The Shadow Dragons - James A. Owen [71]
“I have other matters to attend to for the Caretakers,” said Ransom, “but I’ll stay close.”
“Let’s go,” said Bert. “The clock is ticking.”
Fred was more than happy to see the scholars again, particularly Charles. He took great pride in showing the Caretaker every part of the garage where the principles were maintained, while Jack and Bert outfitted a vehicle for the trip to see Samaranth.
“So, Fred,” Charles said, “other than the family traditions of publishing and automotive care, tell me what else you’ve been studying these years past.”
“As much as I can of just about everything, Scowler Charles,” replied Fred. “I read what I can when I’m not working with my father at the press—although if it were up to my grandfather, I’d still be in cooking school.”
“If it hadn’t been for your grandfather, we would never have defeated the Winter King,” Charles explained, “and if not for you and your father, Jack and John would never have been able to rescue Hugo Dyson.”
“T’ be fair, Scowler Charles,” Fred said, “it was partially our fault Hugo got trapped in time t’ begin with.”
“Sure,” said Charles. “And your willingness to acknowledge your mistakes, and to learn from them, is one of the main reasons I’ve decided to give you this.”
Fred looked down. In Charles’s hand was a silver pocket watch, emblazoned with a red dragon. The symbol of an apprentice Caretaker.
“A Samaranth watch!” Fred exclaimed, still unsure of what was happening. “But—but—Scowler Charles—you don’t really mean t’ give that t’ me?”
Charles nodded. “I do. Jack has told me how much help you were to Hugo, and of how diligently you were studying to become a true scholar. So I know of no one who deserves it more.” He placed the watch into the small mammal’s trembling paw, then closed his fingers over it.
“You know what this means, and you understand the responsibility that comes with it. So don’t disappoint me.”
Fred was shaking with excitement. “I won’t! I promise!” He stopped and furrowed his brow. “Does this have to be a secret? Or can I tell someone? I mean, someones?”
“It’s supposed to be a very secret thing,” said Charles, “so just be careful about who you do choose to tell. I’m guessing your father and grandfather?”
The badger nodded. “Yes, Scowler Charles.”
“That should be fine. And Fred—you’re my apprentice now. You can just call me Charles.”
“Thank you Scowl—I mean, thank you, Charles!” Fred said as he walked away in as dignified a manner as he could without appearing to want to run.
“Holy hell, lad,” Charles called after him. “Run. Run and tell them!”
Without a backward glance, the badger broke into a dead run, his feet barely touching the ground.
In short order, Bert, Artus, and Jack had joined Charles and his newly appointed apprentice in a spacious six-wheeled principle called the Strange Attractor. Fred took the wheel and soon revealed himself to be an expert driver. The trip was innocuous enough, and the engine loud enough, that the companions could talk without being overheard as they traveled.
The first time John, Jack, and Charles met the great dragon Samaranth, he was the only dragon left in the Archipelago. All the other dragons had abandoned the lands and the service of the king, because he had proven himself to be unworthy to call on them.
Now Jack and Charles were again going to see Samaranth, and again he was the only dragon left—but this time, it was because Artus, as the king, had sent them away in the belief that as long as the dragons were always there to solve any problems, he and his people would never fully mature as a race.
“Of course I went to Samaranth first,” Artus explained to Jack and Charles, “and when I told him what I planned to do, he was quiet for a very long time. Then, when he finally answered, he asked a question.”
“What did he ask you?” said Jack.
“He asked if I had ever