“Not yet.” The sneer was in place again.
The answer was odd. Not yet. As if he intended to be, but it hadn’t happened. “What do you want to know?”
“Did you really think you could just walk into Breslau and not be noticed? The King pay’s a hefty reward for reporting strangers. At least twenty people reported you.”
Tanner said nothing. His mind was clearing, and their biggest secret was out. The man knew they were Dragon Clan. If Tanner said nothing about burning Shrewsbury, or the weapons they’d destroyed, there was not a lot to tell that was not already known.
“Help my friend. I’m talking, but only if you get him out of the sun and give him water.”
“I could just roll him over the side.”
Tanner turned his face away. Answering would only give the other more power.
Finally, the voice ordered, “Drag him to the shade and see if you can get some water into him so he can talk.”
The Crab leaped to obey. Tanner said, “Untie him.”
“No. You talk, and we’ll see. What family are you from?”
Family? How did he know about Dragon Clan families? “Highlands.”
“I thought so. How did you get here?”
Carrion’s eyes flickered, then locked onto Tanner until he noticed. Then Carrion closed them as if he was still asleep. The Crab stood beside the stairs that led to the rest of the ship. Time to lie. “We hired a ship to sneak us ashore north of Breslau City. The Captain robbed us a gold coin each, but he got us here.”
“The name of the ship and captain?”
“Captain Brice of the Far Seeker.”
“That pirate? You must have paid him well so he didn’t slit your throats.”
“There are two more gold coins held by a banker in Racine that will be his when he comes back the same time next month. He’ll pick us up at the same place.”
“Four gold coins? No wonder he was so eager to have you as passengers. Why did you come?”
“Our family send us to gather information.”
The smirk changed to a smile. “Of course, they did. I suppose you sat at a family council, and they all told you how important it is to gather information about the others. Too bad they didn’t know they’re on the losing side of a war.”
He had again said more than people knew about the Dragon Clan. Tanner said, “Who are you?”
“Stinson. Of the Drylands family.”
“You’re Dragon Clan?”
Almost casually, with also displaying insolence, he turned and flipped up the back of his shirt. The mark of the dragon was there, but no member ever displayed it in that manner. Tradition demanded a full display, and one in return.
Tanner said, “You’re working with them?”
“The Dragon Clan betrayed me. One of my family named Gray left me to die, but the Royals rescued me and brought me here. My own family sent me into the desert to die so now I’m returning the favor.”
“You’re joining the Royals? How will you sense their dragons?”
“Sense? That shows how stupid you are. They don’t sense each other, like when you have the damned thing growing on your back. They are Dragon Masters.”
The attitude provided more information than Tanner could comprehend. “What do Dragon Masters do?”
“They take eggs, hatch them and raise their dragons. They teach them to obey.”
“Like trained dogs?”
“That’s one way of putting it. They actually teach their dragons to do what they want, within reason. They rule Breslau with their dragons. None dare object. Now, you’ve heard me answer your questions. I expect the same from you.”
Tanner tried to make his face seemed puzzled. He said in his most respectful tone, “Sir? I’ll answer all your questions, but I think I’ve told you everything.”
“Is your family preparing for war?”
“We are always ready to fight King Ember.”
“Not him, with us,” he stressed the last word.
“Oh, you mean are we going to war with Breslau? No, we’re just trying to find out if the Royals are part of the Dragon Clan.” Tanner felt the slightest tingle on his back. He glanced at Carrion, who looked as if he had passed out again. His eyes were closed, his mouth hung open, and his chin rested on his chest.
But Tanner had seen him communicate with his red dragon too many times to miss the slight flutter of the eyes behind the lids. He knew the touch of the dragon when it came in range. What he didn’t know was what plan Carrion had in mind.
Distract Stinson. “I can understand your feelings. But you are Dragon Clan. How can you be sure the Royals are going to make you part of them?”
“They have offered me the entire southern part of Princeton, from the Summer Palace to the south as far as I can go. I will be an Earl, reporting only to the King of Breslau.” He stood taller and thrust his chest out.
“I’m impressed,” Tanner said. “Do they bargain for similar roles for others who are traitors who offer their families and heritage for sale? Or do they believe you are the only scum to accept such a reward for the deaths of all you know?”
As he spoke, his voice had risen. The tingling on his back had increased to pin-pricks of pain and Tanner didn’t understand how Stinson didn’t feel them. But as he looked at the anger in the red face, the balled fists, and the menacing steps forward, he knew Stinson was beyond normal sensitivities.
Stinson loomed over him when suddenly he straightened as if a bucket of water had been tossed in his face. His eyes went wide, and he turned his head until he found the red dragon in the distance. “Dragon!” He shouted again, louder as he pointed. “Dragon!”
Feet ran on the decks sending vibrations Tanner could feel. There were the shouts of orders from superiors and fearful responses. The ship turned. Tanner could see part of the deck and bow. Men appeared with swords held high.
But Tanner and Carrion were on a deck above the rest, tied hand and foot. The dragon could attack the ship and spit the caustic substance that ate through almost anything. The ship would sink, but they would drown. The angry red could attack the ship and rip it to splinters, but again they would drown.
What was Carrion up to? But he dared not interrupt the mental activities of his friend or even hint that Carrion was behind the attack. They all believed him to be unconscious.
A glance at Stinson revealed fear in a way Tanner had never witnessed. Stinson stood on weak knees, his mouth hanging open with drool hanging from his chin. His eyes were locked on the red dragon that seemed to be flying directly at him.
Tanner looked beyond Stinson and saw the same thing. The dragon had shifted directions and flew at the bow of the ship, wings beating fiercely. It opened its mouth and emitted a screech so loud and wild Tanner tried to break his bonds and cover his ears.
The mouth was lined with teeth. The forked tongue flicked, testing the air. The wings beat the air with harsh rasping sounds.
A crewman screamed in terror. Others joined him. They ran for cover, most disappearing below decks. Two dived over the side in their fear. In a heartbeat, the only people in sight were the three of them.
The dragon spat at the bow. Great wads of a thick substance looking like tar struck the foredeck. Where it landed, it spread and sizzled, small trails of acrid smoke already rising.
But the dragon came on. Its massive body struck the mast and snapped it off. It fell, along with all the rigging. The dragon stood on the deck and spat again, then took a bite of the side of the hull, twisting and tearing at the boards. Part of the inside of the hull was exposed. The dragon spat again and again, then leaped from the deck and flew away, circling when it was well away, and it headed for the ship again.