Belford's Heart

Chapter 19: Temple on the Sea

Belford woke upon his bed. Jeudy had led them to a building that looked like a small home, though it would have been quite large to the average person in Avalonia. It held a small dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. Three bedrooms were placed next to one another at the top of a staircase that began from the middle of the dining room. The inside was made of darker stone than that of the exterior, and Belford enjoyed the warm feeling it provided along with the ornate decoration strewn about the rooms.

He did not wish to move. The bed he laid upon was not only more comfortable than any he could recall, but it was also so large that it made him feel like a normal man. His head was not even resting at the top of the bed and his feet were not hanging off the end. Even in his own home he had little room to move. This was something he would enjoy until he was made to leave. Grifford slept beside the bed, still snoring as sleep had not left him yet. It was then that Belford wished for the journey to be done with. Perhaps they could hide here and serve Natalia's temple alongside Philip. They seemed to be quite involved with one another already, anyway.

"I cannot believe this," Evelyn said, her voice sounding soft as stepped into the room. Belford turned to see her, her leather clothing had been removed since they could sleep without worrying about anything crawling up her leg or onto her shoulder. Jeudy had fitted her with a flowing gown similar to the one she had worn when she was brought to his forest. She had forgotten how she looked wearing it; the otherworldly essence of her hair and her eyes accentuated by the morning light beaming from the gown. "What are you staring at?"

Belford stammered. "I was waiting for you to speak."

She smiled. "Well, as I was saying. It seems I've beaten you to the day once again. Would you join me for breakfast?"

"If I can be honest with you, I would wish to lay upon this bed forever." He turned, forcing himself to sit up and stood at the side of his bed. "But yes, I shall join you. Let's allow Grifford to sleep some more."

She led him into the hall, and Belford made sure to leave the door open so Grifford could find his way to them once he woke. Evelyn floated around the house in the white gown. She seemed oddly familiar within it. She reached her hand out early to grab a hold of the banisters at the sides of the staircase and ran the other along the wall to feel the texture. The workers had already begun preparing breakfast. The smell of spices and fresh vegetables were present in the room as they approached the table to take their seats.

Plates were placed before them. Eggs joined the potatoes and vegetables they had already smelled, and the sight of the fresh food was yet another welcome escape. They each moved quickly to eat every last bite, laughing with one another as they either lost some from their fork or missed the opening of their mouths to smear yolk or sauce on their faces. With their plates not emptied, Evelyn sat contently beside Belford as they enjoyed the peaceful air of the room together.

"We will be nearing the border soon," Belford said. "Well, relatively soon. There is only one city remaining on Vathan's map, one that stands just before the end of Avalonia."

"To think this journey will have an end to it," Evelyn said. "Maligwa would be quite pleased with you, big guy."

Belford could not help the smile that formed on his face. "To think there was a time that you were not beside me." Belford held for a moment, taking in the image of the morning light creating a white outline of Evelyn's body. Her eyes seemed to be glowing as if she were channeling rebirth, but they were always the same for him. He did not know what to call the heavy feeling in his chest. He had been feeling it more often as they traveled, much more so after they set off from Dania. It happened again as he tried to find any word to say to her that was good enough to be spoken. "I don't know if I want to see an end to this journey. Though I can imagine you will be quite happy when we part at the end of all this."