by LeRoy Clary
The Cabots would be on the left bank where the buildings were often four stories high, and some higher. They still didn’t row the boat to move faster. The slow current carried them fast enough for them to take in the immense spread of the city, and when they passed a small river joining the Middling on the right, the smells of a hundred sewers enveloped them. Objects bobbed in the water; better left unseen.
Bender rowed closer to the other shoreline as Tyler and Prim gagged and covered their noses. As if to insult them, the smells from the left side grew even worse. Waste flowed from pipes large enough to walk into if anyone dared.
Tyler pointed to a long, thin pier where dozens of small boats were tied up. Bender took them to an open space along the dock where a toothless man with squinting eyes accepted the line Tyler tossed to him. Prim had already tied up her boat and took the leashed for the dragons, and they collected all their belongings before climbing onto the dock. Lucky remained close, closer than usual.
The old man who had tied their boat now held out a hand, palm up. He wore clothing that might have had color at one time, but had taken on the same color of gray as the buildings and everything else in sight. He tried a smile, but it looked more like a snarl.
“For what?” Tyler asked.
“You think tying up your boat here is free, do you?” The man spat in the water while eyeing the dragons, but he said nothing about them, although he made sure they didn’t get close.
“How much?”
“A thin copper a day. For each.”
Tyler passed two small coins to him and said, “We’ll return if we need to stay longer.”
Each of them now held a leash, even Prim. She had fashioned one for Lucky out of a piece of rope from her rowboat. None of the animals objected to the leads as they walked to the end of the dock where a small shack stood. Inside, a man growled at them as they walked past, “A thin a day.”
Tyler said, “We already paid your man.”
“What man? I’m the only one here.”
Tyler turned to look at the man he’d paid, but he was nowhere in sight. Rather than fight, he pulled two more small copper coins and handed them to the man in exchange for a slip of paper that was a receipt. He said, “If you happen to see that guy who I already paid, pass on a message for me.”
“Messages delivered will cost you another thin copper.”
The man now wore an evil smile, and Tyler knew the two were working together. Tyler smiled back. “No matter, pass it on or not. Your choice. My dragon got his scent when he tied up our boat. The last man upriver to cheat us made Rage a fine meal. Well, not a full meal, because he only ate one leg. Would you like to pet him? Just call him by name, first. Rage.”
“You can’t threaten us.”
“What the hell else do you expect when you cheat people? You’re lucky I don’t release him. Let your friend know what I said, or not, I don’t care. Saves me the cost of dragon-food when Rage locates his scent again. We’ll be back to check on our boats a few times and remember he has your scent, too, so take good care of them.”
The vendor paled. Rage tugged on the leash, and Tyler tugged back. Rage must have sensed the tension because he locked eyes with the vendor and squatted, leaving a pile of stinking, steaming crap on the end of the pier without ever breaking eye contact. Tyler turned and led the way up the walkway to the city, following the dragon on the leash and watching as people gave way to him. A rat scuttled too close, and Rage snapped it up and swallowed it by tossing his head back and gulping, never missing a step. Tyler watched the lump slide down the dragon’s throat with disgust.
The vendor for the dock ran up behind, holding out his hand. “Sorry for the confusion back there.”
Tyler caught the spinning coins the vendor tossed to him. Tyler nodded curtly and followed the others up the road.
“Was that really necessary?” Bender asked, rolling his eyes.
Prim spoke first, “Yes, I think it was. It’s the principle, not the act. Isn’t it true you’re here in this vile place for much the same reason? Principle?”
Tyler tried to hide his smile. Her tongue knew few bounds, but he wondered at her use of language. Where did a girl of her age learn a vocabulary that included words such as vile? Then he reconsidered. It happened. He also knew and understood the word, and who would believe that?
The broad area for workmen loading and unloading ships gave way to a street that snaked along the river. Most of the shops catered to the river-crews, and the city lowlifes, cheapest whores, gamblers and cheaters, watered spirits, and petty crime.
They all watched the new arrivals with lust and greed, tempered by caution at the sight of the dragons. While neither Tyler or Bender possessed imposing bodies, they walked with the assurance of experienced military. Their strides fell into natural unison, the swords at their sides were always in casual reach, their hands never far from the hilts. Those things were observed by those wishing to prey on them and were the second thing to be seen. Of course, the dragons caught everyone’s attention first.
The barkers called out to other people strolling past, offering their wares, promising gambling success, fine ales, and fine women. But few called to Tyler and Bender, and none to Prim.
The next street up the hillside also ran parallel to the river. More modest businesses occupied the shops, the people on the streets appeared more honest, a little down on their luck, perhaps, but a step above River Street, and fewer barkers called for customers with their promises.
The third and fourth streets up the hillside were much the same as the second, but the fifth street was totally different. It was paved with granite bricks of much the same size as each other. They were smooth on top from the passage of many feet, wagons, hooves, and age. The street was wide enough for wagons to travel in both directions, as well as a steady stream of people who walked. Trees grew near many buildings, most of them fruit trees, and there was a small park with children playing. The people were more successful, their dress gayer, cleaner, and better made.
However, the air remained gray and full of smoke, but perhaps not as much as down nearer the river where it tended to settle. The buildings on each side of that street were two and even three stories tall, with a sense of age and shabbiness starting to show. Bender said, “Each street gets nicer than the last.”
“The houses on the next are even taller. And bigger,” Prim said.
Thunder hissed at a cat that paused long enough to manage one quick hiss itself, before leaping from the street to the top of a wooden fence just in time to avoid the snap of the dragon’s jaws.
They walked slowly, observing everything and allowing the city to observe them. Bender said, “I think I understand something.”
“That walking uphill is tiring?” Prim asked between pants while she struggled to keep up.
Not to be outdone by Prim’s sarcasm, Tyler said, “Let me guess. You noticed that more of the pretty women here are watching me more than you?”
Bender snorted in amusement, but instead of arguing, he said, “You know those tales everyone believes about dragons spitting fire?”
“Of course,” Prim supplied, giving him permission to continue. “They’re silly.”
Bender slowed near a rock wall that doubled as a bench. Resting on it, he said, “I think I’ve it figured out. Those dragon farts last night almost choked us, remember?”
Both Prim and Tyler nodded, but said nothing else while they tried to regain their breath.
“Well, these are small dragons, baby dragons. Think what their farts will smell like when they’re full grown, and how many farts will fill the air with their gas. Now, imagine one dragon attacking a house or castle where there are open flames from candles or torches! It farts and whoosh! The flames will be higher than the roof.”
Tyler fought to prevent a smile from forming, but when Prim laughed out loud, he couldn’t hold back. It was obvious. Dragons didn’t breathe fire, but they sure started them from the other end!
A well-dressed young man on a beautiful tan horse trotted up to them from behind and shouted, “Get out of my way, damn you.”
Tyler turned to him. The riding crop the man swung barely missed his face.
“I said, move.” The words slurred from wine or ale, but it was clear the man was used to people leaping to obey him. Tyler started to formulate an angry response, not wishing to offend the man, but a polite request from the man would have had Tyler leaping out of the way. The riding crop changed things. Now, he stood and waited.
But, Tyler was too late. Bender released Thunder’s leash with a flourish and a smile. The man on horseback swung the crop again, striking the dragon on the neck and he smiled a superior smile as his horse nervously brushed past. However, Thunder dodged another blow by the riding crop and now lowered his neck and head as it rushed at the horse, the jaws opening, the tooth-filled mouth of the dragon leading the charge. Thunder reached the horse’s rear leg just above the knee and snapped closed.
In the next few instants, the horse reared and tried to sidestep the intense pain, and at the same time, it reared back and screamed in terror. The rider was thrown to the cobblestone street and rolled. Thunder attacked the horse again, this time tearing and ripping flesh and fur from the ribs.
Meanwhile, in the same few instants of time, Bender leaped ahead, drew his sword and the point touched the neck of the rider. As calm as if he was asking directions, Bender said, “Sir, a word, if you don’t mind.”
Prim stepped up to Thunder and grabbed his leash, pulling it from the meal of horse-meat it was intent on eating. Tyler had his hands full in keeping Rage from joining in the meal. Even Lucky growled and tried to find something to attack.
All other activity within sight had come to a complete standstill, the strollers, walkers, deliverers, and others, now turned to gawkers. A beefy man wearing a pale blue uniform with a silver star sewn sloppily on the chest rushed up to them. A patch on his shoulder read, Constable. With authority, he shouted, “What’s goin’ on here?”
Tyler stepped between the constable and Bender; his fingers curled around the hilt of his sword, but he didn’t draw it more than a few inches. “A private matter, if you will, sir. I believe the man on the ground is about to apologize and end the matter.”
“Apologize?” the man on the ground roared. “Do you know who I am?”
Bender thrust the tip of his sword forward enough to draw blood. “I do know. You are a stupid buffoon of a man who thinks he’s better than all others walking on this street. But without an immediate apology, you will draw your last breath from a different hole in your body.”
The constable had backed off and now attempted to step around Tyler. Sensing Tyler’s feelings, Rage had been watching the commotion, but now turned and took up a position beside Tyler, blocking any advancement by the constable, who watched the dragon instead of the confrontation between the two men.
Tyler said to the constable in a conversational tone, “Relax. It’s almost over, one way or the other and you can’t change that.” When he turned, Tyler noticed the horse had either run off or wandered out of sight to care for its wounds. The dapper man on the ground was examining the blood on his hand after touching his throat. He also reacted to the filth he lay in as if trying to decide which was worse, the gray filth that covered the stone roadway or the blood.
“I’m sorry,” he spat, not sounding in the least bit sincere.
But Bender instantly sheathed his sword and offered his hand to help the man stand and in a smooth and easy voice said. “Please be more careful in the future.”
Prim’s eyes kept darting to the constable, obviously disliking his overweight body and mismatched blue of his trousers and tunic. Her eyes went to the twin streaks on his thighs where he obviously wiped his hands until the stains were part of the uniform. She said, “We’ll be on our way, now.”
Both Bender and Tyler sensed iron in her tone and turned away from the still increasing, but sizable crowd. Those in the rear were pushing forward to see the action, which caused the crowd at the front to edge forward, as well. Most were either smiling or laughing.
The three of them departed up the hill to the next street and immediately turned left to disappear from the people watching them, but the story would spread. Tyler could use a little privacy and wanted to warn Bender about making another scene.
A brass plate mounted above a small, polished wooden door caught Tyler’s attention before he could speak. It said, in black paint, ‘Solicitor’ and he’d heard that term often in the army. He jabbed a thumb at it. “I think that means he represents people needing help with the law.”
Bender cracked a lopsided smile. “Well, if we don’t need legal help now, we will soon when that dandy stirs up the local police for Thunder taking a bite out of his horse.”
“Not to mention the small cut on his neck,” Prim added with a roll of her eyes.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Tyler and Bender entered the expensive polished door beside the brass plaque, while Prim remained outside with the three animals. Immediately inside was a small reception area. In the rear opened a long, low room that was filled with a row of scribes, each sitting at a high desk on a stool, each of them busy with pens and ink, heads lowered, no talking.
But one man was alone in the reception area. He sat at a small desk set inside an alcove. Unlike most of the others, his cheeks were clean shaven, his beady eyes bright and intelligent. He might have been over thirty and less than sixty, he was that sort of a man, and when he spoke his voice took on a brittle effect. “May I help you?”
“Are you the solicitor?” Tyler asked politely.
“If I were, would I be sitting here?” If words could snarl, his would have done so.
Bender’s eyes narrowed as his hand slowly fell to the handle of his sword. As his fingers wrapped around the grip, he said, “Having drawn the blood of one fool today who spoke to me in the same tone you just used, I will make myself clear. I have need of a solicitor.”
Tyler pursed his lips, determined to allow Bender to do the speaking for them, but his eyes raised enough to notice the seven men sitting on the tall stools remained in the same positions, but none was using his pen. Most quills hovered over paper ready to proceed with their work again, but all the eyes of the men watched Bender.
The small man at the reception desk didn’t back down. “A solicitor in this part of Aston City is very expensive. May I recommend a few names on the lower part of the city near the river that might suit you better? Ones you might afford?”
Bender leaned over the desk, placing his nose very close to that of the other. “Only if they charge more than this solicitor. I do not deal with any but the best, sir. Provide me a list of the names of the best and most expensive in the city.” He turned his head without moving any of the rest of his body, and Bender said, “Tyler, please leave this silly man a silver bob for his troubles, and nothing smaller, if you please.”
“One moment, if you will.” The man leaped to his feet and hustled down the line of desks to a closed door. He knocked softly and entered before receiving a response. He reappeared after a few heartbeats.
A robust man with a nose so large one would think his head would continually tilt forward from the weight emerged at a dignified pace. While the nose dominated his face, Tyler didn’t miss the canny eyes, nor the hand held behind his hip where a dagger probably rested.
He paused, then motioned for them to advance, while he waved an arm for them to pass through the doorway to an office. The cramped space filled with scribes gave way to an immense room paneled in light colored wood. The high ceiling allowed for the rows of small windows situated up where they dispersed light evenly throughout the room. The floor was also made of a lighter wood, a different one, and covered in tan and beige rugs, all thick and expensive.
Despite the size of the room, a smallish fireplace near the single desk warmed the room, a generous pile of firewood stacked beside it. The single de
coration on the wall behind the functional desk was an ax. Not a battle ax, or a decorative ax made for display. It was the same as a thousand others, a simple worn tool that a woodsman had used.
A bookcase stood against another wall, and on the third wall was a long, low table heaped with documents, books, and papers neatly stacked. The man with the large nose followed them into the room and pointed to chairs facing his desk.
Without preamble, as he sat, he said, “My man says you wish to speak with the most expensive solicitor in the city.”
Bender nodded, looked for permission to continue from Tyler and at his nod, he said, “I think that there are times expense must relate to quality, but there is more to know before we talk business. A man charging more is not necessarily the best, no offense.”
“You wish to know something about me before we proceed?”
“We do.”
“Well, if you have come to me in support of King Righteous, as he calls himself, on an issue on the side of the wealthy, or to mistreat the good people of Aston in any manner you have chosen the wrong man.”
“How so?” Bender asked, simply.
“The ax you were looking at behind me is the one I used to earn my living as a young man. My father and his father were woodsmen, and I was to be one also. However, my mind would not remain focused on chopping wood, and eventually, I was apprenticed to a solicitor to learn the trade. It suits me well enough that I now only accept clients for purposes I wish.”
Bender smiled. “I take it that you are a rogue?”
“I rarely represent the side of the powerful and wealthy, if that is what you mean by calling me a rogue.”
“Sir, I believe we have stumbled upon the very man we were seeking,” Bender declared.
“But I have not agreed to represent you in any manner. Why, you have not even told me your names, let alone the nature of your business, except that I am reliably informed that you travel with a young woman, a dog that seems to lose most its fights, and two young dragons.”
