“There’s only one ship, and it’s not for sale. Besides, we can’t go aboard without revealing ourselves, and we are going to stay and burn the pier,” Tanner said.
“That is not the only ship on this coastline, you know,” Carrion said. “I’m proposing we stick with our original plan and then we find another ship in another port.”
Tanner placed both travel books on the Marlstone Islands in the pack he claimed for himself. He reached for a handful of nuts and said, “There’re too many eyes to buy a ship in Fleming. The invaders will be there, watching.”
“So we don’t go there.”
“You call them ‘invaders’ but the messengers called them ‘the others.' I believe our new enemies need a name,” Tanner said. They were talking about war with people without names. That emphasized how little they knew about them.
“I agree. Years ago I chased a woman with hair down to her butt, I chased her all the way to Racine. I didn’t spend much time in the town, but her bedroom window overlooked the prettiest harbor you ever saw. There were ships of all sorts. Mostly fishing boats, but some were almost as big as that cargo ship tied to the pier.”
“Are you exaggerating?” Tanner demanded.
“Of course, I am. Who would build a fishing boat that big? But some ships probably sail across the Endless Sea. If not, as the owners, we can decide where we sail.”
“Speaking of going, take a look. That ship, the Pearl, has left the pier.”
“One sail up to help steer, and as it reaches the open water more will appear. It’s time you and I head back for the road. When the red attacks, I want to be well away to the south,” Carrion said.
“I won’t see it burn, will I?”
“I suspect there will be a flood of people trying to escape Shrewsbury. There’s really only one way into town, and that’s part of what made it a perfect place to land troops. But we don’t want to get run over by them so we have to get beyond where any will be.”
Tanner tossed the pack over his shoulder. “You’ll be watching it all through the eyes of the dragon. I expect you to tell me what is happening.”
“That I can do. I would like to inspect some of the crates of weapons, too. We’ll be heading south, so a slight detour to the monastery won’t take long.”
“I’d like to see them, too,” Tanner said, taking the lead. He angled them away from the town and up on the hillside where they could keep an eye on the departing ship and avoid any of the constables of town who might be watching the back ways.
When they reached the road, they again used pathways on the side of it. They kept under the canopy of the forest but moved fast. While it was morning, they had a distance to travel and didn’t want to get caught in the dark. However, they also didn’t want the lookout on top of the mountain to report them.
By midday, they reached the fork and turned south. The road wound through small hills and valleys, twisting and turning with the landscape. There was no attempt to conform the road so the road was straighter. In some places, it almost curved back on itself.
Carrion nodded to a side-road as they approached it. “That takes us to the monastery.”
“You said there are guards?”
“The dragon ran them off screaming in terror last time. I expect it will again.”
Tanner said, “Have it approach from the monastery side. That might make the guards flee into the forest instead of the building. I’d like to see what’s stored inside.”
“Good idea. I suspect that’s why they put you in charge.”
“You’re not going to lay off me about that, are you?”
“Not until you’re my age. When you are, I will expect you to treat me with respect.” Carrion threw his head back and laughed as if they had no danger in their future.
However, the laughter made Tanner feel better. There were signs of recent wagons on the dirt road. Wagon tracks were evident at every mud puddle. The grass and small plants were smashed flat, indicating heavy wheels had traveled the road, not long ago. Those same plants recover quickly, usually within a matter of days. Both of them were experienced trackers and didn’t bother pointing out the obvious.
Carrion said, “If you look through the breaks in the trees you’ll see the monastery on that hill over there. Now, I have a question for you. Your suggestion was to have the dragon come from the other direction so the guards don’t take shelter inside. Right?”
“Yes. I said I want to see what’s in there.”
“Me too. But my question to my illustrious leader is this. When they flee, where will they go? What’s the most obvious route for them?”
Tanner glanced around, not understanding the reason for the question. “They’ll flee down the only road. The one we’re standing on.”
“Are you suggesting that we leave the road, and as we get closer, we hide? They may run right by us?”
Tanner just smiled as if that had been his idea.
“I thought so. That’s good planning on your part. I’ll hold off my dragon until we’re closer, as you say. But, those guards are watching for anyone out here, so we need to be careful.”
“That’s what I was going to say next,” Tanner said.
“Of course, you were,” Carrion said with a wink, “There’s thick brush down that way, but then we have to climb the hillside to get to the building. But there isn’t enough cover to hide us the other way.”
“You lead. I’ll stay with you. Where’s the dragon?”
“Close. You should be able to feel him. I moved him in case we run into trouble,” Carrion explained as he started into the brush. They didn’t find any paths until they were almost half way across the small valley.
The slight tingle on his back reminded him the dragon was close, and he felt silly that Carrion had mentioned it. Tanner said, “The guards must hunt this area for food. Deer and whatever, so there should be trails and paths.”
“I’d like to get a little closer before calling in the red. Okay with you?”
“As long as you’ve spotted that guard up on the tower where only his head is visible.”
Carrion flashed his wicked smile. “He was the first one I spotted.”
The first one? There are others? Tanner started watching the windows, ledges, and doorways. He didn’t see any others, but they could be there. Carrion could be teasing, but the circumstances dictated more attention. Tanner made out the form of a guard out on the road, then another on the roof.
They would move out of sight of the guard on the road as soon as they dipped into the valley, but that would provide the other two with better views. They couldn’t help but see Tanner and Carrion.
Tanner said, “Any ideas how we hide from them?”
“I think we circle the building and come in from the south.”
“There’s no road. It’ll be harder.”
“When the dragon flies in, those guards are going to run from it. I think they’ll use the road,” Carrion said. “We don’t want to be on that side, or they’ll run right into us.”
Tanner looked at the distance they’d have to travel, and while it would take half the afternoon, he also determined it was the best alternative. “We’ll stay in the trees and make a big circle. I’d hoped we could do this quickly, but safely is better.”
Carrion turned and moved back into the forest again. He moved faster than Tanner expected, and several paths and trails went in the desired direction. The trees were shorter than Tanner was used to and in places the underbrush almost nonexistent. A few small streams flowed, and stinging insects were at a minimum.
They positioned themselves much closer to the monastery, only a hundred paces from the rear of the massive stone building. There were two doorways on the rear. One was blocked by beams nailed with spikes. But the other was smaller, and from the odors emanating from it, the door opened to the kitchen.