WORRLGENHALL

by Luke, Monica

  When he did, slowly Ogorec got on his horse and rode to him. His way with Ovfren unlike his way with Belon, which always careful to keep his feelings under control and at a level he felt safe, he spoke freely to, and of the one deep in his heart.

  “Again I confess Ovfren,” he willingly expressed how he felt, looking right into his face, “From the first I have fought to crush inside me what I began to feel for you that night you spoke of love, but I could not. My days and nights are joyful and passionate with you, and I tell you from it, I let you reach inside me such that I love you.”

  “Was it so dreadful to speak such words to me?” Ovfren asked, as he felt his heart beat with pulsing joy throughout his entire body.

  “Now that they have been released from me,” Ogorec answered, as he relaxed, “No.”

  “Then speak.”

  “I have spoken,” he said, “You do try me at times. Your youthful teasing is much for this seasoned hard warrior.”

  Ovfren wouldn’t let him off the hook that easily, he wanted to hear more from Ogorec of how he felt about him.

  “From the first I have confessed my heart leaving it open for the wound you gave it,” he reminded him. His expression again serious, “Those words back to me I want to hear.”

  “I love you, young Ovfren,” he willingly easily said, as he relaxed even more, “I confess it.”

  “Let us ride well away from all to the tall trees,” Ovfren suggested resisting his want to seize him at that very moment after he spoke, “Follow me to it Ogorec.”

  “And I want nothing greater right now than that as well.” Ogorec unhappily sighed, “But we ride out early, you should rest.”

  “Rest,” Ovfren repeated surprised unable to believe he just denied him, “I cannot sit on this horse without pain my want is so great. How can you for a moment believe I can rest?”

  “Ovfren,” Ogorec said, about to deny him again.

  “I vow to rise early and not complain,” Ovfren added right away to sway him, “But you cannot speak such words and believe we will part with ease.”

  Ogorec looked at Ovfren. He too unable to sit upon his horse without pain knew his want for him was just as great. Without words, he turned from him and began to ride towards the tall trees.

  Ovfren followed.

  **

  Early that morning Laad and the men set out while Baric, Ogorec, and the others rode towards the nomad tribe’s camp.

  “What is it that you seek, my lord?” Ogorec asked Baric, as they rode.

  “The one who saved my life,” Baric answered, “For such a deed her village banished her and made her wander the land. Perhaps some showed her mercy and took her in.”

  “Far reaching hope that is indeed,” he said doubtful.

  “Far reaching or not.” Baric resolved, “My mind will not rest until I have done all within me to try.”

  Once they reached the top of a hill, they heard a horn blow.

  “They are announcing us,” Ogorec said warily; then raised his sword for all to be ready for an attack.

  “Look,” Baric said quickly when he saw someone riding towards them, “We are being greeted.”

  Ogorec raised his arm again and turned his sword sideways, and after the men put away their swords, he and Baric rode to meet the man who carefully kept his distance waiting for them to meet him halfway.

  “What shall we offer?” Ogorec asked, as he rode alongside Baric.

  “Let us wait and hear his words,” Baric’s answered.

  Once they got in front of him, he said nothing for a while, as he looked at Ogorec and Baric, then after he again looked at Baric, and saw the crest around his neck was the same as the banners some of the men carried, spoke only to him.

  “Our tribe is the Gemod Tribe,” he now spoke first.

  “The Gemod Tribe,” Baric repeated, as he looked at him cordially nodding his head to make sure he understood him.

  “Yes,” he said, “We are a peaceful tribe and move from place to place.”

  Although, he sounded cordial enough, something about him, or maybe how he spoke made Ogorec not trust him.

  “If you move along to far north you will have to pay a toll to the King of Worrlgen,” Ogorec warned him, the tone in his voice far from friendly to make certain he knew he meant it, “And the punishment is great for those who use the land and do not pay.”

  “But we do not seek to bring anyone harm,” Baric added, as he gave Ogorec a quick look for his obvious hostility, “Our reason here now is to seek a woman.”

  “Who do you seek?”

  “This woman,” Baric answered, his mind reflecting on what he could remember, “Fair haired with blue eyes and a voice as pleasing as a song, may have joined you as she wandered from the lowlands.”

  “We have had many join us,” he said, “And they come from many places.”

  Disappointed, Baric looked at him. “If it is of no trouble we would like to see those who have joined you less than three full seasons.”

  Warily, the man looked past Baric and Ogorec towards to the band of men behind him concerned for his safety when he noticed not one, but all had swords, axes, spears and knives somewhere on their body.

  “If the answer is no what will you do?”

  “All I ask is to look,” Baric simply asked, and nodded to Ogorec who stuck two fingers into a pouch that hung off his belt; then gave Baric another look, and after an approving node, took out several gold coins.

  Spurring his horse a few paces forward, he faced the man and thumbed several of them into the air one by one.

  “All I ask is to look,” Baric said, as the coins twirled high.

  As his eyes followed them from the air to where they landed, which was right next to his horse’s hooves, he jumped down, then took his horn off his belt and blew it several times.

  “I am Foede,” he introduced himself, as he quickly tucked the coins into his sleeve, “Welcome.”

  “We will follow you.” Baric nodded.

  Filled with hope, Baric followed Foede; but Ogorec looked at Umer before he followed too.

  “Have the footmen wait just outside their camp and stay alert,” he ordered, “The other guilds follow.”

  As they descended the hilltop, when Baric looked down, he saw men, women, and children busily going about the daily duties, cooking, cleaning, and washing.

  “How long do you camp in one place?” he asked as he looked at them, noticing their camp looked like upcoming clan of its own, and traveling had to slow at best, “You have many among you.”

  “We camp as long as Gemon wills it then move on,” Foede answered.

  “Gemon,” Baric sounded off and slyly looked over to Ogorec, “Of the Gemon tribe.”

  “He is our leader.”

  “I gathered by the name.”

  Quietly, all followed Foede into his camp, and as their presence caused heads to turn, everyone stopped what they were doing and curiously watched them.

  “I am beginning to wonder if we are a strange sight to them,” Ogorec commented, noticing how everyone either stopped or slowed to gawk as they rode by.

  Baric looked down at the women he passed, most dark haired with tanned skin from the sun, he saw no one that stood out as the one he remembered.

  “No fair haired maiden among them that I can see,” Ogorec said to Baric, but as Baric was about to respond, he stopped when he saw two other heavily built men step out of a large round tent before a much thinner man came out and stood between them.

  All three head’s wrapped with cloth the same color as that of their brightly colored garments. The man in the middle was tall and had a long thin beard with gold binding on the end, and when Ogorec looked at him, he had to control himself to keep from letting out an amused chuckle.

  “Welcome,” the man in the middle said pleasantly, as he slightly bowed putting his palms together as he did, “I am Gemon.”

  As he spoke, Baric got down from his horse and walked to Gemon, bowing back the same
way to show respect.

  “Thank you for letting us into your camp.”

  Gemon clapped his hands and several women came from nowhere. “They will water and feed your horses,” he said, “Please come inside.”

  The women pleasing to the eyes, young scampering about as they took their horses by the reins, shyly some looked up at the men offering demure smiles that were quickly welcomed as they dismounted, along with wanting stares.

  “Those women will cause the men to not keep clear heads,” Ogorec said to Baric, as they walked inside Gemon’s tent.

  “Let the men enjoy such sights,” Baric commented, “It is not every day that beautiful women appear from nowhere to take a man’s horse.”

  Again, after another clap more women appeared.

  “Sit,” Gemon said to the men, as several women made their way to each man with water and baked bread, “Eat.”

  As Baric sat next to Gemon at a long table lined with fresh meat, Ogorec sat on the other side and looked around the tent. Huge inside it with statues and bright colored heavy rugs along with blankets spread here and there, he was impressed such an elaborate decorated tent could be in the middle of a nowhere.

  Still wary, although the men were welcomed openly, as he looked around, he kept his eye on the men that guarded the entrance to the tent, along with others who stood equal lengths from each other against the tents walls watching all and saying nothing.

  His head titled Ogorec now looked above, the tent high with a wide opening to receive the sun or look at the moon, when he lowered his eyes they fell on Ovfren who stood across from him.

  Unable to feign he did not notice him across the tent, Ovfren’s curly light brown hair pulled back from his face and tied revealing his thick youthful brows, gradually sloped nose and strong jaw, as well as Ogorec’s weakness, his mesmerizing gray eyes, made him want him right at that very moment.

  As Ogorec mused, he felt his breath quicken when he thought of their night only hours early.

  “This night no matter what the toil I will have you.” His longing thought as he looked over at Ovfren.

  Finding Ovfren alluring also and tired of waiting for him to look her way, a woman walked over to him and gave him wine and bread, then after she did, stood in front of him to talk to him, as she flirtingly smiled.

  Thinking nothing of it, Ogorec looked away, but when he looked back, when he saw Ovfren smile; then lean and whisper something in her hear that made her smile and giggle, his jaws clinched, and he stood.

  At once, Ogorec made his way to Ovfren, but said nothing to the woman as he looked at her, but from his scowling expression, she knew to move along.

  Ovfren facing one way and Ogorec facing another, Ogorec was quick to let Ovfren know he didn’t approve of his behavior.

  “How dare you taunt me?” he whispered through clinched teeth, his jealousy building inside him.

  “What did I do wrong?” Ovfren whispered back to Ogorec.

  “The woman?”

  Ovfren eyes gleamed from Ogorec’s jealousy, as he walked more towards the end of the tent, and at once Ogorec followed him.

  “Ovfren,” he whispered, “Did I not speak of my jealousy?”

  “More than once,” Ovfren said amused, as he feigned innocence, “I gave you no reason for it.”

  “The woman, what did you say to her that brought such a smile and giggle?”

  Ovfren took pleasure in seeing how jealous Ogorec had become.

  “Do not make it so that I cannot breathe,” his words just to try him, “You smother me already and we are at a beginning.”

  Knowing he was being haughty, Ogorec boiled with anger and set his mind to humble Ovfren.

  “And it will end with haste,” he warned him, “I do not pleasure in such games. Hurt within or not. I will release you if you try to amuse yourself by taunting me and not have you come to mind ever again.”

  Ogorec’s words like a slap in the face, Ovfren took them to heart immediately.

  “Ogorec,” he now spoke humbly regretting his careless amusement, “My words to her were only truth.”

  “Curses, Ovfren. Reveal them then,” Ogorec said, as now along with jealousy, annoyance rose within him, “What were your words to her?”

  “That my ‘loroog’ is watching you smile at me,” he answered truthfully. “She did not know what it meant and asked. When I told her, she laughed since we were all men.

  “Loroog?” Ogorec questioned curious, “I gather that is a word from the language of your homeland. What does it mean?”

  “Love,” Ovfren answered, “But from that word it means more of a destined lover.”

  “That was careless,” he scolded, “She could speak of your words to another before we ride out.”

  Ogorec sighed, while he decided whether if he should remain angry with Ovfren or not, and as Ovfren waited for him to speak, he decided to speak first.

  “Forgive me,” he whispered, “I beg you.”

  “Have I given myself to one who behaves carelessly and needs always scolding?” Ogorec fumed, “And will make it such that I lament loving.”

  “It was senseless of me to behave in such a way,” Ovfren confessed, “And no, never again will I behave so foolish. The ways of love are unknown to me. I loved you silently for such a long time, and now that I have you, I fear I do not know how to behave to keep you.”

  “I am a man Ovfren, not a boy,” Ogorec continued his scolding, “And have no time for foolishness.”

  “I know that well now.” Ovfren regretted, “I have erred great by doing the one thing you warned me of.”

  Again, Ogorec sighed; then fought his urge to look at Ovfren, fearing once he looked into those eyes, angry or not, he would grow rigid.

  “When the time is fitting,” he spoke, as instead, he looked the other way, “We will speak at length of how our life will be together.”

  “Our life…” Ovfren’s eyes lit when Ogorec spoke words of their future.

  “Those words should be as we hold the other in embrace,” Ogorec added, “Yet they come now in angered whispers.”

  “And what of Belon?” he questioned, his fear of the one able to drive them apart.

  “Great was my want for him and longer the time,” Ogorec confessed, “Yet in this short time my want for you turned into love. You make my heart race just from the sound of your voice and weaken me with only a thrust from what rests between your thighs. Never have I known such pleasure, nor had such a want to just be near another so badly, that when I am not I can hardly breathe.”

  Ovfren swallowed, as Ogorec words humbled him more and made him throb between his thighs.

  “I have loved you for a long time,” he whispered, “And shall until my death.”

  “More words Ovfren,” Ogorec urged. The anger he felt only seconds earlier now gone.

  “You will hear more this night in your ear,” Ovfren vowed, “As I thrust into you until you purr like a tamed lion.”

  “How you speak to me,” Ogorec closed his eyes, and murmured low and long, “Always speak to me that way.”

  “Arrange it my ‘loroog’,” Ovfren whispered, “Arrange a time for us.”

  “I will arrange it,” Ogorec said eagerly, “And beg that the night comes with haste.”

  “Make it so that we will not be missed,” Ovfren’s tone pleading, “If only I could have you now. By the time night comes be well ready for me.”

  As Ovfren spoke, Baric looked up and saw Ogorec near him by the tent’s entrance.

  “Ogorec,” Baric called him over to him, “A word.”

  “This night my one and only,” Ovfren whispered as Ogorec began to walk pass him to go to Baric, “This night.”

  Ogorec stopped, then coughed and cleared his throat just in front of Ovfren.

  “Yes, this night,” his coughed words; then walked to Baric.

  “Ogorec,” Baric said when he came to him, “We have graciously been asked to stay the night. Have the footmen make camp.”
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br />   Ogorec fought to keep his expression unchanged, but was unhappy about staying with them for the night, and looked over at Ovfren, then back to Baric.

  “A word, my lord,” he said, and stood back.

  “Yes,” Baric said, then stood and walked to Ogorec who had now stepped more away.

  “My lord,” he whispered, “I reason it not wise. Can we trust them? I believe we, after you gaze at the women and unable to find the one you seek, move along. Laad and the men will be waiting for us.”

  “Your wariness is without cause,” Baric dismissed, “We have time. Laad knows to wait for us before he enters lowlands.”

  “Then I ask to guard throughout the night.” Ogorec thought quickly, “I will not be able to rest from wariness.”

  “Get another and enjoy this short time,” Baric urged, “One night such as this does not come much. Lovely women are all around us, and I am well sure you will have no trouble getting one pressed under you.”

  “It is no trouble to me,” Ogorec said, “I would rather watch this night.”

  “Ogorec,” Baric said, and looked at him concerned, “Is your mood unchanged. I reasoned you were in better spirits?”

  “It has, my lord,” Ogorec assured him, “Yet, this night I am in no mood for such pleasures.”

  Baric nodded; then put his hand on Ogorec’s shoulder.

  “Take another out with you,” he warned, “That you not be alone should you come across trouble.”

  “I shall, my lord,” Ogorec said; then walked away.

  As he passed Ovfren who still stood at the entrance to the tent, he stopped. “When the moon rests in the sky meet me and we will ride out;” and walked out.

  Later, just as planned, both met when the moon rested in the sky and rode hard away until they stopped by a river with thick bushes; then as Ogorec removed his pouch and skin saddle, then tied his horse, when he began to gather wood to make fire for the night, Ovfren questioned him.“We will not be missed?”

  “We are on a watch throughout the night,” Ogorec answered and smiled, “And will not be missed.”

  Removing his pouch and skin saddle too, Ovfren looked at the river. The sound of the water soothing, he began to remove his clothes and walk towards the water.

  “It is cold.” He shivered, when he dipped his foot, then shivered again before he got fully in and splashed around.