Free Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) by Nathan Lowell

wide table, furtive glances toward adults hinting at mischief in the making. Amber and William’s boy, Riley, appeared to be the ringleader, as always. Jakey’s dog snaked through under the table, looking for scraps, drops, and hand-outs—all readily available.
    Amber took a break from hostess duty to pull up a stool. She did a quick survey of her own before turning a sad smile toward Tanyth. “Not gonna be the same without you, mum.”
    Tanyth sniffed and leaned over to the younger woman. “Don’t you start on me. You know I can’t stay, much as I’d like to.” She tried to sound gruff.
    Amber tapped a fingernail against Tanyth’s cast. “You can bluster all you want, mum. And I know you can’t stay.” She slipped an arm around Tanyth’s shoulders and pressed their cheeks together. “There’ll always be a place for you here, mum,” she whispered.
    Tanyth returned the hug as best she could with only one arm and while seated. “Thank you, my dear,” she murmured. “Thank you.” Her throat closed up then and she couldn’t say anything more.
    Amber released her grip and sat back, her smile no happier, but a look of understanding on her face. Without another word she stood and headed for the kitchen again.
    Before she could reach the door, Frank opened it from the other side and stepped into the common room. His eyes found hers almost immediately and he gave a quick nod.
    “You still here, Frank?” Jakey shouted. “I thought you’d be halfway to Foxrun by now.”
    “Daylight’s burnin’ right enough, but I’m not leavin’ without a full load.”
    With much good natured jeering and cat-calling, Tanyth soon found herself clambering up on the wagon seat, her pack and staff stowed close at hand in the bed of the lorry. She turned to look at the sea of faces smiling up at her, some with tears coursing down suntanned cheeks. She scanned the crowd and smiled back, feeling self-conscious with all the attention. Her free hand tugged at the sling as if to assure her that it was still there.
    She twisted around in the seat looking for Frank and found him working his way through the small gathering with William, Amber, Sadie, and Thomas in tow.
    Jakey grabbed Frank’s arm and they put their heads together. William stepped up beside the big wheel and leaned over toward her, Amber and Sadie right behind.
    “So, you’re ready to go?” he asked. “We haven’t convinced you to stay?”
    She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
    He gave her a wistful looking smile. “I understand, mum. You’re on a strange road, to be sure, but it’s your road to walk, right enough.”
    Tanyth felt touched by the understanding look in his eyes. She knew he’d had to make some of those decisions himself when they started the village that would become Ravenwood. It couldn’t have been easy to leave friends and family behind and strike off to carve a life out of wilderness.
    He shared a look with his wife before reaching into his pocket and pulling out an envelope. “Here, mum. This is for you.” He held the envelope out to her. A bit of red wax and an ornate seal featuring a sailing ship and a tree sealed the flap.
    She took it and saw it was addressed to a “George Pendelton, Esq.” She looked down at him with a question on her lips.
    “George is our factor. He’s at the Royal Bank in Kleesport. Frank knows him and can show you the way,” William offered by way of explanation.
    “But what is it?” Tanyth asked.
    “It’s a draft on the village account, mum. Should be enough to get you a ticket to North Haven with a bit left over for some supplies and such,” he said.
    She started to give it back, but Amber reached up and blocked her hand. “No, mum. This is something from the whole village. We all want you to have it.”
    “But you can’t—” she started to say.
    “Mother Fairport?” William interrupted. “You gave us this.” He spread his arms out to encompass the inn. “You and your visions