His home was totally different from the ordinary. It was not like anything Clyde had seen before back in his hometown.
The house was a single-story structure with a low, wide roof that stretched out over a small front porch.
Its exterior combined rough stone walls with wooden siding, giving it a straightforward, sturdy look.
Evenly spaced windows were framed by simple shutters, some holding modest flower boxes beneath.
The shape was compact and rectangular, blending the practical layout of a bungalow with the traditional, natural materials and steep roofline typical of a cottage.
'Talk about architecture! This place rocks!'
His eyes had seen many, but only few had drawn his attention, and this just happened to be among the select few.
"Nice place you got," Clyde blurted out, not minding the man was standing beside him.
The man set down the buckets in front of his yard, then turned slightly to Clyde, then back at his home, then realised what he meant.
"Ohh!, yeah, it's a family house. We just refurbish it every year to keep it new, nothing out of the ordinary, " he answered, stretching his back with a slight groan.
"Here, let me help you carry these to your front porch," Clyde assisted, picking up the second bucket with his free hand.
'Come to think of it, what would he be doing with buckets of water? He should have a well or something nearby, and even if he doesn't, what would he need it for exactly?'
"What are the buckets of water for, by the way? No water facilities are installed in your home?" He asked, following him to the front porch.
"Oh no, that's not the reason." He chuckled, his smile looking a bit more lively compared to the others.
"I have an installed water facility, but I prefer giving my horses fresh spring water. It keeps them healthy."
"Horses? I don't see a stable anywhere nearby." Clyde glanced around, trying to catch a sight of anything that looked like a stable, but there were none.
"Oh no, they're not in front. They're at the back of the house, and that's where we're going." he cut to the side of the building.
Clyde followed closely but stayed wary in case it was a trap of some sort. You never knew who might be a human trafficker by their behaviour or looks. Anyone could become one. Plus, he was alone with the man, so it was always best to play it safe.
They arrived at the back of the house, and just at the far end was a stable, not so big, but it was suitable to rear about three to four horses without worrying so much about space.
"Wow, you own a stable. I didn't think it was true but nice," Clyde admired as he spotted the horses from where he stood.
"Yes, yes. This is my source of income, I rent horses in exchange for shekels, and that's also the reason I need your help" he turned around, putting his hands inside the sleeves of his garment again.
'Shekels, the kingdoms new form of currency. It was only a rumour until it got spread around the kingdom, and now almost everyone uses it.'
'It takes about four silver coins to make a single coin of shekels, but in the end, gold is still ranking the highest'
"So what's the request about, sir?" He turned to him, setting down the buckets to rest a while.
"Well, come over, let me show you," he gestured as he moved forward, his hands still tucked inside his arms sleeve.
He bent low and picked up the buckets again and followed him, dropping it in front of the stable.
Three wooden logs supported each corner of the stable, with one more positioned at the middle of each roof edge.
A wooden door, reinforced by two crossed planks, blocked the entrance to keep the horses from escaping. The floor inside was covered with coarse hair for easy cleaning and feeding.
In the centre stood a large bucket, probably where water was poured now and then.
'I don't see any issues here. What did he want to show me?'
"Well, drop the buck'et and come on in," he gestured, sliding the stable doors wide open.
'It's that weird accent again, I'm guessing certain letters trigger it'
He left the buckets where he dropped them and followed him into the stable.
"Be careful not to step on their waste," he reminded as stepped inside the stable.
They drifted through the freshly pooped horse dungs, mane, and tail comb. Each compartment had a horse filling it.
The subtle sounds of the shifting of hoofs and soft neighs from the horses were natural and took Clyde's mind to certain memories, though he didn't want to recall them.
The smell of hay and horse dung filled the place, making it hard to breathe. Any asthmatic person would have a seizure the second they step through the doors.
There were only three colors they all had in common, which were bay, black, and grey. With each of them having one of the colors mentioned.
The last two compartments were strangely empty, with only a broken fence.
"What happened here? Did they break through the fence?" He asked as he studied the broken fence.
The old man pulled to a stop and turned around. He sighed a bit before he started speaking.
"Well, that's the reason I called you here, sunny. I wish they did run away, but it's something totally different. "
"Lately, some creature has been sneaking around here and nabbing my horses. I reported it to the officials, but they just brush it off like it's no big deal."
"I wouldn't have asked for your help if I knew exactly what kind of beast we're dealing with, but honestly, you're my only shot at keeping my stable safe."
'I see, that's why the reward is as big as shelter and food, reasonable enough'
"So you haven't seen this beast before, and when does it attack most? Do you have any idea?"
"Not really so. It just happens, sometimes at night, and at times during the day. I don't think I have enough money to keep replacing these horses, " he sniffled, turning to Clyde.
A sweat drop rolled down from his temples. His mind was already reeling with ideas, but none was going to work if he didn't know what he was dealing with.
'This is gonna be tough. Maybe I should bail out now and just pretend like this never happened!'
But his conscience pricked at him again, and he had a rethink.
'In logical sense, I will be receiving shelter that I'm not guaranteed of if I leave this place besides, how tough could one beast be?'
"Well, I will do my best to look into it, sir, though I'm not certain I will be able to solve this mystery within a day," he added, so it seems reasonable that he gets shelter under the man sooner than the agreement.
"That's totally understandable, stay as long as is needed, I don't mind."
"Okay sir, that's greatly appreciated" he bowed, as a gesture of appreciation.
The man patted him on the head, with a broad smile playing on his lips.
"It's alright, sunny. I just hope you figure it out soon, so you don't stay all week stressing about it"
'He's right about that though, if I don't start doing something about it now I might stay on this particular problem all week, though it makes my stay here longer' he smiled.
Then he raised his head, staring at the man and his weary expression.
"I'll do my best to take care of it" He promised, holding his hand up as he folded.
It was all an attempt to build trust with him so he could stay for as long as necessary until he finds his feet in this new city he found himself in.