Chapter four The village

The day, while still clear and sunny, was beginning to wind down. The time for badminton and volleyball is long gone, burgers and potato salad are finished and it’s time for beers all around. As they walked on Will noticed that Min was limping a little, crouching down he called her over and checked her paws. A little swollen, especially the front ones but probably from walking so much today. Standing up with a pop and a creak they continued on. The crossroads was quite close now and he could see the village was quite close to the northern path , the other two directions seemed to meander off into the prairie. The bleakness of those definitely put him off of exploring so to the north they went.

Imagine walking into the past..that’s what it felt like as Will came to the village entrance. Cobble streets, colourful wooden buildings with fanciful carvings of fairies and gargoyles. Large windows displaying baked good, bolts of cloth, fruits and vegetables, books. Behind the shops on the Main Street he could see wooden houses, small and large, well kept and each with a garden. Children ran thru the streets, calling and shouting to each other. As they caught site of Will and Minnie they stopped, an older child ran to the bakery shouting “A newcomer, a newcomer!” “What?”was the muffled reply, a startled face popped out of the doorway..”A newcomer indeed. Thank you Shasta. I will take if from here. “. Handing the child a basket of rolls saying “Share those those with the others.”. Turning toward Will he said “Welcome to Laketown friend and to your companion too.” A tall man of about 45, an imposing beard and a bald head. Dressed in simple cloth pants, shirt with a leather apron over it. “I am Stephen, baker and leader for this month, designated problem solver, tie breaker and all round go to guy.”

“Nice to meet you Stephen , I’m Will, Will Harris and this my dog Minnie, a person called Elaith sent me this way, said I would find a life here?” said Will.He could tell the name meant nothing to Stephen who shrugged “I don’t know that name but that doesn’t mean a lot, we don’t see too many of your type”

“My type?” asked Will. “Let’s walk as I try to explain” said Stephen. He called out “Back in a while” got no reply, shrugged and led Will down the Main Street. “Why Laketown?” Will asked “I came from a small lake but that was a long way from here, can’t mean that one”. Stephen chuckled “Give me a minute or two then ask me again”. The cobbled street sloped down slightly as they walked on thru the village. The stores and shops gave way to storage sheds, a lumber yard and what looked like a smith yard, if the ringing of hammers and a plume of smoke riding from the large chimney. The smell of wood smoke and hot iron was strong, but there was also a tang of “Saltwater!” Will said. “How can there be saltwater.”. As they cleared the last of the buildings Will could finally see where Laketown got its name.

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About 20 metres away was a lake, more of an inland sea and more than that. Grey green water as far as the eye could see, no land in sight . Threatening clouds above and heaving water below. “That’s no lake my friend..I was expecting some weedy slough, that’s, well that’s something else”. Stephen nodded “There’s some rough water today, most days actually but that’s where our name comes from “. Rubbing his face thoughtfully “that also might be why your were encouraged to come here. Let’s go get that beer.”.

Walking back to the Main Street where the tavern was Will kept turning to look at the lake.Whitecaps raced over the surface heading for shore.Now he noticed a long quay heading out like finger pointing to the horizon, but no boats.Coils of rope and bumpers but no vessels.“All boats out fishing for the day” he asked. Stephen replied “Only one boat can sail this lake, the heartboat, and she’s in storage. Might be a couple of shore fishers out but I don’t think so”.“What’s a heartboat?” Will asked.As they were talking they had reached the tavern and entered the wide open door.A long room with several table and chairs scattered around, a long bar on the back with several interesting looking casks behind.A short brunette woman of about 35 was wiping down the bar. “

“Stephen, if your wife finds you here at this time of day, I am not responsible.Hmmm who’s your friend? Wait, is that a new comer, about time huh, let’s hope he can.”. “Never you mind about what my wife thinks.” interrupted Stephen “Yes he’s a newcomer and, do you prefer ale or cider Will?”.“Cider please” replied Will. “Two ciders then please Regina.”, said Stephen. As Regina brought their drink the two men settled to a table, Will took a sip and raised his glass.”. Excellent, thank you”. Regina had brought a third mug to the table and sat with them, she nodded and motioned Stephen to get on with it.

“Our lake is source of everything our village and our county needs. Fish like the floaters for eating and the sharps for their skin and bones, ore rocks from the shallows, bubble-weed for weaving and eating, trade with other villages for, well for everything”.Will broke in ”I haven’t heard of any of those fish and you still haven’t told me what a heartboat is”.Shaking his head Stephen said “Well you are a new comer, from a different world.You probably have different names for them but a heartboat.”. Regina broke in “Only a certain kind of boat can sail that lake and only a certain type of person can sail a heartboat.”She asked him “Are you that person, the one we desperately need?

Will leaned back in his chair while taking a long drink…

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William Harris

Age 70

Intelligence 15/50

Strength 10/50

Vitality 9/50

Stamina 10/50

Affinities for gardening, cultivating, fishing, knitting, swimming, mariner.

Mariner, “I think maybe I am.”.