Dragons Shining (22 page)

“Not very far. We should be there by midday. Oh by the way, this body you found for me didn’t have any money on him. You will have to break out say four of those Crowns.”

“Well I think my farming days are over, so let’s put it to use wherever we need to”, said Owen. He dug into the pouch, and handed twelve shiny gold pieces to Baird. “You handle it, ok? Do whatever you see fit with the rest.”

Every now and then a snake or a big snapping turtle would leave the path and let the riders pass. Twice more, Baird used a flash ball to scared sunning gators.

“This swamp is teeming with life”, said Owen. “I can’t keep track of it all, Baird. There could be undetected lurkers.”

“You need to change your focus, Owen. Try sensing the swamp as a single entity, with a myriad of connected parts. The swamp can help you keep track, if you can learn to tune in on it.”

“The swamp is a living thing?”

“Not this one, but it is the sum of everything here, including the life forces. You can tune into it as a whole, keep trying. Clear you mind, and you be the swamp.”

“Are there living swamps?”

“Yes, there is one in the wastes. Dragon Wood is also a living entity. We can talk about her another time. Learn this first.”

This was something new for Owen. He tried, and kept slipping back into what he had already learned to do well. Before he could become overly frustrated, he saw his first pair of pirogues. These were small and had two paddlers in each. There were fishing poles and nets stored against the hulls of these very shallow, double ended, flat bottomed boats, and also a pole for pushing them in shallow water. Owen saw bow cases as well. A man and woman were in each boat, and they waived up at Owen and his friends, who waived back. Owen had placed the glamour on his eyes and on Gander at the first sight of the boats.

“I hope we get bigger boats”, said Tamaris.

“They are some much larger versions of the same low freeboard, flat bottom craft”, said Baird. “They also have higher freeboard sailboats with animal decks and stalls. The water is almost always very calm in what they call the Swamp Hills Bayou, even in a high wind, so these boats don’t really need to be seaworthy, and they aren’t.”

“Why do they call it that?” asked Owen.

“It goes through the deep swamp and to a pathway to the base of the northern foothills, not far from the nearest corner of Dragon Wood. There are many other bayous in the swamp, and some intersect with the Swamp Hills Bayou. That’s why we pay four Crowns to get a guide, rowers and sailors, animal tenders and use of the boats for a three day journey there and back.”

“Three days, Baird?”

“Yes Purdy. We will be moving as a horse trots or even gallops at times, and covering a great distance. There are stops each day, one with more cabins and a small Inn. Traveling at night is not a good idea in the swamp. We must carry hay and grain for the horses. These four solid gold Royal Crowns are actually high pay for this entire transportation and lodging service, but not by enough to risk getting less than their best effort. They don’t see many of these in here, and should be very cooperative.”

Before long they were seeing more of the pirogues and a few larger, similar craft with netted cages and strings of floats making their way between the high Cyprus roots and through the swamp grass that grew up in places. “What are those cages and floats for?” asked Tamaris.

“They are for catching crabs and what are called mud bugs, small lobster like creatures with tasty tails”, said Baird. “Look, there is Swamphaven.”

Owen could see two rows of timber cabins and platforms built up on piles along both sides of the bayou, and around the end where the deeper water began. The piles on the bayou side were set into the bayou itself, and there were much larger flat boats with higher hulls tied along the piers. Some had one large mast with a lateen type rig to take advantage of favorable winds. These had eight sets of oar chocks in the rails on each side as well. There were also smaller versions of the sailboats, with a Gaff rig and lower boom.

“We will be taking two of the sailboats, a large one for the animals and a smaller one for us”, said Baird. “They have centerboards that draw some water, though. In the shallower areas, calm or opposing wind, the oarsmen will take over.”

There were smaller boats out and down the bayou with fisherman with many poles and crabbers working their cages. 

Baird led the way to the docks near the centermost structure where they dismounted, tied off the horses and climbed the stairs up to the building. Inside there was a long bar, trades and goods counter, a cafeteria and a fresh seafood counter at the far end. Owen could see quartz crystals that the seafood sat upon. Cold cubes. Baird had told him of such things and had shown Owen how to draw all energy from the crystals, making them long lasting cold cubes. Their presence meant there was a wizard in the area.

There were tables set along the open windows, with a nice view down the length of the bayou.

Behind the trade counter Owen could see large stocks of various goods. A young, pretty woman tended the bar, and a plump woman tended the cafeteria counter. He could see movement in the kitchen behind the counter. 

Baird led them up to the trade counter, where a large and rotund man had been watching them from the time they entered. He had a thick black beard and bright blue eyes. “Hello, can I help you? I saw you riding down the ridge. From a distance you look like a mining party, but up close, I don’t think so. What can I do for you gentlemen?”

“You have not seen this face before, Thomas. I am Baird, transformed. I am sure you remember when I brought Kirkland and the others through. Remember their infant son and the Queen?”

“Wizard Baird, huh? Guess what I heard is true. You can change bodies. You look much younger, but I don’t want to know how. It’s been almost sixteen years since you came through, coming and going with the Royals in tow. I see you bring me an Elf this time. Coincidence, eh. Or not, I expect.”

“I see you are still investing well, Thomas. We will need one of the Lateen Rigs, and a Gaff Rig, along with a full crew for each, and also food and lodging to the Hills. We have the five of us. Five horses will come with us and two pack mules. The three other mules with the mining gear can stay here till we get back.”

“I suppose you mean investing here, huh?” said Thomas patting his stomach. “Sure, no problem, Baird. You have money, I presume?” He had taken the hint that asking questions about this crew was not appreciated.

“These should perk your interest, and maybe even buy some discretion? Four of us, and the two pack mules will be returning in less than two weeks. The three mules and all the gear can be considered collateral, if unforeseen events affect your profit.”  

Thomas’ eyes widened at the sight of the four Royal Crowns, normally carried by only the Royals or their most highly regarded and inner circle agents. “
So this is still King’s business”
, he thought.
“Better not to even ask why I am being paid twice as much as my normal price. All of that mining gear outside, and those mules could be worth one of the Lateen Rigs. But look at that Elf and his ready swords, and the battle scars on those hard men. The Elf is a wizard of some sort, like Baird. I can tell. I better include wizard Barlow and his apprentices to protect the crew in case there is some fighting involved. These guys look like they might attract trouble like a magnet.”
 

“Yes, Baird. No questions asked, but I hope you don't mind if Barlow and his apprentices come along? You are paid up all the way to the Hills and back. We will wait two weeks at the hills. If you are hungry now, go on and help yourselves over at the cafeteria.”

"He and his apprentices are welcome indeed, Thomas", said Baird. He meant it too. Barlow was a minor wizard, yet his help might come in handy in a fight.

“Let’s eat”, said Owen. “
I am so hungry these days.
”

“Hey, that’s Purdy’s line”, said Tamaris.

Thomas left the building to set up the trip, while they had some of those crabs, mudbugs, catfish and alligator. There was a gumbo that included all of this and other unidentifiable vegetables and other things in a thick, tasty soup. And, there was Nomad beer.

“These people eat well”, said Ender. “No wonder their ‘investments’ show.”

“You mean they are all even fatter than Purdy, huh?” said Tamaris.

“This delicious food, and the excellent beer, have me in such a good mood that maybe I won’t throttle you for that remark”, said Purdy.

They had finished eating and were sitting there watching the activity on the bayou when Thomas returned.

“It’s all arranged. You will depart at dawn tomorrow. The cafeteria and store open two hours before dawn, so you can get breakfast before you leave. One of the crew will come up to get you here an hour before dawn. Here are four keys. Rooms 1 and 2 have two beds. Rooms 3 and 4 have only a single bed. The cafeteria closes two hours after sunset, but the bar is open until midnight. Drink all the beer you want, but be ready to go on time.”

“Fair enough, Thomas”, said Baird.  “Show us where to put the horses and mules and we will take care of that.”

“We would have taken care of that already, Baird, but one of your horses scared the boys. Tommy says it growled at him, ha. Kids. One of you better head down there and calm that horse down.”

“Uh Oh. That’s Gander I bet”, said Owen. “He is a warhorse, and is protective of the others. I’ll go down.”

“Warhorse huh. Why am I not surprised? The kids would like that, I think. They have never seen an Elf before. I don’t even know your names though”.

“How rude of us”, said Baird. He introduced everyone.

“Owen, then. I will tell them you are coming. The older one is Larry and the younger is Tommy. They are my stable boys, not that we have much to do with horses ourselves most of the time.”

“Here Owen, take Room 4”, said Baird who handed Owen the key. “I will take 3. You guys take either of these.”

After checking out the room, Owen headed down to where they had left the horses.

“Hey Larry, here comes the elf”. 

It was Tommy, the younger dark haired lad just outside near the hitching rail.  He looked to be about 8 years old, stocky for his age.

“Hello Tommy. I hope Gander didn’t scare you too badly.”

“Nope.”

“That’s a lie, Tommy”, said the older boy walking up to meet them. “I saw you run away like a little girl.” Larry looked to be about 11 years old. He was thinner and had sandy hair and blue eyes.

“Well you didn’t hear that big brute growl at me, like a Lion!”

“No, I didn’t”, said Larry, laughing.

“You don’t believe me just cause you are bigger. I’m telling you he growled at me!”

“Give it up, fibber!”

“He is a war horse, fellas. He can fake a growl pretty well. Let me introduce him to you. As long as you don’t mess with his head or his feet, he will cooperate without a problem. My name is Owen, and this is Gander.”

“We ain’t never seen an Elf before. Paw says Elves aren’t as bad as most other people say.”

Owen stroked Gander and patted him on the shoulder. Both boys follows suit. They got a distinct purr in response. “What do other people say about Elves, Tommy?”

“They say elves are arrogant and think they are better than humans just because they live so long and they all have magic.”

“You be quiet Tommy. You always get us in trouble.” 

“I have never seen another true Elf”, said Owen. “I grew up with humans, so I don’t understand or even know why people should distrust us. I know it’s true, though, until you get to know me I hope. I’ll take Gander here. You boys gather the other horses and show me where the stable is, ok?”