Belford's Heart

Chapter 10: Gafferton

Chapter 10: Gafferton

Belford followed Evelyn's lead as their journey carried them on the Southern Road. It was a much improved experience from their week escaping the forest. Apart from rainy nights, their camps were always built beneath an expanse of stars more beautiful than the night before. The twin moons flew among them - less beautiful now that they were an hourglass taunting them each night. Their presence only reminded Belford of the stakes at hand, and the fate to come upon them should he fail.

On the third day they encountered a vast lake, one large enough to nearly reach the Eastern horizon. It was a lovely thing to have accompanied them, both for the fresh water and the wildlife he saw come to visit. There were elk moving in packs to fetch themselves water and a family of foxes some distance away from them doing the same. There were small islands of stone carrying songbirds whose calls perked Grifford's ears as they passed.

The rain of the night before remained present in the dirt of the Southern Road. Grimbo and Thunderfoot had been put to work like never before, and Belford knew that it would be best to find a stable and pay for them to be cared for properly. In the distance, at the ends of the lake that seemed to span forever to the East, there was a collection of buildings capped with a windmill facing the water. The tower that carried it was built with a black stone. It stuck out plainly from the other buildings, and perhaps it was meant to do so. Belford hurried Thunderfoot to match Evelyn's pace, waiting for her to turn and face him.

"Do you see that up there?" Belford asked. "The buildings by the water."

"I do." She held her stomach that had been neglected after their food from the feast had run out. Belford felt it, too. Their foraging was only so capable of feeding them both - Belford felt as though he would wither away on any more days of berries and seeds. "Are you asking if I would like to go?"

"While I would usually ask," Belford said with defeat. "I am far too hungry to ask your permission. Let's get the horses fed and maybe find something to eat." Grifford hurried to step between them, keeping pace with the horses and looking back and forth between them. "You too, Grifford. I'm sure they will clip your talons if you ask nicely."

As Grifford huffed in understanding, they cleared the space between them and the lakeside town. There were no walls to protect it, nor was there a gate to signify its beginning before the well-made stone streets stood beneath them. It was the same dark stone of the tower that now stood high above them. The fans of the windmill moved along with the constant breeze of the plains.

"Hello there!" A cheerful man's voice called out to them. "Hello!" From one of the buildings at the start of the street, a stout and well-tanned man approached them. He held a pipe in his left hand, and waved happily with his right. His belly was carried well by his tucked-in shirt, and his pants looked to be very well made with ornate stitchings lining the sides from waist to foot. They halted before him, Grifford remaining at attention as the man opened his eyes wide to greet him. "And hello to you, Mr. Griffon! It is a pleasure to meet you!"

Belford and Evelyn shared a look of confusion, but conveyed a shared understanding that the man could simply be as kind as he was portraying himself. Belford joined Grifford on the street, patting for Thunderfoot to remain still as he greeted the strange man. "It is good to meet you, mister. My name is Belford, and this is Evelyn."

The man took in a draw from his pipe and slowly exhaled a sweet-smelling smoke as he greeted them both with a shake of his hand. For being so small, Belford thought that he had quite a strong handshake. "Belford, Evelyn. Such wonderful names. And I am sure you get this all the time, but you are truly so very tall!"