“When the ship got to Marlstone?” Tanner asked, as the man who called himself Bishop almost nodded off.
His voice grew softer, more intense. “No, we weren’t going to the islands. We were leaving them, heading for Breslau. That was back in the day when ships still went there.”
Tanner leaned forward and spoke softly to keep their conversation to themselves. “I haven’t heard of that place, but there’s a lot of places I don’t know about.”
“Not missing much in Breslau’s case. Most are too dry for me. People hiding under hoods and cloaks so you don’t know who is who. Can’t hardly tell a man from a woman.”
“It sounds exotic . . .” Tanner said to fill the pause.
“Not if you mean it’s a good place to live. There're only three kinds of people there if you don’t count the slaves. Royals, Freemen, and Crabs. They mark the crabs with dragon tattoos on the arms for who they belong to. That way they’re marked for life.”
“Crabs? That’s an odd name for people.” Tanner said.
“Not so much. You see, crabs eat anything on the bottom of the sea. They scramble around looking for food, but they don’t do anything else but eat the leavings and garbage of the sea.”
“They’re not slaves?”
“No, slaves produce things and serve their masters. They build or they farm. They work for a living. Crabs do nothing.”
“Why do they mark them with tattoos?” Tanner asked. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just leave them alone?”
“If they did nothing to distinguish them, Crabs would mix with Freemen, sooner or later. Freemen would take the pretty girls, and the races would mix, like with the slaves. It’s to their advantage to keep them apart. By ‘their’ I’m speaking of the Royals.” He looked ready to fall asleep on the table again.
Tanner said, “So the Royals and Freemen mix?”
“Of course not. The Royals are Dragon Masters. None of them would consider a lower class.” His eyes closed and his forehead settled softly on the table.
Tanner sat in his chair reviewing every word. Dragon Master. Those two words hinted at a major piece of the puzzle. The Royals were Dragon Masters. He feared that he knew what the unfamiliar term meant. Dragon Master sounded ominously like Dragon Clan, but with a crown.
He half stood and asked the room at large, which now only consisted of perhaps ten men, “Does Bishop have a room here at the Inn?”
A friendly man of more years than most said, “He usually sleeps here.”
A serving girl said, “Top of the stairs, third room.”
Realizing there was only one way for Bishop to get up the stairs, Tanner stood and ignored the grins most of the men wore. None offered to help. He half carried Bishop up the stairs and found the third room. After placing him on one of the four beds, he went to the other room and checked on Devlin, who was awake, guarding the door.
While walking back to his table, one of the men he assumed was a captain said, “Well done. It speaks of a man who takes care of his shipmates.”
A few others muttered in agreement as Tanner sat. He realized that the simple act of taking care of Bishop had put him in the good graces of every captain in the room. He saw it in their eyes, the smiles, and the nods.
As another unasked for a mug of wine found its way to his table, Carrion entered. He too smiled. Leaning across the table, he said, “Good news. I have almost all of The Rose’s debt in my pockets. Everyone who extended the ship or Captain credit realized the ship will probably never leave port again. They were anxious to recover a portion of their money.”
“Is there more debt?”
“Yes. I’ve spread the word that I’ll see anyone tomorrow morning who’s willing to sell, but after that, I will buy no more.”
Tanner sipped his weak wine while thinking but couldn’t imagine why Carrion had set that timetable. “I don’t understand.”
“It puts pressure on them to see. They have one chance to sell to me or risk losing everything they have invested with The Rose. We get it done fast and at a good price, but fast is our main goal.”
“We’ve never talked about doing this fast.”
“As soon as we begin refitting the ship we’re going to draw more attention than we can stand. People holding debt will be reluctant to sell it to me because they think they may recover more.”
“Since when do we care about profits?”
Carrion flashed his most evil grin. “We don’t. But if we do less than convincing others we care for making more coin, they will turn suspicious and wonder at our real mission.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I also have news,” Tanner glanced around the room, He sensed the hush of conversation at his proclamation as much as heard it, as ears around the room listened. “For later.”
“Then we should go to our room and sleep. I’d like to rise before dawn and escort our captain to his ship before most of the city rise.” Carrion drained his mug.
They stood together, and as they made their way the other tables, several wished them a good night or wished them well. Once on the stairs, Carrion said, “What was that about?”
“I think they like us.”
“It was you they were speaking to. We’ll speak of this in the morning.” Carrion sounded stern, but his eyes flashed amusement.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Carrion woke before dawn. He had pushed his bed to block the door so nobody could enter during the night, and the Captain couldn’t get out without waking him. It had been a good idea because a confused captain was trying to climb over him to reach the door.
“Hold on a minute, Captain,” Carrion mumbled.
“Hold on, my ass. Who’re you?”
Tanner sat up in bed and yawned. Devlin stood and looked at Tanner for a hint of what he should do. Tanner shook his head and motioned for Devlin to wait.
Carrion said, “We’re the friends who rescued you in the alley behind the Inn last night.”
“What?”
“You were attacked, but we saved you and brought you to our room. We’re above the Inn.”
The Captain rubbed the bruise on his jaw. “I don’t remember any of it.”
“Not surprised at all,” Carrion said. “You were pretty drunk.”
“I remember you from downstairs. I guess I owe you a debt of thanks.”
Carrion cast a warning glance at the others. “Yes, debt. We talked about that too, last night. Remember?”
The Captain grew wary. “No.”
“Oh well, no problem. You said we’d discuss it more today. You invited us to your ship. We have business to discuss.” Carrion kept his voice soft and reassuring.
“My ship is a disaster, so save yourself a long walk. It isn’t going anywhere soon, if ever. Get out of my way.”
Carrion said, “Of course, I’m sorry I have you blocked in. I was making sure those thugs didn’t return in the middle of the night. Tanner? Devlin? Get ready so we can escort the Captain.”
“No need for that.”
“You must see the side of your face where an ugly brute hit you before these two brave men fought them off,” Carrion smirked in Devlin’s direction. He understood who the ugly brute was.
The Captain felt his chin and winced. “The Rose is a mess.”
Carrion said, “We’re just interested in getting you to your ship. It seems there are people in Racine, who’re very angry at you and demand their money.”
“I suppose it has come to that. Okay, come with me, and again, I have to thank you.”
They grabbed their backpacks and bedrolls and walked out of the Anchor Inn single file. Tanner and Devlin took up the rear in the dark streets. Only drunks who didn’t find their way home and bakers were out. Bakers sleep after lunch and rise when most are climbing in bed. By the time most people wake, the bread, meat pies, rolls, and sweets are fresh and warm.