Dragon Clan #4: Gray's Story

by LeRoy Clary

  “He never grew up. His whole life was only about him, so don’t feel bad.” She used a stick to begin digging a hole for the fire.

  Gray said, “I’m going to scout around.” He’d had enough talking for one morning to turn his mood angry and foul. He stormed off down the side of the hill in the direction of the water. Once away from Anna he paused to let his mind, try to control his emotions. She had not blamed him in any manner, but her questions were the same he’d asked himself. The girl was often too insightful. Worse, she didn’t hesitate to speak her mind.

  The trees were mostly small hardwoods, the underbrush thin. The smells of pine and cedar filled the warm air. Ducks and geese flew. If a dragon came near, the birds would land and hide despite the fact that dragons seldom dined on them. It was as if ducks and geese didn’t wish to share the sky with dragons. None had ever nested at the lake at Oasis, although now and then a few migrating made a quick stop.

  He could still feel the dragon at the edge of his abilities to sense it. As he had many times before, he sat on a boulder and reached out. Nothing came in return. Someday it would. He knew it.

  He glanced at the water of the bay again. Movement caught his eye. He raised his head and found a ship sailing around the end of the breakwater. He couldn’t tell if it was the Pearl, but assumed it was. It was the only ship due. As he stood to go tell Anna of the ship, his back tingled more, stung, and then burned.

  The intense pain dropped him to the ground, face first. He rolled over and the pain increased a hundred times. Gray howled as if he’d fallen into the campfire.

  Then it increased even more as a green dragon flew overhead, fast and low. The dragon turned its head, and the red eyes searched for, then found Gray. The beat of the wings faltered. But it flew on, twisting and turning to look again at Gray.

  The pain diminished as the beast flew on, and Gray managed to stand on weak legs. He stumbled up the side of the hill, trying to run, but falling over and over. His back still hurt. So did his knees and elbows where he’d skinned them in the many falls, but he had to check on Anna.

  Breaking free of the underbrush, he ran into the clearing. Anna lay on the grass, face down, knees pulled to her chest, moaning softly. He ran to her side.

  “It hurts,” she said. “Lift my shirt and look at my back.”

  Gray gently lifted her shirt and exposed her dragon tattoo. Unlike most, hers held only the head of a dragon, face ready to leap and bite the observer. It was red, detailed and almost savage in appearance in normal times. It now appeared inflamed. Each line of the image too red.

  He gently placed his fingertips on the image of the dragon. Each line was now raised, looked raw, and painful. She winced. He withdrew his hand and reached for the corner of a blanket and a water jar. He dampened it and patted her back. The pain of watery blood spread wherever he touched.

  She sat, tears still flowing down her cheeks, and said, “Did it affect you?”

  He nodded.

  “Turn around.” She lifted his shirt and sucked in a gasp of air. “Dancing gods above, I’ve never seen or heard of this.”

  “The lines of my dragon are welts?”

  “Like you’ve been whipped, and it somehow made a picture.” Her voice held fear and awe as she touched him. “I wish I had some salve or knew which medicinal plants to gather.”

  “Your dragon is the same.”

  “No wonder it hurts so much. What happened?” She asked.

  “Did you see that green fly over us?”

  “The greens are not supposed to sense us. We can’t feel them, either.”

  Gray said, “Well, I think that information is wrong. I can’t explain it, but we can definitely feel the touch of at least one dragon.”

  “I still feel the red. It’s nearby.”

  “Me too,” Gray agreed. “The touch feels completely different. The red stings, but is a warm, friendly sort of feeling despite that. Just an itch most of the time. The green was hatred and anger. Mean.”

  “I agree.”

  “I was lying in the open down there. It flew over me and turned its head to find me. When it did, it missed a beat with its wings. I was sure it would turn and attack, but instead, it looked away and flew on.” Gray pulled down his shirt and tried to stand, but gave up and remained sitting.

  Anna said, “I watched it look at you. It acted confused.”

  “I don’t care how it acts as long as it stays away.”

  “The Pearl arrived. We have to get onto the ship where the Captain will protect us from the constable and townspeople. Tonight.” Her voice trembled with each word.

  “I’ve heard most sea captains consider their ships as their own property and he can keep them away, but he can also decide to turn us over to them. We can’t know what reception we’ll get.”

  Anna took the water jug from him and drank heavily. “I say we get on the ship and take our chances. He has a duty to protect passengers, and we’ve paid our way. My books say that captains are usually honorable men.”

  “I have to warn Kelby.”

  “You have the coin. Pay the Captain to carry a message to her and purchase her passage.”

  Gray said, “We are making decisions with a lack of information. At least, ten things can go wrong with our plan. Maybe I should go on alone and send you back to the family with what’s happened so far.”

  Anna snorted, suddenly turning back into a twelve-year-old girl who knows everything. “Nothing to tell them. Just a lot of your guesses and some of them are bound to be wrong. Maybe I should send you back, and I’ll go to the Marlstones.”

  Gray knew when he was beaten. “We’ll go together.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The ship at the pier appeared as pretty as a drawing on colored paper by a talented artist, as Gray and Anna crept closer to the buildings of the town and peered through the underbrush. It had not anchored, which had been a fear of Gray’s. If anchored, he would have to find a way to steal a small boat and row.

  It was tied up to one of the piers. Unfortunately, it was at the one closest to the town and all the activity, such as it was. A boom on the ship lowered crates loaded onto the dock, and listless men loaded them onto wagons that carried them away. A few crates waited on the pier to be loaded onto the ship.

  There were few people on the street, as usual for the town. The sailors wore baggy uniforms made of coarse blue material, but even if they dressed the same as townsmen, they would be recognizable because they moved about in their duties quickly, often shouting orders or directing to others. Their arms waved, fingers pointed, and they ran as much as they walked. The difference between them and those from Shrewsbury was striking, even from a distance.

  One man on the ship roamed the deck, observing all, hands clasped behind his back. No, more than roamed, he stalked the deck searching for problems. The Captain paused occasionally and offered a word, or shouted an order, but most of the time his well-trained crew knew their jobs.

  Another, at the foot of the gangway, held a stack of papers in his hand. He directed the unloading while consulting them. He was directly in charge, and any comments made by the Captain drew his attention as if the comments were criticisms of his work. He was the bos’n.

  The afternoon was late. Gray and Anna remained hidden in the trees at the edge of town. They quietly planned the best route to cross the street undetected, and race to the pier. The shipping agent they had purchased passage from walked out onto the dock. He shook hands with the man in charge of the dock. They passed a few words, papers exchanged hands, and he walked up the gangway to meet with the Captain.

  The two of them spoke for some time as if they were old friends, or, at least, business acquaintances on good terms.

  Anna said, “The ship will have a guard on watch tonight.”

  “At least one. And the town may also have one or two. The constables might be watching for us. But on the bright side, I’ll bet our booking agent just told both the bos’n and captain to expect tw
o passengers for the coming trip.”

  “Good. Then they’ll know of us when we sneak aboard.”

  Gray said, “Let’s move where we can see more of the street.”

  He slipped back into the forest and made a wide circle, Anna at his heels. When they reached another place to watch the street, this time behind their apartment, the view of the pier was not as good. Gray crept closer to the building as he peered between it and the one next to it. The alleyway provided a good view of the street, and of the small bookstore.

  “Looking for your girlfriend?” Anna asked, not bothering to conceal the smirk.

  I should deny it. Instead, he simply said, “Yes.”

  An unknown woman entered the store, remained for a short time and returned to the street. She carried one book, her motions slow and her eyes downcast as she walked by them no more than twenty paces away. Gray decided he could have done a fertility dance, and she would not have noticed.

  Soon after, she walked past the door again. Kelby stepped outside, paused and looked in both directions. Gray, concealed by the two buildings on either side, stepped out of the shrubbery into the alley and waved, attracting her attention.

  Kelby’s eyes finally found him. After a pause, she smiled. It was not the enthusiastic greeting of two days ago, but it was not the sleepy action of the townspeople either. It was somewhere between.

  Gray waved her to come to the alley as he used the deepening shadows to move closer to her. He peeked around the corner, realizing how stupid and dangerous his actions were. A bench sat in front of one building, in plain sight of anyone on the street. He pointed to it.

  She understood and angled her walk so she could sit, her head watching the street, not him. Her wits were not completely dulled. He said, “We have to get out of here.”

  Her head nodded almost imperceptibly, as she sat and looked out over the bay.

  “Tonight. Listen, do not drink any water or eat anything. The others are controlling the whole town by a drug, but we don’t know how they administer it. Stay outside as much as possible in case it is spread in the air. Say you are not feeling well and need air. Understand?”

  Another nod.

  “Where do you sleep?”

  “In a room behind the bookstore.”

  Her lips barely moved. Good. “Is there a back door?”

  She shook her head minutely. “A window.”

  “Slip out right after dark and hide in the bushes. Wait there. I’ll come get you.”

  She stood, her head still facing away. Her voice came clear and loud. “Good afternoon, Constable.”

  “How is your visit? Are you planning on staying on with us?” The constable’s voice was no more than a few steps away.

  Gray kept his back to the wall and moved to the rear, but before reaching the safety of the corner the constable came into view. He froze. The constable was half-turned, looking at Kelby, but any movement by Gray would draw attention.

  “It’s very peaceful here.”

  “That it is. Have you seen those two newcomers today?”

  “The man and the girl?”

  Kelby’s voice had taken on the slow, soft patter of the other residents during the conversation. “Let me see. They did come into the bookstore yesterday. Earlier I may have seen them, but I’m not sure.”

  “You don’t remember if you saw them?”

  “I don’t think so. That was yesterday, I think.”

  She’s letting him tell her what he wants to hear. The constable turned his head away, and Gray took two sliding steps further away before the constable turned back to her.

  The constable said as if losing patience with her, “If you do see them, fetch me.”

  “Are they in trouble?”

  “We don’t want their kind in Shrewsbury. Don’t you worry about it, we think they have gone, but look out for them.”

  Kelby stood up and walked across the street without answering. The constable watched her, and Gray used his inattention and turned head to get to the corner and slip around it. Then he darted into the brush at the edge of the trees.

  “That was close,” Anna said, punching his shoulder.

  “Kelby is drugged. Not as much as the others, but we have to rescue her.”

  Anna punched his shoulder again, harder. “Your girlfriend is not part of our job.”

  “Actually, she is. The only reason she’s here is because of you and me. She was sent, just like we were to help the Dragon Clan. We won’t let her become a victim of what’s happening here.”

  Anna balled her fist again, ready to punch him a third time, then relaxed. “You’re right. We don’t have so many friends among normals that we can let them face danger. What did you say to her?”

  “I told her not to eat or drink. Plead illness, if she had to. Then sneak out her window tonight and hide in the bushes and wait for us.”

  Anna considered what he’d said. Then she half-smiled. “Quick thinking. We can get her on our way to the ship. We owe her at least that much.”

  “This is maybe the best place to cross the street. Fewer people living in the buildings near here, and once we’re over there, we can use the beach as cover. Lots of old boats, sheds, and places to hide.”

  “Then when we get to the pier, we’ll be closer to the ship. But we’ll have to get across an open field, then the pier itself,” Anna said. “If I was searching for us, and I knew we had paid for passage, I’d set a trap there at the foot of the pier.”

  There’s no way past the men waiting there. “I may have an idea.”

  “If it involves busting a few heads of constables, I like it,” she said.

  Gray said, “We need to move to the back of the shipping office.”

  “Why? If I may ask.”

  “Because that clerk was helpful and does not like it here any better than us. I think he might help us. He has a daughter your age.” Gray led the way, reaching the spot he wanted on a building only two doors away. He watched the area, knowing the constable may be searching for him, and there may be more to help him.

  Gray said, “Stay here.” He darted to the rear of the building and put his ear to the wall. Nothing. Then he heard footsteps inside. No voices. He went to the back door and tried the handle. Locked.

  Taking a deep breath, he paused and considered all that could go wrong, then knocked, anyway. When nothing happened, he knocked again.

  “Who is it,” a hushed voice asked.

  “Gray. Your passenger on the Pearl.”

  The door opened, and a hand reached out like a claw to grab his shirt. Gray found himself yanked inside as the door shut behind him.

  “I shouldn’t be telling you this. But are you aware that they’re searching for you? They’re planning on preventing you from getting onto the ship.” The shipping agent pulled a curtain and blew out one of the two candles.

  “I suspected that. Listen, I have an idea if I can get your help.”

  “I won’t put my life in danger,” the clerk said, no give in his tone.

  “Will you just go to the ship and borrow three of the uniforms the crew wears? That’s all I’ll ask. You can say I stole them from your office.”

  “You’re thinking of walking right out in the open to the ship? That might actually work. I heard they’re going to hide under both sides of the pier because they expect you to sneak along the shore if you make a try for the ship. They’ll be waiting for you there.”

  “Will you help?” Gray asked.

  “You said three uniforms?”

  “We’ll pay the extra passage. We’ll pay a premium price.”

  The shipping clerk said, his voice becoming stern, “Who is the third person?”

  “There is a friend who works at the bookstore. She needs to get home and away from this town.”

  “Kelby? I met her when she arrived. She already has paid passage to Fleming. Nice girl. I’ll help her. And you.”

  Gray felt a wash of relief. He took the hand of the agent and pumped it, hol
ding back a desire to clasp him in a bear hug. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  The clerk said, “Let me go talk to the Captain. I’m sure he’ll allow this. He does not like it here either. He won’t even allow his crew ashore, except on errands.”

  “I’ll wait in the bushes out back. When you return just open the door, a little and I’ll get the uniforms.” Gray slipped out the rear door and ran into the shrubbery again.

  Anna said, “How did it go?”

  He filled her in, including the constables planning to guard both sides of the pier. Their earlier plan would have had them walking right into the trap. It was almost dark when the back door of the shipping office opened slightly. Gray met the clerk there.

  “The Captain is expecting you if you try to get aboard yourselves, but he offers to help you further.”

  Gray said, “How can he do that?”

  “If I set a lantern in my front window, he’ll send eight or ten of his men onto the pier as if they have a job to do. They’ll wait there until you show up, and everyone will return to the ship in a group. He doubts they will even realize more return than went ashore.”

  “If they do figure it out?”

  “There are eight or ten of his sailors spoiling for a fight with the locals. I think those are his exact words.”

  “That’s perfect. We have to go get Kelby and get dressed. Give us time to slip across the street and get set, then set out your lantern,” he reached for his coin purse.

  “No, you just get yourselves away from this awful place. I’ll sleep better knowing, at least, three people escaped, and they did it with a little help from me.” The clerk stuck out his hand to shake.

  The door closed as Gray went to where Anna waited at the edge of the forest. He outlined the plan as they changed clothing. Then they went to the side of the building. Nobody was in sight. Together they sprinted to the other side and waited for the alarm to be raised.

  Anna jabbed him in the ribs. “We made it. Let’s find your girlfriend.”

  “She’s not my. . . never mind.” He led the way behind the buildings and found the rear of the bookstore. He moved into the bushes and whispered her name, but received no answer.