Belford's Heart

Chapter 21: Child of Creation

"We will simply find another way," Evelyn said, holding back a mouthful of spit she wanted to spew toward the man who had decided himself worthy to claim her. She turned quickly, storming past Grant and meeting eyes with Belford. "We need to gather the horses. I will sooner build my own bridge across that damned rift."

"Wait!" Duke Haradin said, shuffling after her with his walking staff. "Please! I did not wish to offend you!"

She ignored him, pulling Belford and Philip with her toward the doorway that led them to the hall. The groups of people huddled together had all turned to stare at the scene before them. Belford and Philip quickened their pace behind her, but two guards stepped into the doorway to halt their exit. Evelyn's face was red with anger, but she still pushed down the stirring within her core that threatened to engulf the entire castle in violet light. "Move. We will be leaving now."

They remained silent and still, blocking their exit as the duke made his way to meet her. She turned, seeing Grant standing behind Haradin whose breathing sounded as though he may collapse to the floor at any moment. He gathered himself, but still spoke through heavy breaths, and said. "This is a misunderstanding! You are not to be my wife. You are to be my bride of creation!"

"And that sounds not at all more disturbing." She turned back to him, the heat of her body channeling entirely to her face. "We have come to ask for passage across your bridge. Not only do I have no interest in being whatever it is you think I am, we are running out of time as it is."

"Why would you ever make such a hurry to travel into Thelos all by yourself?" Haradin questioned. "That is no place for a beautiful woman. The goliath and the minister, sure, but you? That would be a foolish mistake."

"Why would you think that it is anything close to something you are owed to know?" Evelyn's voice was bellowing from all directions as it echoed into the hall. "Allow us to leave. We will cross somewhere else."

"Quiet!" Grant shouted over them. Belford and Philip met eyes to share a look of confusion, mainly to how the situation had devolved so quickly. Grant stepped forward quickly, standing between Haradin and the newcomers. "My lord, you must calm yourself. I will not have you collapsing again." He turned to Evelyn. "And you. I told you to turn back when you came, and you did not. And, if you would have allowed my lord to speak further, you would have learned of our upcoming expedition to Thelos."

"Expedition?" Belford questioned.

"Once a year I am tasked to travel in service to the start of the next cycle," Haradin said. "A tradition that was given to me when I was crowned duke."

"And why would I have anything to do with your travels?" Evelyn asked.

"The cycle is to begin with a blessing. A presentation of the beauty that the creators had left behind for us." He nodded. "Before she passed, my duchess took this upon herself. In turn, she was blessed many years of joy, and of course our daughter Katherine." He smiled, falling into the memory of his fallen duchess. "It was an honor to have been granted a life alongside such divine beauty. She has been gone for ten years now."

The heat fell from Evelyn's face, and guilt washed over her. The man had spoken to her as if she were something to be traded, but the pain in his eyes spoke of a true love between him and his duchess. Without the use of her gifts, she would just have to be kind. "Forgive me. It is never an enjoyable thing to be claimed by a stranger."

"It is I who should apologize," Haradin said. "But I will not rescind my proclamation. I have been searching for a girl worthy of this travel, and of this blessing. I am asked to find singular beauty, and I had not found that until you stepped into my hall."