WORRLGENHALL (76 page)

“
How sweet and silly you are.”

“
Sweet and silly, yes.” He didn’t care, “And done to show my sorrow for hurting you.”

Just as Aderac reminisced, so did Belon.

“After that, you sent for me,” he said, as he thought back, “And I almost did not come.”

“
Why not Belon?” asked Aderac, as he turned his body so he could look at his face while they talked.

Belon smiled, as Aderac looked at him eagerly waiting for an answer, and the truth that he almost didn
’t come because he saw him as ugly at the time, he would rather have cut out his own tongue than wound him by revealing that.

His guilt free lie came quickly.
“I was still angry.”

“
Then, why did you come?”

“
I could not help but wonder what a lord could have wanted with me away from WorrlgenHall late into the night.”

Aderac smiled.
“That lord wanted you to know you are the most handsome man his eyes had every beheld, and that he wanted you with all within him.”

“
Is that so?” Belon questioned, as he slightly laughed, “And why did he not?”

“
He had set his tongue to speak, but as you sat on your horse looking down at him, he became afraid you would refuse him.”

“
Ah,” Belon said lovingly, “How could he reason I would refuse so handsome a lord?”

“
Belon,” Aderac said, as he touched his face and changed back to first person, “I know I am not.”

“
Sssssh.” He shushed him, and he put his finger over Aderac’s lips to stop him from saying more, “Words as that from you offend me.”

“
Aaahh, my love,” he whispered; then turned so Belon could hold him from behind again.”

Belon inhaled content; then continued their reminiscing.

“Does our first come to mind?” he asked, as he rested his chin on his shoulder, “Umm, our first of so many.”

“
Not a day passes it does not.” Aderac’s truth, “So afraid I was Belon, I shall now confess.”

“
I gathered such.”

“
And it was painful,” he added, as he rose for a moment again and looked at him; then lay again.

“
I gathered that as well.” Belon remembered, “By your loud shriek, and when I heard it, I did not thrust all the way inside you.”

Both sighing, as they reminisced and cuddled, neither could believe an unfriendly vying incident was what fated them together, yet both knew whatever the reason neither would dare imagine being
without the other.

“
And now, Belon now,” Aderac, then added gleefully, “So pleasing are your thrusts inside me. I long for them more than water.”

“
More than water, now who speaks silly words Aderac?” Belon teased.

“
Silly are my words at times, but all are truthful.”

“
And I shall have you as you are always, and am yours,” he added quickly.

“
All mine,” he said proudly, “You are indeed mine Belon. All mine.”

“
I am just that,” he assured him, as he thought how then nothing about Aderac made him want him or think of him, but as he held him in his arms, everything about him made him think of him and want him, as well as deeply love him.

**

Conceding to Belon, who asked Aderac to not travel back to Ivodgald until his head completely healed, to pass the time, both walked the grounds of WorrlgenHall every day, with Aderac looking attentively at all Belon showed him, or listening carefully as he explained something he may have asked about that he saw.

As they walked, when away from others, Aderac took his han
d and locked his fingers between Belon’s, who when he did, closed them to hold them in place more snuggly.

One day
while they walked and talked; both completely engrossed in the other as they held hands, they happened upon guilds training and when they stopped to watch, Laad rode over to them.

“
King,” Laad addressed first; then bowed his head, “You honor the guilds by watching them.

“
Such grand warriors they all are,” he declared and tossed in a compliment to Belon, “And made the one beside me as great as he is.”

Unsure what to say, Laad said nothing; then Aron rode over to them.

“Laad,” Aron said, after he bowed his head; then raised it, “Chose which guilds shall ride with those going to trade at the Valley of Tul, they leave in a day.”

Laad nodded, and as he did, Loth rode up beside him and after he bowed his head, began to speak to Laad.

“Many are going,” he added, “This season brought about good harvests for trading.”

As he listened, Aderac became excited.

“I must go,” he blurted before gleefully turning to Belon, never have been to a trading village because all he had, wore, or owned was gifted, made, or purchased for him by traveling guests to his kingdom or servants, “I must journey with them as well.”

Right
away, Belon gave him an apprehensive look, which made Aderac pout from suspecting what he was about to say.

“
Belon please,” he said.

Gathering he didn
’t want him journeying into possible danger, he looked up at Belon exaggerating his facial pout more. “Please, please, I must go. “

“
The guilds ride with those from WorrlgenHall so they are robbed or murdered along the way,” Belon said warily.

“
May I go?” he pleaded, “May I, may I go?”

As Aderac pleaded with Belon like an eager child, Loth raised an eyebrow
to Laad that a king, who can command to go wherever he wants, was begging for permission.

“
Again another sight I would not believe true until seen with my own eyes,” he leaned closer to Laad, and whispered, “And as I watch them now know who the head is.” 

“
Sssshhh,” Laad shushed him, “We all know how Belon was before as to how is now with King Aderac, and shall I bring to mind how defending he was of him when he killed that man, who spat on him. You will know there is no head with them, only two devoted to each other.

“
Aderac,” Belon said knowing the ride was a three-day one, “It is a long journey, and your head is still mending.”

“
I must go,” Aderac only insisted, “I must, my warrior.”

Tickled by how Aderac pleaded with Belon, and called him his warrior, Loth chuckled, then right away coughed several times, and pretended as if he was only trying to
clear his throat.

Totally rapt by Aderac
’s pleas, Belon sighed; then looked up noticing Laad, Loth, and Aron, staring at them now engrossed in their conversation, and when he did, Loth shrugged his shoulders.

“
Well,” he said, as he now became a part of it.

“
You know this means I and my men will ride as well,” Belon said to Loth.

“
Only if not, would I have questioned.” Loth laughed, and rode back to the men.

Aderac gave his ever-rident smile.

“The Valley of Tul,” he said aloud, “How did such a name come about?”

“
In truth,” Belon answered, “I never reasoned why.”

“
I must read of it and learn.”

“
We ride in a day,” Aron said, as he began to go back to the guilds.

“
I will be ready,” Aderac said at once.

“
Let us go,” Belon said, as he looked at Aderac and waited for him to start walking.

“
Eager I am Belon,” Aderac said, as he walked, “Well eager.”

As they walked away, when Laad joined Loth again, both turned and looked at Aderac and Belon walking casually along.

“Is it only me or does King Aderac prick upon one’s skin as if brushing pass a thorn bush when he speaks to Belon?” Loth asked always teasing about something.

“
He is well in love,” Laad only offered, “And eager in all things with his love.”

“
And still when it comes to Belon, when he speaks to him, feels the same.” He laughed and rode away.

A
ll day, and until that morning, eagerly Aderac spoke of little else, and although still wanting to change his decision, Belon couldn’t bring himself to sadden him.

Finally, when close time to depart, like an eager child, Aderac was up early. Ready long before Be
lon even woke; he stared at him as he slept, then when Belon half-opened one eye, it was to Aderac sitting in front of him closely watching him sleep.

Unknown why or if he just sensed it, although full of sleep Belon
’s eye opened; then after his face scrunched, he opened both.

“
Aderac,” he groggily spoke annoyed that he was right in front of him just sitting and staring, “How long have you sat there watching me?”

“
Well long,” he teased, “All the many nights I have lain beside you, did you know you hum as you breathe out of your nose when you sleep?”

Belon let out a light laugh, then yawned loud and long while he stretched his whole body.

“I do not hum.” He denied now scratching his head, and slowly getting out of bed.

Sluggishly, he walked over to the win
dow; then looked out, and when he noticed the sky still black, looked over to Aderac shaking his head.

“
Aderac,” he said, as he walked back towards the bed, “It is still dark out. No one will leave until light.”

Aderac stood and looked out; then back at
Belon as he climbed back into bed.

“
Belon rise,” he whined, “It will be light soon.”

“
Not soon enough,” Belon said, pulling the furs back over him.

Upset he got back into bed, Aderac flopped into a chair across from him and stared at him, and when Belon
realized he hadn’t come back to bed, opened an eye.

“
Come back to bed,” he said, now pulling the furs open more for him.

“
I am dressed.” Aderac pouted, while stubbornly crossing his arms, “And to undress is to much a task.” 

Raising his eyebrow at him,
Belon again stretched, knowing he could coax him back into bed, and pulled the furs off his body completely.

Saying nothing more, he put his hand on his chest; then slowly lowered it from his chest to his navel, pausing a moment to glance over at Aderac wh
ose eyes had now fixed on his hand, then he moved lower and began to caress himself.

“
Come back to bed,” his throaty request.

When Aderac saw his manhood swelling, in an instant he was out of the chair and
hurrying towards the bed.

“
Dare you tempt me so?” he asked playfully, as he undressed, then climbed into the bed and onto Belon.

When he did, Belon grabbed him.

“To much a task to undress,” he teased, enjoying the feel of his body on top of him, “Yet, your clothes fell from you with haste.”

“
For what was swelling in your hand,” Aderac said, as he now kissed him, “Give it to me.”

“
I shall give it all to you,” Belon assured him, “Until the light comes.”

Certain Aderac would want to sleep afterwards, Belon thrust deep into him, and after both cried out
the other’s name, Aderac kissed him tenderly; then sprang out of bed, cleaned himself, and dressed again still urging Belon to rise.

“
Uh,” Belon said, and shook his head, “Such vim you have this day.”

“
Well true,” Aderac agreed, “I want to see this Valley of Tul.”

Belon groaned as he sat up and moved to the edge of the bed.

“Very well,” he relented, knowing Aderac wouldn’t get back,
or rather stay
, in bed, “I will get up.”

Quickly, Aderac ran over to kiss him, but Belon pulled him down onto the bed besid
e him.

“
Here this well,” he said sternly, “You will stay be my side, and do all you are told with no pouting.”

“
Yes, yes,” Aderac agreed at once.

“
Aderac!” he said sternly, “My words you will not disobey.”

From his stern look, Aderac knew to calm and lis
ten to him, as well as heed his words.

“
Yes, my warrior and love,” he said, then rubbed his nose to his, which made Belon smile; “I will heed all.”

**

When Baric learned that his cousin was riding to the Valley of Tul with those from WorrlgenHall, he commanded Laad to ride along, and as always Loth eagerly went with Laad, his friend.

Casually, all rode without the slightly of problems and once there, Aderac marveled impressed with what seemed a well-established conduction of commerce.

The entire trading done only deep within the valley, one had to enter through a passageway that once passed, opened into a wide valley full of people busily buying, selling, or trading.

“
Ahhh wonderful, wonderful,” Aderac’s words of wonder, never having seen anything like it.

“
Aderac stay close to me,” Belon warned, as he kept his eyes keenly on everyone, “You will not speak or do anything foolish.”

Quickly and eagerly, Aderac bounced from table to table, and looked at this and that, or picked up and examined anything that
look interesting.

“
Look Belon, look,” he would eagerly say; then hold something up.

As he walked and looked, nothing really caught Aderac
’s attention because he had everything he needed or wanted, until when he passed a table full of tunics and embroidered colorful tie belts.

“
Belon, look at the tunics!” he said thrilled; then grabbed a few of them, “And the belts!”

Not concerned with the price, Aderac dug into his pouch.

“I will take all the tunics that look to fit the handsome man beside me,” he said, and when he did Belon’s eyes widened.

“
You did not ask a price,” the merchant spoke in his thick native accent.

Aderac fluent in many languages knew what language he spoke, and replied to him in it.

“
I have no worries of price,
” his instant reply, then although not cognizant of how he behaved, pompously thumbed four large gold coins that came from his own treasury above the man’s head, which he caught as they twirled high, “
Do you need more
?”

“
You gave enough for all the tunics on the table.
”

“
You may keep them. I only want what fits him
.”

“
Aderac.” Belon looked alarmed, “You must not do such a thing.”

Aderac turned to him surprised.

“What did I do wrong?”

“
You must not show you have wealth or flaunt it,” Belon quickly said, looking around to see who noticed it.

“
I did not flaunt,” he disagreed, “I only spoke to him in his own native tongue, as I paid for the tunics and belts.”

“
Large gold coins,” Belon retorted, as again he looked around, “All here have nothing but silver, copper, bronze coins, or trade with goods of their own. And for you to carry so many in a pouch, and speak to him in his own tongue, but not be his own kind shows others you have wealth or could be high born.”

“
I didn’t reason I would be watched so.”

Annoyed, right away, Belon hurried
to Laad.

“
King Aderac purchased many tunics and belts,” Belon said, while his head moved back and forth watching any close by, “And thumbed gold coins at him as he spoke to him in his own tongue.”

Laad
’s eyes widened from the news, before he instinctively also looked around him.

“
Are any watching us?”

“
All seem to be about their own deeds,” Belon answered, but still wary, “Yet, you and I know eyes surely had to have fallen on him when he did.”

Laad looked troubled, as he decided how to handle the situat
ion.

“
Lets us behave as if all is fine, but be more wary,” he cautiously said, “He had many guilds around him, along with you and your men. Maybe, that will frighten any seeking to rob him.”

Belon nodded; then walked away.

“I am sorry,” he told Belon when he came back to him, “I remembered you tore into yours, and wanted to get you more before we rode back to Ivodgald.”

“
Aderac,” Belon chastised, “At times you must reason what you do, before just doing it. Pack King Aderac’s tunics and belts,” he then ordered one of the guards.

“
They are yours Belon.” Aderac interjected, but Belon so irritated by Aderac’s naivety of dangers, made no comment.

As the guard took the tunics and belts, Aderac pouted, but said nothing.

“Come,” Belon said sternly, not even bothering to thank him, “And do not touch another thing.”

Once done, all gathered and began their journey back to WorrlgenHall, and warily the first night the guilds, along with Belon
’s men diligently rode beside the travelers ready. 

On the second night, whe
n still they saw nothing suspicious and no one else on the roads with them, they began to relax more, but early on the third morning, as they causally rode and walked along, when Laad saw one of the guilds quickly riding back towards him, he knew.

“
It was to good to be true,” Loth commented.

They are just ahead,”
the guild said at once.

“
How many?

“
Enough to cause us trouble.”

When Belon saw a guild talking to Laad seriously, he rode over to him already knowing what it was about and since it involved King A
derac, decided to take charge.

“
How many came?” he asked Laad, who knew by Belon’s tone that he was taking charge.

“
Enough.”

Belon inhaled; then looked over to Aderac, who when he saw the expression on his face, knew someone from the Valley of Tul had tol
d others a traveler among them was very wealthy.

At once, Belon rode to Aderac.

“Stay with those who travel,” he said when he got to him.

“
Belon,” Aderac pressed, “I am skilled as well. I want to fight beside you and can.”

“
I know that you can,” Belon responded proudly, “But as long as I breathe you will not. I shall defend you until there is no blood or life within me.”

The battle ready look on
Belon’s face as he spoke to him made Aderac swoon. “Defend and protect me Belon.”

“
I shall,” Belon said and rode off.

“
Laad!” he shouted as he rode, “Have your guilds guard all from WorrlgenHall, and we from Ivodgald shall deal with the vermin ahead.”

“
Are you sure?” Laad questioned concerned.

“
Well sure,” Belon said adamantly, “King Aderac will be among those that your guilds guard.”

Laad nodded.

“Loth,” have the guilds surround them.

As he watched, the guilds surrounded those from WorrlgenHall and after he made sure Aderac was in the middle and safe, Belon rode in front of his men.

“Ready yourselves!” his command, “And let them feel the cold steel of your sword on their bones!”

After all gave their ready shout, they rode off.

Worriedly, Aderac sat on his horse watching and waiting for Belon who was now out of his sight.

“
They have been gone long.” He fretted.

“
They just rode off my king and I have heard no horns,” Laad said, “Belon knows to blow them should they need help and though he commands at Ivodgald, he still holds true to his training.”

“
Such is true,” Aderac agreed, but as he sat a little longer, still worried about him, he suddenly spurred his horse forward, “I must help Belon!” his shout as he did.

Laad looked to Loth, who right away spurred his horse ahead to follow him, then as King Aderac
’s guard rode forward to go after him also, Laad stopped him.

“
No! My first in command will see after him!” Laad said at once, “Stay!”

While riding hard behind him, Loth called out.

“King Aderac!” he shouted, but Aderac wouldn’t turn as he courageously rode hard to help Belon.

As he fought, his sword already
well soaked with the blood of those he cut down, when he saw Aderac charging towards him with his sword drawn, he hurried to him.

“
Aderac!” he shouted; then shouted to three of his men, “Grab his horse’s rein and surround him! Do not let him move!”