Page 39 of Ties of Legacy

Elliot gave her a knowing look. Avery of all people would be familiar with the ferry fare. It wasn’t difficult to see her true purpose in distracting the ferry master.

He’d already noticed that Avery struggled not to intervene anytime she saw someone in trouble. The children hadn’t done any harm, so of course she would step in to shield them, even though they were total strangers. At the beginning he had been a little surprised that she traveled the kingdoms alone, but he wasn’t any longer. She must have left a trail of friendly faces wherever she went. Who would dare threaten someone with that much goodwill across every kingdom?

The ferry master—his attention successfully diverted—engaged her in conversation while the passengers from the Oakden side unloaded. He even helped them walk Nutmeg on board and secure the cart in place.

Elliot had never made a ferry crossing with a cart in tow, but the process was surprisingly smooth. Within no time at all, they were stepping onto Oakden soil.

Avery was watching him surreptitiously, as if a part of her still didn’t believe he wasn’t tied to Sovar. But she would soon learn that everything he’d told her was true. He was as free to travel the kingdoms as she was—as long as he took the blasted lamp with him.

Marleston was so large that there was only a small village on the Oakdenian side. Neither Avery nor Elliot wanted to waste a whole day’s travel for the sake of staying there, so they set off upriver immediately.

Enough foot traffic frequented the river that there was a comfortable road for them to take, and they passed other travelers going in both directions. It was a more lively environment than the road through the center of Sovar, and he enjoyed calling greetings to the other travelers they passed or watching the boats—real ones or lines of pumpkins—sailing past.

To his surprise, though, he felt a little sad as well. On the previous road, it had felt like he and Avery were in their ownworld. With all the activity around them in Oakden, they didn’t need to chat together to fill the empty hours like they’d done on previous travel days.

But as they moved further away from the city and the ferry, the activity slowed, and by their second day, it was easy enough to ignore an occasional passing boat.

Avery still seemed reserved and closed off, though, and Elliot wracked his brains to try to work out what he might have done to upset her. Was she angry that he’d cut his turn in the bed short and put her into it instead? He’d seen straight through her plan to leave him in it all night and had been determined not to fall into her trap. But maybe she was angry about it?

She didn’t seem angry, though. She didn’t even seem annoyed with him. Just…guarded.

He even tried to gather a bouquet for her when they stopped for the midday meal on the second day, hoping it would lift her spirits. But when he pricked one of his fingers for the fifth time, he gave up on the idea. The Oakden Legacy was far too fond of thorns. He’d never be able to pull them all off, and Avery would likely end up more annoyed with him than she had been before the flowers.

They resumed their travel and were starting to think about finding a good place to camp for the night when something in the air caught his attention. He lifted his nose into the breeze.

“Do you smell smoke?” he asked Avery at the same moment she pulled Nutmeg to a halt.

“Did you hear something?” she asked, ignoring his question.

He tipped his head sideways straining to listen.

“Grandfather!” called a childish voice from behind a copse of trees. It was faint enough that he nearly didn’t catch it.

Avery sprang down. “Nutmeg, stay here!”

Elliot leaped down after her, following as she raced toward the sound. The scent of smoke was stronger now, growing clearer as they ran toward the cry of distress.

Avery didn’t hesitate, however, plunging through the small stand of trees and bursting out the other side. Elliot kept at her heels, pulling up beside her as they both paused to take in the scene before them.

A single home stood beside a small lake that was fed by a tiny offshoot of the river. It must have normally been a large, pleasant home with gables and climbing vines, but smoke was pouring from several windows, and he caught a flash of orange flame.

A woman stood waist deep in the water, a baby strapped to her chest, a small child on one hip, and a slightly older boy hanging onto her other hand, only his head and shoulders above the water. An older girl stood closer to the shore in shallow water. Her eyes were trained on the house, and she was the one screaming for her grandfather.

He and Avery both looked from the girl to the burning house, and both sprang into movement. But whereas Avery leaped forward, sprinting toward the house, Elliot lunged sideways. He knew Avery well enough to predict her reaction, but his reaching arms came up short. He had reacted just a second too late to catch her and hold her back.

“Avery!” he shouted, dashing after her.

He had longer legs, but she was fast, and she didn’t hesitate as she plunged through the open front door and into the burning house.

Shouting her name again, Elliot followed with only the briefest hesitation. Everyone knew not to run into a burning house, but Avery’s nobility was going to get her killed, and he couldn’t just stand by and watch it happen.

He put his arm over his mouth and nose, trying to block some of the smoke as his eyes immediately began to sting.

“Avery!” he called again, his voice already rough. “Where are you?”

The haze inside was strong enough that he could barely see where he was going.

“Grandfather!” Avery’s call was broken by a violent coughing fit that made Elliot’s insides seize. Where was she?!

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