Camilla said, “Did she say what happened?”
“She has no idea. My guess? Someone snuck in the back door and hit her with the firewood before she even knew he was there. Then he looked for something to steal.”
Camilla glanced at Shell and River. Then back to the doctor. “Can you check back with us tomorrow? And I hope to have someone here to look after her.”
The doctor turned and headed for the door. As he had one foot out, he turned and said, “It would be good if someone large looked out for her. If you like, I’ll send a man over that you can trust.”
“That would be wonderful,” Camilla said.
River and the constable went to each room, and River pointed out a missing statue and a few other items he described but had never seen, but they satisfied the constable, and he made a list, detailing each item, then said he would return the following day so make a note of anything else.
When the constable and doctor had gone, and the crowd outside dispersed, Camilla lowered the bar to lock the door and called a meeting of the three in the small sitting room. “I’ll sleep down here with her,” Camilla pointed to the open bedroom door.
“Robbery?” Shell asked, and he reached out and touched the mind of Pudding. He didn’t want the wolf in town but relished the protection it could give. The wolf waited nearer than Shell thought, and if needed the animal could race down the streets of Fleming, defend Shell, and be gone before anyone realized what happened.
“Coincidence,” River asked, then shook his head. “She’s been renting rooms for years, but this happens on the day you arrive? No, I don’t think so.”
Shell said, “Tomorrow morning we will go to the money-lender and make an offer. After that, we will see, but if it’s left up to me, I will sleep on the ship. It’ll be safer.”
“We can’t do that,” Camilla said. “We owe that poor woman back there.”
Shell wanted to explain that none of the three of them had done anything to the woman, someone else had, but after taking a good look at Camilla’s expression he wisely held his tongue. A knock at the door spun all their heads, but Shell remembered the doctor had offered to send a large man to guard them. He opened the front door and found a man a full head taller than himself, and weighing twice what he did.
“I’m supposed to stay awake and not let anybody come inside.”
Shell waved him inside. “Thank you for coming.
The guard set himself a bed outside the bedroom door, but told them he would try to stay awake the entire night. A friend would take over during the day, and he would return the next night. River, Camilla, and Shell went to Shell’s room to plan. The first thing agreed upon was that if any of them saw the suspected spy in the following days, no matter where they would attempt to seize him. River planned an active search beginning at first light. Camilla wanted to begin now. Shell found himself in the unwanted role of peacemaker.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
When Shell woke in his bed after tossing and turning all night, the morning was still almost dark. He eased from his bed and went to check on River, to find him already gone. Camilla was in the kitchen, the guard sitting in a chair near the bedroom door of the injured woman. He didn’t know what to do, first.
Back in his bedroom, he went to the gold coins and selected six, which was more than the owner of the ship’s debts. He placed several silvers of different sizes in his purse along with the gold. He strapped on his belt, making sure the knife slipped easily free.
At the front door, he called, “Camilla, I’ll be right out front.”
Shell threw open the door, looking to where the Breslau spy had sat, and when he found the chair empty, he looked to the people on the street. Most appeared to be heading to work, but a few paused and returned his stare. They had probably either been near last night when the woman was discovered beaten or had heard of it. None seemed offended by his actions.
A leap carried him off the porch to the alley, also empty as the chair where the Breslau spy had been earlier. He searched for footprints that might tell him something, but of the dozens he found, he couldn’t identify any as being made from the intruder. Back on the street people moved on their way, not concerned with him and his strange actions.
But the tingle of the red dragon made itself known as if it knew he was in danger. The stories he’d heard said the green dragons controlled by the Breslau Dragon Masters would kill the red if they found it. He ordered it to land where it would be safe. He touched the mind of the wolf and found it agitated, ready to race through the town to his rescue.
Calming himself, so he didn’t upset the wolf and dragon, he walked in one direction, then retraced his route and went in the other. Nothing seemed to be out of order, but he felt on edge.
River came to his side. “Doing the same as me?”
“Just looking around.”
“Let’s eat. I have a few ideas.”
They entered the house, and the guard was awake and eating. He said, “Another will be here soon.”
“How much do we owe you?” Shell asked.
“The doctor already took care of it.”
“Why?” Shell asked. “This is our problem.”
“Mrs. Honeycutt has lived here all her life. People like her.”
It was the first-time Shell had heard her name, and it seemed to fit her. The respect from the guard, and now the doctor told of the community's affection for her.
Camilla said, “Get something to eat. River, what time do the lenders arrive at work?”
“They’re a lazy bunch and won’t be there until later. I found the Captain’s name and where he lives from a friend this morning. We should all go see him, first.”
Shell nodded his agreement while eating jam smeared on bread, both rare treats at his home. He said, “I have the coins we need, but River seems to understand how this works better than you and me, so I think he should do the actual negotiations.”
Camilla agreed. They left the rooming house shortly after and headed up the side of the hill to where smaller houses stood, most surrounded by vegetable and fruit gardens on all sides. As they approached, a man stepped outside. He was tall, so thin he could be called gaunt, and his dark beard with streaks of white hung to his chest.
“Captain Spanner?” River asked, holding out his hand to shake.
The man on the porch made no attempt to take River’s hand. “What of it?”
“We’d like to discuss business. If you tell us a time and place, we could meet you.”
“My ship is not sailing. Go away.”
River smiled at the rude manners and gruff talk. “Sir, if I may explain.”
“Get out of here.”
“Sir, we may have good news for you.”
River dodged the flower pot that the Captain grabbed and threw. “Hey, we’re trying to help.”
“I said, get out of here.” The man advanced and all three retreated a few steps until they reached the street.
Shell and River continued to move back. However, Camilla pulled to a sudden stop, her knife in her hand, moving it in slow circles centered on the man’s stomach. “You can stop right there, Captain. We’re on a public street now, and if you come at me, I’ll gut you like a trout.”
He appeared as if he would charge her.
Shell spoke, his voice quick and loud. “That would be stupid. She will do what she says, look at her eyes. But if you take another step, all three of us will defend ourselves.”
River shouted to the people passing on the street. “Look at him! He’s going to fight that little girl! Somebody get the constable!”