It was dark. Two stories, almost windowless, and the few windows had boards across them. Inside was no furniture or belongs. No signs that anyone had ever lived there. The building was decoration. The stairway to the second floor looked solid, and they climbed up. Another stairway greeted them. Without hesitation, they climbed to a hatch that opened onto an almost flat roof surrounded by a short wall. It sloped from one side to the other, more than enough to force rainwater out the lower side.
The roof provided cover enough to keep them hidden. They found a place where they could watch the street below. In no time, a woman walked by, pulling a small cart containing fresh vegetables. She wore a cape the same color and style as Tanner. He hoped he hadn’t chosen one that women normally wore.
Later, a man carried a small barrel on his shoulder. He wore the same color and type. He headed in the direction of the pier, but while he disappeared from their sight behind buildings, he did not walk out onto the pier, and nobody carrying a small barrel did either. Therefore, he had a different destination.
They watched and learned. Most of the city were deserted. The people living there, were in small pockets. Groups lived together like tribes in the wilderness. They traded and intermixed, but lived apart. All wore cloaks, and during the heat of the afternoon, all wore hoods.
The heat on the roof became unbearable. Carrion said, “There’s a road to the castle, but that’ll be watched. I’ve been looking at the bluff it’s on. On the back side are hills. I think there may be another way inside.”
“Want to circle around tonight?”
“Why not now? Nobody is out in this heat. We can just walk the streets and see where it takes us. If I’m not mistaken, most of the people live closer to the shore.”
“I’ve noticed. Why?” Tanner asked.
“I see nothing growing, no farm animals, so they must get their food from either the ships or sea. Fish, clams, and whatever else?”
Tanner scowled as he looked over the rooftops to the sea. “Providing just enough food to live on is an effective way to control the people. If they cause problems, the Royals can stop feeding them. There’s no other food.”
They went back to the streets and moved in the direction of the mountains, pausing at each intersection to make sure they didn’t encounter others. Twice they saw people and avoided them. After crossing, at least, ten intersections of streets lined with empty buildings, they came to an abrupt end of the city.
Carrion had been right. The rear of the city was at the same level as the bluff the castle was built on. But it was bare rock the color of faded black coated with a sprinkle of tan. The edges were sharp. But the most daunting of all was that the castle was close, yet not one single place to take cover presented itself.
The rear of the castle was a flat plain, devoid of everything larger than a pebble. High on the rampart surrounding the castle were places of movement. Each corner looked to have a tent shading a watchtower. In them were men who occasionally moved. The movement drew the attention of the two attempting to sneak up.
Tanner said, “Better wait until tonight.”
Carrion’s eyes were on the ground. A trail led from the castle to the last of the buildings, the exact place where they stood. He pointed. “Dogs.”
The trail wound from side to side of the empty plain behind the castle. It was a path that crisscrossed several times, providing the dogs with ample times for locating scent. From the leavings of the dogs, they were large. Probably trained to sniff out people trying to gain access to the castle and attack them.
Both realized the castle was too protected. They went back into the maze of streets and worked their way to the waterfront as the first candles of the evening were lit. Instead of skulking around, they now walked confidently in the center of the streets, trying to appear like the locals. In the dim light, they could risk it.
Music drifted in the air. They followed it to a tavern where an old man sat outside and sang while two others tapped out the beat on small drums. The song was soft. The drums muted. However, the next was a rousing rendition of a familiar song, the tune instantly recognized, but the words changed. A woman danced in the flickering light of a lantern.
While watching her and listening to the beat of the drums and the singing, neither of them heard the soldiers sneaking up behind them. Tanner’s first warning was a muted thump as Carrion fell. As he spun around something struck the back of his head and darkness closed in.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tanner woke to face the sunlight, so bright he winced. He was trussed with heavy rope, his wrists tied behind to the ankles. He lay on his side. Twisting, he found Carrion similarly tied. Carrion’s eyes were still closed, his mouth slack.
The gentle rocking motion said they were on a ship. Tanner tested the rope and knots, then squinted and tried to see where he was. A heavy, decorative, railing ran along one side. Beyond he saw only water.
“I was wondering if you would ever wake up,” a voice said, the insolence and contempt clear.
“Who are you?”
“Let’s just say I’m the one in power as far as you’re concerned.”
Tanner closed his eyes to block the intense sun. He couldn’t see anyhow, but a flush of nausea and dizziness washed over him. He fought to keep from vomiting. He swallowed and realized how thirsty he was.
“Can I have a drink?”
“Maybe later.”
“What do you want?”
“The real question is, what do the two of you Dragon Clan want in Breslau?” The response was provocative and delivered in a condescending tone. Tanner squirmed and twisted until he managed to face the other direction. A young man perched one hip on the railing that went around a small deck on the stern of the ship. Tanner had seen the bow as he turned.
The man, the only one on the small deck that was raised higher than the main deck, appeared several years younger than Tanner’s early thirties. In fact, he looked to be in his late teens, although larger than Tanner by a head. A perpetual snarl never left his lips.
He caught Tanner’s eye. “I asked you a question.”
“Water.”
Tanner hesitated. Answering guaranteed nothing. One question would lead to another. While thirsty, he was not desperate. Not yet. But not all the power was in the hands of his tormentor. Tanner closed his eyes and allowed his head to fall to the deck harder than intended. He lay still.
“Wake up!”
Tanner allowed nausea to overwhelm him, and he went to sleep. A foot nudged him, but he ignored it and let the darkness take him deeper.
He awoke choking and sputtering. Fingers intertwined in his hair twisted and pulled his head back enough so a mug could pour water into his mouth. His restraints had been changed. He now sat on the deck, hands, and feet tied in front of him.
It was not the same person in front of him. It was a common sailor wearing only a pair of pants that went below his knees. His chest was bare, the scars of whippings indicating he had faced several punishments. Tanner glanced at the arm holding the mug. It was covered from the back of the hand to the shoulder with crude images tattoos of dragons.
A Crab, like Devlin. “Thank you.”
The Crab threw the remaining water in his face, stood and walked away. Laughter caused Tanner to turn and see the other was still there. He snarled, “I think your friend is going to die.”
Tanner looked at Carrion. His breathing was slow and soft. He hadn’t moved. “Help him.”
“Talk to me.”
“Are you a Royal?”