“And what’s so bad about that?” Quint continued.
Ander sat and considered the question before answering. “I have never accomplished anything on my own. Nothing. I don’t live, I simply exist. When I wished something done, I order others to do it. Maybe you can’t understand.”
Quint said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle and calm. “Actually, I do.”
Raymer swished his feet in the water and pointed across the river to the other side of the canyon. “Is there another ledge for us to climb over there?”
“No. Our feet are too torn up to endure a climb like that anyway. We’ll just take the easy way out.”
“Which is?” Raymer demanded.
“We swim.”
Both Raymer and Ander turned to look down the river. It ran fast and deep, bursting over boulders with plumes of spray, and white water churned the river into a fearsome foe. Crossing it had been a concern, but Raymer couldn’t consider swimming a viable possibility. His swimming had never been very good. Even an expert would have problems. He turned to Quint, expecting to see amusement on his face.
Ander watched the river too, slowly shaking his head in denial.
“It’s been done before,” Quint said.
“Why can’t we walk the shoreline?” Raymer asked.
“Takes too long. Also, further down river the valley narrows and there are steep cliffs that come all the way down to the water.”
Ander was still shaking his head. “Why too long?”
Quint said, “Those other two groups of soldiers on top of the cliff are going to race us to reach the other side of the canyon. They know we’ll most likely emerge with the river so the largest group will be waiting there.”
Ander faced him, a shrewd look in his eye. “There’s more that you’re not telling.”
Quint never flinched. “There is no way up the other side of the canyon. At the top of the canyon, the water comes in over a waterfall, so we can’t go that way. We have only one way out, and that’s down the river. Besides, they’ll send men down the same ledge we took at daylight, and we had better be gone from here. If we have any chance of beating them out of this canyon, we will move fast because even when we get out, if we do, they’re still on our tail.”
“And we don’t have horses,” Raymer amended. “So we run, but our feet are already sore, and they’ll get worse.”
All eyes turned to the pair of fine, green leather boots Ander wore. He said, “Hey, don’t look at my boots. Besides, they won’t fit either of you because I’m normal sized.”
Quint mock-glowered and snarled, “Raymer, did he insult us?”
“It’s not an insult to tell the truth,” Ander said.
Raymer said, “It’s also not an insult to either of us when you admit you’re small.”
“I am not small.”
They all laughed. Raymer said, “My feet feel better. Now for a fire and a good night’s sleep in the open air for the first time in a year.”
“You have flint and steel?” Ander asked.
“Toys for children,” Raymer said. “With all this dry wood washed up along the shore, anyone can start a fire.”
Quint broke branches carried firewood to a growing pile near the edge of the trees while Ander sorted the shirts and blankets. Holding a shirt woven of homespun to his chest, Ander said, “I can fit into this and not stand out so much, but neither of you can wear it.”
Raymer nodded, “Might as well select the one you like and toss the rest. How many blankets are there?”
“Three,” Ander said. “And the two carrying the food.”
Quint said, “Perfect for tonight, but they’re going to get wet.”
Ander wrinkled his nose. “Getting wet is something both of you need to consider.”
Quint tossed a load of firewood at Ander’s feet, almost landing on him. “We would have taken baths and worn clean clothing, but the damned Dungeon Master was too busy chasing the wenches at the castle inns to deliver them. We wore these for most of a year.”
“Who told you about me and my lovely wenches?” Ander shot back with a smile.
Sitting near the firewood and watching Raymer select dry sticks to make the fire, Quint said, “I was speaking of the late Dungeon Master, not you. Okay, I accept that you’re with us. But why? You had a good life, and so far, your reasoning lacks depth.”
“I think my life will get better hanging around with the two of you if we all live. At least, it will have some excitement.”
“How so?” Quint asked.
“Because you, my new friendly giant, are far more than you seem. I believe you are a prince or close relative of the Earl. And Raymer is of the Dragon Clan.”
“Those are not answers.”
Raymer pulled a stout, dry stick from the firewood and a small, log with a split down the center. He peeled a section of the bark and scooped a few dry leaves and small twigs into a pile. He butted the end of the log against a rock and began slowly scraping the stick up and down the crack until the two pieces fitted together.
Quint reached out and sprinkled a few dry leaves and twigs where Raymer worked the wood against the crack. Raymer went to his knees and pushed faster and harder, each stroke in the same groove he was working. A wisp of smoke curled and Quint added more twigs and leaves. He bent closer and blew softly.
A small flame grew. Fuel was added, and a fire sprang to life before the sunset. Quint looked at Ander, “You were saying?”
Ander settled in the sand with his back against a willow tree. “You were an emissary, sent with a peace treaty King Ember had no intention of signing or honoring. To delay negotiations with your people, he pretends he has not seen you while he keeps you imprisoned in his secret dungeon.”
“I heard he sent word to my King asking when I was due to arrive,” Quint said.
“Yes, it was a joke with the King. Since there was no treaty, and he claimed your people never sent one. He plans on attacking your northern province.” Ander turned to Raymer, “And you are even a stranger puzzle. You are a member of a family who, rumor says talks to dragons and does other magical stuff. The Dragon Clan. I’d laugh, but after witnessing your escape, there’s no denying it.”
Raymer squatted and settled back on his heels. “I see where you may benefit from Quint and his wealthy family, but what do you want from me? I have nothing.”
“You have a way with dragons! How can you say that is nothing?”
Raymer shook his head. “You are sadly mistaken, my friend. There are many rumors of men and dragons. I have rarely seen one and suspect that most stories are just stories. I assure you that I had never been closer to a dragon than when the creature attacked the palace today, and I was as scared as anyone else.”
Ander shrugged and cast a half smile in Raymer’s direction. “Forgive me if I believe you’re obviously well-educated and there’s far more to you than we understand.”
Raymer warmed his hands near the fire while deciding what to say, before telling the simple truth. “My mother educated my two brothers and me, as well as half a dozen others. She taught us manners, grace, reading and numbers. She drove us to learn and punished us when we did not. My Father protected us. We lived in tents, huts, and lean-tos while we fled the king’s men.”
“So your claim is that you have no connection to the dragon that freed you?” Ander asked, the faint smile still in place.
Raymer noticed both of them were looking at him with expectant expressions. “I had an escape plan. I hoped to use a dragon, but it had nothing to do with what happened today. The dragon attack was as big a surprise to me as it was to you.”