The Different Ones

Chapter 8: Belburn

We had been walking the trail for three days when we stumbled upon an old cottage that had supposedly belonged to a crazy old man named Belburn. The old fable was about an old man who ate trespassers if they didn't answer a riddle that he had given them. The story was normally told to warn children about trespassing on a strangers property, but in our unique circumstance the myth was over looked. A roof to sleep under seemed pretty appealing to us by this point.

"Old Belburn's cabin. Wasn't there a story about this?" Akaila asked while staring at the rotting cabin.

"Yeah, but I think that we'll be okay for the night. What do you think Colin?" I responded to Akaila.

"It's all just stories. I say we risk it," Colin answered. He seemed like he hadn't slept in days, and he probably hadn't. This was harder on him than Akaila and I, who had been doing this our whole lives.

"Come on. Let's get some decent rest." We all walked inside, the ancient floorboards creaking with every step. The whole place was infested with cobwebs and dust, and you could smell the moss and water damage in every part of the room. I got that eerie feeling that you get when you hear a noise in a perfectly silent house. The feeling that makes you paralyzed, even though your will tells you to keep moving.

The place had been dormant for over 30 years, so it wasn't exactly surprising that it wasn't in prime condition, but it could seriously use a clean up. Maybe even some renovations and remodeling.

"Talk about a fixer upper. Anyone looking to buy a house?" Akaila asked in her normal sarcastic tone.

"No, but we are looking for some shelter for the night."

"A shelter for the night? Well, I guess that's doable. I was hoping that it would be for the week, but any company is pleasant," said a voice that we could not name. Whoever it was was from the northern villages. The accent from the northern villages was very distinctive, and it made all their vowels sound odd.

"Who said that?" Colin said, quickly drawing his sword.

"Oh, the person who owns the property. Would you like a tour?" A man appeared in front of us. He was short, but he looked happy and hospitable. I felt like we could trust him, even though he'd said very little to us.

"You're Belburn?" Akaila asked.

"Actually, no. I'm his son. He died a few years ago. I'm Leo Belburn Destin, Belburn Destin's son. Family reputation is bad around here, but I'd love some company sometime," Leo replied. He looked like he'd gone insane from his solitaire. 

"So you'd like it if we stayed here for the night?" Colin asked. 

"Well, your highness, I'd actually prefer if you, a fugitive prince did not stay with me, but I can tolerate  annoyances like yourself for a night," Leo spat at Colin's feet in spite of him. Royalty wasn't exactly appreciated up north, they felt like they should be their own country, and had tried to secede more than once in the past decade. 

"I will have you know that I am not a royal of this area. I am from Perinad, your spite should be directed elsewhere-" Akaila put her hand over Colin's mouth. 

"Shut up, Colin. How did you know that he was a prince?" Akaila inquired.

"When you were told that my father had powers, that wasn't a lie. I got them too. I can read minds, but I can't place curses on people," he glanced at at Colin. "Sadly." 

"Can you stop it with the whole spiteful thing? It's seriously getting annoying," Akaila spat.

"Apparently bird girl isn't the only one who has feelings for, the Prince of Perinad. Akaila Quelton the girl who ran from home. I'm surprised you haven't found a lover yet? Maybe the handsome young fellow Oros? He'd do quite nicely," Leo retaliated. It took me a second to wrap my head around what he was saying. Oros and Colin? Really? Great minds think alike, but I couldn't help but think she was copying me in a cruel sort of way.