WORRLGENHALL (95 page)

 
     “Belon.” Aderac looked up surprised. “They were still washing me.”

 
    After closing the door, Belon walked back to the chair and stood over Aderac.

 
     “Mmhmm. They were washing you?” he sarcastically repeated and crossed his arms. “And well on the way to washing what?”

 
     “That is nothing,” Aderac dismissed Belon’s sarcasm. “They are only servants.”

 
     “No women or men, servants or not,” he asserted, “Shall touch you there, but me.”

 
     Aderac burst into laughter and grabbed his side.

 
    “Well,” he said playfully, then grabbed the cloth and threw it at him, “They were not finished.”

 
     Belon took the cloth, then began were they had stopped. His strong hands rubbing Aderac’s inner thighs, at first able to easily read thinking nothing of it while the servants washed him, as Belon now washed him, he could no longer concentrate on his book and it fell from his hand.

 
     When he heard the book’s thud on the floor, Belon looked up and noticed Aderac’s head leaning backwards. “Are you enjoying me washing between your thighs?”

 
     “Ah, Belon.” Aderac moaned. “I am enjoying it. I am.”

 
     “Do you hurt much?” he asked wanting him.

 
     “If I must thrust.” He regretted, wanting him just as badly, “It will hurt my ribs, and I cannot open and close with mouth with ease.”

 
     Belon put the cloth down.

 
     “I can open and close my mouth with ease,” his willing salacious offer as he opened Aderac’s thighs more to move farther between them, “And shall upon what I see has become rigid for me.”

 
     “Oooo Belon.” Aderac moaned even more loudly when he felt Belon’s mouth wrap around him, his eyes now rolling into the back of his head in complete ecstasy, “Oooo, umm Belon.”

 
    “
R
iders come!” the guard shouted from the tower and signaled to another to sound the warning horns, then as the others rushed to the tower to look out, after a familiar messenger rode ahead, he halted the horns.

 
    The crest of Ivodgald around his horses’ neck and on its banner, he knew the messenger was from Ivodgald and signaled to sound another horn alerting all he no longer suspected danger.

 
    “Who comes?” Laad questioned, already climbing the tower when he heard the previous horns.

 
    “The banner on the horse is from Ivodgald.”

 
    “Get Belon,” Laad ordered and turned to go back down the wall, but as he did, he noticed Belon walking up the steps towards him. 

 
    “When they took King Aderac,” he said, as he climbed them, “I sent for them. When he heals, we shall deal with the Segorans who took him.”

 
    “Belon,” Laad finally said, knowing he had to tell him after trying to hold off as long as he could because the man in the dark rooms refused to speak, “I must have a word with you on that matter.”

 
    “Let it be later,” he said, while descending the steps, “I want to ride out to greet them.”

 
    After calling for his horse, Belon followed the messenger back to meet with the men he summoned, but when he got closer, his eyes squinted displeased.

 
    “Dare you leave my treasures?” he asked when he got close enough to scold him, “Who is seeing that they are safe and well?”

 
    Enek knew to explain quickly when heard the stern tone in Belon’s voice.

 
    “You wrote our king was taken and put your blood seal on it,” Enek answered, “I trust none more than I to help you in all things, or to fight to get our king back, as well as bring to heel those who took him.”

 
    “I found him and we killed those who took him,” Belon responded, and jumped off his horse, “And I gave you a greater task Enek.”

 
    “That is true,” Enek replied, then turned to the wagon behind him and shouted to one of the drivers, “Open the wagon!”

 
    Slowly, the door to the wagon opened and out sprang Ihon and Beladera, along with Belo, and at once all ran straight for Belon.

 
    “Father!” both shouted loudly as they ran, with Belo barking loudly his greeting behind them.

 
    As a smile swept across his face, Belon dropped to one knee; then opened his arms wide to receive them both, along with Belo.

 
    “Such a surprising pleasure this is,” Belon’s joyful words, “I have missed my little ones.”

 
    “Where is father?” Beladera asked first after racing into his arms.

 
    “Hop on both of you,” Belon said, as he lifted Beladera onto his horse first, then Ihon behind her, before he jumped on himself, “And we shall go to him.”

 
    “We will all be right behind you,” Enek cut in, his tone light; already knowing Belon felt guilt for not trusting him. 

 
    Belon turned his horse and gave Enek a sheepish grin.

 
    “Why did you not reveal they were with you?” he chided, but truly happy he brought them.

 
    “What joy would be in that?” Enek teased, “And I wanted to see the look on your face.”

 
    “And who is command of the men?”

 
    “My brother Cyorec, the horse guards and Ecklend with the foot guards, the others are still in their places.”

 
    Belon nodded content with the two he left in charge.

 
    “I shall deal with you later for disobeying,” he playfully chided; then spurred his horse forward.

 
    When Belon rode back through the gates, Laad and Loth looked down and noticed had returned with two children, then after both looked at each other puzzled, went to meet him.

 
    “Look,” Loth mentioned, as they walked, “The red headed boy must be Belon’s.”

 
    “And the girl,” Laad surmised, “Is the king’s daughter.”

 
    “Is it true?” Loth now curious, “That King Aderac gave the boy his name and had it written in the royal scroll of Ivodgald?”

 
    “It is true.”

 
    As both stood and looked up at him, when Belon jumped down, then lowered the children down, he noticed they said nothing waiting curiously to know about the two most recent guests.

 
    “This is Beladera and this is Ihon,” Belon proudly introduced, as he rubbed both of their heads lovingly.

 
    Laad and Loth tried to smile, but within there was much concern.

 
    “Welcome little ones,” both greeted pleasantly, but Laad added to Belon, “You did not speak of them coming.”

 
    “I did not know he brought them,” Belon’s quick remark before he hurried away with them.

 
    Laad and Loth looked at the other.

 
    “King Aderac’s daughter’s name is Beladera,” Loth then teased, “I wonder how he came up with that.”

 
    “Is there no end with you?”  Laad voiced annoyed, “I am wary to have them here at such a time.”

 
    “I know what is within,” Loth said at once, “I shall have the guilds be on watch without fail, walking within WorrlgenHall and outside of it.”

 
    “That young boy,” Laad added, well aware of the importance that both be kept safe, “Could indeed be the next King of Ivodgald, and the young girl, if custom stays true, could be wed to King Baric’s son and a queen.”

 
    “First tasks first,” Loth said, not concerned with what was farther into the future, “…keep them safe, so they will get older to be so.”

 
    Excitedly, each holding his hand, with Belo right behind them, Belon rushed with the children to the chamber, but instead of going right inside, he made them wait just outside the door.

 
    “Aderac,” he teased with him when he came inside. “Two are outside the door to have a word with you who would not wait.”

 
    Aderac’s brows joined, expressing his annoyance.

 
    “Belon,” he complained, annoyed he even allowed someone to come to it, “I am within our chamber and in no mood to see anyone, send them away.”

 
    “You would never send them away.” He slightly laughed and opened the door, “They are coming in.”

 
    Again, Aderac looked up; then slammed his book shut to show more of his annoyance, but when he heard a familiar bark, his brows lifted as the children rushed inside.

 
    “Come children, come!” he yelled enthusiastically, opening his arms wide, “Come to me children, come to me!”

 
    “Father!” they eagerly yelled as they did.

 
    Once they reached the bed, they jumped onto it and bounced onto Aderac, who at once groaned in pain, but held them lovingly back.

 
    “How did you hurt yourself?” they asked concerned.

 
    “I fell off my horse,” Aderac answered, thinking quickly, “And am held to my chamber, but I am fine.”

 
    Pleased at how happy he was, Belon walked to the bed and sat down beside them all.

 
    “Belon, Belon,” he said overjoyed, “Such a wonderful pleasure this is.”

 
    “Enek brought them,” Belon said, not taking the credit, “And just as you are, I am pleased as well.” 

 
    Aderac began to move to get out of bed.

 
    “I am filled with joy,” he said as he did, “And cannot lie about.”

 
    Tenderly, Belon eased him back down by his shoulders. “You still cannot walk about with ease.”

 
    “Belon,” Aderac said firmly, “I will not just lay and do nothing. I want to move about with the children.”

 
    Belon huffed, but knew Aderac meant what he said.

 
    “Lay one more day,” he compromised, “Then slowly and carefully, you can move about, but only a while at a time.”

 
    “Very well,” Aderac acquiesced, before he spoke to the children “One of you read to me.”

 
    “I will, I will,” both eagerly agreed.

 
    “One at a time.” He laughed, “My books are on the table, both of you get one.”

 
    While the children sorted through the books to find one to read, Belon kissed Aderac.

 
    “Well, as they read to you,” he said, and leaned his face closer to Aderac’s, “I shall leave to speak with Laad and Enek for a time.”

 
    “Yes, honey,” Aderac’s reply, as he felt his lips on his forehead.

 
    Aderac sighed, as he watched Belon head towards the chamber door; then looked excitedly over to the children, “Hurry children and find a book.”

**

     Knowing the children would keep Aderac busy by reading to him and talking non-stop of their adventures as they rode to WorrlgenHall, Belon knew he had time to waste, and looked for Laad.

 
    “Are the men settled?” he asked Laad when he found him.

 
    “They are in the guard garrison’s and the horses are in the pastures instead of the stables.”

 
    “And Enek?”

 
    “Is the tall one with the blond hair the first in command under you?”

 
    “He is.”

 
    “Loth took him to the men’s hall for a drink.”

 
    Belon nodded; then turned to walk there to speak with Enek.

 
    “Belon,” Laad said hesitantly, but unable to wait any longer, “We must speak.”

 
    “What is so dire?

 
    “Follow me.”

 
    Curiously, Belon followed Laad and familiar with WorrlgenHall. When they turned down the fourth hallway, then descended the stairs, he knew they were walking towards the dark rooms. “Who do you hold?”

 
    Laad didn’t answer until he opened the door. “We found this one going through the men’s clothes taking what they had.”

 
    Belon frowned. “Why?”

 
    “He will not speak,” he answered frustrated, “And has been put to the task for days.”

 
    “I gather all were not slain?” Belon asked, as he stepped farther inside.

 
    “I reason,” Laad surmised, “He was not with them that night, or dare I fear one of our men or yours let him go.”

 
    “None dare would with mine.” Belon knew undoubtedly.

 
    As the man looked up, when he saw Belon’s red hair, he remembered a man with red hair had charged into camp and killed Rengad.

 
    Also remembering that he did by slicing into him as if he was freshly churned butter before he rescued Aderac, the man became terrified. 

 
    “I know nothing,” he proclaimed, “I was only passing through and taking what the dead cannot use.”

 
    While he proclaimed his innocence Belon seethed, anger again rising within him that he had harmed Aderac.

 
    “Did you strike the man you took or kick him?”

 
    Just as before, the man again proclaimed his innocence, repeating the same words.

 
    “Unchain him and move away from him,” Belon now boldly ordered.

 
    “Belon,” Laad said warily, unsure what he was about to do.

 
    “Are you one of the Segorans and why are did you come to Worrlgen land?”

 
    Silence …

 
    “Unchain him and move from him.”

 
    “He is at WorrlgenHall,” Laad now asserted, “Not at Ivodgald that you can do what you want.”

 
    “So you will just have him again and again speak the same words I gather,” Belon said sarcastically, “Until he grows old.”

 
    Frustrated, Laad exhaled hard. “Unchain him.”

 
    Quickly, the guard released him and stepped away from him, as slowly Belon walked closer.