Page 14 of Legacy of Thorns (Kingdoms of Legacy #3)

Archer looked at Finley, his expression eager. “Given they couldn’t find us this afternoon, they must think we’ve already fled the area. I agree with Daphne—why should we hurry away?”

“Of course you agree with Daphne,” Finley muttered.

His scorn didn’t hurt because Daphne agreed with it. She would prefer any other champion than Archer. But aloud, she said calmly, “Let them search the rest of the kingdom while we sit here and come up with a better plan than running away from them for another three years.”

Finley looked at her, his face hard to read.

“Unless you like running and close escapes?” She twisted off a corner of bread and chewed it. “Personally, I’m not at all fond of either of those things.”

“It makes sense,” Nisha said after the silence had stretched out for nearly a minute. “And I wouldn’t mind a few nights in a proper bed.”

Daphne smiled, but her eyes lingered on Finley. His was the vote that counted most. Would he disagree just for the sake of it? He seemed like the kind of man who was used to coming up with the ideas, not meekly following the ideas of others.

But he gave a decisive nod, no sign of disagreement on his face. “We stay here for now, then.” He looked across the table at Morrow. “Unless you have any objection?”

Morrow shrugged. “Our coin won’t last forever.” He clapped his hands together. “But I’ve had an idea about that.” He turned to Archer. “How are you feeling about our new companion over there?” He gestured toward Daphne. “Still aglow with her magnificence?”

Daphne choked on her sip of water, but Morrow kept his gaze on Archer.

Archer grinned. “I’m aware of her perfection, yes.”

“Good!” Morrow clapped his hands together a second time and looked at Nisha. “In that case, we have an opportunity. The Legacy hasn’t fully released him from its grip yet. Daphne might not be able to manipulate thorns anymore, but we still have a Sleeping Beauty in our midst.”

“I am quite beautiful, it’s true,” Archer said with a grin.

Nisha’s eyes narrowed, her speculative gaze lingering on him. “He was never much good at whittling, though.” She tipped her head slightly to one side. “He might cut off one of his fingers by accident.”

“I’m not that bad!” Archer protested with a laugh. “I made a very creditable horse for Fin’s birthday once.”

“That was a horse?” Fin looked genuinely surprised. “I always thought it was a dog.”

“A dog?!” Archer stared at him in offended horror. “Of course it wasn’t a dog. We’ve never had a dog. Why would I carve you a dog?”

Finley shrugged. “You’d obviously put in a lot of effort. I didn’t want to ask any questions.”

“Thankfully, spindles are easier than horses or dogs,” Morrow said, not distracted from his original purpose.

Archer turned back to him. “You want me to carve you a spindle, Morrow? Are you in need of some yarn? I’m happy to do it, of course, but you might have better luck whittling one yourself.” He threw Finley another wounded look, and Daphne hid a smile.

She would have laughed at the idea of Morrow needing yarn if she hadn’t spotted him packing away knitting needles on their first morning. Apparently his vast bulk didn’t inhibit the deftness of his fingers.

“It’s not for me, it’s to sell,” Morrow said. “We could always do with supplementing our coin supply.”

Finley’s eyebrows shot up. “You want to sell something Archer carved? We won’t make much that way.”

“It doesn’t matter how good it is,” Nisha interjected, “since it won’t be used to make yarn.”

“The only other use for a spindle is bringing on unwanted naps,” Daphne said. “Or worse than naps for unfortunates like Archer. No one in Oakden has any need for more naps. Life is slow-paced enough here already, thanks to the Legacy.”

“Ah, but that’s just it.” Nisha leaned forward slightly.

“We heard a rumor a couple of seasons back. We all know that here in Oakden if we prick our finger on anything weaving or needlework related, we’d better get comfortable for the coming nap—but outside Oakden, pricking your finger has no effect.

But Morrow and I heard that a spindle carved by a recent Sleeping Beauty—made while the Legacy still lingers around them—still works outside Oakden.

It’s a powerful sleep aid, so it’s prized by those who have trouble sleeping.

And they’ll pay a high price to acquire one since they’re so rare. ”

Morrow nodded. “Issue dropping to sleep at night? One prick on your finger, and you’ll be sleeping like a baby.”

“Do babies sleep so well?” Archer muttered. “They seem to cry a lot from what I’ve seen.”

Daphne smothered another laugh, but Finley only frowned.

“I’ve never heard that before.”

Nisha shrugged. “Has it ever been relevant before? This is the first time I’ve known a full Sleeping Beauty myself.”

Finley continued to frown, but Archer clearly didn’t share his mistrust of the story.

“Why not, I say,” he exclaimed. “If the quality of the carving doesn’t matter, I could make a dozen. Two dozen! I’ll start right now.”

“And do what with them?” Finley asked. “We live in Oakden, remember?”

“Ah, see that’s where the situation is working in our favor,” Morrow said. “We not only have a Sleeping Beauty in our midst but a foreigner as well.” He paused and glanced at Daphne. “Or, well…sort of. Close enough anyway.”

Daphne’s expression didn’t change. She was far too used to the label to react to it.

“If we sent them to your parents, would they sell them in Glandore for us?” Nisha asked. “They would keep a cut of the profit, of course.”

“That’s your plan?” Finley asked. “And what if the rumor is false? What if they don’t work? It’s not like we can test them ourselves before we send them.”

“My parents could test them when they arrive,” Daphne offered, but Finley was already shaking his head.

“Fin!” Archer cried. “Think of all the coin we could make!”

“Think of all the coin we would have to invest to ship them safely to Glandore.” Finley gave him a stern look.

“All with the chance they won’t actually work when they get there.

And then how long before we get any coin back, even if they do work?

No.” Finley shook his head again. “We don’t have enough coin to waste on wild, speculative endeavors. ”

Archer looked like he wanted to protest, but he slumped in his seat instead and said nothing, apparently unable to think of a good counter-argument.

Finley stood. “It’s been a long day, so we’ll come up with a proper strategy in the morning. For now, everyone needs sleep. I’ll keep watch for the night.”

Morrow stood also, his voice soft. “For five hours, lad. Then I’ll take over.”

“Make that three each.” Nisha rose and began collecting bowls. “That should cover the hours of dark.”

“I can take a watch as well,” Daphne offered.

“Of course you can,” Archer agreed. “And I can join you. Together we won’t miss anything.” He fixed a pleading look on Finley.

“No—” she started to protest, but Finley’s “No” sounded even more loudly over her own.

The look he gave his brother allowed for no argument. “Daphne falls asleep just from blinking, so there’s no way we’re trusting her to take a night watch. And you were only just woken from an enchanted sleep this afternoon.”

Daphne’s protest caught in her throat and died. She couldn’t deny that she wasn’t likely to be a reliable night time sentry. Her eyes were already drooping, requiring more and more effort to open each time. If she didn’t go to bed, she was going to end up napping any minute.

She shot to her feet. The sensation of sleepiness was familiar, but it was stronger than she remembered in a long time. She needed to get to bed.

But she couldn’t help lingering alongside Finley when she passed him.

“Would it really be so bad to give their idea a try?” she murmured to Finley, Archer’s dejected face in her mind.

Finley gave a rough laugh. “You say that because you don’t know what Morrow’s like when it comes to these schemes.

He always has some new, brilliant idea for making money, and Archer is always equally convinced it’s a good idea.

And while you wouldn’t think it to look at her, Nisha is almost as easily persuaded.

Why do you think they gave control of the purse strings to me?

After the first brilliant idea failed, they decided I should have the deciding vote.

” His voice lowered even further, the lines on his face deepening.

“None of them want to become my Father.”

A spurt of interest briefly drove back the sleepiness, but one look at Finley’s expression dissuaded her from further questions. He would tell her more when he was ready.

And when she passed Archer on her way to the bedroom, the boy already seemed to have recovered from his momentary low spirits. He was standing with Morrow, whispering excitedly.

“I could at least carve them. Just in case. As long as I make them right away, they’ll be Legacy infused and should store well enough.”

She didn’t catch Morrow’s rumbled reply as she slipped through the door, but the tenor of his voice sounded positive.

A smile lingered on her face as she prepared for bed, and within minutes, she was stretched out in bed.

Despite her late afternoon nap, Daphne fell asleep immediately—as she could do anywhere, anytime.

D aphne didn’t stir when Nisha left their shared room for the final watch of the night, but she woke before any of the men. She joined Nisha in the main room, relieved to see the fire was already out and the fireplace cold.

“No disturbances in the night?” she asked.

“All quiet.” Nisha was preparing breakfast, her moves practiced and confident.

Daphne joined her, working silently for several minutes before speaking. “How did you end up traveling with Finley and Archer? Are they family?”

“ My family?” Nisha’s hands paused, and she looked up at Daphne in surprise. “No.” She resumed her work.