by Avril Sabine
“Tomorrow morning?”
“I hope so. It was difficult to sneak out this morning.” Edana turned her horse around and headed for home.
Fen turned towards town, his mind on the problem of what he could do.
After hunting down the book he needed, Fen returned to River’s pen. He ran his hand along the dragon’s neck, comforting and drawing comfort from the action.
“No fireplace now?”
Fen heard the words whispered in his mind. He glanced around. He was alone with River. “That was you? Speaking in my head?”
River lowered his head. His eyes blinked in agreement.
“But how?”
River stared at Fen. A few minutes later, a rush of confusion washed over Fen. “New. Difficult.”
Fen nodded. “I guess you did once tell me you would.” Fen reached out and stroked River again. The dragon closed his eyes and waves of contentment washed over Fen.
“You find plan.” A feeling of certainty followed River’s thought.
“I hope so.”
“Are you still talking to that dragon of yours?” Bertrisa appeared in the doorway of the pen.
Fen smiled slightly. “Only way to have an intelligent conversation around here.”
“That’s not surprising considering your stableboy.”
Fen’s smile became a grin. “He isn’t that bad.”
“I’m not getting into that argument.” Bertrisa’s smile disappeared. “So, who’d you annoy? Must’ve been someone pretty important.”
Fen’s smile faded instantly. “Adalric.”
“Adalric as in Renarlo con Vexartian?”
“Afraid so.”
Bertrisa whistled. “You don’t do things by halves. Well, he’s putting the pressure on me, through a third party, to turf you out. I’m afraid I can’t help you much. The most I can do is hold out for five days. Will that give you enough time to find somewhere else?”
Fen shook his head. “No, but I appreciate the help. I don’t suppose you’ve got any miracles stored away?”
Bertrisa laughed. “Not the size you need. Why’d you go and mess with him anyway?”
“He decided to mess with me. He’s hoping I’ll come to him looking for stabling.”
“And the problem would be?”
“I’m not eighteen, I’m an orphan and a potential protégée.”
“Why that slimy snake! Don’t you dare give into him. I’ll see what favours I can call in. Don’t hold your breath though. You’re certainly in an impossible situation.”
Fen watched as Bertrisa strode away. He leaned against River. “And don’t I know it.”
Chapter Sixteen
One more day left, was Fen’s first thought when he woke. One day. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. He didn’t know how he was going to get through the day. The knowledge that River counted on him and Edana was probably getting ready to go riding was the only reason he stumbled out of bed. He shook Mouse, who slept on a mattress in his room.
“Not mornin’ yet,” Mouse mumbled.
“Get up and get River’s food.” Fen wasn’t in the mood for Mouse’s continual complaints.
“Aren’t you a happy one today?” Mouse glared at him as he rolled out of his blankets. “What can you expect messin’ with royals?”
“Enough.”
The ride with Edana didn’t go much better. Fen was too angry with Adalric to say much and Edana felt responsible.
“I should never have asked this of you. I should’ve let you steal any old dragon and you wouldn’t even have thought of stealing it off your old master,” Edana said.
“Shut up, Edana.”
“Shut up yourself.”
Fen closed his eyes for a second. “I’m sorry. And it’s not your fault.”
“He’s my father.”
“Yeah, but you warned me what to expect. I managed to string him along for ages. I’m just not sure what I can do next.”
“I wish I could get a hold of enough money for you to build your own stables.”
“Eventually River will be able to earn that sort of money.”
“Not if he doesn’t have a stable to stay at during his events.”
“I guess I’ll have to live in the swamps until I’m eighteen and no one can take him off me.”
“But how will you live? You’ll probably be bitten by a swamp dragon. You have to come up with a better plan.”
“Edana. Stop. I can’t think about this right now. I’ve thought about it constantly, trying to figure something out. I need a few minutes without worrying.”
“Sorry,” Edana said softly. “I’m worried too.”
“I know.”
“I’ll race you to that tree.” Edana called out as she kicked her horse.
Fen laughed at her obvious ploy and urged his horse to follow. When they both reached the tree, Edana first, they slowed their horses.
“Did that help?” Edana asked.
Fen smiled slightly. “I’m glad we met. Whatever happens. This is the life I was meant to have, not the one I had before.”
“You really mean to take to the swamps?”
Fen shrugged. “If that’s my only choice. I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow. I’ll let you know where to find me then.”
Edana frowned. “But Fen-”
“No. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Come on. You’d better head home before you’re missed.”
Edana sighed. “I guess you’re right. But you’re not getting out of talking tomorrow.”
“I’m sure I won’t.”
When Fen arrived back at the Eastern Dragon Stables, Mouse leaned against a wall in River’s pen as he ate a sweet bun. “Dragon lady wants to see you. In her office. Will we still get these when we leave?” Mouse indicated the bun.
“Probably,” Fen said, still distracted by his problem.
Bertrisa’s office was a tiny room cluttered with several overflowing bookcases and a desk buried under mounds of paperwork. It was behind this mound she was seated, trying to do her bookwork.
“Good. I was wondering when you’d get in.” She held out a parchment. “Take this and go and talk to the man at this address. It’s about the best offer you’re likely to get. He’s in it for the revenge. I still wouldn’t completely trust him. I don’t believe in trusting anyone.”
Fen stared at the parchment.
Bertrisa shook it. “It’s not going to bite. Take it and get out of here. Time’s wasting. You can’t stick around here remember. I’ve my own head to think about.”
Fen took the parchment. He read it. “Who’s Hanun Carson?” The name was followed by an address outside the town in an area where the lower levels of the upper classes lived.
“A man with an axe to grind.”
“Why?”
“I’ll let him tell the story, but let’s say not all his relatives were overjoyed by his birth and he’d do anything to annoy the hell out of them. But that doesn’t mean you should trust him. He has one dragon and no hope of another. Yours might be too much of a temptation for him. Keep it in mind when you meet up with him.”
“Why would I bother with him then?”
“Because beggars have little to choose from. Play your cards close to your chest. See what’s on offer. You might be able to turn it to your own advantage. Going to see him won’t cost you a thing.”
“I guess not.” Fen tucked the directions into his belt pouch.
“I’m sorry you can’t stay. Unlike some I’ve put up with you haven’t been any trouble. Even your stableboy’s less a problem than some of them.”
Fen headed back to River’s pen. “I’ve got to see someone. Keep an eye on River.”
“Do I have to move from here to do it?” Mouse, sprawled in a pile of straw, peered at Fen from under his arm that rested across his eyes.
“I guess not.” Fen looked at River. “Watch for trouble.” It was becoming easier to communicate with River now he was learning to speak with his mind.
Ri
ver sent him a wave of reassurance.
“I’m going to see a man about some options for us,” Fen told River. He stepped forward and reached up to rest his palm against the warmth of River’s neck.
“Anyone’d think you were waiting for him to talk,” Mouse grumbled.
Fen smiled at River, feeling his amusement. “I’d get more sense out of him than you.”
Mouse grunted in reply.
Chapter Seventeen
Standing on the doorstep of a large house, Fen stared at the man who answered his knock. Even though his hair was as white as snow and his face lined with wrinkles, he stood straight and tall, his blue eyes sharp. To Fen, it appeared the lines and white hair were more a sign of a hard life than age. The man seemed to be in his early fifties.
“I’m here to see Hanun Carson.”
“And who are you?”
“Fenton Walsh.”
“Ah, the dragon boy. Come in then.” The man held the door open wider.
“My horse-”
“I’ll send someone to deal with it,” the man interrupted.
Fen followed the man inside. They ended up in an airy room that looked onto a paved courtyard. As soon as they were seated, the man rang a bell and a servant appeared immediately.
“Yes, sir?”
“Refreshments. And see to the boy’s horse.”
The servant bowed and left without a word.
“You’re Hanun Carson?”
“Most days. And depending on who you ask. Quite a few say I don’t deserve to carry the name.”
“I’ve been told you have a proposition for me.”
“Ah, the impatience of youth.”
“Yes well, we like to get things done rather than grow old waiting for them to happen.”
Hanun chuckled. “A boy with a tongue in his head. Considering your circumstances I’d think you’d be grateful to even have an option.”
“I have options. I’m not keen on any of them at the moment, but I still have them.”
“I wouldn’t want to give up my dragon either.”
“That’s not my only choice.”
“So what are your other choices, boy?”
Fen smiled. “Now that would let you know where you stand in our negotiations, wouldn’t it?”
Hanun stared at him thoughtfully. His servant came in during the silence and Hanun pointed to the small table beside his seat. After the servant had gone, Hanun started to nod. “You might do after all.”
“I need more than your approval before I can agree with that comment.”
“So you do. Tea? Cake?” Hanun waved his hand towards the tray the servant had brought in.
“Thank you.” Fen waited with a semblance of calm to be served.
“I guess you’ll want to hear my story. It has a great deal of bearing on my offer. Or at least the reason for it.”
“That’d be helpful.” Fen took the teacup Hanun held out.
Hanun nodded thoughtfully. His eyes lost their sharp look. “I was raised for the first ten years of my life by my mother and I had her family name. It wasn’t until I started my schooling I realised how unusual that was. We were lower merchants so I wasn’t teased too badly. I fought back a few times and wasn’t bothered much after that. But it made me question my mother. Made me want to know about my father. It took years. I’d get a bit of information each time I badgered her. I finally pieced it together.”
“And the name some people don’t think you worthy to bear?”
“Ah, my first name. My mother named me for my father. The man who for years I thought didn’t want me. The man who didn’t know I existed. My mother went to tell him she was pregnant but instead ran into my grandfather. He was appalled and paid her to leave. She didn’t want to accept the money, not until my grandfather explained my father was to be married in eleven days. She was devastated. She took the money because she was so dazed when he placed it in her hands she didn’t know it was there. She used it later to send me to school. It was hard having a child all alone.”
“What about her parents?”
Hanun shook his head. “Long dead. They had her late in life. By the time she’d met my father, she’d buried them both. She was alone. No brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles. She did everything possible to raise me right. And when my father found out, he wanted to take me from her. I refused. I was glad after I met my half brother. For a while I was thrilled. I had no brothers or sisters. And here I had one six months younger than me. He wasn’t thrilled.” Hanun fell silent.
“What happened?” Fen prompted.
“He did everything possible to cause trouble for me. That made me more determined to stick around. We’re a stubborn lot us Carsons. Always have been, always will be. Didn’t matter what he did. I wouldn’t let him win. Then he was given his first dragon for his eighteenth birthday. I wasn’t. He finally had something I couldn’t compete with. That was the first time I argued with my father. Even when I refused to live with him we didn’t argue. He bought me this home, he showered me with gifts, but I refused to be satisfied. I wanted my own dragon. My younger brother had one and I was denied one because of my low birth.”
“I’ve been told you have one.”
“Patience youngster.” Hanun gestured towards the tray. “More cake?”
Fen shook his head.
“Now, where was I? Ah, yes. My father died. I had a lawyer on my doorstep telling me he’d left me some money and a gift. It was a young female dragon called Pearl. I had what I’d coveted for so long. But in the process I lost my father. And while we were arguing. I regret that. But I don’t regret the animosity between my brother and I. He was named for our grandfather and is the same sort of man. I’m glad I never met our grandfather. He died while I was young. But anyway, that brother of mine, he was here the next day offering me money for my dragon. He tried everything he could to get her. He even tried to steal her. He failed. You should have seen his anger when I raced her. Never placed better than third on four occasions. It was too expensive to continue when she couldn’t place in a paying position. I tried to breed her. Thought I could make money doing that. No one wanted to. They couldn’t keep me out of the competitions, nothing in the rules to keep me out. But they could all refuse to associate with me or let my dragon mate with theirs.”
“None of them? They all banded together?”
“All of them. I thought about letting her mate with the wild dragons, but any female dragons that escape to the wild never want to return. I didn’t want to lose her. She still has years of breeding left in her. Obviously not as many eggs in each clutch at her age, but she can still lay eggs. I don’t believe in killing a dragon because they’re too old for competing and not as good at breeding anymore. My Pearl will outlive all of us.”
“Is that what you’re looking for? A dragon to breed with?”
“I’ve also heard rumours about the speed of your dragon. I want to see an outsider win in the races. I want to see my brother’s face when one of his gold-winning dragons come second to a commoner. I’ll give you bed and board, I’ll sponsor your dragon’s fees for the events and I’ll share the dragons with you from the hatchings.”
“And what’ll it cost me?”
“What are you willing to give in return?”
Fen laughed. “I wasn’t born yesterday. Give me your offer. I’ll let you know what I think about it.”
“We split the winnings after expenses. We share in the profits from selling the dragons when they’re old enough.”
“And if we can’t sell them?”
Hanun’s chuckle held a bitter edge. “The upper classes aren’t the only ones willing to pay for dragons. We’ll hold open auctions. We’ll make a fortune. The upper classes will pay big to stop the merchant class from getting their hands on a dragon.”
Fen looked at him thoughtfully. “And what’s to stop you from taking River from me? I’d be seen as your protégée.”
“We’d set it up like a business deal. Listen boy
, you won’t have a better offer. Where else will you find a stable willing to take you in? Well, take you in without trying to steal your dragon.”
“I want a better show of faith. As you keep pointing out, I’m a mere boy compared to you. I have much more to lose since most of my life is still ahead of me. My dragon’s my life. I have no other skill to earn a living with.”
Hanun tapped his chin. “Hmm. I have no children. When I die there’s no one to inherit all this.” Hanun waved to the house they were in. “I’ll make a will stating if you live with me for a year and let our dragons breed, you’ll inherit on my death, even if you’re not living with me at the time.”
“And if you die before the year is up? Accidents do happen.”
“Then if you’re living with me, you automatically inherit.” Hanun paused before adding, “As long as I don’t die through foul play.”
Fen wondered how far he could trust him. “Who’s your brother?”
“Adalric Renarlo con Vexartian.”
Fen’s jaw dropped. He was momentarily speechless.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of him. A pox on you if you are. I didn’t take you for a coward. Maybe what I took as courage earlier was plain rudeness.”
Fen shook his head. “You don’t know?”
“Know what?” Hanun rose to his feet.
Fen also stood. “Your brother’s the one causing me this trouble. He’s the one who most wants my dragon.”
Hanun pointed a finger at him. “Name your price, boy. Hell, I’ll sign it all over to you tomorrow. I’ll sign a blood oath. Name your price. I’ll pay it. Help me bring him down and it’s all yours.”
Fen shook his head, more in bewilderment than denial.
“I haven’t more to offer.”
Fen held up a hand. “Please. I need a minute. I need time to think.”
“You aren’t dismissing my offer?”
“No. It’s very generous. I’ll have to talk to a lawyer and have something written up. I’ll get back to you today.”
“Whatever you choose. Bring it here. I’ll sign it. I’m not having him win again,” Hanun stated wildly.
Fen sighed. He wanted to take Hanun’s second offer. He wanted to own the man’s home, his female dragon, all of it. He could feel the joy of owning his own home and stables burning through him. He pushed that thought away. He was no longer a thief. He’d left that life behind. Besides, if he took everything, how long would it be before Hanun was looking at ways to get even with him? “A partnership.”