by Luke, Monica
“One day they will become clear,” he answered assuredly, “Such is your blood to rise, even with no will of your own.”
“My wife spoke such words,” Laad said, as he thought back, “But for her sake and my son, I am pleased to only teach others.”
“So thick is your skull Laad,” Irek’s voice rose annoyed with Laad’s stubbornness, “His blood flows well through you. You are your father’s son. Keep my words well in your head.”
Both pondering over their conversation, when Laad looked at Irek and noticed the fixed look on his face intent on getting an answer, he could not give him one.
“I must reason for a time,” he at least offered, certain Laad wouldn’t leave his door with a lesser reply.
“Do not reason long,” Irek warned, “In the morning it begins.”
Laad closed the door; then sat in his chair with Nona’s beads in his hand and stared into the hearth. His mind again recalling Nona’s words long ago and of her belief in him, made his thoughts run deep.
“Laad,” Nona said, when she slightly awoke and noticed he was out of bed, “Come to bed.”
“I will soon, my love,” Laad said, “But now my head is plagued with many things.”
Nona said nothing else, and instead got out of bed, walked to him; then stood in front of the hearth blocking his view of the fire, and as he looked at her from feet to head, he smiled.
“I swear you have gotten more beautiful,” he whispered, “Motherhood has made your face glow and filled your shapely body even more.”
“Come to bed,” she whispered, and held out her hand.
“To sleep?” he questioned, “I would only toss and turn about.”
“What fills your head?” Her soothing whisper before she moved to sit on his lap.
“Irek wants me to vie with the others for a place under him.” Laad sighed debating the option in his head, “If I do well I will be higher in place, yet I will be away from you in the springs and when the oath calls.”
“I will speak it once more,” Nona’s again assuring words, “You will command all one day, and I will proudly by your side.”
“I want to be a husband and father,” he said, “And have you still filled with pride by my side.”
“Chose what you will.” She touched his face. “And know that still by your side in all things, I will be.”
Tenderly, he kissed her as she sat upon his lap.
“Come to bed,” she urged, when she felt his hand caressing her thigh.
“I will only toss and turn about,” he whispered, “Sleep is far from me.”
“Were my words to sleep?”
“Umm, I gathered you were tender.” His eyes lovingly gazing upon her wanting body. “It is why I have not touched you since Elaad was born.”
“I have made you long for me,” her regretful words, as she scooted her body up more to him before she touched groin, noticing it taut to the touch, “Forgive me.”
As if but a feather in his hands, her words surging through him, Laad lifted Nona and carried her to bed; then as he climbed in bed and pulled her close, she touched his strong chin, as he whispered to her.
“Are you sure my beloved sunrise?”
“Have I not sworn always to grant all your needs?” she asked, as she wrapped her leg around his strong thigh, “Yes, my husband I am sure.”
Laad’s breath heavy into Nona’s mouth, his hands upon her caressing her body, as long tender strokes from his hand moved up and down her firm but soft thighs, he removed her bed gown.
“I pray I am never behind the wrath of such strong hands.” She moaned, and his chest already bare, she quickly helped him lower his pants.
Her kiss upon his chest tender, he moved her onto her back and pressed his body to hers.
“I need you,” his soft words; then his hand under her knee, he lifted her leg to put it around his lower back, but when did, Elaad began to cry.
“Oh, this is worse than a blow,” Laad cried out, from the pang of having their desiring kisses and touches suddenly halted.
“Your son hungers,” she said, as she slid from under him; then wrapped herself, before she went to Elaad.
“So does his father,” his words, before a roguish smile came across his face, as he flipped onto his back.
“One warriors need at a time.”
Adoringly, Laad watched Nona feed Elaad from her full and sensual breasts, and as he suckled, he anxiously waited for his turn to enjoy them.
Lovingly, Nona rocked their son back and forth in her arms, smiling at Laad, who had gotten onto his side with his head in his hand to watch.
“He is asleep again,” she whispered, then placed him back in his own bed before hurrying back into Laad’s arms.
“My life is nothing if you are not happy,” he earnestly said, “Tell me how you feel about Irek’s words, and I will weigh them heavily.”
“Laad,” she replied, “I know you love us and will choose a path you believe is right. What you choose to do will be what we do. You are our family’s head.”
Again, tenderly he kissed her and lay between her legs.
“I have missed the feel of your heated thighs around me; call to me Nona,” his voice deep as he spoke.
“Ah!” she whimpered aroused, as she felt Laad’s shaft quickly swelling again for her, “Ah, Laad!”
Most of the morning Laad slept in a deep sleep, and when he awoke, he saw Nona sitting on the floor playing with Elaad.
“You have dreamed away your morning,” she said and smiled, “Are you hungry?”
“Such that I could eat an ox,” he answered and rose from bed, immediately going to Nona to kiss her and Elaad, “Great desire filled this night.”
“Eat,” she said, as she stood; then moved to sit down beside him, but as she did, winced.
Because she did, Laad reached for her concerned. “Did I hurt you?”
“Only a little,” she answered, “But such pleasure came from it.”
“It was not my wish to do so.” He regretted, as he put her gently in his lap, “Why did you not reveal you were still so tender? I would not have touched you so soon.”
Nona smiled from his expression of regret and teased him. “Tender or not, this night hurt me again, and again, and again.”
Laad smiled back and kissed her as she moved from his lap.
“If you are to vie for a place make haste and eat,” she said assuredly.
“I have not set my mind to do one or the other.”
“I will be cheering for you among those who watch.”
Again, he smiled. “Do you reason to know what is in my head even before I do?”
“Oh husband, I do,” her confident answer, as she lifted Elaad to take him with her, “Dress and listen for your wife’s cheers.”
**
The vying already well underway, Nona made her way to the courtyard to sit among those who watched, but when Seda saw her, she called to her so she could sit in the king’s square.
“He is growing such that I cannot close my eyes, and find him not unchanged,” she said, as she held him and looked into his face, “And look, I see no one face than his father.”
“Such that I dread,” Nona said, “I will reason women will swoon for him much.”
“Will Laad be among those down in the garden?”
“It is my hope, my queen,” Nona said, “But in truth, I do not know.”
“When you are ready,” Seda said, before she left Nona to take her place beside the king again, “Your place is waiting for you, but if Laad vies and does well, such will be your place that you, though I never saw you as it, need not be under me.”
“He has missed part of the day.” Nona regretted, although she was at first certain he would come right away, “He did not rest much until morning, I reason maybe he is tired.”
As many sat around already cheering for those they sided with, the number great in the beginning as many vied, by the time Nona sat, their numbers lessened, as one outshin
ed the other.
With each match, Irek rode in front of the men; then placed his sword over the head of who would ride forward to vie more. But, as the afternoon approached, Laad still not among them, at first believing he had convinced him, he now felt disheartened.
Baric beside his father, Bayl and Liha closer to the front away from the king and Seda to watch the vying, Belon and Ogorec, who both content with their place, and had no desire to rise, stood in the garden and watched as men on horses hurried by them from time to time speaking on who fared better.
“You do not vie anymore, yet it comes to mind your desire to one day rise,” Belon mentioned to Ogorec as they watched.
“I remember such words,” Ogorec confessed playfully, “Yet; many of my desires have changed much over the seasons.”
“Such as what?” he teasingly questioned already knowing what.
Both shared laughter, then as again Irek put his sword over the head of those to move forward, at first thinking nothing of it, Ogorec began to notice each time Ovfren did well, or moved forward, he looked over at him no matter where he was in the garden.
“Young Ovfren does well,” Belon now mentioned impressed, but unaware Ovfren had gazed at Ogorec more than once.
“I did not see,” he lied.
Trying to doubt what he suspected, that he was trying to impress him, Ogorec set his mind only to watch the others, but when Ovfren raced down the garden and again effortlessly got a ring on his lance, when he turned and deliberately looked at Ogorec, unable to force himself to look away, returned his glance.
Their eyes fixed into each other’s, it was as if all others around them had become shadow figures, as each only saw the other, and from that moment on a spark ignited between them.
“He looks this way.” Belon noticed, yet he still thought nothing of it.
“The king is above us, he looks to the king,” Ogorec quickly commented now coming back to reality, and looked away.
**
As Nona’s heart sank the day nearing over, now down the ten men, as Irek rode in front of them, he stopped when he saw Laad riding towards them.
“I beg forgiveness,” Laad said, as he lined his horse with the men, “For not lining the men when it began.”
“It is not right,” Borek protested immediately, because he hated Laad, “That he comes and stands with us and has not vied all day.”
“Such is true.” Irek said annoyed with Laad because of it.
“Then I ask,” Laad offered, “To prove myself.”
“How?” Borek boasted, “We have all had our chances and I lead.”
“Speak what is Borek’s place,” Laad said confidently, “And if I do less than even one, it means I cannot line this row with you. If not, it means I can.”
“I believe,” Irek said without dwell, “That as fair.”
When Nona saw Laad, she eagerly moved to the last ledge to watch him with their son in her arms, and just as she said she would, cheered as he joined the row of ten.
“Look,” Bayl said; then stood, “Laad joins them.”
Surprised and curious, Ogorec and Belon moved forward for a better view and listened as Irek told Laad what all the men had done most of the day to be able to be there now.
“Who did Laad serve under?” Ogorec asked.
“He served under Lord Bayl.”
“I reasoned him only a bowman,” Ogorec said, “I gather it will be hard to go beyond the others?”
“He is gifted.” Belon already knew from watching him firsthand in many battles, “As you will see.”
Irek rode in front of Laad.
“Borek has gotten ten rings from ten with his lance, as Loth has,” he said, “Glen has hit the center of the straw seven times with his arrow from seven. Goren has stuck the lance into the center of the straw ten times from ten and all ten have fared even in all.”
“I am ready,” Laad said, as he rode off.
His main priority above all, Laad rode off and looked into the crowd for Nona; then when he saw her, hurried over to her.
As she smiled at him, their son in her arms, as all watched, he sat on his horse in front of her.
“Blow a kiss to me that I may do well,” he called out to her.
“You will my husband!” Nona shouted, as she leaned and blew him a kiss.
After his wife wished him well, Laad hurried back and took his place in front of the rings, and as if nothing, he took fifteen with no miss before moving right away to the straw. Already in command of the bowman, if he had missed, a great gasp would have come from many, but again, as if nothing, he hit his mark all eight; and two more.
“Lances,” Laad said smiling to Irek, who pursed his lips amused by his haughtiness.
The lance stuck into earth, he pulled it up and balanced it in his hand.
“I have not made much use of lances,” he said, as he tossed it high in his hand a few times judging the feel and weight from his horse.
Ten times out of ten, Laad landed the lance in the center of the straw, and as all cheered, he only heard the cheers from Nona, as he looked to her and smiled.
“Laad,” Irek said, when the cheering turned to a dull roar.
“Yes.”
“Take your place in line.”
Borek’s face snarled, now so angry that he could not look at Laad when he moved to sit next to him.
“Haughty is your spirit,” he murmured seething, “As you lay face down in the dirt bleeding, I swear you will be humbled by me.”
From his threat, Laad looked at him. “You speak as would an enemy; shall I treat you as one?”
“I speak the words of truth,” Borek’s threat before he moved from beside him.
Irek rode down the line of ten, putting his sword on Borek, Goren, Glen, Laad, Danal, and Loth’s head, then the others he sent away, and among those was Ovfren.
Each man paired off by Irek according to the lot pulled, secretly Borek had begged in his heart to pull Laad, and when he did, he could hardly control himself.
“It is fate,” Borek said, as he grabbed his sword, “That I drew you in this lot.”
Laad gave Borek a simple nod, then moved to watch as Danal and Glen fought, and their bout over as soon as it began, both respectful of the other, Danal pleaded for mercy with no cut upon him, and Glen was the victor.
Next Goren and Loth fought, and just as the first was before, with no cut upon the other, Goren pleaded for mercy, and Loth was the victor.
As Laad looked over at Borek, who glared at him with hate, he picked up his sword.
“Our fight, my friend,” Laad said in good spirit, “Is not as enemy to enemy. We fight for the king and should be as brothers. Let us fight fitting for place like the others have.”
“Brother! Ha! That we will never be, and shall remain what we are.”
“And what are we?”
“Foes would be more fitting,” Borek spewed, as his raised his sword and got a shield.
Again, Laad nodded to Borek and got a shield too; but unlike the other four who fought, as Laad and Borek circled each other both with shields, silence filled the crowd.
As Nona sat, she breathed heavily, noticing the look on Laad’s face. Serious it was to Borek, whose face held a scowl and fear filled her heart.
Noticing they fought with shields, Belon looked at Ogorec and knew something was wrong; then looked up at Bayl.
“Their fight will end with blood, my lord,” Belon spoke concerned, “I beg you have Irek come between them.
“One has set himself against the other.” Bayl resolved, “How can you have one who wants you dead, under your command in battle? It would be better to have him gut you openly that expect him to defend you.”
Once again, Laad tried to reason with Borek, curious what made him despise him.
“What have I done to you?” he asked, as they circled, “That you long to spill my blood.”
“You breathe,” Borek’s answer, while charging towards him.
“My belo
ved watches me,” Laad again tried to reason with him, as he moved backwards to avoid being cut, “It is not my wish for her to see you cut wide open, as she saw with Uded.”
“You vermin!” he blared from Laad’s words, “Such words from you are why I care not if you live you die. Uded was my uncle!”
“Then we have no more need for words.” Laad resolved, and with that he charged him too.
As their swords clashed such were their sounds each time it did, Nona flinched, then as Laad fell to the ground, as Borek’s sword came towards his face, she thought she would faint, but their child in her arms stayed strong.
Laad’s shield blocking his forceful blows including the one towards his face, all knew they now fought to the death, and the once cheering crowd now silently watching, Laad looked over to Nona who stood frozen with fear with his son in her arms.
His heart anguished she had to watch, to spare her torment, he set his mind to end the spectacle Borek created and charged him fiercely making each blow stronger than the one before forcing Borek to pull backwards unable to strike back.
“Uuuhhh!” He groaned loudly when one of Laad’s blows slashed his left wrist forcing him instantly to release his sword.
“I have drawn first blood,” he said, his sword pointed at his throat, “Ask it, I will grant mercy.”
“Mercy,” Borek’s false plea through lying teeth, and as Laad turned to walk away, he quickly picked up his sword.
With sword again in hand, the crowd’s silence broken by gasps as he ran towards Laad, who swiftly turned and with just with one effortlessly sway cut off Borek’s hair on his right side with his sword.
“Beg! Laad ordered, as Borek angrily grunted annoyed, before grabbing his head, and looking down as his hair cascaded to the earth, “Or I will take the other side.”
“Mercy!” he cried out, “I beg, I beg for mercy!”
Believing their battle over, Laad turned his back to Borek and began to walk towards the garden wall, but just as he had done before, Borek hurried towards Laad again to try to strike him down.
His hateful grunt revealing his intent as he approached him, Laad turned wielding his sword this time taking off three of Borek’s fingers on his left hand making him again drop his sword, and as Borek fell to his knees, Laad stood over him.
