Authors: Monica Luke
As soon as the man saw him, he rushed to his horse and began to flee, and as Laad and Loth jumped on theirs to chase him, Loth complained.
“My food has not yet settled in my stomach,” he said, as he spurred his horse forward, “I know from smelling those bodies and now chasing him, it will come up.”
Laad huffed, then stopped and took out his bow.
“Are you going to kill him?” Loth asked.
“No,” Laad answered, as he got an arrow, then carefully nocked his bow, pulled back and shot it, “Just put him on foot.”
The first arrow going into its neck injuring and slowing the horse, Laad shot another into its neck, which killed it, then when it fell over, the man jumped off to keep it from crushing him and began to run.
“Well,” Laad said; then looked over to Loth, “I put him on foot, you do the rest.”
Loth pursed his lips; then rushed away after him.
“You!” he shouted when he caught up with him, “My stomach is to full to be riding chasing you or running after you. Stop or I will cut you down!”
Tired from running, the man stopped and about to withdraw his sword to fight Loth, he looked behind him and noticed Laad with an arrow pointing at him.
Suspecting he was the one that downed his horse, he knew his aim would be on point to kill him.
“Throw down the sword,” Loth ordered before he jumped down.
Obeying he did, but said nothing.
“Who are you?” Loth asked, “And why were you searching those bodies?”
Refusing to answer, the man tried to lunge at Loth once he got closer to him, but Loth gave him a quick kick to the groin.
“I am to full to be fighting and rolling about as well.”
“Take him back to WorrlgenHall,” Laad said when he got to them, “He will answer soon enough one way or the other.”
**
With one problem after another arising, Baric considered cancelling the challenge and apologized to King Gegorad for having him travel so far for nothing.
“What happened?” he asked concerned, as they talked.
“Strange men took my cousin, King Aderac by force, but he is back with us now,” Baric answered, as they now sat, “And now King Thogor has been slain, Lord Cadon stabbed, and two under him dead as well.”
“Such dreadful deeds,” he expressed his concern, “Shall we be on guard as well?”
“We fear the strange men from a tribe called the Segorans are behind the deeds,” Baric answered, “Insulted we denied them a chance vie and are seeking revenge. I shall have my guilds ride out with you when you leave to see that you and your men are safe.”
“I thank you, but if you welcome it we will tarry,” King Gegorad offered, “Perhaps this treachery will pass and you will yet be able to honor your son.”
Baric nodded happy to have him stay.
“Then your stay is a great honor,” he replied pleased, “And a welcomed one.”
**
Secretly, Laad had Loth take the captured stranger into WorrlgenHall through the back livestock gate and put him in one of the dark rooms under the main floors of WorrlgenHall. There, they held criminals, prisoners, and those waiting for execution.
“Where have you been?” Baric curiously asked, after not seeing him for most of the morning when Laad walked into court.
“We rode to look at the Segorans Belon left to rot.”
“And,” Baric asked, concerned what they might have found out.
“I ask that we speak of it in your council chamber,” Laad requested, not wanting to voice his concerns in earshot of others.
“We shall,” Baric said, “But while away, trouble came to us.”
Laad looked at him curiously. “What trouble?”
“Lord Cadon is here and healing in a chamber.”
“Lord Cadon,
healing
?” Laad repeated, and gave him a questioning look because he said the word healing.”
“King Thogor is dead,” he continued, “Lord Cadon was stabbed and two under him dead.”
“Who and how?”
“Those Segorans.”
Laad’s eyes went from questioning to squinting expressing his suspicion, which Baric noticed.
“Speak it,” he prompted.
“In your council chamber, my king,” Laad urged, “Away from the ears of all, but those trusted.
“Very well.”
Once in the king’s council chamber, Laad informed Baric of his suspicion, and that they held a man in one of the dark rooms.
“Put him to the task and question him at length,” Baric ordered, curious what he may know. “I want answers.”
“And if his answer is what we fear?” Laad questioned, knowing the fated consequences.
“We have both of them within our walls, and the other is dead,” Baric frankly answered, “If it is, they will join him.”
**
“Is it true?” Loth asked Ogorec when he passed him. “Is King Thogor dead and is Lord Cadon in one of the chambers healing?”
“True,” Ogorec answered, “While you and Laad were away, his men and Lord Elgen brought him here after his claim that the Segorans sneaked into camp and killed the king, a guard, and his first in command.”
“How many where there?” he asked suspiciously.
“We have not been able to ask him,” he answered, certain it was only because it was a lie, “He claims he is to wounded to speak of it now”
“Is that so?” Loth questioned, thinking along the same lines as Ogorec. “For one who has had his brother slain, why would he hold his tongue?”
“With him, I care not what he does,” Ogorec’s indifferent reply, “Or if he lives or dies.”
“What of Lord Elgen?” Loth now questioned, “Was he hurt as well?”
“He was not.” Ogorec said, as he began to walk, “And is the one who found him and told us what we know.”
“Hmmm,” Loth only offered, as he watched Ogorec walk away.
New suspicions flooding into his head as Loth turned, when he saw Laad walking from court, hurried to him.
“I gather you know,” Laad said, as he approached him.
“Yes,” Loth replied, as he walked with a disgusted look resting on his face, “Lies upon lies.”
“Let them build their lies,” Laad shrewdly commented, as he paced him walking, “Soon enough, we shall know what is true.”
Noticing he turned down a different hallway, instead of towards the dark rooms, Loth questioned him.
“You are not going back to the dark rooms?”
“No, let the guards of it put him to the task as they question him,” Laad’s answered while walking towards the gathering hall to get something to eat, “And later we shall hear his words.”
Loth agreed, but asked one last question, as he stood and watched Laad continue ahead.
“Does Belon know?”
Forgetting about Belon, Laad halted his steps.
“No, he has not left King Aderac,” his answer, as he turned, “Reveal nothing to him until we know more.”
“I was told Belon already sent for his men,” Loth now informed him.
“What?” Laad asked, his face showing surprise, “When?”
“Why do you look surprised? Loth questioned knowing he shouldn’t have been with anything concerning Belon and wrath, “You knew well, Belon would when they took King Aderac.”
Frustrated Laad’s body spun around twice in the hallway, until he again faced Laad.
“Errrrr.” He exhaled hard fearing chaos was soon imminent within the walls of WorrlgenHall and in the land, “When?”
“Just before he rode out to search for him,” Loth answered, “He sent a messenger back to Ivodgald.”
“We are barely back within the walls.” Laad huffed, “And already you know this.”
“Word of things as this spread with haste and that you know...”
Laad stroked his chin as he thought. “Then you believe it is now to late to stop them,” he gathered.
“Yes.” Loth had no doubt, “Some saw him pierce his thumb for some reason and press it to the message. Whatever the meaning, has me believing they are coming for wrath.”
Laad had no doubt. “Then for now, do what you can to keep him from knowing until…”
**
Days since his injury slowly Aderac’s wounds and ribs began to heal, and Belon not leaving chamber, stayed dutifully and devotedly close by his side.
“Honey,” Aderac suggested, after noticing, although lovingly tending to his every need, that he seemed bored, “You have remained beside me without fail. I want you to get out of this chamber to stretch those long legs of yours.”
“I will not, until you can leave it as well,” Belon vowed to him, as he helped him back to bed from using the chamber pot.
“I will be fine,” he asserted sternly, “I want you out of the chamber and you will obey.”
Belon smiled at how silly he sounded commanding him to get out of the chamber.
“Well, I have been commanded by my king, I cannot refuse,” he said, as he lay in bed beside him, “I shall watch the guilds for a time, see Rulgesic’s son as promised, and have a drink in the men’s hall, then come back.”
“Yes Belon, do such,” he readily agreed, “I shall read while you are away.”
Belon leaned over to Aderac.
“Muah,” he sounded off playfully when he kissed him; then got out of bed, “Stay in bed and do nothing foolish.”
“Go.” Aderac prompted, “Off with you.”
Just as Belon said he would, he went to see Rulgesic and watched for awhile as he trained the lower guilds, offering tips of his own; then once done, went with him to see his son.
“Come, let us have a drink in the men’s hall,” Rulgesic said cheerfully since his day was done.
Although, he told Aderac he would do that with Rulgesic, Belon’s thoughts only on him since he left his side, he changed his mind.
“Aderac is alone,” he said, feeling slightly guilty for leaving him, “And held to the chamber. When he is healed more, I shall.”
“Very well.” Rulgesic understood.
Hurrying back to be with Aderac, after he got just inside the door and heard strange voices, he curiously quickly rushed through the foyer.
His eyes instantly widening showing surprise, his mouth dropped open following suite.
“What do I see?” he asked when he stepped farther inside and saw Aderac naked in a chair with two female servants washing him.
“Back so soon. I reasoned you would be gone a long time,” Aderac casually commented when he peeped over the top of his book thinking nothing of it as he read, “Baric came to the chamber to see how I was while you were away and sent two servants to care for me.”
While Belon stood and watched, he said nothing against it at first, but when they became more familiar with him, moving slowly up his thigh to wash him, he frowned.
“Uhuuchmmm.” He finally sounded off, clearing his throat when he noticed they had moved to his inner thigh and were still gradually washing upward.
Belon walked over to the two women gently taking both by their arms and escorting them to the door. “That will be all.”