Page 65 of Legacy of Thorns
Archer glanced at Daphne. “Fin wouldn’t want you to go with me, though. He would want you to stay safe.”
“If Fin was here, he would get a say,” Daphne replied tartly. “Since he’s not, I’m going.”
The two faced off for a moment before Archer grinned. “If you’re sure, I won’t be the one to stop you. Fin can grumble about it all he likes once he’s safe himself.”
“I don’t know why I’m agreeing,” Lorne muttered, “except that I don’t think we could stop you if we tried.”
“I know that we wouldn’t be the first choice to go usually,” Daphne said quietly. “We’re not exactly the strongest fighters of the group. But we are the lightest, and we have something else going for us besides.”
Lorne met her eyes, understanding in his. “The Legacy,” he said simply, and she nodded.
They were heading into an area rich with Legacy power, and of all the people present, she and Archer were the two to havemost recently attracted the Legacy’s attention. Daphne had been decrying the effect ever since, but it was time for her to make use of her position instead.
“You’d better come and meet Nutmeg, then.” Avery led the way to the inn’s stables where they were greeted by a chestnut mare who whinnied at the sight of Avery.
She seemed reluctant to take Daphne or Archer on her back at first, but after some chiding from Avery, she settled and accepted her new riders.
“We’ll hire a cart horse in the morning and follow as quickly as we can,” Avery promised. “So don’t get yourselves killed in the meantime.”
Daphne only had time to nod before Nutmeg took off as if she wasn’t carrying any riders at all.
Chapter 21
Finley
Finley woke to rough jolting. He was sprawled awkwardly on the floor of a carriage that was driving too fast down an uneven road.
He groaned and received a kick to his middle.
“Now, now,” said Barlowe’s amused voice. “I’m sure violence isn’t needed. Finley is an ally now.”
Finley slowly maneuvered himself into a sitting position in the crowded space. Barlowe and three other men already sat on the two bench seats, all of them watching him. At least his hands were no longer bound.
“Strange behavior for an ally,” he said grimly, rubbing the back of his head.
“My apologies,” Barlowe said smoothly. “Consider it a miscalculation on my part. As you can see, I changed my mind and brought only you, as agreed.”
Finley glanced suspiciously around the carriage, but unless Barlowe had Archer stashed on the outside seat with the driver, he really had left him behind.
“What did you do to them?” he demanded suspiciously.
“Nothing, I assure you. I didn’t touch a hair of their heads. I left them by the manor.” Barlowe’s smooth smile put Finley’s back up, but he had no way to test the truth of the man’s words.
Barlowe continued to watch him, his smile never faltering. “If you want to ensure the ongoing safety of your brother and that beautiful young lady, then you know what you have to do. My requirements are perfectly simple.”
Finley nodded, reluctant acquiescence on his face, despite his racing mind beneath. Clearly his only option for the moment was to play along. Thankfully, Barlowe wasn’t the only one with experience at false smiles and charming masks.
His mind wanted to dwell endlessly on Archer and Daphne, but he refused to give up hope. He had equipped Archer the best he could, and Daphne was smart, quick, and knew how to fight. And neither of them were alone. They would protect each other if they possibly could.
If they had survived the encounter with Barlowe, they would go to Morrow and Nisha, and then they would come after Finley. Given the way Barlowe had treated him, he was confident of that. Whatever smooth words Barlowe said now, he had already shown his true colors. Nothing he said could be trusted.
Of course, Finley had been the one to walk straight into Barlowe’s trap. But there was no time to bemoan his past foolishness. He needed to focus on his next step. He would play along while looking for a way to slow them down, if possible, so his friends would have time to catch up.
Since biding his time meant continuing to bump along the road on the floor of the carriage, squeezed between the legs of the other four passengers, it was an uncomfortable night. At least the driver slowed down to a safer pace, unable to push his horses at top speed for hours at a time.
They changed horses at an inn once, but no one inside the carriage dismounted, giving Finley no opportunity to seek helpor carry out any sabotage. And after the inn, the journey grew even rougher.
Despite the slower pace, the new set of horses pulled less smoothly than the previous pair. The motion suggested one of the new animals was poorly trained and unused to pulling in harness, and Finley resigned himself to a long night. Even so, to his surprise, he managed to doze on and off until the carriage finally came to a halt.
