Belford's Heart

Chapter 5: Beginner's Luck

Evelyn's face flashed in shades of orange as she studied the embers beneath the campfire Belford had put together for them. She tried to find meaning in the choir of breaking wood only to find herself still taken over by the new-found memories of her past. She and Belford had pushed Grimbo and Thunderfoot to near exhaustion as they rode desperately to separate themselves from the spire of blue light that would likely call more Children of Thelos to them. The light shooting over Stratos could still be seen in the distance, though from their camp it appeared to be no larger than the tips of her fingers.

Belford could tell by the look in her eyes that she did not wish to speak. He wished that he was as good with words as she was if only to bring the smile she arrived with back to her face. Belford did not know words, not yet. What he did know was the forest. Even if the trees weren't painted in white like the forest he had left behind, this was a place that he knew well. The time he spent gathering wood to burn for the night was also spent finding the most vibrant glassblossom flowers he could get his hands on. As he waited for Evelyn to speak again, he formed two bundles of the translucent petals and couldn't help but to take in their pleasant aroma every few moments. He looked to the tree that would be Grimbo and Thunderfoot's stable for the night and smiled at the huffs and puffs of their conversation. He wondered what they could be talking about. His smile faded as he thought of Grifford waiting alone in his nest for him to return. He set the bundles on the ground for a moment to pull his griffon call from his pack. He hoped that his old friend would hear when he blew into it. The mornings just weren't the same without him.

Evelyn's trance with the embers was interrupted by the faint whistle coming from Belford's griffon call. A faint smile formed on her face as she watched Belford look to the sky for his friend to appear and join them on their journey. The crackling of the fire was the only sound to answer him. He shrugged his shoulders before putting the call back into his pack and meeting her violet eyes.

"He'll come one day, I'm sure." Evelyn's smile grew upon her face, sending away many of the worrying thoughts fluttering through Belford's mind. She looked down to the fresh bundles of glassblossom flowers resting before him. "What've you got there?"

Belford jumped at the sound of her voice as he looked down to the flowers resting before him. "Oh," he said, lifting one bundle up to her. She moved closer to him and brought the flowers close to her face. The aroma pouring from the petals brought an intoxicating sense of calm. "I found them while I was collecting wood. I love the way they smell, and I thought maybe it would make you feel better."

She chuckled with quick breaths through her nose and locked eyes with Belford. "Thank you." She held the bundle before her, studying the petals as she studied the embers before. The light of the fire made them glow in their bright crimson, and for just a moment her sadness faded. "I'm sorry that you got pulled into this, Belford."

Belford raised an eyebrow. "Sorry? Why are you sorry?"

"You lived a peaceful life. You were respected by your people and you had to throw all of that away to likely die traveling with me."

"It's not my business to decide which mortal is chosen for something outside of themselves." He took a deep breath of the lowland air that had quickly grown on him. He loved the low hum of the orchestra of insects singing their songs into the night. It was far too cold for them to sing in his forest. He just hoped that the heat would grow on him eventually. He saw many more stars through the clear skies atop his mountain. Somehow they were less beautiful than the ones that flew over him now. "Besides, I quite like it down here. I think Grifford would like it too."

Evelyn shook her head and couldn't help her old smile returning to her face. "Is it ignorance that makes you so brave?"

"I could ask you the same," Belford said quickly.