He caught the farmer looking when he removed the seeds and slipped them into his purse. “One of the best apples I’ve had. I’ll dry the seeds and see if I can get them to grow at home.”
“Where would that be?”
Hesitating, Carrion said, “Up near Fleming, not far from the King’s Summer Palace. Ever been up that way?”
“Can’t say I have. Now we’ve got enough work for ten to do today, so if you don’t mind, when you’re done, please feel free to take your leave.” The farmer smiled at them while making the statement, but it appeared false as if he’d somehow been insulted, or figured out they were Dragon Clan.
Carrion stood and flashed a smile warm enough to melt the wax from a candle. “We also have business to attend. Come on, Tanner. We have a fair distance to go before dark.”
Tanner stood, slightly put off by the sudden change in the farmer’s attitude. But he followed Carrion’s lead and thanked them, leaving a full copper coin on the chair when he stood. They slung their packs and headed for the road as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
With the farm behind, Tanner said, “What happened?”
“You did. First, a dragon flies right over their farm, then we come from the same direction. Then you start saving your apple seeds like any Dragon Clan.”
“Those are small clues to put together if that’s what happened.”
Carrion said, “Listen to me. People survive by noticing the most trivial things. One may be coincidence, two a question to be answered, but three is a certainty. He knows you’re Dragon Clan.”
“Do you think he’ll tell anyone?”
“Like for the reward? I doubt it, but he’ll tell his neighbors for sure. The word will spread, but you and I will be far from here by then.”
Tanner relaxed. They passed more farms, and the ground generally dipped lower. Near midday, a wagon passed. He wanted to ask for a ride since the wagon was empty, but Carrion shook his head. When the wagon was further away, Carrion said, “If he wanted to offer us rides he would have.”
“How far to Racine?”
“Morning, I’d think. The land near there is hilly, as I remember. Before dark, we’re going to find ourselves a perch and see who’s following us. Don’t turn around.”
Tanner fought to keep his eyes ahead. “How many?”
“One.”
“How long has he been back there?”
Carrion said, “I noticed him as we left the farm. He was out on the road behind some brush.”
Tanner continued a few more steps. “That makes me feel better. If it was someone from the farm, I was going to be really upset with myself. I assume he’s staying well back from us?”
“It may be one of the guards from the monastery. That’s what makes the most sense to me.”
They walked on, taking their time and talking. Once Tanner caught sight of the follower when he turned to answer a question. “He’s still back there. I didn’t look, he’s just so bad at keeping out of sight I couldn’t help myself.”
“Could he have followed us all the way from Shrewsbury? I don’t think so, but I never looked behind.”
“I’d have seen him. No, he picked us up on the road by the farm. See that hill ahead? The road bends around it, and we can’t see where it goes.”
Tanner smiled and shrugged. “We’ll be out of his sight. Maybe there’s some cover we can hide behind and wait.”
“If there is, I suggest we do it. He makes me nervous back there.”
As they followed the road at their normal pace, it started to turn to the right. They were suddenly out of sight. On the hillside were boulders, not as large as Tanner would like, but if they crouched down they’d be hidden. He looked at Carrion.
Carrion’s eyes were focused on the same place. “Let’s do it.”
They ran up the slope, and each dropped behind a boulder. Tanner was grateful to notice Carrion used his ears to listen for the follower instead of trying to peek out. Tanner did the same, despite the difficulty of resisting the urge. He slipped his bow and strung it. He pulled an arrow and waited.
Running footsteps sounded. They were close. Tanner stood, spun and loosed an arrow. Before it struck the road in front of the man running, he had another pulled and ready to let fly.
Carrion shouted, “Halt.” He also had his bow held ready.
The arrow still vibrated four or five steps ahead of the man. Tanner took three paces down the hillside and paused again. Carrion eased closer, then motioned for Tanner. Carrion angled to the road so he would be behind their follower.
Tanner took the front, saying, “Just stand there and wait for us. Don’t be foolish.”
Carrion didn’t speak as he eased up on him and removed the knife from his hip. Then he spun him by the shoulder and pulled a scarf from the front of the face. “It’s a boy.”
Tanner had noticed. The clothing was shabby and dirty. The cheeks were almost bare. The clothing hung on him as if merely bone lay below the shirt and pants. Dirt streaked the face. Tanner glanced at the broken fingernails. What remained was black. He saw no weapons.
“Who are you?” Carrion demanded, his voice angry.
“Devlin.”
“That means nothing to me. Why were you behind us?”
“I was going into Racine. That’s all.” The voice was submissive and scared. The boy stood shorter than Carrion, but where Carrion had wide shoulders, the boy slumped and looked defeated. He refused to meet their eyes.
Tanner said, keeping his voice softer and more friendly than Carrion’s. The boy looked small and no more than fifteen or sixteen. “That’s a lie, and we all know it. Where do you live? The truth.”
“I used to live in Racine, but they made me leave.”
“Why?” Tanner asked.
“For stealing.”
“What did you steal?” Tanner persisted, determined to get the story out of the boy in short responses if necessary.
“Lots of things.”
Tanner sighed. This might take a while. “What things?”
“Apples. Grapes. Bread. Fish. Carrots. . .”
He sounded like he was going to continue listing food when Tanner raised his palm for him to stop. “Anything besides food?”
The boy glanced down at the tattered, soiled clothes that hung on him.
Carrion said, “The knife’s rusty and the tip’s broken. There are chips on the edge.”
Tanner said, “Why were you following us?”
“Food.”
“Why not just ask a farmer for a meal?” Tanner said, thinking back to the meal he’d just eaten, even if he had slipped them a copper coin. They hadn’t known he would, so the meal had been free.
“They send the dogs after me.”
Carrion said, “How long did you live in Racine?”
“Always.”
Carrion met Tanner’s eyes. “He might help us.” Then he turned back to the boy, “Devlin, do you know your way around the city? I mean, if we want to go somewhere and not be seen, can you take us?”
“Yes.”
Carrion reached into his bag and pulled his mixture of nuts, dried grapes, and dried meat. He started to pour some into his hand, but shrugged and handed the whole thing to the boy. “That’s for you. There’s more if you come with us and do as we say.”
While chewing, the boy nodded eagerly. They continued on the road until late in the day when the road crossed a small river. Downstream was a campsite, complete with fire pit and place to spread their blankets. There was also a deeper pool of water.
Carrion said, “Looking like you do, you won’t be much help to us. I wish we had soap, but for now, you get into the water and wash your clothing and yourself. Don’t come out until you’re clean.”