WORRLGENHALL (43 page)

Casually leaning against the wall just outside the men’s hall, Loth periodically peeped inside at the men as they drank and ate, waiting for Laad.

Each cup of ale, mead, or wine making them more feisty and horny, he gathered the night would be a wild and robust one.

The hour now late, when still Laad hadn’t shown, he decided to find out why the delay, but no sooner than his back left the wall, he saw Laad coming towards him from the end of the hallway.

“
You are well late,” he slightly chided, “The men are already well plied.”

“
The king’s tongue flowed steady with words this night,” Laad’s reason for the delay.

Laad walked inside first, chee
rfully greeting everyone as he did, followed by Loth, who casually made his way to the back before sitting at one of the end tables, then as he listened to Laad’s banter while waiting for something to drink, he laughed at some of his playful taunts and tales.

Once Laad got his drink, he held his cup high before turning in a circle to the room, which silenced all.

“One great has left us,” Laad said loudly, as he did, “And this night may one be sired to take his place.”

The men repeated his words in shouts;
then bottomed their cups, just as Laad did in kind before he bid them goodnight, but when he turned to leave, Ladic, who was Borek’s cousin whispered, or at least thought he had, a remark to another guild.

“
If he had his way,” he snidely said, “I would wager he wished the bellar was a man, if so maybe he would have tarried longer.”

“
Mind your tongue,” the guild spoke out at once.

“
You saw him leave us with haste,” he hatefully added. “And where are Belon and Ogorec our high commanders? I will tell you where they are; they are at secret places to rut each other this night with Laad hurrying away to be on top of them both.”

Wisely, the guild rose.

“You should guard your tongue,” he told him, and walked away leaving Ladic cursing him as well, but Loth, who was near him heard every word and boiled with anger.

“
Wake me when it is my turn,” Ladic slurred, burped, and bottomed up his drink to make sure it was empty before his head went onto the table and him into an instant snore.

Although, Loth despised the ritual
, he patiently endured and kept his eyes fixed on the Ladic while he slept and sloppily had his turn with the bellar; then when many began to leave for their chambers, Loth left too, but waited outside for him.

While he waited, when he noticed a stick on t
he ground an idea came to him, which put it into action by loosening the walkway stones with it, then when Ladic walked by, he tripped him.

Stumbling to his knees, his shoulder crashed into the wall, and after several murmured curses, he used the wall to
brace himself to rise, until Loth got over him and put his knee into the small of his back preventing him from doing so.

“
What cause is there?” Ladic questioned and groaned surprised, as his head jerked backwards from a hand full of his hair in Loth’s grip, “For you to put your knee in my back and take hold of me in such a way.”

“
Only one,” Loth gritted. “…to end your life.”

“
And the reason for it?” again he groaned and unsuccessfully tried to use the strength in his legs to rise only to have Loth force him back to his knees, “I have done nothing wrong.”

“
You spoke coarse words in the men’s hall against one in high command,” Loth reminded him while his lips tightened and his jaws locked. The words spewed off his tongue through clamped teeth before pressing his knee harder into his back, “Do they come to mind?”

“
They came from drink.” Again, he groaned.

“
Do they come to mind?” Loth asked, as his knee pushed and his hand pulled simultaneously.

“
They come to mind! They come to mind!” Ladic grunted.

“
Good,” he said, before ramming his head into the jagged corner of the stoned wall hard; “Know what brought about your fate.”

Loth released his grip from Ladic
’s hair, and as he body fell sideways, he looked at him in disgust before making sure no breath no matter how foul came from a mouth, then when he was sure he was dead, he took the stick and tossed it over the wall.

That morning, as a servant walked down the walkway, she saw a man lying blocking it. The morning dew dusting his body, at first believing he probab
ly slept there to drunk to make to his chamber, she shook him to wake him, but when she got no response turned him and noticed his crushed skull.

Her blood curdling screams causing several to run to her. When they noticed Ladic still fully dressed
, they checked his pouch believing someone murdered and robbed him.

After finding the coins still within his pouch, they ruled it out; then when they saw the loose stones, gathered he tripped and crushed his skull against the wall.

Later that morning, when Loth passed that same wall, his eyes briefly fell to the corner. Ladic’s dried blood still splattered on the stones, with strands of hair draping a jagged corner; he gritted his teeth contemptuously, and walked on.

Making his way to the outer courtyard high wal
l where he knew Laad would be, when Laad saw him coming, met him halfway.

“
Have you heard word?” Laad’s first words, as they walked back up the stairs.

“…
of what?”

“
Our fellow guild Ladic stumbled drunk during the night and crushed his skull,” Laad answered once they made it to the top, and stood looking out, “…and is dead.”

Loth offered no reply
. Instead, although unintentional, he made scowl and because of it, Laad knew, he knew what actually befell Ladic.

“
How many times have we walked these walls together?” Laad asked, as he turned and looked at him.

“
Many.”

“
And from such I now know you well,” Laad told him, “What are you holding from me?”

“
It is Ladic,” Loth answered, as looked at him; then looked out again, “Such is his foul tongue.”

“
What of his tongue?”

“
That I wish,” he spoke with an unintentional scowl that he forced away, “I could have cut it out of his mouth first and brought it to you.”

“
Loth.” Laad’s expression went from curiosity to dread of what Loth was about to reveal, “No riddles be to the point.”

Loth hesitated
and then blurted, “Ladic did not stumble. He died by my hand.”

Laad stilled, as he looked directly into Loth
’s eyes who returned his gaze. “You know the punishment for killing a fellow guild. Dare you again force my hand?”

“
Dare he or anyone speak of you in such a way? Loth’s raised voice averred his mindset, “And reason he will live long after his words.”

“
Words are word.” Now Laad’s voice slightly rose, “Do you believe I am so weak that a man’s words will bring me to heel? I am stronger willed than that.”

Laad held his tongue, waiting for Laad next words of either condemnation or approval.

“What were his words that you killed him for them?” He got a question instead.

“
That you favor men over women,” Loth answered, “And rushed away last night to be with one, either Belon or Ogorec, or both.”

Laad frowned, as the notion of it came to mind; then gathered it must be because of Ogorec.

“I am not the judge of man,” he said to Loth, “What is within him is within him. Ogorec is brave and strong, and men will follow him into battle headstrong to their death. I will not send one able to lead in such a way from WorrlgenHall.”

“
Then so be it.” Loth resolved, “I cannot bring Ladic back to life, and I know a punishment of death is before me when this is made known.”

Saying nothing else, Loth stepped backwards towards the edge of the stoned wall, and as he turned his head, looked at the sharp rocks below him.

“Loth!” Laad said alarmed, as he watched him stepped backwards even more, “If you step once more, you will fall to your death!”

Still silent, Loth moved his foot, and when his body tilted backwards over the wall Laad reached out and grabbed him quickly.

“Curses!” he shouted, pulling him safely away from the wall’s edge, as he did.

Loth ex
pressed a broad smile, as he looked at Laad, his assured friend.

“
Never did I fear.” He trusted, as put his hand on his shoulder, “You would have let me fall.”

In disbelief of Loth
’s foolish behavior at times, Laad shook his head knowing he was well beyond changing, and impressed with his loyalty, as well as resolve, knew he couldn’t and wouldn’t betray their friendship behind one as loathsome as Ladic.

“
Kill another not by my command,” he did, however, warn him, “And I will throw off it.”

Loth nodded kn
owing Laad meant his warning; then just as he took his hand off Laad’s shoulder, turned when he noticed four of the king’s guard walking towards them quickly.

“
I fear.” Loth looked at Laad concerned, then back at the guards, “Someone saw my deed and they come for me.”

Without even a thought of consequences, Laad protectively stepped forward and stood in front of Loth, as the guards got closer.

Unsure exactly what he’d say or do, he knew it would be something should they try to seize him, and both giving inquisitive stares at the guards, waited for one of them to speak first.

“
Lord Helm,” one said, once all four had come to a complete stop, before immediately, one held out his palm, while another guard put a sash across it.

As Laad looked the other guard, he
put two bands upon it; then held it up for Laad to take.

“
Your bands,” he said, as he waited.

Slowly, Laad took them, and his face turned flush with pride. The bands made of bronze compared to the guilds, who wore leather black ones, they were the same th
at Baric and Bayl wore, and as he looked at them, he noticed the Worrlgen crest, the image of a hawk, etched into them, making pride and sadness rush through him.

“
Loth,” Laad said, after the guards walked away, but stared at the bands lost in thought.

K
nowing he was at a loss for words, Loth waited patiently a bit longer before he again responded.

“
Yes, Laad,” Loth soothingly said, concerned why Laad had turned so somber.

“
This night, be ready to ride out with me,” he said, as he turned to him. The serious look on his face still causing Loth concern. “Speak of it to no one. Not even your wife, but trust we will be gone all night.”

Loth nodded without hesitation, but questioned Laad.
“Should I ask the reason for our ride?”

“
To see a well aged Erlbanic healer who is far away.”

“
For the reason?” his leading words for an answer, knowing there was more.

“
I ask for your trust.” Laad only offered.

“
Loyal I am to you,” he avowed, “Such that I give my life for you above the king and his sons, and would take a life by your word before theirs.”

As he put his hand out, Laad took it and held it hard.

“Ready yourself,” he said, “And we shall meet just outside the gate before the sun sets to ride out.”

**

As they both rode in, about to part at the gate, Ogorec pulled his horse next to Ovfren’s horse.

“
I will be away from you,” he told him regrettably. Waiting as long as he could before he had to, “Just after the harvests, Lord Baric or Lord Bayl ride to give grain for the winter to the far northern villages. This season Lord Baric is to go.”

“
How long?”

“
No less than four nights,” Ogorec answered, as he looked up at the outer gate opening.

“
Such woe.” Ovfren heaved a sigh, “I shall long for you.”

Ogorec smiled to try to ease his woe.
“As I.”

Spurring his horse on, Ogo
rec turned to guide his horse along the gate, but as he did, when it passed Ovfren’s, he reached out and slightly glided one finger caressingly over his.

“
Some may see,” he warned when he touched him.

“
Let them see,” Ogorec said, avidly, “I vowed I would not hide my love of you.”

Pleased, Ovfren smiled back, and glided his finger over Ogorec
’s as well.

“
Will I see you this night before you ride out?” he asked, hopefully.