WORRLGENHALL (46 page)

Once he was undressed,
Ogorec climbed back into bed; then moved closer to Ovfren to hold him, but he pulled away.

“
Ovfren,” Ogorec said sternly, “You pull away like a brooding child, speak what is within you.”

At once, Ovfren turned, but when he looked at Ogorec, his eyes widen
ed surprised when he saw the bruise on his face.

“
Ogorec,” he asked, as he sat up, “What befell you?”

“
I was struck,” he answered truthfully, “By the brother of the one you had words with, and whose head you banged.”

“
I was going to speak of it,” he said, regretting waiting “After you had settled in.”

“
He has been dealt with,” he assured him, “And do not fret over it.”

“
Dealt with?”

“
As I walked to get something to eat, Osgorad and his two friends blocked my way,” Ogorec revealed, “Belon dealt with one and me the other two.”

Again, Ovfren
’s eyes widened, and he looked surprised, but not from his tale of Osgorad, instead, that he was with Belon who helped him.

“
How did it come to be that he was with you?” he asked, as he rose jealously, “Late into the night.”

“
Ovfren,” Ogorec was quick to chide, and try to calm, “No.”

“
No.” He huffed, “Did you not speak you were with him?”

Firmly, but gently, Ogorec grabbed Ovfren and looked at him.

“Belon is first in command, and a guard to Lord Bayl. Our paths will cross such that I must be near him,” he said sternly.

“
How can I stand against Belon?” Ovfren questioned anguished, “When even with no will of his own, his bravery is put to the test and he rises to challenge it each time with ease.”

“
Ovfren no,” Ogorec again chided, “You will not lay here with me and reason within that you are less, and feel woeful for yourself.”

As emotion ran through him, Ovfren was beside himself, that again, Belon was the reason for dissention with them.

“Such quarrel is between,” Ovfren voiced worried.

“
Quarrel yes,” Ogorec agreed, not wanting there to be, “And no reason for it.”

Deeply, Ovfren inhaled and looked at Ogorec, then resolved to rid himself of his jealously.

“Then I ask for a truth,” he said, as he looked into Ogorec’s eyes, “And never will I worry of you near him or fear him pulling you from me.”

“
Speak it,” Ogorec said curious, but concerned what the question could be.

Slightly hesitant, Ovfren got out of bed; then walked to the window. The night air now cool, he wrapped
his arms around himself to take way the chill of the night as he shivered, and to be able to look away should Ogorec’s answer wound him.

“
When you see him,” he asked somberly, “Does the passion you shared with him come to mind over your passion with me?”

Ogorec inhaled; then got out of bed and took the fur they laid under, and wrapped it around his arms, as he walked to Ovfren.

“Look at me,” he softly commanded, as he turned him, then put the fur around them and pulled him close.

Slowly, Ovfren looked u
p.

“
All that comes to mind when I look at him,” he answered truthfully, as slightly taller than him, he parted his feet to be even with him before he tenderly kissed his neck, “Is that he is not you.”

Ovfren closed his eyes to receive his tender kiss, and
sighed relieved; then looked at Ogorec lovingly.

“
I fear I will lessen its power to always speak of my love,” his soft words, as he looked at him, “Yet, the words soar from my heart through my mouth eagerly to you.”

“
Umm,” Ogorec said, and pulled him even closer while they stood, “Speak those words? “

“
You know them.”

“
Speak the words,” Ogorec softly urged.

As he was about to speak, Ogorec took Ovfren
’s hand and put his palm on his chest.

“
Speak them,” Again, Ogorec tenderly spoke, “And feel this.”

“
I will,” Ovfren said; then moved close to whisper it to him in his ear, “I love you.”

Ovfren
’s palm flat to Ogorec’s chest; he felt his heart flutter when he spoke his words of love to him.

“
Never,” Ogorec avowed, “Have words of love come from you, and my heart not beat faster from it.”

Overcome, Ogorec again weakened Ovfren.

“I know your rest has been nearly none,” he said, as he backed to the window, “But I want to feel you.”

“
I care not to rest,” Ogorec said, as he followed with the fur still wrapped around them.

“
My fierce love,” Ovfren whispered, as he reached behind him; then put his hand into Ogorec’s thick hair, “Thrust into what is yours, as I tell you of my love.”

“
The wooden floor is to cold under our feet,” he said, as his body surged with want, “Let us get back in the bed.”

“
Show me your strength, and take me to it.”

As both faced the other Ogorec kept his arms wrapped around them both to keep warm; then lifted him.

“Hold onto me,” he groaned, as he lifted him forgetting when he picked him up and threw him in the river how heavy he was, yet such was his passion for him, he did it easily as Ovfren held him tightly by putting one arm under his arm, and the other held his rear.

“
Your body molds to me,” he moaned pleased, as he felt Ovfren press close to him while he carried him to bed, and his arms around him, he used one hand to hold the furs, and the other to lift Ovfren; then once he got him to bed, parted his legs to get between them.

“
Ah,” Ovfren’s response when he felt the heat and weight of Ogorec’s body pressing down on him and between his legs knowing what was next.

“
Let me hear them,” Ogorec leaned, and whispered in his ear, but he didn’t put himself inside him. Instead, he shifted his weight on his arms as he lay over him, and with deep love looked into his face.

“
So joyful is my life,” Ogorec whispered, beside himself, as he looked down at him, “To love so dearly and be loved as much.”

Just as he whispered in his ear, Ovfren moved his hands from Ogorec
’s body, and put both hands on his head before he gently bit his earlobe and softly whispered in his ear.

“
Aaaaah Ogorec my love. Ah I love you and shall not be without you.” Ovfren sighed, “Until I am dust.”

**

Not long after their return, and back to walking along the walls of WorrlgenHall together before they began their day, Loth looked out; then back to Laad troubled.

“
There is much grumbling among the high guilds,” Loth blurted to get it out of his mouth, “I have known since our return, but kept it within until now.

“
I have heard nothing,” Laad mentioned.

“
You would not,” his response, “But for me, I am among them more to hear their words.”

“
What such grumbling?”

Loth looked hesitantly at Laad, knowing it was his decision that Ogorec and Ovfren no longer be clandestine with their love
for the other.

“
It is Ogorec,” he said, “The high guilds are bitter of his command of them, and the reason is his open love for the guild Ovfren.”

“
And,” Laad listened intently knowing there was more.

“
They see it as an insult,” he added, “And mock he loves a boy.”

“
Boy…Loth, have you seen how tall, fit, and strong he is?” Laad questioned peeved, “He is well beyond a boy, and only young.”

Loth sighed; the men spoke what they spoke, and how they felt was beyond his control.

“I can see in your face, there is more within you as well,” he said, as he looked at him, “Speak it Loth.”

“
Ogorec and Belon fought with Osgorad, and two of his friends not long ago. All behind Ovfren who fought with his Brother Egar, and to add to this, Belon hurt the shoulder of the one with Egar. And, dare I bring to mind two in high command fighting openly in a courtyard who you had lashed openly?”

“
Do you reason Ogorec is the only guild within these walls that embraces in such a way?” Laad questioned annoyed.

“
No, I reason he is not,” Loth answered at once, “But he is seen by many for the reason he is a commander and by that, they see Ovfren who shadows him.”

“
Would you not want to be near someone you love?” Laad asked, now frustrated.

Loth didn
’t answer. He knew anger was building within Laad, and looked backed out over the plains until Laad calmed.

Still frustrated, Laad inhaled deeply, and looked out also before speaking again.

“
He willingly spoke he would release his command or leave WorrlgenHall for him,” Laad revealed, “My words to him were to stay. I will not swallow my words and ask him to release his command.”

Both again silenced, and looked out, but soon afterwards, Laad suddenly came up with an idea.

“Have Aron gather only the guilds from low to high,” he ordered, “Make them walk all the way the northern glen.”

As ordered, Aron called them all out; then when all had gathered and curiously asked why, wouldn
’t tell them.

“
All will walk to the northern glen,” Aron, after keeping them in suspense for a while, finally shouted.

His order bringing about loud grumbling, Aron ignored them.

“Walk!” he shouted.

Laad silently watched them, but when he didn
’t see Ogorec or Belon among them, called Aron over to him.

“
Ogorec and Belon as well,” he ordered.

Right away, Aron went to Og
orec’s chamber and woke him.

“
Laad has commanded you, as well as all the others, walk to the northern glen.”

At first refusing, Ogorec rethought his hasty decision. He knew Laad had a good mind for reason; and knew all this had to be for a purpose. But, s
till he grumbled just like the others, dressed and lined them, as well as Belon, when Aron went to him.

Right away, all walked to the northern glen, which took most of the morning; then once there, they waited still wondering why.

“In rows of twenty,” Aron commanded, and the men obeyed.

After they lined, when they saw Laad ride to them with Loth behind him, Belon questioned him.

“We are all here as commanded,” he finally asked what they all thought, “And for what reason?”

Saying nothing at first, Laad ro
de in front of the first row of twenty.

“
It was made known to me this day!” Laad rode and shouted so all could hear him, “That guilds both high and low who fight and die for the other in lands near and far, within the walls of WorrlgenHall are not as one!”

The men looked at each other, but none spoke.

“We bleed and die side by side! We march, eat, and hunger side by side! We kill those bound to kill us side by side; yet, side by side we cannot look past another’s will in matters of his life!” Laad shouted, as he rode to the other side! “Dare we care what a man does when not on the field of battle as long as it doesn’t bring harm to his fellow guild when in the face of his enemy?”

Still all were silent.

“We are one!” Laad roared, “And will behave as one, and if not your will; then leave WorrlgenHall at once if your time of service is done. If not; then have your right hand cut off and you are no longer bound to Worrlgen!”

At once, the men murmured to themselves and those beside them, but none spoke against
Laad.

“
Until we are as one in all things!” more of Laad’s roar, “All will dig this land his height wide and deep across the northern glen until it is done, and at sunrise we shall do the same on the southern glen!”

After he spoke, twenty wagons rode up wi
th shovels, picks, and forks in them.

“
Begin!” he shouted; then jumped from his horse.

When Loth watched Laad jump from his horse and get a pick, he shook his head knowing he was to dig too, and jumped down.

“I know my back will hurt this night,” he teased Laad, and picked up a shovel.

“
As all ours will,” he said, as he looked at the men, “But, all will hurt as one.”

All through the morning, the men dug nonstop, including Ogorec and Belon, then when Nona and Loth
’s wife brought food for all of them in a wagon, as all sat down to eat here and there, Ovfren got his food; then walked to find Ogorec to eat beside him.