Here, There Be Dragons

by LeRoy Clary

  After considering the options, Tyler said, “If I was Lord Cabot, I’d realize there is only one option with a good outcome for me.”

  “That’s one more than I came up with. What would you do?”

  “I’d try to get us to work with them and double-cross the king.”

  Bender slapped his hand on the arm of his chair, “I didn’t think of that one.”

  “Other than that, they don’t have any good options, but they might not know that because they don’t know that we met with the king’s brother.”

  “They know. Remember all those men in pairs that were patrolling here? Givens told them he was the king’s brother and the entire weight of the king’s army was about to fall on them. They were working for wages, and they quit working for the Cabots right then.”

  Tyler shrugged. “That takes away the Cabot’s last option unless they hire more and they are out of gold.”

  People without options are more dangerous. They’ll do anything,” Bender said.

  “What can they do? We just decided they don’t have any more options.”

  Bender turned to Tyler. “Those were reasonable options, but there are always other options. In desperation, they might try killing the king and taking his throne by force. Or us, and saying we were bandits. Or another option is burning the entire city to ashes. Or bringing in an army from somewhere else. Or paying their bounty hunters huge sums to do it for them. Or . . .”

  “All right! I’ve heard enough.” Tyler turned away, scared to consider any of Bender’s wild ideas, but he knew that for a man like Lord Cabot, none of them were a stretch too great to believe.

  Prim climbed to the roof and joined them, saying nothing but, “The arrow ports are blocked.”

  Tyler said in a melancholy voice, “In two days they’ll grow too big to escape through them so we can open them again if we’re still here.”

  “What’s that mean?” Prim demanded, hands on her hips, ready to argue.

  “It means I’m wondering. What’s next? For us. The dog and dragons included, but what comes next, and what happens after that?”

  Both Prim and Bender paused and exchanged a look. Bender took the lead. “Hey, I thought we were talking about what the Cabots were going to do next.”

  Tyler said, “All part of the same discussion. I know it bothers you not knowing, but we will find out soon.”

  Prim said, “It’s late, Bender. You ought to consider getting some sleep.”

  One of Girt’s men appeared from below and spoke softly to him. Girt listened and disappeared down the hatch without comment, followed by the soldier.

  “What was that about?” Tyler asked.

  “Something’s up,” Bender said, standing and heading for the hatch.

  “Of course, something’s up, that’s why we’re all following Girt,” Tyler said before glancing over his shoulder to find Prim at his heels. He hadn’t seen Girt show emotion but once, and he never seemed to hurry, but now he moved quicker than Tyler. As Girt reached the portion of the third floor where men were sprawled everywhere, he passed by them without notice, intent on racing down the stairs.

  The stench from the second floor assaulted them again. It seemed the boy they had hired to clean up after the dragons couldn’t keep up with them. The feet on the stairs woke them, and Rage and Thunder screamed in protest and charged the stairway barrier, clawing and tearing at the temporary barrier despite the chains to restrain them.

  Tyler told them to “knock it off,” and they recognized the sound of his voice, as well as pausing long enough to sniff and find both Bender and him present, then they attacked the barrier in even more of a frenzy to get at their mothers.

  While he wanted to quiet them, Tyler continued down to the ground floor where Girt stood at the trapdoor. He knelt and put his ear to the crack, but didn’t remove the heavy iron bar. He spoke, “Seven.”

  “Six.” Came the immediate answer.

  Girt looked up, smiling. “A code. If things are fine, Jenkins replies with a number one less than I say.”

  “What if he’s being forced?” Bender asked. “No telling what a man will say with a blade to his throat.”

  “He would respond with a number higher than six. The higher, the more danger.”

  Bender said, “That would take a brave man, and you never know until that blade is held to you.”

  “But they would not know the code. He’d tell them his response beforehand. ‘Whatever number he says, I will add three to it and call that back to him.’ Something like that.

  “But, what happens when you don’t open the door?” Bender persisted.

  “My response would be something like, ‘Okay, I know it is you, and you’re safe.’ I wouldn’t let them know he’s signaled me a warning.”

  Tyler crossed his arms over his chest and gave Bender a questioning look. Then he said, “You expect to be held for ransom in your normal job of working as solicitors?”

  To his credit, Girt had not yet reached for the iron bar that held the trapdoor closed. His eyes were on Bender and Tyler. Bender nodded his approval. “It is best to be prepared. We have several code words we use almost daily to communicate secretly, usually with a client right in front of us. A code-word tells the other we believe or disbelieve what they are saying. You two, do much the same.”

  “Do not,” Tyler said quickly.

  Girt said, “That is one. You deny when you want an explanation or more information. That ‘do not’ phrase instantly tells the other more information is required. May I remove the iron bar and let Jenkins come up?”

  Tyler motioned for the bar to be slipped through the iron rings. Girt was right. He and Bender had several such phrases and signals, born from spending their entire lives together. It made sense. The nearest guard helped Girt slide the bar and throw back the trapdoor. Jenkins stood below on the bottom step, hands on hips, a scowl on his face.

  Jenkins was alone, which surprised Tyler. His clothing was filthy, his hair mussed, and one cheek had a bruise oozing blood. He didn’t climb the stairs, he stalked up them. Tyler also noted he wore his battered backpack, the one he’d left with the solicitor for safe keeping, which meant he’d come from his offices.

  Girt and the guard replaced the iron bar in the security rings while Jenkins waited. Then he turned to them and said in a flat voice that managed to carry, “King James the Righteous is dead.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Bender said, “How did the king die?”

  “And we don’t believe in coincidences,” Tyler added.

  Jenkins said, “Nobody knows for sure, but there are rumors flying. Only a few trusted aides even know it happened. Only a few of his household have the information, and they’re sworn to secrecy.”

  They stood in a rough circle, each trying to imagine what might have happened and why. Tyler immediately leaped to the conclusion that the death involved the Cabots. He didn’t have to say it, as he saw the same thought on everyone’s mind.

  Bender, never one to withhold his thoughts said, “But you know, don’t you?”

  “I have friends and business acquaintances in the palace who owe me favors, which are normally repaid with information.”

  Even more important was what the death might mean for the immediate future of all, Tyler realized. How would this change their deal with Givens, and with the Cabots? He mentally kicked himself for thinking along those lines instead of feeling sorry for the old king. One of the guards hurried from the floors above and interrupted, “Excuse me, sirs, bells are ringing all over the city.”

  “Thank you,” Girt turned to the others and said, “I guess the word of the king’s death is no longer a secret.”

  Jenkins jerked a thumb upward. “Let’s convene on the third floor. I think this meeting may last a while, but we need to hurry.”

  Girt said, “Let me check out your wounds, first.”

  “They’re fine.”

  “You were in a fight? In the streets? That is not like yo
u,” Girt stated.

  “No, a few palace guards tried to detain me. I’m supposed to be locked up in the dungeons, but escaped and made it to our offices before coming here.”

  They filed up the stairs and found seats in the common room after warning the lookouts to be extra vigilant. The ringing bells were nearly constant in the background and lamps glowed from most windows as residents woke to the sound. An air of unease settled upon the city of Aston like a dense fog as the people waited to hear what was certainly bad news.

  Jenkins placed Tyler’s backpack near Tyler’s feet but remained standing. Then he began pacing the room and wringing his hands. He appeared worried, tired, and scared. A dribble of dried blood ran down one cheek, and his left eye was swelled nearly shut, but he seemed to ignore any pain.

  Tyler caught Bender’s glance and the slight shake of his head that was a warning. Tyler turned to Prim and gave her the same minuscule shake, hoping she’d understand enough to be both warned and ready to act.

  Girt sat next to Tyler but looked directly at Jenkins as if he was in charge instead of the other way around. Jenkins drew a deep breath, and as if deciding if he should dive right in, began speaking to the four of them as he paced, his head down, eyes on the carpet, “King James was assassinated.”

  There was a pause as all considered the implications and future, but Girt finally said, “Givens will abdicate the throne, so who will become king? Neither James or Givens has children.”

  Jenkins was still pacing but paused with his back to Girt, and then slowly turned to face him. “Why would you say he’ll abdicate?”

  “It’s what he said,” Girt clarified. “He said he didn’t want the responsibility, or to sit on that ungrateful seat ruling peasants. Or something like that.”

  The expression on Jenkin’s face changed from bland to scared, then to anger in the space of as many heartbeats. He snarled, “When did he say this?”

  “This evening, just after sunset when he came here to negotiate with us for King James to help resolve the Cabot problem.”

  Tyler glanced sideways at Bender, then swung his gaze and watched the two solicitors closely. Despite his size and military bearing, Girt was cowed, his shoulders slumped, his head down as if he’d done something very wrong. A few breaths were inhaled and exhaled before Jenkins took a threatening step closer.

  “He came here?”

  “We pulled him to the rooftop on a rope, and we spoke. He provided a way to make sure the Cabots lose this battle,” Girt admitted as if that explained it all. He sounded like a small boy who tried explaining that he was just trying to play chase with a friend when their family dinner spilled to the floor.

  Tyler took pity on him. “We offered to help the king settle the debts the Cabots hold. Givens was interested, but when the dragons escaped, Givens left to tell the king of our offer.”

  Jenkins said, “That was just after sunset?”

  Tyler nodded.

  “Between then and now King James was killed. That leaves the kingdom with no ruling authority until the coronation of the new king, which will probably happen at first light. It also provides the means for the Cabots to do as they wish with this building. Without a king, the royal army cannot be dispatched to protect us or the local citizens, the treasury is frozen, and a hundred other things, most of which will not favor us.”

  Girt said, “We should make our offer known to the new king. The offer was to the crown, not to a single person.”

  Jenkins reached for a brass candle holder and flung it at the nearest wall. “No need. You have already done that.”

  All eyes watched the lawyer’s face redden, but his eyes were still on Girt’s as he made the mental leaps. He said, “The rumor I heard in the palace, from a most reliable source, was that Givens killed his brother with poison and claimed the throne. He will not wait the usual three days before being crowned.”

  Girt looked deflated. “But he said he didn’t want to rule, nor the responsibility or bother of being king.”

  “He told you what he wanted you to hear,” Jenkins said in a calmer tone.

  Bender said, “Well, I didn’t know either of them, but I say our deal still stands with Givens. I distrusted him from the start, but he has a workable plan to tax all property to force the Cabots from here since they cannot pay the taxes.”

  Jenkins now turned to face Bender, as a cat turns to face a new mouse that has appeared. “You are an honorable man, I believe, at least, when not at a gambling table. But, you are not a politician, and you have far too much faith in the words you hear.”

  Bender didn’t back down. “Meaning what?”

  “Givens played you all for fools. He came here pretending to seek help for his brother. What he really wanted was to know your secret plans, and the three of you spilled them like the dog’s water bowl you accidentally kicked in the dark. He left here with all he needed to know that he could assassinate his brother, seize the throne, make peace with the Cabots, and settle all the crowns debts.”

  They sat in stunned silence.

  Prim spoke first, “So, what happens now?”

  Jenkins pulled a chair close to them and sat almost knee to knee. “Do you trust me? I mean, really trust me?”

  Tyler’s eyes fell to the backpack near his foot containing the gold and jewelry that Jenkins could easily have kept for his own. He nodded and saw the other two do the same from the corner of his eyes.

  Jenkins said, “I’m sorry to tell you, but you’ve been outplayed in every respect. You had a chance to be noble and do what was right in bankrupting the Cabots, but Givens was the unknown factor that got in your way. You have lost your opportunity tonight, and unless you listen to me, you will all be dead by sunrise.”

  Nobody said a word.

  Jenkins said, “King Givens, as he will be known early tomorrow, will issue warrants for your arrest and you will be thrown into his dungeons, never to see the light of day again. You will be tortured by his dungeon masters until you sign over the deeds for all the Cabot property, which the new king will offer to Lord Cabot in return for the dismissal of all debt the crown owes. The Cabots will leap at the offer.”

  Prim said, her chin lifted in defiance, “What if we don’t sign over the deeds?”

  Bender said softly, “We will. Oh, we might hold out for a day or two, but we’ll sign and be thankful to do so under the punishment of the king’s dungeon master. No man can hold out against the sort of torture they will inflict on us.”

  A guard approached and raised his eyebrows to Girt, asking if he could speak.

  Girt said, “Report.”

  “There are a few soldiers, palace guards we believe, gathering outside on the street.”

  Girt said, “Thank you. Let me know if the situation changes.”

  Tyler looked at Jenkins and said, “What now?”

  “If you’re captured you’ll sign over the deeds just before you die,” Jenkins said, then waited. “But be assured, both will happpen.”

  Bender said, “I don’t like that at all. What are our options?”

  Jenkins nodded at the backpack on the floor. “Face the fact that the deeds will either be signed over by you, or King Givens will disavow the original transfer of ownership because the deeds were stolen, and the Cabots will tear up the loan agreements in either case. They have no option. One way or the other, he will barter them for a debt free crown.

  They exchanged glances that said they understood they had been outsmarted by Givens, who would become king, and the battle with the Cabots was lost. For now. Tyler gave Jenkins a nod to continue.

  “However, inside that backpack of yours is enough wealth for a thousand people to live comfortably. That’s why I risked retrieving it from my offices before coming here. The palace guards outside this building are soon going to demand entry here and arrest you, but they do not know about the tunnel. Before they find out about it, I suggest the three of you take your gold and head for the waterfront. Go downriver and forget this
place, and the Cabots, at least for a year or two.”

  Bender said, “Helm, Judge, and the others need to escape to their homes.”

  “Of course,” Jenkins said. “But the three of you and your creatures need to leave now. More palace guards will arrive before long and word of the tunnel may leak out, but we cannot stay in here more than a few days without running out of food. King Givens has time on his side.”

  Tyler stood and shook hands with Jenkins and Girt. “It’s not over, you know.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  They walked through the tunnel almost silently, the battered dog, two dragons larger than any turkey, Tyler, Bender, Prim, and Franklin, who refused to be left behind. Franklin would continue as the trainer for the dragons. By the gods, all of them knew they needed him, or someone like him to manage the beasts.

  Bender took the lead, as usual. At the far end of the tunnel, a pair of Girt’s guards opened another hatch in a floor of another building and they crawled out, into a darkened room lit only by the stars. They left by a rear door, but were still almost in the center of Aston, with few people on the streets. The night was more than half over, and any who happened to see them, looked twice at the odd group.

  Jenkins had a pair of his men escort them to the river. They traveled down the long hill by alleys, back ways, and the darkest shadows. Twice they paused as palace guards searched the streets, probably for them. Members of the royal army had been roused and were still dressing as they rushed up the empty, dark streets in the direction of the armory in response to emergency orders.

  More bells sounded and woke more people. Tyler decided that when they settled somewhere, he might consider building a forge that made bells since there were so many of them ringing. It had to be a profitable enterprise.

  The small group slipped through the darkness and arrived so close to the river that they smelled the dank, sewage as if tasting it. Five men with swords raised high rushed at them from the corner of a building. Girt’s soldiers attempted to draw their weapons, as did Tyler and Bender, but the five were close, and the surprise so complete, Tyler saw that in an instant his people would lose this battle too.