WORRLGENHALL (31 page)

“
And what?”

“
Any born to a slave belongs to Gemon. It is their custom.”

Baric
’s face became as stone, as he thought of the son of a lord and future king owned by another and a nomad. “Your words have angered me.”

“
Forgive me,” Ecia said, before she burst into tears, “I had no one. They let me journey and live among them, and in return I was bound to serve for five full seasons.”

Right away, Baric went to
her, then wiped her tears and kissed her lips tenderly. “You are bound to no one, but me.”

Ecia sniffled comforted by his words.

“Dress at once and get our son, then come back to this tent,” he softly ordered, as the thought of how to deal with Gemon ran through his mind, “I will not be here for a time, I have a task to do.”

**

Once they reached the lowlands, the sky blanketed clear black and filled with stars, as Laad and the men waited for Baric and the others to join them; he stood on a rock and stared at the sky longing to be with his family.

His beloved wife Nona farther along with child, he reasoned if he journeyed swiftly, he could be home in time for the birth and became annoyed slightly that he had to wait for Baric.

“Do you reason our lord found her among the nomad tribe?” Loth questioned when he joined Laad to speak with him about who would watch and who would scout, as they waited, “To find her this soon would indeed be a feat.”

“
Such is true,” Laad said doubtfully; then began to wonder if he would have to wait for Baric as he ventured into every clan they came across.

As Loth looked to Laad, he noticed the beads in his hand.

“...from your wife?”

“
Yes,” he answered, as he held them tighter, “They are with me always.”

“
You bring something so precious with you across the land,” he commented surprised, “That you could lose in battle or as you pack to go from place to place.”

“
True,” Laad agreed, “But to not have them with me would grieve me more. I carry them on my waist in a pouch.”

Loth laug
hed. “I have seen your young wife,” he mentioned playfully, “Beautiful such that many wonder how you won her heart.”

“
I wonder as well,” he replied amused, and smiled.

Laad jumped from the rock and Loth quickly took his place, and looked out.

“This land is far and wide,” Loth mentioned, while he looked out, “It is a shame such is our nature that we cannot share it.”

“
As long as greed is in man,” Laad said, as he pondered over Loth’s words, “He shall covert what another has.”

“
True,” Loth agreed, then turned and looked at Laad guardedly before he spoke again, “And of you Laad, what do you covet?”

“
Covet,” he replied, “Nothing I want that another has, comes to my mind.”

“
All men want for something more, so must you,” he urged eager to hear his words, “You are only flesh and blood.” Laad only thought for a moment.

“
I covert the life of a man able to be with his wife and children and not away, yet still have them want for nothing or live in fear of invading forces.”

Loth jumped from the rock; then walked in
front of Laad.

“
You have many that have watched you for some time and would follow only you should you covet more.”

“
What would I covet?”

Loth looked at Laad
’s face. His expression showing nothing more than curiosity, he knew he wasn’t hungry for more and least not now. “The time is late and I babble when I tire.”

“
Loth,” Laad urged, “Speak what you mean.”

“
Heed not my babbling,” he only said again, “The time is late.”

“
Very well,” Laad said; then went to his horse, “Have Zur chose two to scout and Bohan and Hor for watch. One to the east and one to the west, and have them ride instead of sitting.”

“
Yes, Lord Master,” Loth said, which surprised Laad, because ever since he had come into command was usually called only by his name, as Orem and Irek were.

“
Lord Master?”

“
You are under Irek, who is under the king,” he said, “And command. I reason it is time we give you the honor of place. ”

Laad humbly half smiled.
“It is of no matter to me of a name from the men, just obedience. Call me by my given name.”

“
As you wish, but you should know,” he revealed, yet again careful of his words, “I know well that you have many willing to follow you to their death.”

“
Bold words from one mouth…” Laad commented curiously.

“
But from one who knows the heart of many.”

**

As the sun just began to peak over the horizon, Ogorec’s arms around Ovfren as they lay, when Ovfren moved Ogorec awoke, then as he looked to the sky, he groaned.

“
We must rise and go back,” he said regretfully.

“
Such dreadful words,” Ovfren said, as he stretched.

Still naked, Ogorec stood as Ovfren turned onto his back and put his hands behind his head, then looked up at him.

“Rise and dress,” Ogorec ordered, as he walked to the river and splashed water onto his face and head.

“
I have no strength within me,” Ovfren said. His hands still behind his head, as he lay naked, “I reason you have little within you too.”

“
Ovfren,” Ogorec said, as he walked back in front of him and stood over him, “Rise.”

“
If that is your wish,” Ovfren teased, yet getting up was farthest from his mind.

A roguish smile sweeping across his face, Ogorec shook his head.
“What deeds run through that head of yours?”

“
Look at me from head to foot,” Ovfren whispered, “And you will have your answer.”

After looking at his face while he spoke, Og
orec’s eyes traveled his body, then once past his muscled stomach, he again shook his head.

“
Your words just now were that you had no strength within you.”

“
I need no strength for what goes through my head?”  Ovfren moaned.

“
Ovfren.” Ogorec sighed. Dressing himself now his last thought, as he looked down on what actually did rise, “Such a way you have over me.”

“
Can you deny me?”

“
Have I?”

“
No.”

Ovfren
’s alluring eyes looking up and calling to him, Ogorec dropped to his knees in front of him answering.

“
Our journey will be late,” he whispered, as he pressed himself to Ovfren.

“
Does it trouble you that we will be?” Ovfren questioned.

Without answering, Ogorec kissed Ovfren tenderly; then let his kisses travel down his body.

“Umm.” Ovfren managed to mutter. His eyes rolling back in his head, knowing the course Ogorec’s kisses were about to travel, “Such a wicked pleasure.”

“
Call to me,” Ogorec said, as he rested between Ovfren’s thighs.

His lips hot upon him, Ovfren inhaled as his calves tightened and his to
es curled.

“
Ogorec, my ‘
loroog’.”
He moaned, “I am yours.”

“
Only me,” Ogorec whispered, as his mouth savored eagerly what he claimed as his, “Only will I know you in such a way.”

“
I will never betray you and give another what I vowed is yours. I would die first.” 

Such was Ovfren
’s words of devotion; Ogorec pulled his mouth off him disgusted with himself and looked up at him.

“
I betrayed the one I vowed so freely those same words to,” he said, as he now fell onto his back, “I have no true loyalty. I gave myself easily to another and turned from the one I already swore loyalty to.”

Instantly, wounded and angered, Ovfren raised his head and looked over at Ogorec.

“If such regret is within you!” he blurted heartbroken, “Then give your heart to the one you truly love! I cannot vie with Belon for your love, if even with me, right then at such a time that you pleasure me with your mouth and I moan you bring up his name! Stay with the one that has such power over you! I am not strong enough to endure the torment of knowing the one I love has such guilt when he is with me!”

Able to see the hurt and angry on his face, and hear the determined resolve in his words, Ogorec inhaled troubled, as his mind frantically searched for words to soothe him.

“Forgive me,” this time Ogorec said, finding he was now the one receiving end of being chastised, “I was wrong to speak such words to you.”

“
Why ask forgiveness for the truth?” Ovfren said, and got up to dress, “You spoke what was deep within your heart. Do what you must to free yourself of your guilt.”

“
What are you doing?” Ogorec asked, now resting onto his elbow to look at him, “We are not done.”

“
I fear we were before we began,” The words lumped in his throat. “My heart will not release you from my head Ogorec, even if I willed it and now so strong is my love that to be near you and not have you will be to painful. When I return to WorrlgenHall, I will leave at once. I have done my time of oath, I cannot stay.”

Stunned by his words, Ogorec jumped to his feet.

“Dare you do such a deed?” he shouted, “To wound me!”

“
Dare me!” Ovfren shouted back, “Dare you! I am not the one lamenting over a lover!”

“
Then take it!”

Ogorec quickly grabbed his knife and threw it at Ovfren
’s feet.

“
Pick it up and thrust it through me!” he then howled, “Have your words not wounded me enough? Use the knife to finish me!”

“
What of Belon?”

As he looked at the knife on the ground in front of Ovfren
’s feet, Ogorec inhaled three times hard; then walked to him, and stood just a breath away.

“
Ovfren,” Ogorec pleaded and stopped shouting, as he looked at his face, “You cannot leave me.”

“
What of Belon?

“
He has not heard words of love from me,” Ogorec confessed, his voice still pleading, “You have heard such words much.”

Ovfren flared angry, his question u
nanswered. “Even if you do not speak the words, it does not mean they are not within your heart! You did not throw Tohlor from the wall without reason, it was for of him.”

“
Curses Ovfren, dare you make me beholden to you in such a way.” Ogorec said, now raising his voice slightly, “By openly speaking such deeds.”

“
You are not beholden to me,” Ovfren retorted, “You may reason me a young fool, yet I am not enough of one to reason I am what Belon was to you. You spoke of only wanting Belon and no love, yet such was the want you had you killed to protect him.” 

“
I confess yes.”

“
Enough!” Ovfren blared insisting on an answer, “Belon! Will he haunt me such that you go back and forth between us? Just as you so eagerly speak of jealousy, so shall I! I am jealous Ogorec and I will not abide you with anyone other than me” 

“
Ovfren!” Ogorec shouted; trying to halt his words, as they blared out of his mouth quickly, “Let me speak!”

“
Choose a fate Ogorec!” Ovfren only spoke louder, “Belon or me! Choose!”

“
You reason I have not?  You I chose at the Lake of Hebor!” Ogorec shouted back so loudly his voice went briefly hoarse.

Ovfren silenced, yet his face still showed his hurt.

“There I knew…” he paused, as he took a breath and cleared throat, “I give you my humbled words that you are the master of me, my love is that great for you Ovfren. Never have those words come from me to any woman or man, yet with you I long to speak them to you as easily as I breathe and shall!”

His face somber out of fear that his unwisely spoken words of guilt about Belon had pushed Ovfren away from him for good, he waited f
or him to speak first.

“
Swear it as a guild,” Ovfren said, “Swear.”

“
I swear it,” Ogorec’s solemnly swore; then picked up his knife and pierced his chest, “By my very blood.”

“
For so long, I have lived in torment loving you, fearfully agonizing inside that I could never free you from Belon’s grip,” Ovfren said, as he sighed heavily. His voice no longer angry, “I should punish you for as long as I have suffered?”