Page 11 of Ties of Legacy

“Of course I was waiting for you,” Avery said, indignant. “You’ve been following me, and now you’re attempting to steal from me—for the second time!”

“I’m not stealing!” he protested, although he looked sheepish as he said it.

Nutmeg whinnied loudly, reaching over the half door of her stall and undoing the latch with her teeth. When she trotted out to stand beside Avery, Elliot’s eyes widened.

“That is not a normal horse,” he muttered.

Avery put a hand on Nutmeg’s neck. “Don’t insult her. She’s worth far more than thieves like you.”

Elliot finally made it to his feet, stepping warily away from the horse. “For the final time, I’m not a thief!”

Avery raised her eyebrows. “What are you, then?”

Elliot ran a hand through his hair and groaned. “It’s a complicated story.”

“I’m sure it is, but I’m not interested in your excuses. I told you not to let me catch you near my cart again.”

Nutmeg huffed and, at a slight prodding from Avery, stepped forward. Elliot immediately backed even further away.

“Just let me have a look at the items you got from the smith,” he pleaded. “I’m looking for something made of?—”

“You must be joking,” Avery cut him off indignantly. “You think I’m going to let you anywhere near my wares? You need to leave this hamlet now. And if I see you again, I’ll let Nutmeg kick you.”

Elliot’s eyes widened, so apparently he knew how much damage a horse’s hoof could do.

“And don’t think she’s my only defense, either,” Avery added. “I may be traveling alone, but I’m not an easy target. You have no idea what weapons I’ve picked up in my travels.”

She kept her face stern and her eyes hard. Elliot must want something in her cart badly to have followed her so far, and she needed to make it clear she wasn’t easy pickings.

“I just—” Elliot began, but Nutmeg huffed and stepped forward another step, baring her teeth threateningly.

Something skittered behind Elliot, but he was too focused on the horse to notice. He stepped hastily back and tripped over the small creature behind his feet.

He fell backward, barely catching himself with his hands, and the cat-sized mouse ran across the barn floor away from him. Elliot and Avery gave simultaneous shudders.

“Why did I ever think it was a good idea to settle in Sovar?” Elliot muttered.

Avery’s eyes flicked back to him. What did he mean by that? Was he not Sovaran?

She had encountered thieves in every kingdom, but never one who moved between them. The people who traveled like the roving merchants were few indeed and not taken to thievery.

She wanted to ask him what he meant and where he came from, but she bit down on her tongue to keep the questions from escaping. She had convinced herself it was her guilt fueling her thoughts of Elliot, but now that he was in front of her again, she couldn’t deny the fascination she had first experienced on glimpsing him in Henton. She would not give in to it, however. She was Avery of the roving merchants, and he was a petty thief who didn’t deserve her curiosity.

“Go!” she said sternly, pointing at the door.

Elliot looked at her hopelessly, his expression tugging at her heart. She frowned in response. She wasn’t going to make a fool of herself over a pair of piercing eyes.

His shoulders slumped, and he slipped back out of the barn, giving a final look of distaste at the place where the giant mousehad disappeared. As soon as he was gone, Avery shuddered again herself.

She liked Sovar for the most part, but she felt the same aversion to enormous mice that Elliot displayed. There were some things the Legacies would do better not to keep recreating.

Although apparently it could be worse. Her grandmother used to tell stories about seeing mice as big as horses in areas where the power of the Sovar Legacy was particularly concentrated. Avery could only consider herself lucky to have avoided such places.

She sighed. “Do you think he’s really gone this time, girl?” she asked Nutmeg.

The horse whinnied in response, but Avery didn’t know whether to take it as agreement or disagreement. Elliot had shown unusual determination and focus, but he had also seemed genuinely wary of her mare, if not Avery herself. Hopefully she and Nutmeg had shaken him off for good this time.

She returned the horse to her stall and made herself a bed of straw beside the cart. She needed to get some sleep, but she wasn’t going to leave her cart. She didn’t trust the strength of her threats that much.

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