by Luke, Monica
“You are selfish.” Ovfren huffed angered, but Ogorec steadfast in his decision, when he looked at his face and saw how stern it became, knew arguing was of no use.
“Curses!” he instead yelled; then started dressing, and as he did, Ogorec tried to talk to him to soothe him, but Ovfren wouldn’t listen; then once dressed, he stormed out of the chamber without words or a kiss goodbye.
Knowing he was angry, Ogorec said nothing and didn’t try to stop him when he stormed out; but after he dressed, did look for him.
Not finding him in the gathering hall or the men’s hall, he went to look for him among those who trained, but not among them either; he went about his day reasoning he would talk to him later.
When later came, and Ovfren still had not come back. The hour now late, worry swept through Ogorec, who at first wanted to go look for him and scold him, calmed himself and stayed within the chamber.
As more time passed, Ovfren still gone, Ogorec became anxious, as his mind filled with thoughts of him doing something foolish to punish him, but he decided to remain in the chamber to wait instead of going to search for him.
Diligently he waited and sat at the table, instead of lying in bed, refusing to close his eyes until he returned; then almost at dawn, the door opened and quietly Ovfren sneaked inside.
“Where have you been?” he demanded, as he sat in the dark at the table, “Speak it now.”
“What is it to you?” Ovfren asked defiantly, “Or do you only want to know to keep me in your grasp?”
“A grasp on one dearly loved,” he said, “If I had no love, I would not care what you did.”
“Where I was is none of your worry,” Ovfren retorted.
“Then should I fear you did a foolish deed?” Ogorec asked, concerned he may have, “To wound me.”
“Never could I do such,” Ovfren proclaimed at once, “But I am angry with you.”
“All day and night you have been gone,” he demanded to know, “Where?”
Ovfren huffed, but answered.
“I rode the land and tarried in the plains,” his truth of where he went to sulk, “There I reasoned how much I love you, but how angry you make me at times with your strong willed ways.”
“Is it wrong?” Ogorec asked, and stood, “To want you away from harm?”
“No,” Ovfren argued, “But it is wrong to want to be near you in all things?”
Both stood in their chamber and looked at each other intently. Their eyes longing for their bodies to join and hug, their will keeping them apart, they stood their distance, as both resolved they were right, then always weakened when he looked into his eyes for very long, Ogorec sighed heavily; then began to speak, but again sighed heavily.
“No.” Ogorec finally reasoned, and relented, “Dare I treat you like a child when you are not.”
At once, Ovfren let out a deep sigh.
“When we quarrel,” he confessed, “It troubles me greatly.”
“As it does me,” Ogorec confessed; then looked at him lovingly, but let words of warning follow his look, “You may vie, but know you must rise on your own and not by way of what you are to me.”
Pleased, Ovfren smiled.
“Dare I not rise on my own?” he said, without doubt, “For what spurs me is my longing to be beside you in battle, as well as beside you in bed.”
As Ogorec moved from the table, Ovfren walked to him and stood.
“Kiss me,” his tender command, which Ovfren eagerly obeyed, “Are our angered words behind us my fiery love?”Ogorec added, as he began to back him to the bed.
“Well behind,” Ovfren answered, and gladly let him.
**
Any time on his own Ovfren used to hone his skill, while Ogorec, who occasionally helped him when he practiced, generally left him alone until he was done.
Day by day, patiently Ogorec would watch him until Ovfren was ready to come to bed or come get him if he stayed out late urging him to come to bed, and as the days passed, when it was time for the low guilds to move in place, Ovfren joined the line of men.
As Aron watched him showing off his skill, knowing the improvement came from training with Ogorec and his determined will, he and a few others who trained walked down the line to place their hand on the shoulders of those who could vie, and gladly Aron placed his hand on Ovfren’s.
“He watches you,” Aron said when he put his hand on his shoulder, “Do well and honor him.”
Just as Aron knew, Ogorec stood just under the king’s square away from the others to watch Ovfren, and as he stood, Belon walked over and stood with him.
“There are many, yet I know your eyes are set on only one,” he teased.
Ogorec said nothing, yet deep within anxiety filled him. Ovfren was strong, fit, and skilled, but so were the others.
“I cannot watch,” Ogorec nervously said, as he turned to walk away, “I will know when all are done.”
When he turned, Belon grabbed his arm.
“Do not be foolish,” he said, “If you leave your mind will still be vexed.”
Ogorec turned back, and again watched; then as all lined, they paired each other in a long line, and as they showed their skill, one by one those whose shoulders got touched had to try again next spring.
Once half were gone, and Ovfren still among them. The drive to ride alongside his love spurring him more, he fought harder; then when the number was down to only about thirty, the high guilds came to vie with them.
When they did, again Ogorec became worried because he saw Osgorad among them, and as his eyes squinted, Belon looked at to whom.
“Dare he seek revenge?” Belon questioned.
“He would.” Ogorec feared.
Just as he feared, Osgorad made his way down the line and intentionally stopped in front of Ovfren, and right away Ogorec began to walk forward to go into the courtyard to say something.
“No,” Belon said, and again grabbed his arm, “You shield him enough as it is. Let him have his bumps and bruises.”
Ogorec inhaled reluctantly, but agreed with Belon and stayed out of sight, yet fretted such that he could hardly stand still.
Unknown to Ovfren that Osgorad intentionally picked him; he thought nothing was wrong, that is, until he saw the hate in his eyes.
“Begin!” shouted one of those who trained.
Even before he shouted, Osgorad lunged towards Ovfren who wasn’t ready, and as he moved, his feet not balanced, stumbled and fell backwards.
“Come on young guild.” Osgorad prodded, “Rise.”
As soon as Ovfren was on his feet, Osgorad charged towards him, but he blocked his strike, then as he tried to strike again, Ovfren moved out of the way and hit him in his back with the pommel of his sword.
Turning quickly surprised, again Osgorad charged him, but again faster and more agile, Ovfren moved out of the way and did the same thing.
“Stand still.” Osgorad grunted annoyed, “And face me.”
From his words, Ovfren stayed in place, and again as Osgorad moved forward, but this time he intentionally stepped on Ovfren’s foot, which caused him to look down, and when he did, Osgorad struck him hard across the forehead with the pommel of his sword cutting open his left brow.
When he saw it, at once, Ogorec seethed.
“I am going to slice open his throat from ear to ear this very night,” he promised under his breath, but Belon heard him.
“Would an enemy do less in battle?” he asked, but Ogorec didn’t answer.
His gash bleeding, Ovfren ignored it and charged Osgorad instead, and as he remembered what Ogorec taught him, he flailed away at him twice to the left and twice to the right, then once to the left, and once to the right, back and forth relentlessly.
Unable to stop his charge as he moved forward to keep him from getting his bearing and moving forward himself, Osgorad became frustrated; then when Ovfren paused, he tried to kick him in his chest.
“Uuuuurrrr,” Osgorad groaned loudly as he did, but as soon as Ovf
ren saw his foot leaving the ground, grabbed it and pulled his other foot from under him sending him high into the air, before he landed hard on his back.
The air instantly knocked out of him, while he lay on the ground, Ovfren quickly got over him and stuck his knee into his chest, and Ovfren brawny and strong, when Osgorad tried to move from under him, couldn’t.
“Yield,” Ovfren commanded, as he looked at him, the blood on his brow dripping onto Osgorad’s face.
Osgorad made one more attempt to rise, but couldn’t.
“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, Belon 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 gashed brow and smiled, and after Ogorec rushed to him and kissed it, he indeed kept true to his word.
Chapter 25
After 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 control 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 inhal
ed 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 Ovfren’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.
