Page 11 of Legacy of Thorns (Kingdoms of Legacy #3)

Finley

“ T he other door,” Morrow said urgently, turning toward the depths of the barn.

But Nisha shook her head. “If they’re trying this door so openly, they’ll already have the back covered.”

“Then we go out the side.” Finley pointed at a ladder that led up to a hayloft above.

Archie grinned and immediately began climbing. “Don’t worry, Daphne,” he called quietly over his shoulder. “I’ll test that it’s safe for you.”

“I’d better go last.” Morrow eyed the simple wooden ladder with misgiving.

But Finley was only half aware of his familiar companions and their expected reactions.

His main focus was on Daphne. If she insisted she wasn’t coming with them, he would use the dagger.

He wasn’t going to leave her behind to be captured because of him—even if that meant carrying her out over his shoulder.

But Daphne’s expression was serious, even grim, and she put her hands on the ladder to steady it as Archie scrambled over the top.

As soon as he had disappeared into the loft, she wrapped her skirts firmly around herself and began climbing after him.

She didn’t once look at Finley, and he had the impression that wasn’t by chance.

But she was escaping with them, and that was all that mattered.

Nisha stepped up to the base of the ladder in Daphne’s place, holding it steady for her as Daphne had done for Archie. When Finley took his place at her side, she threw him a single look.

“Now that,” she said, “is a lady worth admiring.”

Finley’s neck went red, but Nisha didn’t wait for an answer, ascending upward so quickly that he barely had time to steady it before she disappeared over the top. He climbed after her, emerging into a dusty old hayloft that looked less sturdy than he would have liked. He peered back down at Morrow.

“Careful, friend. There’s no one to steady the ladder for you.”

“That’s for the best,” Morrow huffed, already several steps up. “If it can’t hold my weight, I’d squash them like a pancake.”

Finley grinned reluctantly, his concerns alleviated by the sight of the ladder holding firm, despite Morrow’s sturdy bulk and dire predictions.

On the far side of the hayloft, a dirty window let in streaks of light. As Finley glanced at it, Archie punched out the glass, his fist wrapped in an old piece of leather.

Finley rushed to his side. “That isn’t the best way to do that.”

“I know.” Archie grinned at him affectionately. “But it was the only thing I could find up here. I didn’t think moldy hay would do the job.”

“It did the job well enough,” Daphne said evenly. “But I hope you have a better plan for what comes next. I have a strong aversion to leaping blindly out of windows.”

“Don’t worry,” Archie said. “Finley always has a plan. And they’re usually brilliant.”

Finley’s jaw tightened. It was hardly the moment for Archie to boast about him to Daphne—Finley had done nothing to impress himself to her so far.

The wooden floor of the hayloft creaked as Morrow clambered onto it, giving Finley fresh nightmare fuel. They needed to move quickly.

“Pull up the ladder,” he instructed Morrow, stepping forward to receive the end from him.

Daphne took his place at the window, leaning out to peer downward. “That ladder won’t reach all the way to the ground if that’s your plan,” she said over her shoulder.

Archie pushed up beside her to peer out as well, although Finley suspected him of doing it just to be near her. His hands tightened on the ladder.

“See that rock?” Archie murmured to Daphne as Finley gruffly instructed them both to move out of his way.

They did so, Daphne’s expression one of almost reluctant admiration. But it was much too early for Finley to feel any pleasure at the sight. He hadn’t gotten them safely out yet.

He maneuvered the ladder through the window, lowering it carefully until it was fully extended through the window, the base only just reaching the stone positioned carefully below.

He dragged the two points of the ladder’s base until they settled into the grooves he had carved out earlier, after Morrow helped him roll the stone into position.

It was fortunate that the rock was large enough to have remained in place since their last visit when Finley had undertaken proper preparation.

Usually he never went into an uncertain situation without first preparing an escape route.

“You go first again, Archie,” he murmured. “And then you can hold the ladder steady for Daphne.”

Archie’s half-formed protest died at the mention of Daphne, and he clambered out the window in due haste.

“Don’t worry, Daphne,” he whispered, before his head disappeared out of sight. “I’ll make sure you get safely down.”

Finley shook his head. If Archie hadn’t yet recognized Daphne’s competence, his younger brother must be more Legacy-addled than Finley had realized. Daphne might wear an air of sleepy detachment, but she didn’t need help climbing down a ladder.

This time she didn’t follow straight in Archie’s wake, however, instead stepping back and gesturing for Nisha to descend ahead of her.

From the pained look on Daphne’s face, she didn’t want to climb straight into Archie’s arms. Nisha seemed to understand since she bumped Archie out of the way and braced the ladder for Daphne herself, an unusual grin lingering around her lips.

Finley was glad someone was finding Archie’s enchanted puppy love amusing because he certainly wasn’t.

It didn’t take long for all five of them to reach the ground, Morrow coming last and sliding most of the way down in his rush. Nisha led the way into the trees, the first three already disappearing between the trunks before Morrow was off the ladder.

But even with their haste, they hadn’t moved fast enough. Finley had only just stepped between the first of the trees when a yell sounded from inside the barn. A flurry of shouted words followed, and a man appeared around the end of the barn. He caught sight of them and gave a louder shout.

“Blast!” Finley took off running, Morrow behind him. “Run!” he called ahead to the others, and both women did so without a backward glance. Even Archie instinctively picked up his pace, although he did take the time to look worriedly over his shoulder toward Finley.

With his longer legs, Finley could have outrun them all, except perhaps Nisha. But he moderated his pace, maintaining his position at the rear of the group. If their pursuers caught up, they would have to go through him before they could touch the others.

Thankfully it was taking the men time to close the gap, although he could still hear the sounds of pursuit.

Most of them must have still been inside the barn when Finley was spotted, slowing them down.

It was just unfortunate that a full speed flight through the forest made enough noise to be easily tracked.

On the other hand, if they slowed enough to reduce the noise, they would be overtaken before they had a chance to lose their pursuers.

Ahead of him, Daphne caught the arms of Nisha and Archie, pulling them both to an abrupt stop. Finley nearly ran into the back of them, only just sliding to a halt in time.

“What are you doing?” he gasped out between sharp breaths. “We have to stay ahead of them!”

“And where exactly are we going?” Daphne was breathing heavier than Finley, but she didn’t look too exhausted to continue. So what did she hope to gain?

If she thought the men behind them could be reasoned with, she was wrong. Finley had already tried. Twice. And Finley was good at talking people around.

“We need a better plan than run until we all keel over,” Daphne said when no one responded to her question.

“Do you have one?” Archie’s voice was filled with excited anticipation, his faith in her complete.

To Finley’s surprise, Daphne nodded. “Of course. I don’t like running.”

She turned to a solid patch of brambles with wickedly long thorns. The type that littered the forests of Oakden. “This should work well.”

Archie let out a soft, wordless cry of caution, but she had already reached her hand toward the greenery. The leaves and branches stirred, pulling back from her touch. As they moved, they picked up speed until a path had formed leading into the middle of the bramble patch.

Daphne turned a satisfied expression on the rest of them. “Well, come on! We don’t have long!” She stepped between the brambles.

Morrow and Nisha exchanged a look before both shrugging and following her. As she led the way, the brambles continued to move until they revealed a central hollow in the middle of the patch.

Archie gave a silent whistle and followed, his adoring eyes fixed on Daphne as he slipped between the brambles. When he reached her, he sat on the ground, alongside Morrow and Nisha, ensuring their heads stayed low and out of sight.

Daphne remained standing, however, her gaze turned back toward Finley, a challenge in their depths. Shaking his head, he followed his brother.

As soon as he reached the hollow, she touched the brambles again and they closed behind him, leaving only the central space that sheltered them. It was large enough for all five of them to sit, but only just.

He and Daphne had only just settled on the ground when footsteps raced past, voices calling to each other. The five inside the brambles kept quiet, and Finley held his breath, straining his ears as he listened to their pursuers stream by. There seemed to be more of them than he had seen before.

He turned his gaze to Daphne, hoping she couldn’t read his feelings on his face. Once again she had surprised and impressed him. Without her assistance, they would have been in serious trouble.

When the forest settled back into silence, he ventured a whisper. “How did you do that? Do brambles usually part at your touch?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I’ve never tried it before.”

“You’ve…never….tried it before?” he repeated slowly, his admiration turning to indignation.