Page 55 of Leafpoint Lighthouse

“Eight, ma’am.”

“Call me Lyra, Avery. How did you get here?”

“I’ve been here a long time.” Avery skittered around the wall to the door and tried to shove through it. Thwarted, he eyed William and me with fear.

“Lad, I’ve never seen you.” William shook his head.

“Because I weren’t allowed up here. He hated me leaving the caves.”

William and I swapped a glance.

“He?” I asked.

“The man.”

“Does the individual have a name, Avery?”

“Master.”

I sighed. We weren’t making progress. “Does Master have another name?”

“Probably, but I don’t know it. Can I go now? He’ll punish me.”

“Avery, take a deep breath. Nobody is about to hurt, yell at, or scare you. Come and talk to William and me. Could you materialise?

“No. Not like him. How do you do that?” Avery looked at William jealously.

“Someone gave me a gift,” William replied for lack of any other explanation.

“Avery, please let’s have a chat. We want more information about the bad man. And we can see how we can help you,” I stated with a smile.

“Take Avery upstairs; I’ll bring you a hot chocolate.” William waved us away, and I beckoned Avery to follow me. Avery gave William a generous berth and floated up the stairs after me.

“Leafpoint, could you help Avery?” William asked several minutes later, carrying three mugs.

There was a snort, followed by a popping noise, and Avery landed with a loud thud. He gazed at William wide-eyed as he patted his chest.

“How did you do that?” Avery exclaimed, staring at William with something akin to hero-worship.

“Leafpoint has special powers,” William said.

“Can she keep me like this?

“Not for long. Perhaps with time, your strength could increase. You said you’re eight. When did you die, what year?” William asked.

“I’m not really certain, sir.”

“Were you a local?” I wondered.

“No, ma—Lyra. I was a cabin boy on the Princesses Star,” Avery replied.

I stiffened. “A cabin boy? You’re too young!”

“Don’t know about that, Lyra. But I lived on the ship since I was six,” Avery replied.

I hissed in displeasure as William frowned. “The Princess Star sank in seventeen-ninety.”

“I survived and washed ashore, I did. Darkness covered the deck, and the captain was unaware that he was so close to shore. I was thrown overboard when we hit the rocks. Something went wrong because the ship keeled over real fast. Some men were arguing on the beach nearby and discovered me hiding behind a rock. The Master didn’t like that I’d seen him. He hurt me, and then I was dead,” Avery said.