Page 17

Chapter 17

Avery

S ecuring places on a barge heading upriver was simple, especially without the cart in tow. She had picked a vessel designed for passengers rather than goods which meant it even had comfortable stabling for Nutmeg.

Lorne had offered to keep the mare until Avery returned for her cart, but she didn’t want to be separated from her faithful equine companion. Plus, as she told him with a grin, she was used to walking long distances, but she had no desire to do so carrying a heavy pack. With two of them, there was no question of riding, but that didn’t mean Nutmeg wouldn’t be of use.

“Ahh,” Avery sighed with pleasure as she joined Elliot at the rail to watch the shore pass by. “River travel suits the Oakden Legacy’s slower pace of life.”

“I always loved it when my mother and I would travel on one of the rivers,” Elliot said. “When I was sixteen, I made plans to travel to the coast and sign up as a sailor on one of the merchant ships.”

“What stopped you?” she asked, trying to imagine him as a sailor. She didn’t like the idea—perhaps because they would have never met.

“My mother.” He said the words shortly, his tone loaded with a mix of negative emotions. “She’s an expert at guilt and manipulation.”

Avery’s eyebrows rose. It was more than he’d ever said about his mother—other than about her love of travel.

“She likes new and exciting.” He kept his eyes on the riverbank. “But she isn’t nearly so keen about work. So it suited her very well to have a traveling companion to do all the tasks she didn’t want to do herself.”

“Where is she now?” Avery dared to ask, hoping her question wouldn’t shut down the conversation.

“I have no idea. And I don’t want to know.” He gave a sharp laugh. “Nowhere near Bolivere, that’s for sure.”

Avery’s eyebrows disappeared into her hairline. What did Elliot’s mother have against Bolivere?

“You did leave her eventually,” Avery said. “But not to become a sailor.”

Elliot sighed. “She convinced me I had no choice but to stay with her until I became an adult. And when that time came…” He trailed off, something dark crossing his face. “All I wanted by then was stability,” he concluded eventually. “Not a new form of transportation.” He turned to look upriver. “But I do like the water. That’s why I decided to pick a capital city to settle in—since they’re all built on the water in one way or another.” He finally turned to look at her, his smile back. “Since I love pumpkin, Sovar seemed the right choice.”

His unexpected comment surprised a laugh out of Avery. But behind it, her heart hurt. She had learned to love travel in the company of her warm and caring parents—she hadn’t needed stability or a proper home because they were her stability and her home. But Elliot had been forced into travel by a selfish parent who had apparently weighed his well-being as unimportant beside her comfort. No wonder he didn’t want to travel anymore.

For a brief second she considered what it would be like to settle down herself. To have a regular house and tend a garden. To make friends with the neighbors. And to sit at night by the fire, with Elliot at her side.

But the image wouldn’t stick. She could see the value and comfort in such a life, but she couldn’t imagine herself in it—no matter who was beside her.

Thankfully, Elliot knew nothing about her silent imaginings, his attention still on the shore. And though their histories and future dreams made the two of them incompatible, she could still enjoy their shared journey in the moment. Her parents had always encouraged her to live in the moment, rather than falling into the trap of always dreaming of somewhere more amazing that she might visit in the future.

It took three days on the barge to reach the bustling capital city of Glandore, but it only took two days for Frank to find her. She heard his caw before she saw him, followed by the ringing, familiar words.

“Merchant girl! Merchant girl!”

She laughed, turning to greet him as he swooped in. His bright plumage was brilliant in the sunlight as he perched on the barge’s rail.

“Frank! I was starting to think something had happened to you! We crossed the border into Glandore nearly two days ago.”

“Water!” the parrot barked, swiveling his head, his eyes peering everywhere with equal distaste. “Filthy stuff!”

“It’s actually very clean, nicely flowing water,” she said with feigned innocence.

“Filth!” he snapped. “Utter filth.”

“Frank?” Elliot asked in a strangled voice, apparently recovering from the momentary silence brought on by the bird’s dramatic entry.

“He’s an old friend,” Avery said affectionately. “He normally joins me as soon as I cross the border into Glandore. Unlike me, he doesn’t like to leave his home kingdom.”

“I’ve heard that when people try taking Glandorian parrots across the border, very little of the Glandore Legacy’s effects remain. They become almost the same as regular parrots.”

“Who are you?” the bird cawed rudely, training one of his beady eyes on Elliot with an unnerving expression of disgust.

“I’m Elliot.” Elliot held out a fist, like you would for a dog to sniff, only to think better of it and drop his hand.

Avery was glad he had because she wouldn’t have put it past Frank to peck him.

“He’s a little surly,” she explained.

“Clearly!” Frank said. “When is he leaving?”

Avery gave a snorting laugh. “I was talking about you, wretch. And I’m afraid he’s not leaving. He’s my current traveling companion.”

“What?” Frank took off, launching into the air and flying circles as he cawed his displeasure. “The horse is bad enough.”

“I know you love Nutmeg,” Avery said with a grin as she settled back on the rail.

“She can’t possibly love him ,” Elliot muttered.

Avery chuckled. “It’s probably more accurate to say they both tolerate each other.”

“While both loving you,” he murmured. “Why am I not surprised?”

Avery flushed slightly, turning her head away in case he noticed.

“Throw him back and eat him too,” Frank shouted down at them.

Elliot’s mouth dropped open. “Is he trying to say…Actually, I have no idea what he’s trying to say.”

“I’m fairly certain he doesn’t either,” Avery murmured. “He’s particularly bad at well-known sayings and expressions.”

“Frank,” she called firmly up to him, “you don’t have to like Elliot, but no pecking.” She directed a stern gaze at him as he circled past. “If you hurt him, you won’t be able to travel with me.”

“Outrage! Insult! Sacrilege!” Frank turned, flapping away over the river.

“Don’t worry. He’ll be back,” Avery said.

“Oh, I wasn’t worried.” Elliot shook his head. “So did you name him Frank, or did he come with a name?”

“That was me.” She grinned. “It fits, doesn’t it?”

“I could think of a few better-fitting options,” Elliot muttered.

“You’ll get used to him,” Avery said placidly. “I did. Now I would miss him if he didn’t show up when I’m in Glandore.”

“Yes, but he likes you.” Elliot grimaced. “I think Frank is an acquired taste I could do without.”

By the time the city arrived, Frank had returned, flapping his wings in distaste and muttering to himself. Avery and Elliot both ignored him, however, caught up in the excitement of unloading.

When Nutmeg was led out of her stall and down the gangplank, she whinnied, tossing her head and prancing as if happy to be free. Her lively stepping slowed, however, when Frank flew down and landed on one of the packs strapped to her back.

She turned her head to look at him, whuffing out a breath that might have been a greeting or instructions to be gone. Avery hugged the mare. She always missed Nutmeg when they weren’t together.

Avery had only visited the distant cousin who kept the roving merchant family records once with her parents, so it took some effort to remember the way. But eventually, after several backtracks, and one particularly lengthy detour, they arrived at a door she recognized.

“Are you sure this is it?” Elliot asked, gazing up at the multi-story house that appeared almost identical to the row of houses on either side.

“Yes, this is the one.” Avery spoke with confidence. “Now that we’re here, I definitely remember it. Plus, look at that.” She pointed at a small symbol etched into the wood of the door above the handle. It was subtle enough to be barely noticeable, but she easily recognized the branching arrow symbol of her people.

Elliot must have been familiar with the symbol too because he accepted her evidence, stepping back slightly to allow her to undertake the initial greetings. She knocked energetically, listening for the sound of footsteps from within. But the door flew open without warning.

The woman inside looked older than Avery remembered, the odd gray hair dotting her otherwise thick dark hair. But she had to be only twenty-five or so years older than Avery, younger than her aunt and uncle.

“Avery! This is an unexpected visit,” Matilda said, catching Avery by surprise.

“You know who I am?” she asked.

Matilda snorted. “Naturally. I wouldn’t be a very good family record keeper if I couldn’t even keep track of the current family members! Besides, you look exactly like you did when you were younger. I couldn’t possibly mistake you.”

Her face darkened. “Allow me to offer my condolences. Losing your parents was a great misfortune for the whole family, but for you…”

“Thank you,” Avery said, trying to remember if Matilda had always been so direct.

Matilda peered over Avery’s shoulder, her eyebrows rising. “Now that is a face I don’t know.” She looked back at Avery. “Should I know him? Has he joined the family? Is that what you’re here to report?”

“What? Oh, no, we haven’t—That is to say, we’re not—” Avery stumbled over her words, blushing furiously.

“Well it wouldn’t be a crime if you had,” Matilda said with a chuckle. “About time you stopped traveling alone if you ask me.”

“I don’t think she did ask you,” Elliot said coolly from behind her, and a different type of warmth diffused through Avery.

She didn’t feel alone when she traveled—she was always meeting new people, and she felt connected to the network of roving merchants scattered across the kingdoms. But it had been a long time since she had felt like part of a team. She had forgotten what it was like to have someone who was specifically hers and who would have her back, even with her family.

She only hoped Matilda wasn’t offended. Avery appreciated Elliot’s instinct to stand up for her, but since they’d come to ask Matilda for a favor, it didn’t seem like a good idea to start by putting her back up.

But Matilda nodded at Elliot approvingly. “That she didn’t,” she said. “If there’s one trait our family shares—other than our love for travel—it’s our instinct to meddle. Well said.” She turned to Avery. “It’s good to pick one who can stand up for you within the family. I could do with that myself now and then.” She barked a laugh. “Although can you imagine someone blunter than me?”

“Actually,” Avery said quickly, before Matilda could make any more insinuating comments. “Elliot and I are just temporary traveling companions because—well, actually it’s a bit of a long story to tell out here on the doorstep.” She glanced up and down the street. “Could we come inside?”

Matilda stood back, clearing the way. “It’s a bit unusual to allow someone who isn’t a member of the family into our hall of records. If any of the family elders were here, I would be taken to task for even considering it.”

“Do you need me to wait outside?” Elliot asked in a tone of obvious reluctance. “I could stay with Nutmeg…” His eyes met Avery’s, clearly pleading with her to find the answers they needed for both their sakes.

“Oh goodness, no!” Matilda said. “I’m far too curious for that. I’ve barely gotten a proper look at you yet. Plus, I strongly suspect that whatever is going on here will soon be a new record on my shelves.” She rubbed her hands together in apparent anticipation. “Just put Nutmeg into the shed around the back before you come in.”