of the guard captain at the rear of the main room.

  "Do you think we are found out?" whispered Kabar, trying not to be overheard by the corporal standing by the door.

  "Not now!" hissed Callum from the corner of his mouth. "I am certain this is all a mistake, my dear Kabar. It will all be straightened out presently." he said in a louder tone, making certain the corporal could hear him.

  The sergeant was gone only a few minutes when an officer in a blue tunic with a red sash walked from the office to the side room; the younger man opened the door for him and closed it behind them.

  "Who do you suppose is in there?" asked Winton. He tried to see in the room as the captain walked inside, but he wasn't able to see anyone.

  The tall officer entered the small room with a crisp step, placing his hands behind his back. He looked over the two young men for a moment. "I am Captain Melkin and I will be conducting this interview." he said quietly.

  "Sir –" began Brey.

  The officer raised his hand. "I will ask the questions and you will answer them. You will only speak when spoken to, and speak in low tones so your voice does not carry beyond this room. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, sir." they answered quietly. It was clear the officer did not want Callum and his men to hear their report.

  Captain Melkin sat down opposite the young men and folded his hands on the small table between them. "Sergeant Gant tells me you have an interesting tale to tell. I would like to hear it."

  "Yes, sir." said Nev, who proceeded to recount the conversation he overheard. When he mentioned the name Jasper in his retelling the captain showed extreme interest.

  "Are you certain the name you heard was 'Jasper'?" he asked, his voice changing in intensity for the first time since he walked in. He leaned forward and awaited the answer.

  "Yes, sir. That was the name he used." was the reply.

  Melkin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I see. Thank you for your testimony." He pushed back his chair and stood. "Sergeant Gant, these young men are to remain in this room and silent until I return." He turned his intense gaze to the young soldier. "Is that understood?"

  "Yes, sir." he replied, snapping a salute.

  Callum, Kabar, Winton, and Basker were sitting nervously in their chairs as Captain Melkin stepped out from the side room he had been in for the last twenty minutes. He stopped in front of the door he had just closed and regarded the men with an unreadable expression.

  "Which of you is Mister Callum?" he asked without preamble.

  "I am." replied the merchant calmly.

  The officer walked across the floor with a deliberate pace and stopped behind the empty chair across the table from the men, placing his hands on the back of the chair. "I have cause to detain you and your associates in the name of the Crown. Before delivering you to the garrison at Wellton Gate, I would have you make a statement of your guilt or innocence in response to the charges to be laid against you."

  "As we have done nothing wrong, I can enter a plea of not guilty to any charges, except that of absolute loyalty to the Crown." said Callum smoothly. He was prepared for this possibility and had provided himself and his friends with clear alibis; Gill, his lackey, and those two bumpkins from the riverboat could verify he had not even been in the city before today. In fact, being detained only added to the perfection of it all. There was no direct connection between him and those he had hired through an agent here in Wellton. He could deny anything they say with impunity.

  "We shall see. May I assume you are the chief member of this group, Mister Callum?" inquired the officer.

  "As I am their employer, I suppose you may."

  Melkin smiled coldly. "Good. I will make note of your plea and have you delivered to the garrison shortly." He turned to the corporal standing near the door. "Have the prisoner wagon brought around and have the cover put on; I do not wish for these men to be seen. Saddle my horse as well."

  Kabar stood up and exclaimed, "This is ridiculous! We will not be treated like common criminals!"

  The captain stepped around the table the stood directly in front of the angry man. "Until I have determined you are not a criminal, I will treat you as I wish. As an officer of the Royal Army it is my duty to act as I see fit in Merridon's defense." He looked down into the man's eyes and held his gaze until Kabar turned away and sat back down. "Now that we understand one another, we will see to your transfer."

  Winton cleared his throat. "Captain? Who has made an accusation against us?" he asked as politely as possible.

  "Who said anyone had?" replied the Captain. "I merely stated I had reason to detain you and that charges may be levelled." The mention of the name Jasper by the young man, Neville, had nearly made his heart jump into his throat. Only two weeks before, an agent of the Royal Army had intercepted a message from a person known only as Hawk that was to be delivered to a mercenary by the name of Jasper. The message stated clearly that Jasper was to take some sort of action against the Queen in the very near future. The agent copied the letter and allowed the message to be delivered, and had a man tracking the note until it was picked up. The recipient of the instructions had been watched closely ever since. It was only by the strangest stroke of luck that these two young men approached Sergeant Gant this morning.

  The captain decided to take a chance on a hunch. "Perhaps it was Jasper." he said, watching the men for any reaction. Basker started and turned deathly pale.

  The rattle of a wagon pulling up in front of the guardhouse could be heard and the door opened. Four guardsmen came in the door and came to attention, waiting for orders. "Have these men bound and hooded. They are to be taken to the Wellton- Dock Gate garrison. I will escort you."

  Though Callum and his crew protested loudly and resisted, their hands were tied behind them and hoods placed over their heads. They were loaded in the wagon and shut inside. Captain Melkin called for Sergeant Gant to bring the young men out. In a moment, Nev and Brey came into the main room and stood again before the officer.

  "I am going to require you stay in Wellton until this matter has been settled to my satisfaction. You may have your swords but I warn you to stay within the city walls." He looked into each of their eyes to be sure they understood him. "Have you somewhere to stay in Wellton?"

  Nev and Brey were both heartsick. They were supposed to go on to Groden and get on with their adventure, and now they were told they had to stay in Wellton for Creator knows how long.

  "But, sir-" Brey began.

  "I understand you were to continue on, but the accusation you have made requires a great deal of investigation. For all I know you may even be part of this scheme and just trying to find a way out." He held up his hand to forestall the argument forming on Nev's lips. "No, you will stay where I can find you until I am satisfied the entire truth is laid out before us." He turned to Gant and said, "Take them to their boat to retrieve their packs. I wish them searched before they are returned to them, is that clear?" The tall sergeant nodded.

  "The sergeant will escort you until you have arranged for lodgings. If I need you, I do not want to have to search for you, do you understand?" he asked, his face a stern mask.

  "Yes, sir." was Nev's dejected r
esponse.

  As the young sergeant led the travelers out of the guardhouse and toward the docks, the captain mounted a waiting horse and led the large wagon with Callum and his men off toward the city gate.

  They arrived at the dock in a short time and saw Gill sitting by a booth trying to sign passengers for a trip to Groden for a mere eight coppers.

  "Have you been arrested, lads?" he asked half standing.

  "No, Captain. We have to stay here for a while though, so we need to pick up our things." said Nev, still downcast over the change in their plans.

  "I'm real sorry to hear that, boys." he said with genuine sympathy. "I hope you understand I can't refund your money, though. Business is business after all." he added, looking a bit guilty for saying it. His greed was still stronger than his gratitude to the boys for their help in saving the boat from grounding, but only just.

  Brey laughed at this, having gained something of an understanding of the captain over the past few days. "That's all right, Captain Gill. A few coppers are not such a big amount. Besides, we learned a thing or two about river sailing, so I suppose we are even." Gill too laughed at this and sat back down, looking relieved at getting off the hook.

  Gant followed the young men on board and to their cabin. He asked them to wait outside while he searched their packs, so they would have no opportunity to hide anything, he explained. He was very professional about it, almost apologetic, explaining it was just how things were done and that nothing personal was meant by it. Once he finished, he allowed them to get their packs and escorted them back toward the city.