WORRLGENHALL (99 page)

 
    “They insulted you, and shall die by my hand,” his truth, as he angrily breathed through his nose.”

 
    Right away, Loth looked at Laad.

 
    “Did I not speak this would happen?” he questioned through the side of his mouth so others couldn’t hear him, “Shall I get the guards? This will end in much bloodshed.”

 
    “No,” Laad answered confident, “I am sure King Aderac will put the matter to rest.”

 
    Aderac looked at Belon, and saw the angst in his eyes knowing he longed to kill those who insulted the one most dear to him.

 
    “Honeeey.” He sang softly to Belon, moved.

 
    When Aderac lovingly spoke to Belon, this time the second man from Hemrock snickered, and when Belon heard it tried to get at him, but the guilds grabbed him again and held him back.

 
    “King Gegorad,” Aderac said calmly, when he turned and saw him now standing by Baric, “Are your champions’ servants or free to come and go at will?”

 
    “They are servants I bought.”

 
    “Ah.” Aderac nodded, “I shall give you twenty gold pieces for each of them, and buy them from under you now as we speak.”

 
    As the room hushed, King Gegorad was at a loss for words from his generous offer.

 
    “But,” he could only mutter.

 
    “You have others to use who may well still win the vying,” Aderac quickly added to sway him, “And selling these two will indeed add to your wealth.”

 
    “They are good fighters,” he however said, still reluctant to sell them.

 
    “I shall give you forty gold pieces for each.” Aderac tempted.

 
    Unable to resist such an offer, since he bought them from traveling traders, and only paid twenty silver pieces for them both, King Gegorad nodded his agreement.

 
    “Welgord,” Aderac said, without even looking at him.

 
    The coin bearer hurried beside him.

 
    “Yes king.”

 
    “See that he gets his gold.”

 
    “Yes king.” He bowed his head and hurried away.

 
    “You are men of Ivodgald now, and I welcome you,” Aderac spoke pleasantly to them and aloud so all in the hall could hear before he looked at them again, “And in such, you must learn the laws of my kingdom.”

 
    During all this, Belon remained silent, unsure what or why Aderac did what he did, but didn’t speak against him in front of others.

 
    “Grand Commander Belon,” Aderac now said.

 
    “Yes, King Aderac.”

 
    “Do you know the punishment for mocking the king?”

 
    “I do.”

 
    “Grand Commander Belon they mocked their king.” Aderac smirked, and looked at them, “See that Raudgred punishes them.”

 
    Belon withdrew his sword, and when both realized what Aderac had done, charged Belon from the right and the left, which made Ogorec withdraw his sword to help him, but Baric grabbed his arm.

 
    “No, the king has sentenced them to death, and it must be done by Belon.”

 
    Both rushing towards him from different directions, Belon reacted quickly, and with his powerful muscled legs leaped high onto one of the tables landing steady on his feet, before he kicked one in the face sending him tumbling backwards.

 
    As the man did, Belon withdrew his knife, and with lightning quickness and accuracy threw it at him and after the sharp pointed blade lodged into his heart killing him instantly, he wasted not even a second on his attack against the other.

 
    Again, his muscular legs sprang him high with his sword in front of him to kill the other when he came down, and Belon’s strength great, another learned just how great, as foolishly he tried to block the pure force behind Raudgred by holding his own sword sideways above his head.

 
    His arm extended high in front of him to keep Belon from slicing down into him from above, he cried out in failed agony when the steel sliced into his shoulder cutting easily through sinewy and bone.

 
    As his shoulder lopped from his torso, it fell to the wooden floor making a loud thud, and as he spun and screamed in agony, Belon seized his other shoulder and turned him before plunging his personally made steel, deep into him, almost disemboweling him, completing what he started to do to him in the first place.

 
    After briefly scowling at both men’s lifeless bodies, Belon retrieved his knife and went to Aderac.

 
    “Are you hurting?” His first concern, as the ferocious man only seconds before, tenderly touched his face worried about him because he stood throughout the whole ordeal.

 
    “No, honey,” Aderac answered breathless, as he marveled at how fierce Belon could be; then suddenly become gentle as a lamb with him, “It is late, let us go to bed.”

 
    Loth side glanced at Laad, and knowing an, I told you so gloat would be on his face, didn’t bother to look back at him, “I warned you that with those two there is never a dull time.” He would not have been himself if he stayed silent.

 
    Again offering no comment, both men looked down at the two lying dead, and all eyes wide and spellbound, none knew what to say, so the hall filled with eerie silence.

 
    “Take the bodies away and clean up the floor,” Baric finally ordered, then noticed many standing gawking, “Let us all withdraw for the night, the vying begins at first light.”

**

     After they kissed the children while they slept, once back in the chamber, Belon helped Aderac into bed, then got beside him and snuggled close.

 
    “Such a deed …” he praised Aderac’s cleverness, tenderly kissing the side of his head, then his lips.

 
    “I did nothing but buy two servants.”

 
    “Such a deed,” Belon only repeated.

 
    As both lay, Belon drew air deeply into his nose, but said nothing, and knowing him well, Aderac knew other thoughts filled his head.

 
    “Something worries you.” He knew, “Speak what it is.”

 
    “It was not the Segorans that took you,” Belon revealed “It was a tribe Lord Cadon gave gold to rob the travelers, and make them reason they were Segorans.”

 
    “How did you find out such?”

 
    “Laad and Loth caught one of them,” Belon continued, “And he confessed.”

 
    “He did this and all the while. “Aderac fumed, “Smiled in our faces.”

 
    “Such is true.”

 
    Aderac sat up when a thought came to him.

 
    “Then it is by his hand.” He suspected; then groaned loudly in pain from sitting up to quickly, “That King Thogor is dead.”

 
    “Do not raise that way again,” Belon chided, and gently used his hand to get him to lie down. “We believe yes.”

 
    “Such betrayal Belon,” Aderac said repulsed, as he lay again and looked over at him, “What shall we do?”

 
    “They harmed who I love,” Belon avowed. “And it does not set well with me that any of them still breathe.”

 
    “Be wary,” Aderac, as always, warned, “I love you, and I want and shall grow old with you.”

 
    “As I want and shall grow old with you,” Belon said, as he pulled him close, “Sleep my king, and beloved.”

**

     Believing he was asleep, quietly Ogorec came inside; then put his sword away, but as he took off his shirt and boots about wash before bed, he looked over and noticed Ovfren awake and watching him.

 
    “I reasoned you would be asleep,” Ogorec said, as he walked over to him and sat on the edge of the bed.

 
    “I have been awake for some time.”

 
    As he raised and rested his body on his elbow, both looked at each other deeply in love, but afraid to hear what may come from the other’s mouth, and fearful of resentful feelings, both, for a while, had spoken very little to the other.

 
    “For days,” Ogorec finally put his worry into words, “You have not spoken more than five words to me at a time. Are you still angry with me?”

 
    Ovfren sat up more.

 
    “I was angry,” he confessed, “And wounded.”

 
    “Are you still?”

 
    “I am not,” he spoke truthfully.

 
    Glad that he wasn’t, he was still afraid to ask his next question, but he did.

 
    “Do you still love me?” Ogorec braced, as he looked into his gray eyes, “Do you?”

 
    “I do,” Ovfren’s truth, as he moved even closer to him, “And always will.”

 
    Ogorec smiled and exhaled relieved; then leaned to kiss him. When he did, Ovfren pulled him onto the bed with him.

 
    “I was about to wash up,” he said, but pleased that Ovfren again began to play with him as he always had.

 
    “We have been without words or passion for days,” Ovfren said, as he rose to his knees, “And that, my wanted one can hold.”

 
    “It can and shall,” Ogorec readily said, then held Ovfren with one hand and tugged at his pants with the other.

 
    “Get them off.” Ovfren panted impatiently, “I need to be buried inside you.”

 
    Finally, freed from his pants Ogorec got back onto the bed and on his knees with Ovfren, and as both looked at each other. So close their breath was on each other’s face, tenderly they kissed until each kiss became more passionate.

 
    Their masses throbbing from passionate kisses of want, Ogorec fell onto his back.

 
    “Thrust such that I cannot sit,” he now begged, as Ovfren hurriedly got between his legs.

 
    Once Ovfren put Ogorec’s legs firmly over shoulders, he began his thrusts.

 
    “I will make it so you cannot walk,” he said, as he pushed every inch of his aching for release-engorged shaft inside Ogorec.

 
    Ogorec cried out with each pounding thrusts to many to count, then both unable to form words, let their sounds speak for them until Ogorec’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, letting Ovfren know he was about to explode.

 
    “Let it flow,” Ovfren said, while his body shuddered, “I am pouring inside you.”

 
    Both breathing heavy, Ovfren collapsed.

 
    “You were right. I will not be able to walk,” Ogorec confessed completely exhausted and pleased as Ovfren’s body rested on top of him.

 
    “Then I have done well,” he said, as he lifted his head and kissed him, “Rest a short time. I am about to do well again.”

 
   
“
I
am here to take your place,” Augerd said, when he walked down the chamber hallway to the guild guarding the door to Lord Elgen’s chamber.

 
    “The king’s words were two are to guard him.”

 
    “The other is on his way,” Augerd lied, “All should be fine until the other comes.”

 
    Thinking nothing of it, the guards walked away; then once he made sure they were far down the hallway, Augerd quickly opened the door.

 
    “You have been found out,” he said hastily, when he rushed inside, “And after the challenge it will be made known to all.”

 
    “How?” Lord Elgen questioned, wondering what gave the plan away, as he sprang to his feet.

 
    “They captured Endric,” Augerd answered, “And hold him.”

 
    “Curses!” Lord Elgen cried out alarmed, knowing they would be undone for good, “Get me away from here!”

 
    “What of your brother?”

 
    Lord Elgen paused, while his mind weighed the disadvantages of trying to free him.

 
    “He stuck his knife to deeply and bled badly. He is to weak for the journey. We will have to bargain for his return.” Lord Elgen resolved, as he again quickly dressed, “Now get me out of WorrlgenHall.”

 
    “Wait,” Augerd stopped him and tossed him different clothes, “They will know you for sure by those clothes.”

 
    After Lord Elgen dressed, Augerd gave him a sword; then both sneaked down the back hallway and stairs towards the stables where Augerd hid two horses, but to get their quickly meant they had to use a more traveled hallway.

 
    “Follow me closely,” Augerd said, as he walked warily looking to his left and right.

 
    Quickly, yet quietly both walked, but suddenly stopped and hid in one of the darkened corners when two guilds came walking down the hallway.

 
    “We must leave with haste,” Elgen urged fearful, “And not tarry. Where did you speak the horses are held?”

 
    “Follow me,” Augerd said; then turned down another hallway, “I have two waiting for us in the lower stables.”

 
    Again, both rushed down the hallway, only again to have others delay them, but right away Augerd recognized who now walked by.

 
    “Look,” he whispered, “I know how you can bargain for your brother.”

 
    “What do you mean?”

 
    “The two women coming towards us,” Augerd answered, “One of them is the head maiden to King Aderac’s daughter.”

 
    “How do you know?”

 
    “I saw her tending to her earlier in the day.”

 
    Elgen hesitated, his mind right away going to who would be the most vengeful for taking the young woman.

 
    “It would be better for you fall on your sword now,” Elgen warned after watching him cut down the two Hemrock men earlier in the night, “Than for you to take her.”

 
    “Ah,” Augerd countered already knowing why he gave his warning, “I know he is weak when it comes to those he loves. The girl will want her maiden back, and will cry to King Aderac, who will sway Belon from vengeance. In such you can bargain for your brother.”

 
    Not convinced with his idea, Elgen hesitated, but when both passed, Augerd quickly took the matter literally into his own hands.

 
    Seizing whoever was in the lead, as if as gentle as snap of a delicate twig would have been, he broke her neck, and before the other barely realized what had happened and could scream, he covered her mouth and pulled her into the darkness.

 
    “Hold your tongue,” his threat, while his hand covered her mouth, “Or find yourself lying alongside her dead on the floor.”

 
    Frightened for her life, she nodded.

 
    “Good,” he commented, then struck her across the face, knocking her out instantly.

 
    Her body cascading to the floor, he caught her quickly.

 
    “It is done,” he said making the decision for Elgen, as he supported her seemingly lifeless body, “Now help me carry her away with us.”

**

     His mind flooded with thoughts about the vying challenge in the morning and the order he gave Enek. Belon wrestled in his dreams over it, and since Aderac was in his arms, it woke him.

 
    “Belon,” Aderac pushed his side gently to wake him.

 
    “Yes,” he groggily responded.

 
    “You are moving much in your sleep,” Aderac said, as he slightly raised his head, “What troubles you?”

 
    “That all goes as it should in the morning,” Belon admitted, as he yawned tired from lack of good sleep and moved onto his back from his side.

 
    “What do you believe could go wrong?”

 
    “I do not know.” He sighed, and put one arm behind his head, “But Celgon seems to have a way of getting loose from tangled webs.”

 
    “This web is made like no other,” Aderac assured him, “It is made steady and strong by Ivodgald’s thread woven with Worrlgen’s.”

 
    “You are indeed Ivodgald.” Belon smiled at him.

 
    “Belon,” Aderac said, as he moved slightly more to look at him better, “I am not Ivodgald. We are Ivodgald.”

 
    Belon sighed again; reassured as always by Aderac that he was not just one in command of his kingdom and his lover. He was his life and they would hold it together by loyalty and love.

 
    “Are you hungry?”

 
    “Just a little.”

 
    “I still cannot sleep with ease,” Belon said, as he got out of bed, “I am going to men’s hall to get something to eat. Would you like me to bring you something my only joy?”

 
    “Yes.” Aderac smiled from his loving words and thoughtful gesture, “Thank you, honey.”

 
    “We can eat in bed; then I will try to sleep for a time until the sun rises.”

 
    “And something for us drink,” Aderac added, as he watched Belon dress, “To wash down the food.”

 
    “Yes,” Belon said; then sat on the edge of the bed to put his boots on.

 
    When he did, Aderac played with Belon’s back with his toe and right away aroused, Belon looked at him and let the other boot he had in his hand fall to the floor.

 
    “Careful,” he warned. Belon’s eyes traveling up Aderac’s leg before stopping at his now thickening shaft rising from his thigh, before he grabbed his foot and began nibbling on his big toe, “Or I shall have you sitting on me again.”

 
    “Will you?” Aderac teased, and lifted his head when he felt the heat of Belon’s mouth around his toe.”  

 
    “You know me and you know I will,” Belon reminded, as he now slowly moved his hand up Aderac’s leg.

 
    Aderac moaned; then looked at him with a roguish grin.

 
    “You are already dressed,” he lustfully said, “So go, but when you come back, after we eat I will indeed be sitting on you.”

 
    Belon smiled back, and then turned to put on his other boot.

 
    “Do not be gone long,” his leading words of now expected passion. “Now, I am hungry for my Belon.”

 
    “I will not,” he said, as he now leaned over the bed to Aderac, “Muah,” he always affectionately sounded off when he kissed him; then turned and began walking towards the door.

 
    “Belon!”  Aderac called out when he noticed he walked pass his belt.

 
    “Yes.”

 
    “Take Raudgred.”

 
    “Aderac, I am only going to the men’s hall to get us something to eat and drink.” He chuckled.

 
    “And you shall have Raudgred on your side as you do,” he urged, as one eyebrow rose.

 
    “Very well,” Belon gave in, then walked back to his belt and put it on; then sheath his sword. “Now you may go.”

 
    Belon smiled, then pursed his lips and shook his head. “Yes, my sweet.”

 
    Casually, laughing at how Aderac chided him, as he walked down the hallways towards the men’s hall; when he saw something large crumpled on the wooden floor; he went to examine what it was.

 
    Curiously, he kneeled and touched what he gathered were discarded clothes, but when he noticed they weren’t his eyes widened shocked from not what, but who it actually was.

 
    “Curses!” he said loudly, and although knowing she was dead, he eased the small frame carefully to the floor, then turned and ran back to the chamber floor.

 
    When the guard saw Belon running hard down the hallway, he stepped father out to see what was wrong, and as Belon got closer, he shouted.

 
    “Did anyone leave or come to this chamber?”

 
    “None came, but the lady’s two maidens went out,” he answered.

 
    “Did you not gather it is a little late for such?” Belon questioned, as he now stood in front of him.

 
    “I had no commands that they could not,” he answered in his own defense.”

 
    “Open the door and step out of the way,” Belon commanded, as he put his hand on hilt of his sword and unsheathe it halfway ready to kill any bold enough to charge forward.

 
    Cautiously, he burst inside hurrying to Beladera’s bed; then when he saw her sleeping peacefully on her own bed, he looked over at Ihon, who was sleeping peacefully also on his, then at Belo sleeping beside him.

 
    “No one goes in or out,” Belon commanded. His mind now eased because his children were safe, before he fully sheathed his sword and walked away.

 
    Before he went to anyone to speak of what happened; Belon went back to the chamber to give the horrifying news to Aderac first, and as soon as he walked through the door, Aderac saw his troubled look.

 
    “What is it?” he asked, when Belon walked inside, “Why such a look?”

 
      “Yala is lying in a hallway dead and Silinia was not beside her.”

 
    Aderac’s face turned completely pale.

 
    “Our children Belon, our children!” he cried out, as he forgot about his ribs, sprang out of bed, and began hurrying towards the door, “We must see about them!”

 
    “They are well,” Belon blurted, then got in front of him, “And you cannot walk out of this chamber now.”

 
    “Dare you stand in front of me to stop me?” Aderac blared defiantly. His concern only that their children were safe, “I am going to see about our children, Belon!”

 
    “Aderac!” Belon called his name loudly to stop him, “You cannot walk out. You are naked!”

 
    Now realizing it, Aderac looked down at himself and shook his head,

 
    “I am troubled, so troubled,” he admitted, as he hastily sat down trying to calm himself.

 
    Belon kneeled in front of him, and put his hands on Aderac’s shoulders before pulling him up to stand to face him.

 
    “Do not be and calm, our children are safe,” he soothingly said, as he now held him, “Now you know what I spoke of about Celgon getting loose from tangled webs. I trust with all within me that this has to do with them.”

 
    “I shall dress,” Aderac said, as he calmed.

 
    As Aderac dressed, Belon paced back and forth occasionally blurting how he planned to kill all those from Celgon.

 
    “None shall live!” Belon again asserted loudly, as he did, “None shall live!”

 
    As he ranted more, Aderac, who offered no enticing comments that would get his temper worked up even more; listened allowing him to vent some of his anger, then while trying to put on his boots, Belon rushed over to him to help him.

 
    “Honey,” Aderac said, as he looked down at him while he kneeled putting on his boots for him. “I shall back you in your words as you speak of this matter, but I am king and should matters rise of wars and kingdoms, it will be for me to speak and not you.”