The old fisherman smiled. “Change of subject to distract me, huh? After a lifetime on the water you just know which way to go. I see the sun, waves, and winds like you see the ground, paths, and roads. Besides, if you look to the horizon to our port side,” he pointed to their left, “and look careful, you’ll see a smudge of land.”
“Why not sail closer to shore so you can see it all the time and not get lost? And if the boat sinks you’d be close enough to swim to safety.”
“You ask some good questions for your first time in a boat. Okay, I’ll tell you, boy. First, I don’t want the Brotherhood knowing where I’m at. Don’t trust them. Never did. I don’t want them standing on the shore and watching where I go and telling others. Now that I know they’re after you, I want their attention even less. The second thing is that I don’t know these waters around here like I do those at home. People on land think sailing a boat close to the coast is a good idea, but it’s not.”
Gareth liked the idea that Tom didn’t like the Brotherhood any more than he did. After the night whispers last night Gareth had been careful with anything said to Tom, but now he decided the mental link to danger was probably somehow because of the Brotherhood, and it made him feel better for the first time. “That the only reason?”
“Close to shore there're more rocks and reefs. Shallower water, so more danger of them sticking up. Tide comes in and covers them with a fathom or two, and a boat sails over the top and rips her hull open. Safer to be in deeper water unless you know the places to avoid.”
Gareth saw the wisdom in his answer, and his estimation of the old man went up another notch. He watched the waves and ripples the wind created, and the deep green color of the water. Seabirds skimmed the surface and snatched tiny fish in their beaks. “Why are you helping me?”
Tom glanced away, avoiding eye contact as he performed several meaningless tasks, none of which needed to be done at that moment, in Gareth’s mind. He too, was using the water as a distraction. Little veils of warnings made themselves known. Gareth wondered if he had made the right choice in choosing Tom to take him to the army to sell the egg.
When Tom finally answered, his voice carried an air of indecision. “Don’t really know, if you want the pure truth. Pulling you from the water was something I’d do for any man. The rest could be for money.”
“No, you were already helping me before I offered anything. I think you’re a good man. I’m also worried my friend, Faring. He must think the dragon ate me.”
“Faring must be your friend. When the Brotherhood catches up with you—and they will—you might want to ask them to deliver a message to him. Seems like they can get one to him by tomorrow.”
He does not miss anything.
Tom swung the tiller and hauled in the sails tighter. The boat changed course and headed closer to the shore, despite what he’d said about danger, earlier. His posture became more erect, and his eyes shifted and darted to examine the boat and sails in detail. His attention to the boat stilled his tongue, which drew Gareth’s attention. “Something’s wrong?”
“Behind us.”
Gareth spun to find an empty expanse of the sky when expecting to see the dragon, but there was none. He searched the water until he saw a small triangle of white at the horizon. The sail of another boat. “Coming this way?”
“Yup.”
“Must be lots of boats fishing out here.”
Old Tom didn’t respond for several breaths, and when he did, the voice was softer and angry. “You’re right, but that sail is taller than any fishing boat. It heeled over when I did.”
“Which means?”
“After I changed course it did the same. Right away.”
Gareth didn’t need any more explanation. They were being followed. He tried to swallow and failed. “Will it catch up with us?”
“I expect so. Only one boat in these waters with a sail that tall. It’s that white pirate boat we saw tied up at Priest’s Point, the pirate boat. Anybody see you with the egg?”
“Just Faring knows I have it, but he’s back in Dun Mare. And the teachers know I’ve been to the nest. By now Faring has probably told them the whole story.”
“I’m not talking about people at that village. Did anybody see you while I was getting supplies at Priest’s Point? I mean, anybody at all?”
Gareth raised his voice. “No. I suppose somebody might have seen the tarp move if I rolled over in my sleep, or if I snored they could have heard me, but otherwise, I stayed still and I never even looked out once.”
“Calm down, son. I believe you. Those damn monks must have put the word out that you have an egg. Your friend at home probably told them all about it, and they sent that information along with your description. I’ve never had a boat chase my fishing boat before and maybe this isn’t a chase, either. Could be a coincidence. We’ll know in a while.”
Gareth looked back at the white boat and tried to decide if the sail was any larger or clearer. It looked the same. “How will we know?”
“I’m going to tack again after a while and see if it does the same. The first time might have just been a coincidence. Next time won’t.”
“Meaning you’re going to change direction and watch to see if that boat follows. What if it does?”
Tom rubbed his chin and flashed a weak smile. “I want no part of the men on that boat. They are killers and worse. This old tub won’t outrun it, but a big hull like that draws an extra fathom or two. We’ll head for shallow water and sail near the shore. I’m betting that boat can’t reach us before we get there, but the shore’s pretty rough, up ahead. Been up and down it a few times. Not much beach, and rocks in the water big enough to break the back of most boats.”
“Then why go there?”
“No captain in his right mind will sail close to that shore unless the reward for doing it is a fist full of solid gold. If they follow us, we know their intentions. A small boat like this may survive till we reach shore. No way that one can, not where I’m heading.”
“If they do follow, what do we do?”
“Best plan, for now, is for me to set you ashore somewhere and point you in the right direction. I’ll sail away, and when it’s dark, I make a run for it across open water. Meet up with you later. They can’t follow me at night if I don’t show lights. If they get too close, I’m thinkin’ we scuttle my boat near the beach, and both of us take off at a dead run. We don’t want that bounty hunter to get his claws into us. Trust me.”
Gareth glanced back at the sail on the horizon and then at Tom. “You scared?”
“Yes. Never had pirates chase me. I guess some might have wanted a load of my fish when there was a good day with the nets, but not many. This time, it’s different.”
“You’d sink your boat to get away from them?”
“Son, those are evil men chasin’ us and an old boat is a fair price to pay for our lives. But, you’ll be buyin’ me a new one with the proceeds of the egg, I’m thinking. It’s only fair.”
“I don’t want you to lose your boat because of me.”
“This isn’t any of your doing. If those back there want to cause us harm, you didn’t invite it. They might be pirates, or thugs, or men sent by the monks to take back that egg. The only thing I’m pretty certain of is that they’re not following us to help you or me.”
The night whispers were a subject to keep to himself, as well as explaining the feeling he had to escape Dun Mare. Gareth decided to tell a half truth. “I never meant for all this to happen, Tom. I just wanted an egg and a few coins in my pocket.”
“Treasure is more like it, instead of a few coins for your pocket. But I understand what you’re saying underneath them words and you don’t have to say more out loud. Now, if you duck, I’ll bring the boom around, and we’ll see what our pirate friends back there do.”