Page 44 of Ties of Legacy

The herbalist smiled. “Then it’s a worthwhile gift. I wish you safe travels from here.”

“And you,” she replied. “I hope you find a comfortable home with your relatives until you can return here to rebuild.”

The sound of the others approaching made her quickly wrap the scrap of soft leather back around her new possessions. Most Oakdenian herbalists used Oakden’s unique sleeping herbs to create sleeping draughts that were sold to doctors throughout the kingdoms. But some used the herbs to create a different, more potent substance—one that could be infused into the blades of weapons. Such weapons could send someone to sleep with the smallest prick, and their value was so great that Oakdenians were forbidden from trading either the substance itself or the weapons it created to outside merchants.

Once again, Avery had received a gift she could never have purchased. And she had no intention of getting her benefactor into trouble by advertising his gift.

The final goodbyes were completed quickly, and she and Elliot were soon on the road again. They didn’t hurry, taking it slowly for the final days into Ethelson. It made sense to pace themselves as they shook off the lingering effects of the smoke exposure—a fact Avery was ready to explain to Elliot when he questioned their slow pace. Except he never did. Instead, he gave every indication of being content to be back on the road and perfectly happy with their meandering progress toward the next large town.

They had fallen into such a comfortable rhythm with both the actual travel as well as setting and packing up camp that Avery sometimes forgot they hadn’t been traveling together for long. But despite the new comfort of company on the road, she was still pleased to see Ethelson appearing in front of them. It wasn’t as big as Marleston, but it was still a bustling town, nestled in the major fork of the river. And best of all, she had a friend therewho would host them, which meant she and Elliot were both guaranteed a bed.

“In Ethelson, the men’s and women’s bathhouses are right next to each other,” she said enthusiastically as Nutmeg pulled them through the first streets of the town. “If we both stay on the side of the bathhouse closest to the other building, we could manage a visit. Don’t you think?”

Elliot smiled down at her with a warmth she had grown used to seeing in his eyes.

“I’m sure we could make that work.”

Avery immediately frowned. Would he tell her if it was painful, or would he suffer in silence so she could have her hot soak? She caught sight of a familiar street and shook off the worrying thought.

“It’s just down here.” She directed Nutmeg to the large house she had stayed in many times before. The owner, Lorne, had been friends with her grandparents, and her mother had grown up with regular visits to his home just as she had.

The house was a comfortable size with room around the back for both the cart and a basic shelter for Nutmeg. Avery fell silent as she made the tricky maneuver down the lane beside the house and into the enclosed space. She had no sooner come to a halt, however, than a voice called her name.

“Avery! Welcome!” A short man with snow white hair and a slightly bowed back stepped out the back door.

Despite his obvious age, he moved with vigor, and his eyes were still bright and keen. He beamed with welcome at Avery, but as his eyes fell on Elliot, his brows shot up.

“Well, well, well,” he said jovially. “Who do we—” His words cut off and his eyes closed, his chin dropping onto his chest.

Elliot stared at him as Lorne swayed slightly but remained upright. He turned concerned eyes on Avery, but his growingconsternation seemed to ease when he saw she hadn’t paused in her climbing down, her smile unwavering.

“Just wait a minute,” she said as she began to unhitch Nutmeg.

“—have here?!” Lorne sputtered awake, his head jerking upward. He blinked at the sight of Avery now at Nutmeg’s head instead of up on the cart, but he didn’t miss a beat, sidling over to her and adding in an audible whisper, “He’s very good-looking, my dear. Wherever did you acquire him?”

“He’s not my latest ware, Lorne,” Avery said with a laugh. She stopped what she was doing to embrace him.

“Is he not?” Lorne asked with a wicked glint in his eye.

“I’m Elliot,” Elliot said stiffly, clearly not sure what to make of Lorne’s unconventional ways.

“Lorne.” The man extended a hand. “A pleasure to meet you. I’ve been saying for the last two years that Avery needed to find someone to travel with, so I’m most pleased to meet?—”

He once again cut off, his chin falling forward.

Elliot stood in front of Lorne, looking lost, but Avery returned to unhitching Nutmeg.

“Are you going to help?” she asked, snapping Elliot out of his confused daze.

“Is it safe to just leave him like that?” he whispered. “What if he falls and hurts himself?”

“He never does, thanks to the Legacy.” Avery detached Nutmeg and led her toward the shelter which was already piled with fresh hay. “In his younger days, he was one of those whose desire for adventure was stronger than his Legacy’s influence. He traveled the kingdoms for many years, which is how he met my grandparents. Eventually the effect got too much, and he had to settle down, but he chose Ethelson since it’s on the intersection between three kingdoms.”

“But he’s from Oakden originally, right? Now that he’s back, should he still be affected like this? I know the Oakden Legacy makes the pace of life slower here, and that Oakdenians are famous for sleeping, but this seems extreme.”

“—you!” Lorne barked as his head whisked back up. “Most pleased, young man.”

Avery turned to the older man and put her hands on her hips. “I haven’t seen you this bad for a while, Lorne, have you been across the border again?”

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