Tanner and Carrion headed for the door. Devlin said meekly, “I’ll wait for you here.”
They both turned. Tanner said, “What are you saying?”
“I’m not welcome in there.”
“Your arms are covered, your face is reasonably clean, your clothing is like others. What’s the problem?”
“The owner chased me with a stick from behind here for looking for something to eat in what they tossed out.”
Carrion stepped closer to Devlin. “Listen, I’m going to teach you how to act. Hold your chin up. No, a little higher. That’s right. Now, look me in the eye. Do not look away until I do. Hold your shoulders back just a bit. There.”
Tanner stepped up, “Devlin. Now look at me. No, remember the three things Carrion said for you to do. Okay, act like we’re meeting for the first time.”
It took several tries until Carrion was satisfied with Devlin’s stance, but when he was, they entered the inn. Maritime memorabilia lined the walls. Rigged ships, paintings of other ships and faraway places, and even a section with ropes tied in fancy knots told they catered to sailors. The clienteles were older, many wore uniforms with gold piping, and the atmosphere was constrained.
A dozen men sat at tables in small groups, most positioned where they could keep an eye on the street outside, as well as any who entered. There was a man at a small counter beside a door. Carrion approached him before sitting on a stool in front of him. “We need a clean room with three beds.”
“Our rooms are either private or four to a room. No exceptions.” The voice was neither friendly or cold, just impersonal.
“I meant to say that while there are three of us here, the fourth will join us later. Of course, I’ll pay for him now, and he can reimburse me.”
“Put your names on this register and pay me first. Three coppers for the room and food per day, as much as you can eat all day long or until we run out. You pay the girls for your drinks. No rough stuff or pinching the girl’s bottoms, or you’re out on the street.”
“I’ll pay for two nights, now. But I may need to stay longer and expect the room to be there for us if we need it.”
“Of course. The second room through this door and up the stairs.”
Tanner noticed Devlin trying to maintain the haughty expression, but he still looked like a scared kitten. When the clerk’s eyes flashed by him without pause, Devlin’s cheeks instantly turned pink. Once in the room, each claimed a bed by placing their belongings on it.
Tanner asked, “What now?”
“Without a coin in this town, we’d be treated as poorly as our friend, Devlin. I want each of you to sew one of the brass buttons on the inside of your pants, and I will too.”
“Why should I?” Devlin asked, not protesting, but not understanding the instructions.
“To carry your coin. A man with a purse and a few coins can go anywhere. You only have to draw out your purse and jangle it to gain respect. Such is the world we live in.” Carrion talked as he turned the waistband of his pants out and threaded the needle. He soon had one of the new coin purses inside his waist, buttoned at the top and the thongs tied through a hole. He practiced flipping it outside and drawing coins. He slipped it back inside and nodded, satisfied.
Tanner was next, and then Devlin. Carrion handed Devlin several coins, all copper, but enough to make a decent noise if he shook it. With his back turned to Devlin, he passed several coppers, silver, large and small, and two gold to Tanner. Tanner looked at him questioningly.
“In case, I am robbed. Never keep all your coin in one place.”
Tanner agreed. He placed the flat pouch inside his waistband after buttoning it, and the purse all but disappeared. He said, “Now what?”
Carrion said, “That meat pie filled me. Why don’t we go down to the docks? Look at boats. Maybe talk to a few people.”
“Then what?” Tanner asked.
“Dinner here. A late night of sipping ale and listening to loose talk. Never know what you might hear. Devlin, can you lead the way to the docks?”
“Which ones? Where the ships are, or the fishing boats?”
Carrion said, “Why not take us to both? I can use the walk. Besides, I’d like to see the city.”
They left the inn and strolled away from the central marketplace down to the waterfront. The inns nearer the waterfront were louder even during the day. Women often stood beside the doorways enticing sailors to come inside and enjoy themselves. Tanner thought more than one looked right at him when they made their pitches.
A fight with one stumbled into the street. Whistles blew, and constables arrested five sailors. The stores were shabby, the merchandise more so. Strong drink and the presence of pretty women seemed more important than quality dry goods, food, or hardware. Curved knives favored for slicing rope were for sale everywhere, as were waterproof cloaks and droopy hats to shed water.
But there were ships. At each stood an officer, usually at some sort of make-shift desk. He answered questions and quoted prices. Carrion did the talking. He asked general questions, but always managed to find out the ports of call. Only two of the six ever traveled to the Marlstone Islands, and one of them had recently dropped porting there for a city far down the coast named Rockwall, a dreary sounding place by all description.
Carrion asked why the ship no longer sailed to the Marlstones.
“People there are unfriendly. Like they don’t want our business. Twice we had crewmen disappear, one right after asking questions about the lands to the east. The locals became upset and threatened to beat one for discussing forbidden subjects. The Captain refused any of the crew to go ashore after that.”
“It sounds like a place for me to stay away from because I’m always curious and ask questions. Where else would you suggest a man go where he can discuss buying from one land and selling in another? For profit, of course.”
While he talked, Devlin and Tanner stood back, as if respectful of a wealthy master. While Devlin watched for pickpockets or thieves, Tanner watched for danger or odd reactions to Carrion’s questions that could present problems. He saw nothing to alarm him so far.
They were working as a team, Tanner realized. Devlin said little, but already his contribution was massive, if you considered what would have happened if he had not stopped the thief in the marketplace from stealing the entire purse Carrion wore. Now his natural instincts and life experiences were protecting them.
What are we going to do with him in the future? Tanner shrugged the thought away, not wanting to think of it, and not able to help himself. Their plan was to sail to the islands. Perhaps farther.
He stole a glance at Devlin and tried to see him as others did. With the shorter hair, and cleaner appearance, and his new clothing, the boy looked almost respectable. There was still more work needed for him to pass as middle class. He’d talk to Carrion about a real haircut, a trimming of the scraggly beard, and the dip in the river had only removed surface dirt. He needed soap, hot water, and time. Now that he thought of it, so did he.
Carrion had spoken to the officers of all five sailing ships. He pointed to the fishing fleet. “Let’s go down there.”
They walked along a narrow road, but even as they neared the boats, the boats looked no bigger. A ship is for crossing a sea. A boat is for a few days in calm weather and returning to port. Besides, as they walked nearer, the stink of dead fish increased. There were five piers, each with smaller docks jutting from them.
Most had boats tied up to them. There were people either unloading them or working on them. Lines needed replacement, nets repaired, scraping and painting. Everybody was busy. Carrion again took the lead. He spoke to several, asking general questions and hinting that they might be interested in passage to the Marlstone Islands.