WORRLGENHALL (51 page)

“
Yield!” he cried out; then as Ovfren got up, he huffed loudly, but nodded to Ovfren, and gave him his hand.

“
Well done,” he congratulated, as he rubbed his head good-humoredly.

At once, Ogorec inhaled relieved he had won, but as he did, Belo
n looked at him and raised his eyebrow cynically.

“
Lay open his throat, will you.” he chided, shook his head, and walked away.

Pleased, Aron went to him and nodded, which was his approval, and after he did, Ovfren looked for Ogorec; but didn
’t see him; then as those who vied and didn’t do well were sent away, as those who did stood, Aron walked in front of them.

“
This day!” shouted Aron, “You become high guilds, and you will swear a blood oath to die for your brother guild, as well as for your kingdom, king, and lords above all.”

Right away, all the high guilds lined the courtyard before circling the new high guilds and clanged their swords, and as Ogorec and Belon joined, when Ovfren saw him, he smiled wide.

“Do you give your blood oath?” again Aron shouted.

“
We give our blood oath!” All the new high guilds shouted back, and cut their hands as their bond.

After their blood mixed with each others sealing their bonds, again all stood.

“High guilds you now are!” Aron said pleased, “Defend this kingdom!”

As
all began to go here and there, Ogorec waited until most had left, then walked to Ovfren, and after he tilted his head to the side to look at his cut brow, smiled proudly.

“
Well done my wounded love,” he spoke very low so no one else could hear his tender words, “Does it hurt?”

“
Yes,” Ovfren admitted when he touched his brow, and flinched.

“
If it was within my power I would bear your pain for you.”

Ovfren breathed hard longing to kiss him openly, but controlled himself.

“When we go to bed, will you soothe my hurt brow with tender kisses from your lips?”

Ogorec smiled.

“My lips shall soothe your brow, as well as soothe other parts of you,” he answered, through a devilish smile, and walked away.

Ogorec
’s naughty words made Ovfren’s face turn red blushing, and him look around hoping no one noticed it.

“
Umm,” his said under his breath, as he now watched Ogorec walk away, and knowing he was always true to his word.

Neither of them waiting for nightfall to end their day, and not even bothering to eat, both rushed
to their chamber, but Ovfren got their first.

Eagerly waiting naked for Ogorec in the center of the chamber, when he opened the door, Ovfren uncrossed his arms and looked at him; then pointed to his ga
shed brow and smiled, and after Ogorec rushed to him and kissed it, he indeed kept true to his word.

A
fter Worrlgen thwarted Celgon’s secret alliance, King Thogor pleaded for a renewed treaty of peace, and he, along with his brothers Cadon and Elgen, journeyed to WorrlgenHall with a larger chest of gold pieces to ensure the same allegiance King Rone had with his father, he kept with him.

This time expecting them, Laad had the lower guilds line the road up to WorrlgenHall and
he had the high guilds line the front walkway doors into WorrlgenHall. To show respect for the new pending agreement of peace, the highest guilds wore their more ceremonial attire.

The upper chambers of WorrlgenHall made ready for the overnight stay, it was truly an event long absent within WorrlgenHall
’s walls, as all made a great fuss for the expected guests.

The horn blown letting all know they were just a glen away, when the King of Celgon arrived, all gave him an honored welcome; then once a new agreement was made with King Rone in the king
’s court, a great feasting began in the king’s hall once the sun set.

During the feasting, Laad had the several guilds line standing while King Rone and his guests ate at the king
’s table with Cadon, King Thogor’s brother on the far end, and as all danced and enjoyed the merriment; the drinking began to loosen tongues to speak freely.

The custom of Celgon and around the land that if offered, one could sell or buy those under them from another or to another, as Cadon sat drinking, when he looked across the hall, his eyes fell again on Ovfren, who he had seen lined with the
high guilds along the walkway when he rode in.

Unsuspectingly, Ovfren stood against the wall in the king
’s hall with some other high guilds, as Cadon watched him salaciously, and his desire for only men and not women, he began to lust for him because he was young and handsome.

Another of Celgon
’s customs, to journey with a speaker who spoke on behalf of the king and lords in matters of battering and other affairs, as Cadon watched he more, lust consuming him the longer he did, he wanted him.

Unable to c
ontrol the desire, Cadon leaned over to their speaker and whispered a salacious offer.

“
Achmm, forgive me.” Atorad, the speaker’s name, cleared his throat to get their attention, “As is our custom, Lord Cadon wants to purchase one of your men.”

Laad
’s head rose; followed by the others.

“
The guilds of WorrlgenHall are free,” King Rone made him aware, “To come and go as they will once their time of oath is served.”

Cadon again whispered to Atorad.

“Should his time not be served,” he said, as he smirked, “We will gladly pay his time of oath, and much more for his release.”

“
Where is this man you seek?” Bayl asked, gathering all at the table were probably just as curious as he was.  

As all the men sat close to each other at the table after their wives left,
they listened attentively curious who he wanted to purchase. 

“
The one that stands against the wall next to the door,” Atorad answered.

Every head turning in unison, when their eyes fell to Ovfren, Baric
’s and Laad’s widened, and their brows lifted surprised, followed by Belon’s; as they instantly looked to Ogorec, who stiffened and indignantly stepped forward as his hand gripped his sword’s hilt.

Knowing the situation could get hostile; Baric stood, and spoke out.

“You have brought insult to this table. Dare you offer wagers for our guilds who willingly fight and lay down their lives for this kingdom?”

“
We meant no insult,” he quickly replied, “We reasoned you shared our older customs as well.”

“
You reasoned wrong!” Ogorec’s hateful blurt through clenched teeth, but when Baric turned and gave him a warning stare, he silenced.

Cadon looked around the table, noticing cold stares and scowling faces from his offensive offer, and couldn
’t tell which he actually offended the most, because they all looked at him like they wanted to slice him open.

“
It is late,” he spoke instead of his speaker, as he stood, “Our journey is long, and I tire so I shall retire for the night.”

Anxious to get away from their hateful stares, he excused himself; then began to walk towards the door out of the king
’s hall, as those in his court followed including his personal guard, but when he passed Ovfren, he slowed his pace to look at him longer.

Unaware of what went on at the king
’s table, Ovfren thought nothing of it as Cadon slowed when he walked pass him, and briefly glanced and bowed his head before he turned it, but when Ogorec saw it, again he seethed.

At once, Ogorec began to move, as if
to walk from the table to confront him, but Baric put his hand on his shoulder.

“
Calm yourself,” he warned him, “They leave in the morning.”

Fuming, Ogorec inhaled and calmed trying to contain his anger by letting the thought of them soon gone soothe him,
and stepped back as Baric sat back down.

As Cadon walked down the hallway to his chamber, his guard Vron who walked alongside him spoke.

“He belongs to the low bearded dark haired one that stood behind the king’s older son.”

“
How do you know?” Cadon asked sarcastically, “Did you not see their angry looks? They all wanted to slit my throat.”

“
But his angered look was like no other.” Vron noticed, “It came from his eyes.”

Cadon stopped, and took ten gold coins out of his pouch, then gave them to Vron.

“Offer these to the young handsome one if he will come be with me in the still of the night,”

Vron took the coins and walked back into the king
’s hall, and waited until the feasting was over; then as all began to retire here and there, he found Ovfren standing alone waiting for Ogorec.

“
Young warrior,” he said pleasantly when he saw him, and stepped into the hallway, “A word.”

Still unaware of what took place at the king
’s table; Ovfren followed him into the hallway.

“
Lord Cadon has found favor with you,” he frankly spoke, as he held the ten gold coins in hands ready to give them to him, “And offer these to you if you go to him this night?”

Insulted, Ovfren tried to withdraw his sword, but Vron was quick to speak, as he pulled his knife and put it to Ovfre
n’s throat.

“
Careful young warrior,” he threatened, “I am hardened and will feel no sorrow if made to put this through you. I will reason your answer is no,” he added, and backed away.  

After Ovfren watched him back away, he walked back into the king
’s hall and said nothing, but when Ogorec looked over at him and noticed his troubled expression, went to him right away.

“
Why is there a bothered look on your face?” he asked concerned.

“
The guard offered ten gold coins to me to go to Lord Cadon in the still of the night.”

So angry Ogorec
’s jaws clamped like vises, he said nothing bad, and instead, put his hand under Ovfren’s chin.

“
Go to our chamber and do not come out. Do not come out,” he ordered sternly, and the way he spoke made Ovfren know to obey his words.

Quickly, Ogorec walked out of the king
’s hall without saying anything to anyone; then knowing different ways to move about quickly down the hallways, he took a short cut to the upper chambers, saw Vron walking, and waited for him to round the corner.

“
You!” he said through clenched teeth, so angry he wanted to kill him, when he stepped in front of him and grabbed him by his leather breastplate.

Right away, Ogorec struck him in the mouth knocking out three of his front teeth.

“Take this answer back to your lord for his offer.”

“
We are guest within these walls,” Vron cried out dazed by Ogorec’s blow, “Dare you offend in such a way and strike me without cause.”

“
Offend you.” Ogorec said, as he searched for the coins until he found them, “Dare you insult him by offering coins as if he was a male harlot!”

“
Get your hands off me!” Vron demanded while spitting his blood, as well as his teeth, out to keep from swallowing both.

“
So be it,” Ogorec said, and shoved his knee into his groin, which made him bend over, before forced his mouth opened, and shoved the coins down his throat one by one.

Once all down his throat, Ogorec struck him again with his fist knocking him unconscious, and left him lying on the hallway floor.

After stepping over his body, Ogorec hurried back to the king’s hall where all except the king and Bayl were still at the table. When they saw his bloody hand, all looked at him concerned.

“
What happened?” Baric spoke first, fearing he had struck Lord Cadon instead of just his guard.

“
That filth offered ten gold coins to Ovfren to come to him this night.” Ogorec angrily answered.

“
What did you do to him?” Laad asked, as he looked alarmed.

None took a breath waiting for the answer.

“I struck him.”

After he revealed what he did, Belon shrugged his shoulders unimpressed.
“Eh, that is not so dreadful.”

“
And knocked out his front teeth,” Ogorec added.

Now impressed, Belon burst into laughter, but when Laad looked at him annoyed, h
e cleared his throat and hushed.

“
Ogorec!” he said angrily, “Why? He was to leave in the morning?”

“
Dare he offer such to your wife?” Ogorec blared, “Would you not do the same? They respected us none when their father died, and now come seeking peace and harmony again, yet his brother stared at your wife all through the night of feasting lustfully with you by her side?”

Laad reasoned his words in his head, and angered at the thought agreed with him.

“Where is he?” Baric was afraid to ask.

“
When I left him,” Ogorec answered, not caring if alive or dead, “He lay on the hallway floor of the upper chambers.”

“
Should we go to him?” Laad questioned.

“
No.” Baric knew and sighed, “Let him lay on the floor until he wakes, they will bring to matter to us soon enough.”

“
Then let us go to rise early,” Laad said, and stood. “I have no question our morning will be an early and lively one.”

**

While he waited, Ovfren paced back and forth in their chamber; then when Ogorec walked through the door, hurried in front of him.

“
Ogorec,” he said beside himself from worry; then when he looked down and saw his bloody hand, went to the table and poured water onto a cloth, “Can you speak of it?” he then asked, as he tended to his hand.

“
I struck the guard who spoke to you,” he revealed, as he began to undress himself with his other hand, “And gave him a message to give to his lord.”

“
He put a knife to my throat,” Ovfren told him, “As I went for my sword from his words.”

“
If that was known to me,” he assured him, “I would have killed him, instead of only striking him.”

“
How did I bring about such woe?” Ovfren asked worriedly, “I spoke no words to any of them.”

Ogorec put his bruised hand tenderly under Ovfren
’s chin. “You did no wrong. His lord lusted for you when he saw you, and only I lust for you.”

Ovfren smiled.

“Come, my sought after love,” Ogorec teased; then as he exhaled, walked to the bed, “Let us sleep. I have no question our morning will indeed begin an early one.”

As both lay in bed; Ovfren couldn
’t close is eyes to rest, and instead, tossed and turned.

“
How can you be so calm?” he finally asked anguished, “For the first time in my life I have dreaded a sunrise.”  

“
What will come, will come,” Ogorec said, and turned to him, “I am true to my devotion and love for you Ovfren, and will defend you in all things.”

“
Then I wish your courage was not so,” Ovfren said, worried for him.

“
Would you love me as you do if not?”

“
I would to not be in fear of you being slain at sunrise,” his retort.

Tenderly, Ogorec kissed him.

“Hear me well,” he whispered, “My life with you will not be done until I am old, feeble, and I will not give his sword that victory.”

“
Still Ogo...” Ovfren again began to speak his worry, but Ogorec stopped him.