WORRLGENHALL (12 page)

“
This day, I meet with my quorum,” King Rone said, as he walked to the fire, “And revealed to them what they and many believed would never come from my mouth again.”

“
Yes, my king,” Seda said, afraid to breathe as his voice changed to a commanding tone.  

“
That WorrlgenHall will again have a queen.”

“
Who, my king?”

“
From the first, I have opened myself to you,” he confessed, “And as you boldly gazed upon my face, I saw you as my queen.”

“
My king,” Seda said, her words bold, “Would you have made a dog your queen, had it gazed upon your face.”

“
Shall I be angry?” King Rone questioned, annoyed that Seda did not burst into tears humbled that he chose her, “There is your tongue again, feeding you bold words.”

“
Forgive me I beg you,” Seda quickly said, “I love you. Would it hurt to hear such words from you as that and know it is why you chose me.”

“Be my queen?” King Rone whispered, “The king loves you.”

“
Yes, my king.”

**

Now besotted with Liha, Bayl put her and her grandmother upon horses so neither would have to walk, and each night he and Liha rode off together to talk freely, yet no matter where they went men always followed.

Each morning, as Bayl rode to go in the front of the men, he stopped alongside Liha and spoke to her tenderly, and each night as he ate, it was always from something she had prepared a
nd brought him.

“
Such love I have for him,” Liha told her grandmother, as they rode one morning, “Yet he has not spoken such words to me.”

“
Have you to him?”

“
I have not.”

Each day, Liha
’s grandmother closely watched Bayl along with those around him, and though he mingled and carried on well with the other men, from the very first time she saw him, she knew he was peculiar, but could not reason why.

“
You must let him speak the words first,” her grandmother’s wise advice to Liha, “I would wage all many women have told him they loved him.”

“
We have journeyed far,” Liha said, “And soon we will be at this place called WorrlgenHall. Once there, I know he will forget me.”

“
Granddaughter,” she warned, “I know what you seek and I will not. If he loves you then he loves you. If not, then not, but you will not deceive him.”

“
I have tasted his lips and he mine.” Liha sighed, “Such that I believe he wants more from me, but…”

“
Let him want,” again a warning, “But, do not yield to him.”

Liha
’s grandmother laughed at her own words. “Resist the passion inside you for him and he will love you.”

“
If such words will ever come from him,” Liha said anguished.

Just as Liha spoke, a horn sounded and she saw men rushing pass them.

“Something is wrong.”

“
Look!” her grandmother said; then pointed.

To the left of them, strange men covered in ashes from head to foot lined the landscape. Some on horses, but most on foot, right away charged towards them.

“Run!” Belon shouted to the men and women, “Run to the river’s edge!”

Quickly, all ran
; then Belon and Bayl gathered the men in a line in front of them.

“
I gather we will defend those we march?” Belon questioned, as he withdrew his sword.

“
We will,” Bayl’s proclamation as he withdrew his own, “There is one we march who is to be my wife.”

Ba
yl let out a loud cry and all charged forward, then as the fighting began, the men on horses slashed their way through the thick of the strange men taking off limbs before more in black charged forward too.

“
Who are these people?” Bayl shouted as he fought.

“
I have heard tales that they worship the moon or a volcano!” Belon shouted back unable to remember; then groaned loudly when an arrow pierced his shoulder.

Quickly,
when the man aimed to shoot another one at Belon, Bayl charged towards him and cut off his arm.

“
Ride back and guard those we march,” he ordered Belon.

“
I have but a minor wound,” Belon said, yet his pain was great, “I will fight on.”

As Liha reached the river
’s edge, she worriedly turned and watched the men fight.

“
I cannot find Bayl among them,” she said. Her eyes searching frantically to spot him, “I pray he has not been slain.”

“
I can see him,” her grandmother said quickly, before it dawned on her who he was, “He fights ahead of the others.”

“
Oh please Bayl let others fight ahead of you,” she said anguished.

“
He will not,” her grandmother quickly added, “Bayl is their lord.”

“
What?”

“
His brother, I tended to as he lay wounded.” It all suddenly came to her.

“
Ecia sent for me and I seared his wound.”

“
He spoke nothing to me.”

“
Why should he so that you falsely swoon over him.”

“
I cannot swoon over him if he is dead,” Liha words, as tears rushed from her eyes.

His left shoulder wounded, Belon held his sword with his right hand and as his sword now drenched with blood; he prepared to drench it
even more.

“
My lord!” he shouted, as he lifted his head watching, “They are running away. Shall we go after them?”

“
Let them flee,” Bayl said, while pulling his sword out of the stomach of one.

Once the strange men covered in black fled from sight, they h
urried back to the men and women waiting by the river.

“
Cross the river!” one shouted.

“
Do so with haste!” shouted another.

“
Bayl!” Liha shouted to the man, “Where is he?”

“
Behind you!”

Liha turned and let out heavy sigh when she saw Bayl riding towards
her. “Get back on the horse and ride across the river.”

“
Yes, my lord,” she blurted obediently.

Surprised, she knew, Bayl suddenly stopped.
“How?”

“…
my grandmother.”

After all had crossed the river, they traveled non-stop until they reached the higher gro
unds, then when certain they were far enough away, Belon’s shoulder burning and throbbing, stopped to rest so he could tend to it.

“
May I?” Liha asked when she saw him tying something around his shoulder, “I have something to ease the pain.”

“
Yes, thank you.”

Gently, Liha put a dried poultice on his wound, which almost instantly took away his pain.

“Where did you learn such things?” Belon asked.

“
I learned from my grandmother. She knows of such things and is one who healed your lord’s brother.”

“
He boiled with a fever.”

“
Then he must not have been given all of what he was to take.”

“
We did take him away with haste.” Belon remembered.

As Belon and Liha spoke, Bayl walked up to them.

“Hushed words,” he said amused, “Of what?”

“
This vision has cared for me,” Belon answered grateful, “Careful or I will take her from you.”

“
I belong to no one,” she said proudly, but smiled.

“
Walk with me,” Bayl said; then walked away.

Quietly both walked; then Liha spoke fi
rst. “Why did you not tell me who you were?”

“
Why should I have?” Bayl asked, and stopped, “Would it have changed anything?

“
No, from the first, I have…” she caught herself before she spilled her heart.

“
You have what?”

Quickly, Liha changed the subject.

“My grandmother gave me this to give to you,” she hastily said, remembering her grandmother’s advice not to be the one first to speak of love.

Bayl
saw his brother’s earring. “I swear you grandmother will not want for anything as long as she lives,” his vow for her kindness as he took it.

“
And me,” Liha whispered, as she closed her hand, “What will become of me?”

“
You will belong to me.”

“
Will I be a prisoner?”

“
I am in love with you,” he whispered and pulled her close to him, “You will be my wife.”

“
Then, a prisoner I shall be,” she whispered, as she closed her eyes for him to kiss her, “And I beg you never to release your captive.”

“
Shall I torture you too?” Bayl asked, as thoughts of their wedding night came to mind.

“
Yes,” she whispered, as she too thought of it.

“
I shall scream in agonizing delight while you ravish me and beg for your mercy.”

“
Those words,” Bayl said, and smiled, “I will hold you to them.”

A
s they approached WorrlgenHall, Liha could see it from the countryside in its full grandeur. Enormous in size, it stretched from one landscape to the other and sat high on the land, and surrounded by deep rich brown wood and dark stoned solid walls wide and tall, right away it awed her.

“
Never have I seen such a sight,” Liha said as she rode, all her life living in village huts in the lowlands, WorrlgenHall was larger than three of her villages spread far apart.

“
This is your home now,” Bayl said, and reached for her hand, “You will dwell within its center walls.”

As the horn sounded to announce their return, slowly they made their way between
the small homes that lined the hills as they approached, and as many gathered to watch their return along with the new people they marched, all bowed when Bayl passed.

“
They bow for you,” Liha said, as her heart swelled with pride.

The clang of the heavy c
hains opening the main gate of the walls, slowly the heavy wooden gate opened, then as they moved forward, another heavy wooden and steel latch raised that secured two huge doors opened on either side.

“
Welcome home, my lord,” two guards appeared and greeted Lord Bayl, who nodded.

Again, more homes lined the grounds as they approached WorrlgenHall with those who lived in them busily going about their day; then just as they passed those homes, luscious green grass blanketed the earth before a paved stoned ro
de lead to its wooden doors.

A hawk as their crest was also on the huge doors, which swung open as Bayl rode closer into the courtyard; then right away two men came out of nowhere to take his horse.

“Welcome, Lord Bayl,” both greeted, and grabbed his horse’s reins.

“
Have all swear their oath to the king and for those who will not, put them to
the task
. Once done, those who are family keep together. Give them what they need and find what all are suited for and put them to work,” Bayl ordered, as he jumped from his horse.

Right away, more servants came and stood in front of him.
“For this beauty and her grandmother, take them to my floor chambers and place them in one of them. Treat them well.”

“
But,” Liha said quickly, hoping to remain by his side.

“
Liha,” Bayl whispered, “Do not worry. No harm will to come to you both. I must see my brother and my father.”

Liha obeyed and followed the men pass the carved wooden doors and down wide long hallways.

As she walked, she noticed the walls cloaked with red, green, black, and blue, woven tapestries from top to bottom, and brushed against them with her arm to feel the detailed artistry as they passed several large rooms down the hallways.

Each room she peered into as she walked filled with deep brown wooden chairs and
tables, as well as sculptured statues made from wood and stone, she was impressed to see even lovely clay pottery that must have come from regions far away by their designs.

When Liha reached the stairs, slowly she and her grandmother climbed them carefull
y watching their steps, and the stairs steep, divided into sections according to place.

The kings and his son
’s chambers to the left, to the left they went; then the king’s chamber on the very top, which also lead to the roof to walk freely, Bayl’s and Baric’s chambers just below his; they were lead into Bayl’s.

“
This chamber,” the servant said to Liha and her grandmother, and as he spoke, a guard suddenly appeared at the stairs and took his post.

“
Is there always someone to stand there?” Liha asked the servant.

“
Day and night when someone is here,” he answered.

After he closed the door behind them, Liha went to the center of the chamber and spun around.

“So large,” she said as she looked at the huge window; then the hearth, before he eyes glanced to towards the enormous fur lined bed in the bedchamber, “And such a bed.”

“
Such a bed indeed.” Her grandmother laughed loudly, “I gather room to spread oneself wide.”

Liha
’s face reddened.

“
Grandmother, have you no shame?”

“
No, and you should not as you lay upon it on your wedding night,” she answered quickly, “Which I reason with will be soon. His want for you is great.”

“
As is mine.”

“
Then I shudder to reason what sort of words and moans will come from you on that night.”

“
Again, have you no shame.” Liha smiled and blushed.

**

As the men went to the stables to secure the horses, put away their shields, and go to their families or about their day, Bayl went to see his brother.

Slowly, he opened the door to his chamber; then peeked inside, and when he saw Belon
sleeping entered, and unknown if he had even awakened since the battle, he noticed how thin he still looked, and feared the worse.

“
Brother,” Bayl said anguished, as he looked at him hoping he would wake, but Baric said nothing.

Quietly, he turned to leav
e, but just as he reached the door, stopped when Belon spoke.

“
Did you reason you were rid of me?” Baric asked. His voice, although still weak getting stronger each day.

“
It was my hope,” Bayl said, as he hurried to his side. His heart lightened to hear his brother’s voice, “Now, I must deal with you again.”

“
My brother,” Baric said, as he smiled and raised his arm, “I am told you fretted over me. Is it true?”

“
All lies,” Bayl denied quickly, “I did not fret over you, but had I fretted, it was only for the reason I owed you a thrashing for sending me ahead of you.”

“
Dare I reason?” Baric asked, “That my brother loves me?”

“
Your sickness has softened you,” Bayl said, as he now turned and began to walk away, “Soon you will be sewing with the women.”

“
Dare I reason? Baric asked again.

“
I am glad you are getting well brother,” Bayl said, as he stood at his door, “You may speak it, but I will never agree with it beyond this door.”

“
Speak of the battle.”

Bayl tried to hide his excitem
ent that his brother was doing much better and kept his lips closed, but a smile broke through. “Rest brother, we will speak of battle when your laugh is more of a hearty one.”

After he left his brother, he went to speak to his father, and as he entered hi
s chamber, he stopped when he saw a woman sitting on his lap.

When she noticed his eyes were on her, Seda stood right away and
lowered her head because she wasn’t yet a queen, and as she did Bayl looked at her admiringly.

“
Now I know without question,” he said, as he walked to Seda and took her hand, then kissed it, “Why you softened from your ways of long ago.”

“
My king, and my lord,” Seda said, “I shall leave you.”

As he watched Seda leave the chamber, Bayl sat in the chair across from his father.

“As I marched those you wished marched,” he said sarcastically, and yet slightly grateful, “I have found love along the way. She is beautiful and I want to wed her right away.”

“
I have set my mind to wed as well,” King Rone commented, “The hand you kissed will be my queen.”

Bayl nodded his consent.

“Mine, I want three days from this day?” Bayl added.

“
I wanted to wait until your return so you could attend,’ King Rone confessed, “Since we are both about to wed shall it be on the same day?”

“
So be it,” Bayl agreed. Stood and left the chamber.

**

Ever since Tohlor returned, out of sight out of mind, he hadn’t thought about Belon, but as soon as he saw him again, he became enviously jealous. Now so consumed, he resolved he would not rest peacefully until he found out who Belon was with that night.

Unaware Tohlor watched him closely, as soon a Belon left his horse he hurried to the men
’s hall, and a rush of want went through him as soon as he saw Ogorec sitting and talking making him want to run and grab him, then take me away.

“
Give us words of battle,” one man said to Belon when he walked in, “We heard some attacked you.”

“
True, as we marched them,” Belon said, as he rubbed his shoulder where he was shot with the arrow, “Men covered with ashes came from the mountain. It is how it got the arrow wound in my shoulder.”

“
How many did you march?”

“
Over one hundred, I will gather, if not more.”

“
Were any lost along the way?”

“
Those well in age.”

As Belon talked his mouth moved with his words, yet his mind was only on Ogorec, but he controlled himself, and avoided gazing certain if he looked at him he would completely forget what he was saying.

“Speak of battle,” another pleaded who joined in their conversation.

“
Later, after I have rested,” Belon said, cutting them short. His body longing to be on Ogorec’s body and his ever filling manhood in him.

Once Belon left, Tohlor fumed with envy as many spoke of his bravery during the march and of his past
battles, and tried to bring doubt in the men’s minds of if he desired men or women.

“
I am told that many young beautiful women were marched,” Tohlor said to a group of men who sat near him, “Ripe like fruit for picking, yet I would wager none were eaten from by Belon.”

“
There have been rumors of Belon’s desires,” one man among them said, “But it is rumor.”

“
What if it was not?”

“
As we marched them,” one of the gruel men quickly added, “The king’s own words were not to touch any who did not want to be touched.”

“
Want or not,” Tohlor said hatefully, “Belon would not have a touched one.”

“
Because he obeyed the king,” another guild said, and with that, without coming out and saying what he saw, again Tohlor was silenced.

Angry
, Tohlor got up and walked away, but Ogorec heard what he said and followed him.

“
What is this about Belon?” Ogorec asked, as he stood beside him in the hallway, “That you question his desires. We all have seen him with women.”

“
Yet, I have seen more,” he replied snidely.

“
Then speak it,” Ogorec said, “I am first in command to his Lord’s Brother, and could speak to him about his wicked ways.”

“
While away, as we fled from the lowland and waited for the king to join us,” Tohlor, slightly whispering, offered freely, “Deep into the night Belon lay upon a man.”

“
Who?”

“
It was dark and the other I could not see.”

“
Then speak who saw such a sight.”

“
With my own eyes. I saw him.”

Ogorec feigned his dismay; then put his hand on Belon
’s shoulder. “Do not speak of this again,” he warned, “Let me speak with my lord. I would reason such a rumor could distress him since Belon is first in his command. Perhaps, he can quietly remove him and let another take his place without shame.”

Again, the thought of taking Belon
’s place thrilling him, Tohlor agreed not to speak of it again for a time, but at that moment, Tohlor had sealed his fate.

**

Later that n
ight Liha, who had not seen Bayl since he left her at the front gate, refused to sleep until she had, and diligently stayed awake listening for him by the door, then once she heard heavy steps, opened it and looked out.

“
The hour is late,” Bayl said when he heard the door open, “Asleep you should be.”

“
I could not sleep,” Liha whispered, “Until I had seen you. You have not left my head for a second, and I longed to look upon your face before I closed my eyes.”

“
I reasoned your time would be filled enjoying the chamber,” Bayl said, “And I did not want to bother you.”

“
It has all in it that a young woman would want and more,” Liha said; then raised her eyebrow, “So much so, I gather others have dwelled in it often.”

“
I will not deceive you,” Bayl confessed, “I have known the embrace of many.”