WORRLGENHALL (15 page)

“
What do you mean?”

“
I have had my fill of battle woes,” he lied, “And have set in my mind to leave WorrlgenHall soon, but not until I find someone to take my place. Once I do, I will put in a strong word for him to Lord Bayl.”

“
I am that one,” Tohlor spoke up quickly.

“
Prove yourself to me and I will put in a strong word for you,” he said and walked away.

Tohlor breathed a sigh of relief, as he watched Belon walked away.

“I have erred great,” he said to himself, as a dread came over him that Ogorec would soon speak to Bayl about Belon.

Waiting until late, he went to Ogo
rec’s chamber and pleaded with him not to speak to Bayl until after a time.

“
Why wait?”

“
Belon does not wish to be in command much longer,” he answered, omitting how he found that out, “I can take his place easily without the toil of making known what I saw.”

“
I will wait by your word,” he feigned reluctance, “But before you speak of it to anyone; speak to me first.”

“
I will.”

As Tohlor left, Belon walked out of the shadows in Ogorec
’s chamber and let out contemptuous growl. “It will hold him for a time.”

“
And afterward?” he questioned.

“
I will deal with him -”

S
lowly, as the season changed Baric began to regain his strength, yet not a day passed that he did not think of the woman that helped him.

At first believing all where dead in the villages of the lowland tribes from what Orhan had told him, when he found out otherwise from his father, his hopes rose that she could be among those marched.

His dreams of her deep, often of them together in each other’s embrace by a close fire, they felt so real, he woke from his sleep breathing heavily.

Now months since he began to heal, one day while Bayl talked with him, he finally remembered his earring.

“I have had for a time something of yours,” he said when he did.

“
What?”

Bayl opened his hand and gave Baric back his earring, and as he took it, his eyes doubled in size.

“Where is she?” He beamed.

“
Who?”

“
The, the woman. The woman who gave you my earring.”

“
She is my wife’s grandmother,” Bayl said, “Her name is Tela and she lives among those beyond the courtyard.”

“
Bring her to me,” Baric said eagerly, as he raised himself in his bed, “I must see her.”

After giving him a curious look, Bayl walked to the door; then called for a servant to bring Liha
’s grandmother to the chamber.

“
Why do you seek words with her?” he asked curiously, as he sat back beside his brother.

“
As I lay wounded,” Baric recalled what he could, “She had an old woman tend to me, before she cleaned and dressed my wound.”

“
When I came for you,” Bayl said, as he too recalled, “You were in the arms of a woman.”

“
Arms of a woman,” he repeated surprised, “Tell me more.”

“
You were naked,” Bayl mentioned, slightly amused.

“
I remember someone taking all I had, yet I would not release my crest.” Baric said; then urged, “More.”

“
There is not much more brother,” Bayl said, “She was laying close to you when I came for you, and as we left, gave you a fur so you would be warm.”

“
Is she among those marched?”

“
I do not remember her face among them.”

As they spoke, Tela walked into the room.

“My lord,” she said humbly.

“
The woman who helped me,” Baric said, his voice filled with hope, “Where is she?”

“
Banished by the assembly of men, my lord,” Tela answered. “Just days after your brother took you.”

“
To where?”

“
To wander the land.”

Shocked, Baric deflated.

“Such a fate,” he said distressed, “If still alive, where could she be?”

“
Only God knows, my lord.” Tela gathered, “Maybe the people of the mountain of ashes or those who wander showed her mercy.”

“
What is her name?”

“
Ecia.”

“
Ecia,” Baric repeated, as its sound rolled off his tongue pleasantly.

“
Yes, my lord.”

“
Thank you,” Baric said, “For all you have done.”

When Tela left, Bayl looked curiously at him again, noticing how deep in thought he
quickly became.

“
Brother,” he said concerned, “What bothers you?”

“
This, this Ecia,” Baric murmured, “She haunts my dreams.”

**

Tohlor contented himself with thoughts of replacing Belon, each day secretly listening in the court hall for any word or hint that Belon had stepped down from first in command, but as time passed, when Belon still had not, he tired of waiting.

Late one night, as Tohlor talked in the men
’s hall, as he drank, again he talked hatefully of Belon to those who sat by him, but this time as he talked and swore to go to the king to embarrass him, Ovfren, a young low guild under Baric was there, and heard some of his words.

Although, Ovfren said nothing good or bad as he listened that night, while walking in the cour
tyard one morning, by chance, he saw Ogorec in the courtyard too and asked him to practice with him.

As they spared back and forth, he told him some of Tohlor
’s words.

“
I would reason,” Ogorec’s response feigning indifference, “He speaks from jealousy against one who rose with ease and became what he felt should be his.”

“
His words become bolder as he drinks,” Ovfren warned, “Even a fool will be heard if speaks of something enough.”

Ogorec looked at Ovfren puzzled why he decided to entrust him with what h
e revealed.

“
Why do you speak this to me and not Belon?” he questioned, “It is he Tohlor speaks of with such scorn.”

Ovfren paused, before he answered him.

“During a battle as I fought, I lost my footing and stumbled. As I tried to get back on my feet a man came out of nowhere about to slay me, but you rode by and killed him as gracefully as slicing through flowing water. ” Ovfren’s account, “You saved my life.”  

“
If so, it was while we were in a battle, “Ogorec said still puzzled, “I had not set you apart from anyone and fought to save myself and those who fought alongside me.”

Ovfren only continued his account, offering no comment on Ogorec
’s words.

“
In time, I moved higher in place and when I did, I set myself to watch you hoping to learn from you, but from it I saw truth in Tohlor’s words.”

“
Saw?”

“
It is of no dishonor to me,” Ovfren said truthfully, noticing Ogorec’s expression turn to alarm, “I spoke nothing.”

“
Why?” Ogorec asked warily.

“
I have my reasons, but of all of them, is that you saved my life.”

Bewildered, Ogorec stopped and looked at Ovfren intently to see if he would look aw
ay or shift his eyes, but Ovfren looked back at him and held his gaze, so he believed his words.

“
When does Tohlor speak of this?” Ogorec asked, while putting his sword away.

“
Each night,” Ovfren answered, “While he drinks.”

“
Who has given an ear to his words?”

“
Some of the inner guards and a few gruels, I believe have.”

“
What state does Tohlor drink himself too?”

“
From what I have seen, he does to a state that he staggers about.”

Ogorec gave a thank
ful nod and walked away, but as Ovfren walked the other direction, Ogorec turned slightly to glance at him, then kept walking.

That night, Ogorec waited late out in the courtyard and watched for Tohlor, who just as Ovfren reported, staggered about, and aft
er waiting patiently until he staggered by him, he began walking alongside him.

“
Does it come to mind that I asked you not to speak of Belon again without coming to me first?” Ogorec casually asked, as he walked.

“
Belon has no plan of stepping down,” Tohlor said, “He deceived me and this morning I am going to the king. I tire of waiting.”

“
Then I have been deceived too,” Ogorec said. “I believed your words and said nothing when this could have been settled long ago.”

“
Then let it be spoken in the court before the king,” Tohlor said, “In the morning go with me.”

“
Come let us speak of what we will say to the king,” Ogorec played along patting Tohlor’s shoulder in a friendly manner, “Away from others.”

Both walked, as they talked; then once they got to th
e garden, Ogorec questioned Tohlor once again about what he would saw.

“
Speak again what you saw with Belon,” he asked, as they now climbed the tower to look out at the river.

“
Belon naked upon a man -”

“
I wonder,” Ogorec casually asked, as he looked down at the massive boulders lining the river’s edge, “Should I step down, would you rather take my place or is what you are doing out of hate for Belon?”

“
Why do you ask?”

“
I will step down in place of Belon.”

Angered the realization didn
’t come to him right away, when it did, Tohlor’s head raised to Ogorec, knowing the man Belon was with was Ogorec.

“
Such blind eyes I have.” He sneered, “To not have them see you are Belon’s lover.”

“
Speak it to me.”

“
It is late,” he blurted, slowly backing away, but as he did, he placed his hand on his sword.

“
As you hold your sword’s hilt,” Ogorec said, one hand seizing him by the throat so tightly he barely could breathe let alone cry out for help, before he used his other hand to prevent him from unsheathing his sword, “I have my answer.”

 
Now able to scream, Tohlor did so and loudly, as his body sailed off the wall, then not bothering to look to see where he landed, hastily Ogorec leaped off the walkway, and rushed down the stairs before disappearing into the darkness.

Wait
ing until very late to go to Belon, when he did, he revealed Tohlor’s fate.

“
The deed is done.”

“
What?”

“
Like a bird Tohlor took flight off the wall, but with no wings he did not land as graceful.”

“
A sight that must have been,” Belon slightly chuckled from how Ogorec worded it, “What made you to deal with him hastily?”

“
Ovfren…” Ogorec answered, “He knows of us and spoke of Tohlor’s words.”

“
Who? Belon questioned, his name never mentioned before.

“
A young guild,” Ogorec answered, “He warned me.”

“
Will he hold his tongue?”

“
He will,” Ogorec assured him.

Belon moved close to him and although Ogorec longed to feel him, controlled himself.

“This is not a good night,” he said, but gave him a bonding kiss, “But I will come to you soon.”

Tohlor
’s mangled dead body discovered quickly, news of it reached most even before sunrise.

“
Have you heard word?” Ovfren asked when he happened to see to Ogorec later that morning.

“
Heard what?”

“
Tohlor is dead. His body found on the rocks,” Ovfren answered, “All reason he walked on it while drunk and fell to his death.”

“
No,” Ogorec feigned shock, shaking his head in woeful disbelief, “Such a horrible fate it is to fall to one’s death.”

“
Horrible indeed,” Ovfren repeated, as he gave Ogorec a skeptical half nod; then walked away.

**

As loud screams came from his chamber, now late into the night, for hours Laad paced back and forth in the hallway. His mind so filled with thoughts of worry, if asked he could not tell anyone his own name.

“
You must calm yourself,” Wurden said, as he too paced with his friend “We all must endure this; even I three times now.”

“
I am in such misery,” Laad said, as he stopped and let his back fall against the wall, before he slid to the floor.

Anguished, Laad put hi
s arms on his knees and his head in his hands; then loudly sighed when Wurden sat beside him.

“
I swear it,” Laad vowed, “If this torture is what I must bear, I will never touch her in that way again.”

“
You.” Wurden laughed, “Your torture is nothing to what I hear from her screams inside your chamber.”

“
Then so be it,” Laad said quickly, “For her sake too.”

“
You vow this, but she is beautiful one,” Wurden patted his shoulder, “And I know you well my friend, your want for her is strong. You will touch her.”

“
Such torture!”

“
When your son or daughter is in your hands,” Wurden assured him, “Such joy and pride you will feel that at once you will not remember this torment.”

Again, Laad sighed and thought of Nona
. Married just beyond five seasons, he could not remember any woman he lay with before her, nor did he care to.

As he waited tormented, Laad tried
to force himself to think of other things only to have Nona come to mind. He thought of when she asked him to wed her. He had been home only days and before then had never as much as set eyes on her.