by LeRoy Clary
Thoughtfully, Carrion said, “If it was me, I’d bribe a few lower ranking officers in the King’s army and as they rise in ranks, hold the threat of treason over their heads. Maybe buy a small farm for the parents of a lieutenant and wait for him to get promoted to general. No telling how many officers you can buy in twenty years.”
Then Raymer added, “When they invade, half the officers might order their men away from fighting. Breslau can win the war easily.”
The talk died down. There was more drinking than eating or talking. Tanner caught Anna’s attention. “So what do we do?”
The overwhelming odds and defeatist attitudes had worn on her. She had begun the venture with so much enthusiasm and excitement, but now she had sunken to the depths of throwing an innkeeper out of his own establishment. Breslau started planning and laying the groundwork before she was born. How could she hope to make a difference, let alone stop it? Looking at her feet, she said, “Hey, you’re older, experienced, and three of you have fought in battles. I’m just a little girl. Why ask me?”
Everyone laughed. Their reaction struck hard at something deep inside her. She lifted her head and looked at them. All of them, one at a time. She saw they waited for her next words as if she was going to say something profound. She chose the words carefully. “I’m going to fight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Her words transformed them. She was going to fight, and so were they. All eight of them. Eight people to take on a war planned and executed over for over twenty years. Every piece of the war puzzle had been researched by Breslau and worked out in advance. The only piece not taken into account was the eight of them. Now all she had to do was plan how to win.
She reached for more wine and found a hand wrapped around her wrist. Raymer. He shook his head. “Eat something, instead.”
Chewing on a slice of meat, she raised a hand for attention again. When she had it, she said, “We’ve heard from all but three. Captain? Will you go next?”
Captain Jameson stood and in a formal voice spoke. “I wouldn’t have a ship if it were not for you people in this room. The truth is, I wouldn’t have a life, either. I say that if enough of the King’s army waited at Shrewsbury, the invasion could be repelled. But that’s not going to happen, from what I hear. If you cannot defeat them there, I only see one option. Take the war to them.”
He sat. Anna looked to Thief. “What do you have to say?”
“I go with you.”
She waited, but nothing else was to be said. “Devlin, nobody has asked you to join us. A smart man would flee each time he saw any of us. You do not have to stay with a band of fools who are trying to fight a whole nation while defending a king who is a fool. Nobody will hold it against you if you choose to walk away.”
Devlin did not stand. He glanced around the table before pulling his sleeves above his elbows. “These marks on my arms say I am less than any slave, less than a man. I am a Crab. I survived on garbage left by others. I have never been anything and would never be allowed to be anything but the lowest scum. That was my life. Now I am a crewman on The Rose. I’m working to be the best sailor on the seas. This opportunity is only because of Tanner and Carrion, and the people here. Like Thief says, I go with you.”
That brought smiles to the faces and glasses lifted again. Anna hadn’t told them how she planned to fight, or when. But she had ideas in her head that she had been thinking about since Gray returned to the Drylands Family. Looking around the table told her she had the pieces of the puzzle in the room.
That brought the thought of failing to the forefront of her mind. It didn’t matter. Failure meant she would die soon. Not fighting Breslau meant she would die soon after. The only difference was that while fighting she gave herself the chance to win and live. It was no contest.
The front door of the Inn opened, and one of the constables who had been there earlier stuck his head inside and asked politely, “May we join you?”
Anna was already on her feet, a smile of welcome for them. She ran to the door and held it wide as six men wearing badges entered. For a small town, Racine had a lot of constables, but they also had a lot of sailors. She called for attention, which was not required since nearly half the people in the room looked at the new arrivals with distrust. She said, “These are my newest friends. They are welcome to eat and drink with us. Make them your friends.”
One constable nudged another, “That must be the girl you told us about?”
“Was I lying?” the other answered.
Raymer was already busy passing out mugs and offering wine or ale, along with the food still heaped on the table. The constables grabbed mugs, food, and introduced themselves. Within a short time, they were laughing and talking with Anna’s people as if they’d known each other for years.
Captain Jameson eased up to her side. “Young lady, I must compliment you on your new friends.”
“Why is that?”
“Because, while you may not realize what you’ve done, imagine yourself, or any of us, ten days from now. Suppose a merchant calls for one of the constables and claims we cheated him. How do you believe that will end?”
Anna considered before answering. “I would hope that one of us gets a fair shake and a chance to explain.”
He chuckled and reached for more cheese. “I’d think the matter would be settled in short order—in our favor. Yesterday we would have been carried off to the local jail. Tomorrow we will be treated as honorable friends. You have done more to improve relations in a day than others in a year.”
She said while standing, “Will you sit at a table in the corner with me?” Without waiting, she turned and went as far away from the others as possible. Eyes followed her, but all understood she wished privacy and respected that. When she pulled out a chair, the Captain was right behind her.
“You want to discuss business or plan a war?”
“Does it have to be one of those two things?” she asked, taken aback that he had almost read her mind.
“It does. Now, if it is business, there is no need. Tanner, Carrion and I own the ship. It has turned a fair profit lately, and we have money banked.”
“That thought hadn’t crossed my mind, so I’m glad it’s taken care of. I want to talk about the war.”
He almost smiled, but held back. “You look like a girl, but talk like an old war dog. It’s strange to hear the words when I relate them to what you appear. Let me guess. You want to talk about how to take the war to them?” the Captain asked.
“I have a few ideas. They may not be worthwhile, but then again, they might. You can help me decide.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. Direct, but mind not made up. Strong but flexible. If you were the Captain of a ship, I’d sail anywhere with you.”
“Let me set up my idea by asking you a few questions. You resupplied The Rose at a different island on your last voyage to Breslau because nobody in the main port at the Marlstones would even deal with you. None would sell you supplies. Do you think that option is still open?”
The Captain paused, thinking. “I expect it is, but if the officials in the Marlstones found out about it, I’d think they would try to close the other port.”
“Can they do that?”
“What’s to stop them? The villagers there welcomed us and our money. But if Breslau has found out about them helping us, they probably either threatened them or bribed them. The end result is the same.”
“So sailing there and expecting help is risky.” Captain Jameson acted determined not to give away any advice or information. He acted like he wanted her to dig for it, while he made up his mind about her. At least that is how she perceived it. She just smiled and waited for his response and if she had to drag the information from him, she would.
“Sailing there unprepared is risky. Without water and supplies, a ship might not make it back to Racine.”
Anna noticed how he answered. It reminded her of a teacher many years earlier, back when she was first b
eing taught to think for herself. “Being prepared for a voyage is the key if I understand what you’re saying. Can you carry enough supplies on your ship to avoid having to depend on the Marlstones?”
“That’s what I was thinking. The Rose is a cargo ship, of sorts. But it was built for small cargoes that needed to be transported quickly for whatever reason. We have an empty hold right now. Kegs of dried fruit, meat, fish, and more kegs of water wouldn’t fill the hold. Of course, we would also have to carry enough for our return since we can’t be certain of buying supplies in Breslau.”
“But it can be done? The ship can carry enough?”
“Easily,” Captain Jameson said.
“How long will it take to purchase and load that many supplies?
“A half day at most.” At her astonished reaction, he laughed. “There are a dozen suppliers in Racine. Empty water kegs are cheap and plentiful. The food we would take is long lasting and in stock already, although no one chandler will have enough or the variety we will want. But a quick trip to buy from three or four will have those supplies on the pier beside The Rose in no time.”
Anna said, “Stay right here.”
She leaped to her feet and found a white wine bottle with nearly half remaining. She grabbed a plate of pale cheese slices and a handful of yellow cheese cubes from another. After topping it off with slices of spicy dark meat, she balanced it all and carried it back to the table, ignoring the looks, catcalls, and insults from her friends.
“For both of us,” she said, placing the plate between them, but keeping the wine to herself. “Now, if you were going to start a war and delay them from attacking, what would you do?”
“Really? You’re asking me?”
“I am.”
“Well, obviously one small ship like The Rose cannot defeat a whole fleet, but those troop ships they will sail are wide bodied and only carry two short masts. That is an advantage we have. Speed.”
“Okay, their ships are slower,” she said between mouthfuls. “I get that. Wide ships with less sail mean slower speeds. How do we take advantage of that?”
Captain Jameson snorted, “I was just pointing it out, not offering a way to defeat them.”
“But it is a long way across the ocean, is it not?”
“You have an idea, I’m thinking.”
“A few of them. We have at least four or five men with us who can draw a longbow. Arrows with flames will set ships on fire. You could approach at an angle, giving your ship more speed and from upwind, and our arrows will fly farther. The captain on my only trip was scared of fire on his ship.”
“As well he should be. Fire is serious, and I’m not sure I’d be up to burning ships. Think of the men drowning.”
“Think of the men, women, and children dying from slashing swords if those men reach our shores.” Captain Jameson starred at the intensity and fury of her words and tone. She hadn’t meant to react so strongly, but he was thinking of sailors and soldiers who were intent on killing and ruling her people. The Captain needed to quit thinking like a commercial cargo carrier and more like a general.
How do I know what is in a general’s head? She wouldn’t back away from what seemed obvious to her. From his reaction, she had slapped him across his face. His jaw was now set, and his eyes flashed. She’d made a serious mistake. Captains are not spoken to in that manner, especially by young girls. But any attempt to back off her position would make her appear weak.
She continued, “If we’re going to prevent a war on our lands, we need to convince them not to come here with their army, not defeat them outright. If our King was any kind of leader, he would either negotiate peace or intimidate them with his troops. Instead, he allows himself to be made a fool by sending the troops to the far end of the kingdom in the idea of joining forces.”
Captain Jameson was listening, but had lost his friendly demeanor. He poured more wine and waited.
Anna continued, “Our King does not reason things out. If his men were joining the Breslau army to seek out and destroy the Dragon Clan, they would be on the shores where the ships land. Fleming is a large enough port for those troop ships, and with the resources in place to support them, but instead of that, they planned to land at Shrewsbury, a small port located where an army can march right into Princeton without opposition.”
“I understand that,” the Captain said coldly. “But sinking ships at sea turns my stomach. Besides, your plan will not work.”
“Why not?”
“When the captains of those ships see what we’re doing they’ll scatter. We might find one or two, but that’s all. The rest will arrive and send their troops ashore.”
Anna sipped her wine and in her most pleasant voice said, “You make a good point, sir. Now, will you tell me what we can do to prevent that, instead of what we cannot?”
“Without the help of the King and time to do it, we cannot raise a fleet and load it with soldiers and sail right up that damn river of theirs. But that river and all that’s built along the banks gives me wonder. Our problem is that we still lack information.”
“You have an idea?”
He hesitated. Then, as if making up his mind about something, he dipped his finger into his wine and drew a half circle on the table. He dipped it again and drew a wriggly line. “Breslau Bay and the river it is built on. Back at my ship I have a chart that shows this.” He wet his finger again and drew another line well below the bay. “This river has no name on my chart, no cities indicated, and as far as I can tell there are no roads inland from one river to the other.”
“That means something to you?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “The problem is that I don’t know what it means. I’ve been looking at that chart ever since we returned, time and again, and all I can say is that it does not make sense.”
“I still don’t see your point, Captain.”
“Look at it this way. You believe Breslau is coming here for more land. There is more land along that river to the south, right? More than enough to grow crops and support cities. Why does Breslau not go there instead of all the way across the Sea?”
“I’m beginning to see your point.”
“And what is there at that river? Another city or kingdom? Since it seems there are no roads connecting them, that suggests the two do not cooperate, and possibly hate each other. That last might be a stretch.”
Anna burped and giggled before mumbling a few words.
The Captain asked, “What was that?”
“An old thing the Dragon Clan says. When we share enemies, we’re allies.”
“You put your finger on exactly what I was stumbling to say. If we share enemies, can we get them to help us fight Breslau? At least point out some of their weaknesses?”
“That is if there are people living on that other river who do not like Breslau. I could think of enough ‘ifs’ to say otherwise that would keep us up all night, but the one way to find our answers is to sail to your mystery river and see what and who is there.”
“Mystery river?”
She swallowed more wine and refilled her mug. “Mystery River is the name of it until we find another.”
Captain Jameson raised his mug to salute her. “Mystery River it is.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Anna woke with a headache. Shouting and the sounds of heavy feet walking above her made her head pound. She pulled a thin pillow over her face, but not before she saw a low, wood ceiling above. Not the Inn.
Dank smells assaulted her, and while she believed she was dizzy, she decided the room was moving in reality. She was on a ship. The Rose, for sure.
Then she remembered how good the white wine tasted last night. Sweet, with a pleasant after-taste. Like liquid candy.
The thought of candy brought bile to her mouth. She fought to control herself. Throwing up was worse than fighting her body for control. Anna steeled herself and drew in a long, slow breath. She was not up to facing bright light yet, and as the Six Gods knew, she couldn’t
eat, let alone think about it.
More pounding sounded. She pulled the pillow tighter, so it helped keep out the offending noise. The door to her cabin opened and Devlin entered. She gave him only enough of a peek to recognize who she’d take out her wrath on if he continued pounding on her door.
“Anna, they sent me to wake you.”
“You succeeded.”
“Uh, I think they want you to get up and go above decks.”
“Tell them I’m sick.”
“Raymer said it’s the after-effects of the wine. He said to tell you that when you drink too much wine at night, you still have to get up in the morning.”
“I’ll drink no more wine.”
Devlin laughed, “He said you’d say that, too.”
She heard him run from the cabin, the door slamming behind him, but not before she heard him laugh. In slow motion she swung her feet over the edge of the bed and managed to stand, if a little wobbly. The floor rolled slightly, and she grabbed for support on the edge of the bed and missed. A half-step brought her upright, but did nothing to do for her pounding head.
She opened the door and looked in both directions. Nothing indicated which way to go, so she chose left. At the end of the narrow hallway, a flight of steep stairs took her to another door. She opened it, and sunlight flooded in. Anna groaned in response, but stepped onto the deck.
The Captain and Raymer were standing beside each other watching a boom and pulley system lift kegs from the pier and carry them onto the deck, where sailors tossed them onto their shoulders and disappeared below decks. Raymer spotted her and motioned for her to join them.
Captain Jameson grinned and said, “We’re taking on the water and supplies you suggested.”
“Already?”
He gave her a confused expression before saying, “I ordered what you wanted this morning with hopes of setting out later today.”
“Setting out?”
“Do you need a few moments to gather your thoughts and recall our discussion?”
