Bear seemed a little too friendly in his offers to help. But he hadn’t built and maintained one of the best inns in the city without being savvy to handling people. Gray said, “I’m just taking it all in. There’s so much to see.”
A waiter took Bear’s order. Bear flashed a smile that unnerved Gray. It was as if the man could see right through him. It would be wise to have one drink and make an excuse to return to the inn. It might even be wise to move to a different inn if he was so transparent to Bear.
As those thoughts crossed his mind, his eyes spotted Prater, the young man he’d met on the road. Prater was standing beside a pile of boxes on a pier taller than his head. He was speaking intently to another man, who had his back to Gray.
When the other man turned, he matched the description of the one he had come to Fleming to meet. Caldor. The man Tessa said helped her, but she still didn’t trust.
Of all the people in Fleming, besides Bear; the only two he knew, were talking together. His own insight told Gray that he was the subject of their conversation.
CHAPTER SIX
Gray didn’t know how to react to Caldor and Prater speaking together on the dock. He was certain that it was Caldor from the description he was to seek out, and there could be no mistake about Prater.
Prater had pretended to befriend him on the road while asking too many questions. Caldor was not trusted by Tessa but might provide valuable information. Gray half-turned his head away as they strode in his general direction. The mugs of wine arrived in time for him to lift his mug to help hide his face.
Bear scooted his chair part of the way around the table, placing his body between the two men and Gray. “You might consider wearing a hat to conceal that wild hair. It’ll let you hide behind the brim.”
“What?”
“Son, I’ve been around the bush a time or two. I like you, or I’d mention you to Caldor and let him do with you as he wishes. He eats at my inn a few times every ten days, you know. Actually, I think you do know. We, you and me, will have ourselves a little private talk later.”
Gray sank into his chair. He refused to meet Bear’s eyes.
“Oh come on, drink up and watch the show. Do you think they’re unloading that ship in front of us for any other reason?”
Bear’s twisting of the facts drew a smile from Gray. He watched a crate being lowered onto a cart, but the mule pulling the cart only saw the large thing coming in its direction. It heed and hawed, trying to escape the menace by twisting and bucking. A lone tender tried to calm the beast, drawing laughs and guffaws from the watching crowd.
Bear laughed with the others and then asked, “I don’t suppose you know that other man with Caldor?”
“You’ve met?”
“This morning. On the road.”
“You approached him?”
“The other way around.”
“I thought that might be the case. They’ve gone on up the hill, so you’re free to look around again. Unless you have something else to do, I’d like to speak to you in private.”
“There is one thing I wanted to do if you don’t mind.”
“Maybe I can help. What is it that’s so important?” Bear asked.
Gray had decided that if he didn’t trust Bear, it didn’t matter. Bear already intuitively knew far more than he should but running an inn gave him insights that others might not have. He might also help Gray in ways others couldn’t.
Gray said, “I want to buy some maps. Can you direct me to the best place to find a variety?”
That brought a reappraising shift of Bear’s eyes, then a smile. He pointed further down Front Street. “There’s a good man I know. Come with me.”
They walked together, Gray keeping a wary eye out for Caldor or Prater, or both. With Bear steering the way, they slipped through the throngs of people as easily as Gray might do on a deserted street. Bear took him into a small shop that advertised books.
Bear greeted the proprietor as an old friend. After a few friendly exchanges, Bear made sure no other customers were present. He said, “This is my new friend, Gray. If we may, could you show us a few things you might have in your backroom?”
The slender old man hesitated for only an instant, then relented. “Of course.”
He turned and unlocked a door behind the counter and shooed them inside, before closing it. The tinkling bell on the front door would notify him of any customers entering the store. He said, “What were you looking for, young man?”
“I’m not sure. Maps and charts, for sure. I want a selection. Good ones. Accurate and with information about each place, if possible.”
Bear said, “It sounds like you want an atlas.”
“I don’t know what that is,” Gray admitted.
The shop owner chuckled and said, “It’s what you just described. I have three for sale, all different, so at least two are full of incorrect information.”
“Do they cover the whole kingdom?”
Bear and the shop owner passed a look between them. The shop owner said, “More like this whole part of the world.”
“I also want maps and charts.”
“I have them, too. Maps of the Raging Mountains, the Sand Isles, the swamps of Megara, the Northlands, and so on. I have over two hundred, but I’m assuming you only wish to buy one or two. If you can narrow down the area, I’ll show you what I have.”
Bear said, “Gray, rest assured your choices of maps will go no further than this room. Only a very few people even know of the maps contained here, and less are allowed to see them.”
The shop owner said, “If Bear had not asked, in person, you would not have been allowed inside the door. I would not have sold you as much as a book. My collection is for my own research, so selling any is only by request of a few people.”
Gray decided to trust them. “I would like to see maps or charts of what lies across the Endless Sea. I know ships travel there, but it is always kept a secret. I’d like to know why, and what is there that others are keeping from us.”
The shop owner glanced at Bear and said from the side of his mouth. “Did you prompt him?”
“I did not. Not one single word or suggestion.”
The shop owner turned to Gray. “In that case, I’d like to more properly introduce myself. My name is Shailer. My maps are at your disposal on one condition. We will both understand that condition before we shake hands on an agreement.”
Gray looked at Bear, who shook his head and said, “This is between Shailer and you.”
The proprietor said, “I, and my good friend Bear, are seekers of knowledge. To achieve what we wish to know we rely on a web of informants, some paid, others voluntary. We don’t give a damn which star we were born under or your political affiliations. Do you understand me so far?”
“I think so.”
“Think so is not good enough. We are in possession of information that would most certainly cost lives if released. If we choose to share that same information with you, it gives you a responsibility that may be more than you wish.”
Gray sputtered, “How can I give you my word when I do not know what we’re talking about? I mean, if what you tell me puts my family in danger, I cannot agree.”
Shailer cocked his head and replied, “While you are correct in what you said, I will make myself clearer. I do not care that you are part of the Dragon Clan…, the king’s court, or one of the Sherriff’s spies. I assure you that if the information I share holds any danger to you or your family, you have my permission to share it with them. Otherwise, you will tell no one about it. Nothing.”
“I can agree to that,” Gray said, stunned at the promise, as well as the very long pause after mentioning the Dragon Clan. They know.