As darkness fully fell, they could still see the Far Seeker and the flames rising to the top of her masts. Tanner said to the men on the stern, “How many fires do you think we caused?”
Carrion said, “I think I started ten.”
“She’ll be lucky to stay afloat,” a sailor said.
Carrion snorted, “It’ll stay afloat, mark my words. Evil men like him have a way of surviving.”
“We’ll see him again,” Tanner agreed and hoped that when they did the circumstances were favorable.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
It took seven more days to reach the Marlstones, two of those days fighting through storms with seas higher than the railings. The ship took several waves over the bow. The water rushed across the decks sweeping it clean of anything not secured, but no men were lost.
Tanner couldn’t image what it must be like to have a storm strike when your ship has been burned, your sails are ashes, and most of the rigging went up in flames. How could Captain Brice keep his ship turned into the wind and waves to prevent striking broadside and rolling it over? If the Far Seeker survived burning, most would agree it should have sunk in the storm.
But he didn’t believe it did. Captain Brice would manage to survive, even if his ship did not. He was that kind of enemy. What Tanner did know is that the closer The Rose sailed to the port of Marlstone, the stronger the itch on his back grew. The red dragon had arrived ahead of them. He spent the morning after the attack in the tiny ship’s cabin guarding the door while watching Carrion in a trance with the dragon. Carrion said that it flew over two islands before settling on another.
Carrion had watched the approach through the eyes of the dragon. He wanted to make sure the island was uninhabited, and that there was ample prey for it to feed upon. He also wanted to make sure there were no green dragons waiting to attack and kill the red. If the red spotted one before Carrion, it would instantly attack.
But now they stood at the same spot where they spent a good portion of the trip, standing at the port rail where they enjoyed the brisk sea air, the warmth of the sun, and they were mostly out of the way of the crew.
Ahead lay the port of Marlstone, empty of other ships and appearing forsaken. The pier, warehouses, and lack of people made the scene almost like a lonely painting on canvas. Tanner said, “From a distance, the island is beautiful.”
Carrion said, “Nobody seems excited enough to welcome us.”
The pier stood empty and remained so as Captain Jamison navigated The Rose closer. When no small boats were dispatched to help her dock, he ordered his own to be lowered. A small line was fed to the to the rowboat. It rowed to the dock, and two sailors quickly climbed a rusty ladder and pulled the small rope that was attached to a larger one. In no time, The Rose was pulled to the side of the dock and tied without the help of a single islander.
The silence was eerie. Tanner sensed the awkwardness of the crew and their confusion. Fisher, the first mate, was sent off to locate the Harbor Master. Nobody else departed from the ship. Nobody seemed to want to.
Fisher returned with two men in tow. Their skins were darkened from the tropical sun, and they walked so slowly they appeared serene. Captain Jamison met them at the top of the gangplank and offered to shake hands. They refused.
Words were exchanged and then the two men calmly departed and walked back up the pier as if on an afternoon stroll. Captain Jamison headed their way. He said, “They don’t want us here. We can’t buy supplies or water.”
Tanner said, “Do we have enough to reach our destination?”
“I planned to gather them here, as well as refitting the ship for whatever we need.”
“Is there anything critical we need?”
The Captain shrugged. “We could use a few repair items for the ship, but the refit took care of nearly everything. But we do need water and food to continue. I’m sorry, I expected to buy all we needed here.”
Carrion said, “If the only things we need are water and food, maybe I can help.”
“Do you know these people?” The Captain asked.
“No, but if we examine your charts again, I may be able to help.”
Captain Jamison shot him a questioning look and then said, “Our other option is to sail back to Princeton, maybe Fleming, and load the ship with supplies.”
The response made Tanner wince. Word of their destruction of Fleming hadn’t reached them. Tanner didn’t want water or food from there. He felt convinced that one of them was drugged. He suspected what Carrion was offering. The red dragon. Carrion could see through the eyes of the dragon and locate fresh water and perhaps food.
Tanner said, “We would like to look at your chart of the islands, please. Then we’ll talk and decide what to do.”
Reluctantly, the Captain turned and took them to his cabin. He unrolled the chart and used weights at the corners to hold it down. Marlstone, the island, and port were located on a sheltered bay of the largest island. But there were over a dozen larger ones, two of them nearly as large.
The depth soundings showed both of the other islands had waters deep enough for The Rose, and both had rivers emptying into the ocean. A closer look revealed that one had a settlement. The other was listed as uninhabited.
Either might be better. If the residents of the first were cooperative, it was the better choice. If not, the uninhabited island would provide water. But they needed food. There were bound to be coconuts and other fruits, but a voyage across the ocean eating coconut three times a day didn’t sound enticing.
A third island off to the side of the island chain caught Tanner’s eye. Smaller by half, the notes beside it said that it had a friendly population. A small river wound through the town and beyond from inland. The last entry caught his attention. It said, “Inhabitants do not consider this island part of Marlstone.”
He stabbed a finger at it.
After reading the notes, Carrion gave him the nod.
Captain Jamison settled back and said, “Never heard of Bangor but from what I see it will take only a day to sail there. If it does not work out, we can decide what to do. It’s not like we’re in desperate need.”
Tanner said, “I’d like to go there.”
“If they consider themselves something other than Marlstone we stand a chance. It seems that Breslau has influence over this entire port. The government and every business are controlled by Breslau. I’d heard some of it, but nobody has ever mentioned it is like this.” Captain Jamison said. “Let me get my men busy.”
As Tanner watched Carrion communicating with the red dragon in their cabin, he heard the shouts and orders of the ship departing. He expected the ship to sail from the harbor and turn east. The change in the roll of the ship would alert him, but it didn’t come.
Carrion finally sat up and said, “The island next to Bangor is even smaller but has good water. We saw two goats, but no other large animals and few fruits, but maybe it’s worth a look. The eyes of a dragon look for food and danger. Anything else is lost.”
“We haven’t turned,” Tanner said.
“Probably still in sight of Marlstone. Why turn and give away our intentions and maybe foul the chances for the next ship? Which might be us as we return.”
The humid, hot air drove them back out to the deck. The island was almost lost to sight, as Carrion predicted, The Rose turned east and north. The wind was mild, the ship moved slowly and remained standing upright, nearly level. When Tanner was about to mention it, he spotted a dark mass of clouds forming.
An afternoon thunderstorm approached, and with it, the wind increased, then blew hard. The ship heeled over and sped across the water like a water bug being chased by a spider. The rain struck and came in sheets, driving them back inside to suffer the stifling wet heat. Both took naps.