They tied bits of wool to hooks until the worms arrived. Both used bobbers. When the lines were in the water, Grandma Emma said, “I suppose you already have a plan?”
“Not fully developed, but yes.”
“Tell me.”
“After what we found in the Marlstone Islands, I have ideas. Remember Breslau had bought all the businesses and refused to sell cargo or supplied to ships. I need to sail to Breslau. The answers are there.”
“You’re speaking about the change in the attitude of everyone in the port when Gray mentioned ‘Anterra’ at the Inn in Marlstone City?”
“They were going to hang him. At least they were going to beat him, just for mentioning it. He was lucky to have a good ship’s captain who managed to get him away.”
“The same tale says that there is only one ship that goes beyond The Marlstones to Breslau,” Grandma Emma said. “It rarely takes passengers. It will never take you.”
“I know. But it did take Stinson there, and that’s a problem for all of us. Stinson and his bragging mouth will sell out our entire family for a few words of praise, and there is little about us that he does not know.”
“He’s not as bad as all that.” Grandma Emma said. “Just a little headstrong.”
“You’re wrong. He traveled on that ship as a crewman,” Anna said. “That says he is one of them, or he’s selling his soul to them.”
“I believe part of what you say may be accurate, but it is hard to believe a child from this family would do such a terrible thing. While he may have worked on the ship as a crewman, that was not the primary reason for why he was on the ship. He was there because The others wanted him in Breslau. Hiring him onto the ship was merely a method to get him there willingly and to force him to talk. I could not imagine they couldn’t have found a better-qualified crewman if they had looked at three other sailors. When the ship eventually tied up to the pier in Breslau, he was probably taken off and questioned. At least, that’s my belief.”
“Questioned like a spy?” Anna asked.
“Or worse. He may even have been treated like royalty, and then he willingly told all, but at the very least I assume he was tortured and in the end told them everything he knows about the Dragon Clan and where we are located.”
“They probably didn’t have to torture him is my guess.”
“Anna, pay attention to your bobber. A fish is playing with your bait. Be careful of what you say about Stinson. He still has family living here that your words may hurt them. We need to be understanding for their sake.”
“He is a traitor to this family and the Dragon Clan,” she spat.
Grandma Emma lifted her bait from the water and replaced it with a worm from the container the girls brought. She thanked them, and after they had run off, she tossed her line, so her bobber sat right beside Anna’s. It went under almost immediately.
Grandma Emma pulled in a perch, held it up and examined the size and judged it too small to keep, so she tossed it back. She rebaited her hook and cast her line back beside Anna’s again. Grandma Emma soon pulled in another. It was a keeper, but she also tossed it back into the lake. She glanced at Anna. “Using the right bait always produces better results. I’m done fishing and talking today.”
Anna watched her grandmother stroll up the dock and climb the hillside to the small houses, never once looking back. Anna knew something profound had just happened but couldn’t figure it out. Not yet. But she had time, and three days to think.
She pulled her line in and replaced the wool with a worm. When the bobber went under she didn’t notice until the fish almost pulled her pole into the water.
Her life was about to change in ways she didn’t understand. In later years, if she lived, she would recall this day as the one that set her on the path to whatever destination lay in her future. The thought was profound, fearsome, and exciting.
But, she simply wished to leave the Drylands Family. Soon.
CHAPTER TWO
Anna hugged all who had come to wish her well, which was everyone in the Drylands Family, men, women, and children. Despite her best efforts to hurry events along, it had taken three days to meet with each council member and the interested people who had suggestions or advice. She had spent a full morning with Gray, and almost a full day with Tessa at the watchtower. Both had shared their thoughts and ideas in depth.
In the end, she admitted to herself that it had been well worth the wait. She had used the time to fill her backpack with essential items, empty it, and refill it again with different essentials. She had sewn coins into so many seams that the straps of her pack felt heavier, not just the contents of the pack, but the straps themselves held coins.
Grandma Emma had monopolized her evenings, filling them with guidelines, goals, and warnings. While she had allowed Anna to take on the responsibility of the trip, it was clear that her grandmother wished Anna would let another go in her place.
Finally, it was time to leave. The entire Drylands Family watch her as she walked beside Tessa in the direction of the mouth of the box canyon that helped conceal the village, Tessa said, “I’ll walk with you a little farther if you don’t mind.”
“That would be nice,” Anna said, grateful for the company and yet fearful of cutting the last tie to her family and friends for another venture into the unknown. The feelings had become uncomfortable with all the well-wishers delaying her as they offered advice and wisdom, but the morning sun was well above the horizon, and she had a very long walk ahead of her.
After navigating the wall of cacti and juniper, they reached the flat of the desert and walked within the high walls of the canyon looming over them to either side. Anna was conscious of the watcher on duty on the mesa above even if she couldn’t see who it was. She knew a friend or relative was there watching out for the safety of all, as she had done a hundred times.
Tessa said, “I wanted to stress a few things before you go. Your Grandmother and I discussed them, and we are in complete agreement.”
“I thought we’d already decided everything.”
“Not yet. Listen to me, Anna. This may seem like an adventure to you, and someday I hope you tell your grandchildren about it, but today it is a dangerous mission. So listen to me with all the attention you would as if your life is at stake . . .”
“Okay, I will.”
“Your grandmother and I are changing your destination. Instead of going to the Raging Mountains and searching for the Dragon Clan that lives there, we want you do go directly to Castle Warrington. We have information that Raymer will be there helping Quint and his father, the Earl. If he is, you will ask him to accompany you to Breslau.”
“Raymer? The Raymer?”
“Yes, the one who was held in the dungeon and defeated King Ember’s sneak attack against the Northwoods over a year ago. The advantages of traveling to Breslau are simple. He’s experienced in living with people other than Dragon Clan, and he has bonded with a red dragon. He is smart, strong, and clever. Raymer will be your first choice. If you cannot locate him at Castle Warrington, you will travel to the Raging Mountains and seek out his family, which may take time. They are hidden as well as our family is, but you will find the way.”
“Why didn’t you tell me all this earlier?”
Tessa walked a few more steps before answering as if considering if she should tell the truth or a lie.We suspected you would balk at going on this venture with a bonded Dragon Clan member. You would fight against it. He will naturally take the lead, and you will do as he says.”