Robin said, “The deal you offer is that we help this man by warning Northwood, and he may help us sometime in the future. That is, if he remembers us, or does not use his own soldiers to slay us.”
Raymer said quickly, “At the very least, we prevent King Ember from becoming more powerful and surrounding your village.”
The man who used a crutch asked, “Who is the other man with you?”
Raymer felt his heart sink. He drew in a breath while trying to think of the right words.
Before he could speak, Ander stood, chin held high. “I was the Dungeon Master at the Summer Palace for King Ember, recently appointed to keep these two in my dungeon until the end of time.”
Ander sat without another word.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Myron said.
Raymer shrugged. “There is much more to the story, but we don’t have time. Right now, we just wish passage to Northwood and a fast route to take. We are trying to save lives, and in case you haven’t figured it out yet, if the King wins this war your whole village is in the middle of people trying to please a King who is paranoid about the Dragon Clan.”
“We can leave . . .” the warrior said.
“No, you can’t. There isn’t time. Defeating this invasion will protect this village and give you future options, ” Raymer said.
The young girl stood and said, “You are asking us to take risks for things I do not understand. What I do understand is that you came here and gave yourselves up to us so you can help others. But didn’t that put us at risk?”
The other woman said, “Why did you come here? Travel north of Bear Mountain has many roads and ways to travel quickly.”
The man with the crutch raised it and pointed it at Quint. “The Earl is named Brant. He is a large man, almost as large as you. Are you the son of Brant?”
“I am.”
“I met him once, long ago. He was a fair man. A farmer’s barn had burned along with his animals and tools. The Earl relieved him of the taxes he owed, and ordered a new barn to be erected. He also gave him two mules and said he’d be collect the taxes the following year.”
The warrior said with a sneer in his voice, “So he did a good deed. He’s rich.”
The man with the crutch said, “The King demands his taxes every year. Who do you think paid that farmer’s taxes?”
Robin said, “What does it matter?”
The man with the crutch stuck out his lower lip before saying, “It matters because it tells of the kind of man he is. Quint, are you the same?”
“Sir, I wish I could say yes, but who knows?”
Myron said, taking control of the meeting again, “If you had said yes, I’d not believe you. Actions tell of a man, not brags. Is there more we need to hear?”
Ander stood. “Here is a possible answer. Have Quint write a message to his family so they can mass troops and protect their homeland. One of your people can deliver the message. Kill us to protect yourselves and your families from our betrayal.”
“Hey,” Raymer said. “That’s not a deal I agreed to.”
Someone laughed, but without humor.
Ander stood firm. “Think about it. My plan solves all the problems.”
Quint said, “Shut up, Ander. Sit down and behave yourself.”
“He has a point,” the girl called Camilla said. “If we are surrounded by the King we have no way to escape. He will discover information about our village at some time, and we all know that will happen one day. That is why we have daily patrols to keep people away. To keep our village safe.”
The warrior said, “I vote to kill them.”
Myron held up a hand. “Enough. Unlike most, this decision is time-related. More discussion may allow the events to play out, which is a decision in itself.”
When a few people started speaking at the same time, Myron stood and held up both arms, his face stern. “Quiet! I have decided. We will assist these men on their mission.”
A stunned silence followed.
Myron pointed to the warrior. “Dancer, three horses, and supplies as fast as you can.”
The man clearly had been against them, and Raymer expected him to object, or show his displeasure in some method. Instead, he leaped to his feet and raced down the meadow in the direction of pasture, calling to others to join him in his task. Raymer felt a stab of pride. The man’s actions were the very essence of the Dragon Clan’s ideals.
Myron turned to speak to Raymer again, “This was difficult, but you must understand my reasoning. I looked not at how this affects us today, but in the future. Allowing you to continue your quest may let my family exist here. Preventing you may end our lives.”
Raymer said, “You haven’t mentioned the danger of either of these two revealing your location in the future.”
“Times change. We have recently allowed Robin to live with us in defiance of our traditions. There is also a boy we took in. We adapt or die.”
Camilla asked Raymer, “Have you ever called down a dragon?”
“I have asked for one to turn while flying. It did. I tested it more times and each time it hesitated but did as I asked,” Raymer said.
She nodded and looked to Myron. “We have those born with the mark but for one reason or another are not what we consider good or honorable. Dragons do not obey them, I hear.”
Robin said, “Tell us about how you escaped the dungeons and why is a Dungeon Master with you. Do it quickly, before you leave.”
Raymer said quickly, “The Dungeon Master is a good man. Too good for the position he was appointed to. Our escape is a mystery I hoped you could explain. My plan was to call down a dragon to spit on the iron bars and use the lime in the mortar to allow us to escape. Before I could put my plan into action, a dragon attacked the Summer Palace and used its body to shove the wall until it caved in.”
All exchanged looks. Clearly none had further information, but it concerned them all. Robin asked, “Was there more?”
Raymer shrugged, then decided to tell about the apples and carrots. He watched their faces closely, finding only interest.
The man with the crutch asked, “Could it have been your family in the Raging Mountains who helped?”
“No. I mean it could have been, but they would have done it differently. The boy or girl who delivered the apples would have allowed me to see them. Just long enough to recognize and I’d know they were there to help and prepare myself. I also believe they would have placed people, or maybe a horse, outside the palace gate to help me get away.”
“It’s obvious that a third group of the clan helped you. Someone unknown.” Myron said, softly. “In this area, there are only two families. There are others further away, but they would come to your family or mine for support if they came to help you.”
The man who was the oldest and could barely walk cleared his throat. All attention turned to him. “I would offer a possibility. Like Camilla, who survived alone for most of her life, suppose there is another. Or a mother and children, with no clan affiliates. They may not even know we exist.”
His statement stunned them all. Camilla had been an exception, but she was the survivor of an attack by the king’s army and her family slain. She had escaped by accident. But the families had long ago dispersed for safety and remained in contact with the young people moving from one family to another.
Myron said, “This worries me more than anything else you have said. Unaffiliated members of our clan might bring far more troubles to us. It might be unintentional, but they might more harm.”