by Luke, Monica
“Fill me and fill me.” Aderac moaned, as he felt his lips upon his neck, “Ah Belon, ah my Belon.”
Belon did just that, and after his hot volcano release erupted into him and overflowed, both as always held each other confessing their love.
“Please try not to be gone from me long,” Aderac said, as Belon lifted him off him, “As soon as you are out of my sight, I long for you until I see your handsome face again.”
“It is even more for me,” Belon’s truth, “When away from you.”
Both inhaled deeply; then began to dress again.
“Now,” Belon said, as he lifted him into his arms once more to take him back to the chamber, “Let me carry you to bed so you can rest and mend.”
**
Not enough time to make it to Celgon land, Augerd fled to the closest safest place he knew.
“What have you done?” Augerd’s Cousin Mogen asked, when he rode into the village with a woman bound across his horse.
“Cutting my ties to Worrlgen…” Augerd evasively answered and puffed his chest slightly proud of his deed.
However wary, Mogen didn’t send him away, but when he saw the young white haired man next to him, knew for certain he brought trouble with him.
“Cousin.” He knew, “I fear a ruthless wave shall soon sweep over us by whatever was your deed.”
“Gold,” Elgen blurted, fearing he was about to send them on their way, “Get me safely back to my kingdom, and I shall reward you with land and gold.”
Mogen squinted skeptical; then guessed who Elgen was by his white hair, but was curious about the woman.
“Then who is the woman?”
“She is the maiden to a king’s daughter.”
“King Baric has no daughter.” Mogen knew, “And WorrlgenHall is from where you came.”
“She is the maiden to King Aderac’s daughter.”
Mogen’s squinting eyes rounded again. “The rich king who reigns to the north.”
“Yes.”
“For such a deed,” he spoke, knowing the risk of helping them had greatly increased, “I want more.”
“Anything,” Elgen quickly offered.
“Give to us the land that rests against the sea.” Mogen gave his price to agree to help him.
Knowing he spoke of Celgon’s landing ports, Elgen was reluctant, but in no position to decline. “Agreed.”
“Go back on your word,” Mogen warned him, “And we will kill you.”
“Agreed!” Elgen quickly worriedly nodded, “Agreed.”
After he spoke, Mogen walked over to the gong in the middle of the village, and after he banged on it threes time, several men gathered.
“Men!” he said, as he stood in front of them, “A storm is coming from WorrlgenHall where many of us served once, and left for reasons of our own. Now they are after my cousin and the two with him. Shall we deny them?”
Many ex-guilds, who left WorrlgenHall for this or that among them, including Mogen, they chanted defiantly, then rushed to their horses.
“Get inside the hut,” Mogen ordered Lord Elgen, “And take her with you.”
“What are you going to do?” Augerd asked curiously.
“Meet them head on.”
**
After tenderly kissing Aderac goodbye and lovingly hugging the children, Belon sat on his horse just inside the gates of WorrlgenHall waiting for all to gather to ride out.
The beginning of a misty early rain falling from the skies, quietly Enek rode up beside him, and when Belon looked at him noticing the stern surreal expression on his face, knew he was readying himself and said nothing for a long time.
“Where have you been?” Belon asked curiously, when he finally looked over at him.
“I slept to long,” Enek lied. The truth of the matter was that he tarried in the courtyard hoping to see Ovfren and apologize for his blunt rejection, but Ovfren didn’t pass his way, or at least he didn’t let him see him if he had, and unable to wait any longer, he left.
As he finally rode away to join Belon, he thought of their shared kiss and touch, and of how their bodies grinded. His lips never upon a man’s before, it unsettled him how soft Ovfren’s were, and how much he enjoyed kissing on them.
“Curses!” he said to himself, as now uncontrolled he found his thoughts constantly falling to Ovfren, and although, brief of the night they passionately kissed.
Belon nodded believing him, and then looked behind him at the men of Ivodgald who rode with them initially, then at those who came with Enek, and while they braided their hair, he gave his command.
“Our ride is not for needless bloodshed,” he shouted, “But if a fight they want, a fight they shall have if they will not release them. Our king’s daughter’s maiden is gone and the other dead without cause. One who swore an oath to Worrlgen and betrayed the kingdom is behind the deed, and the lord of another kingdom who helped him is with him. Get her maiden back and seize the two, but if they resist, then by my command as Grand Commander of Ivodgald, kill every living thing that tries to resist you.
As the rumble of the men vibrated off the outside walls of WorrlgenHall, Laad, Loth, and the men of WorrlgenHall gave their rally shout as well in support of them.
“I pray that you find her and them without fail,” Laad said to Belon when their roars dulled, “And know that Worrlgen backs you if trouble finds you.”
Belon nodded; then turned and looked up at WorrlgenHall to where their chamber window was, and just as he trusted saw Aderac and the children looking down at him from it.
“Why did you not let them stand on the wall and see you ride off?” Enek asked.
“He has walked and moved about enough,” Belon said, gently spurring his horse forward, “It was his plea to do so, but I wanted him to stay within and rest, and not walk this wall.”
Slowly, the gate opened and Belon followed by Enek out first, the men trailed them slowly making their way down the road, and as King Gegorad and King Baric watched from one of the king’s squares, once the men of Ivodgald had all gone, Baric turned to him.
“The guilds of WorrlgenHall shall ride with your men to see you safely back,” Baric said.
“There is no need,” King Gegorad objected, “We will be fine.”
“They must,” Baric gently asserted, “It would be an honor for my guilds to see you make it back at least close to your land safely.”
King Gegorad nodded, then walked down the stairs to mount his horse and as he did, he tucked the sealed letter of King Aderac’s promise in his belt.
“Have two high guild scouts ride hard ahead them,” Loth ordered Rulgesic, as he stood alongside the wall and watched King Gegorad about to mount his horse, “Watch for any hidden here or there that may try to harm or rob them.”
After Rulgesic quickly choose two, Loth gave another quick order.
“Stay well hidden from those from Hemrock.”
Curious why he ordered that, Laad looked at Loth, then waited until they were out of earshot of others.
“Why should they stay hidden?”
“Something does not set well with me with our visiting king,” Loth answered, “He seemed to calm during all our troubles, even when he learned a king was slain.”
“Hmm.” Laad now sounded off. Trusting Loth’s instincts completely, “Such is true.”
**
Knowing Augerd didn’t have time to make to Celgon land and guessing he’d go to the closest place he knew for safety, Belon followed his hunch.
“Enek,” Belon said, as they rode, “Both cowards and brave we face. Look to the left and right as you ride, some may come out of the shadows to fight us and not head on.”
“How do you know?”
Belon’s eyes squinted, as he thought of who was once one he trusted now enemy from his betrayal and cowardice.
“Augerd fled to his cousin’s village.” He gathered, “And among them are those who were once guilds.”
“Then a hard fight could be ahead of us.�
� Enek surmised since the men were once fighting men.
“I gather such,” Belon said, knowing not to underestimate his foes strength or will, yet he resolved they should not underestimate his either, “I want my daughter’s maiden back, and Augerd’s throat open. If they refuse we shall make their hard fight a short one.”
“What about Lord Elgen?”
“To watch his neck snap or roll alongside his brother,” Belon answered, “Would not be an unpleasant sight.”
Diligently, Belon and the men rode southwest to the villages between the forests, but didn’t have to go very far.
“Look.” Enek saw in the distance, “Men have gathered, and are waiting.”
Belon inhaled, and readied himself mentally; then looked ahead. “Do you see Augerd?”
Enek looked out. “I do not see any you spoke would look like him, but we could be still to far away.”
“I am sure he is among them,” Belon said sarcastically, “Just a coward and behind those braver.”
Slightly moving forward, as his men systematically lined behind him, Belon looked back at them.
“Do nothing without my command,” he ordered, then moved more forward.
Faithfully by his commander’s side, Enek rode forward with Belon, and as they did, Mogen and two with him moved forward and waited for them.
“Belon,” Mogen called out; he and his men careful not to get to close when they moved forward, “What is the meaning of this?”
Belon scowled at him for his stupid question.
“Do not insult me,” he simply said, “You know why I am here, but answer this Mogen. Is one from the three worth it?”
“Worth what?”
“You sliced wide open.”
“You are still filled with threats.” Mogen mockingly laughed, “As always.”
“And promises,” Belon retorted to his remark.
The rain now pouring on their heads, Belon began to become impatient, yet decided to keep his mind open to negotiations. “What did the white haired one offer you?”
Mogen laughed, Belon knew him from WorrlgenHall to well.
“The land that rests to the sea, as well as gold,” he answered, “I know King Baric from Worrlgen would never scale such an offer.
“I am not ruled by my temper as I was before,” Belon said, learning politics and bartering from Aderac, and that everyman had a price, “That maiden is a maiden to one of great wealth.”
Mogen’s head peaked interested in Belon’s comment. “You have my ear.”
“You know your cousin nearly none.” Belon knew, “And the white haired one will only go back on his word later once he is safely back. Have your wealth now and spare the lives of all with you, but one.”
“Who is the one?”
“Augerd.”
“I will not just hand him over for you to kill him helplessly,” Mogen objected.
“You know the laws of Worrlgen,” he reminded him, “His punishment must be death.”
“Then let it be death by honor, and not execution,” Mogen, then suggested, “Such that he has a chance to live should he win.”
“So be it.”
“I will not fight Belon!” Augerd fearfully objected, suddenly appearing from behind the men lined with Mogen.
“Then, so be it.” Belon heard him, “Fight my first in command, Enek.”
“Who is Enek?”
Enek rode forward.
“I am Enek,” he answered without hesitation, or questioning why Belon volunteered him for one on one combat.
Enek unknown to Augerd, overconfident, he sized him up from a distance as he sat on his horse, then looked to Mogen and nodded.
“And if Augerd overcomes him?” Mogen asked.
“I have lost my first in command, and the three, along with my promise that the king of Ivodgald will grant you something within reason.”
“And if Augerd does not overcome him.”
“I have the three I came for,” Belon offered, “And the king of Ivodgald will still grant you something within reason.”
“Agreed!”
Belon looked over to Enek.
“Do not leave his throat unopened,” he told him; then nodded to Mogen, “Agreed.”
Cautiously, both rode to face each other, but when Augerd saw Enek more closely, and that he was just as proportioned as Belon, and how he sat with an undaunted glower, he balked suddenly fearful.
Quickly, Augerd turned and fled to get behind to the other men, but when he did, they closed the line so he couldn’t.
“Dare you dishonor us all cousin?” Mogen said ashamed of him, “You will fight.”
Again, Augerd rode forward; charging his horse towards Enek, who merely sat still waiting for him to get closer.
“Aaaaaahhhhhh!” Augerd’s cry, as he charged.
His cry echoing loudly into the air trying to sound fierce didn’t deter Enek, who until he was about two-horse lengths ahead, had waited patiently and watched to see which side he would hold his sword to strike.
Noticing the attempted strike would come from the right, Enek jumped off his horse and cut to Augerd’s horses left rolling on the ground; then as Augerd adjusted to try to strike him, he sprang up and pulled him off his horse by his leg and he went hard to the ground.
When he landed, it was on his back. The wind knocked out of his lungs, he lay stunted as Enek quickly got over him, seized him by his hair and easily slit his throat, and left him to die in the mud.
“It is done!” Enek yelled to Mogen, then jumped back on his horse and rode back to Belon.
As Belon watched him ride back, he yelled to Mogen as well.
“Go get them,” he ordered; then while they waited in the rain for Mogen’s men to get Lord Elgen and Silinia, he looked over to Enek.
“You took to long,” he teased because he took the time to jump off his horse.
Enek tried not to let his face gloat. “…rain slowed me.”
Mogen’s men brought Lord Elgen out, but far from peacefully. He dragged his feet, screamed, and bucked, while loudly promising to double, even triple whatever Belon offered them, then when one of Belon’s men took control of him, not in the mood to listen to him beg or struggle with him, he struck him across the head and knocked him out.
“Such a bellow,” he commented, as Lord Elgen fell face forward into another’s arms, “Tie him, and get him on a horse.”
Clearly shaken, shivering, and wet, Silinia tried to be strong, as she looked up at Belon, who jumped off his horse.
“Beladera’s heart will lift to see you,” he said, then put a blanket around her shoulders, and lifted her onto a horse, “She cries for her maiden.”
“Thank you Grand Commander Belon,” Silinia said humbly, her hands still fearfully trembling, “And King Aderac.”
Belon touched her hand to comfort her, then turned and jumped back on his own horse, and looked to Mogen.
“Send someone to stand before King Aderac to ask what you will,” he simply said, before he turned and rode away.
Chapter 52
Now gone all day, anxiously Aderac waited on the wall staring out into the vast blackness for Belon, and filled with nothing but worry, he set his mind that he would wait for him on the wall every night until he returned.
Suspecting he wouldn’t rest within his chamber, which they were right, Laad and Loth stood watch waiting alongside him, and knew that’s where they would be until Belon returned as well.
“Great king,” Laad offered, as now that early misty rain had turned heavy and poured onto their heads, “Great toil it was for you to climb this wall, and now you pace in this hard rain. We know the pain you must be feeling and you are soaked. This night could be a night of many nights if they got farther than he reasoned. I swear to you that as soon as I know he is close, I will have a guild get word to you so you can be waiting for him.”
Aderac mulled. The fatigued look on his face showing his lack of sleep, as well as worry, and his clothes completely soake
d, about to respond, he happened to look out again into the dark plains first.
As he opened his mouth to speak, when he saw horses, he looked at Laad and Loth, then towards the direction of the horses.
“Look!” he said, as he excitedly pointed, “Look out!”
Both looked out, then at each other as alarm filled them.
“What is wrong?” Aderac questioned from the look on their faces.
“We do not know if they are friend or foe,” Laad answered.
“Long has Belon been away from WorrlgenHall to know all the horn blows, and what they mean,” Loth added.
Aderac remembered how Belon’s head popped up while they kissed when horns blew that a stranger rode to WorrlgenHall.
“Yes, he does!” he exclaimed enthusiastically, “He does! He does!”
Both men didn’t know what to say to Aderac’s statement, and held their tongues, until Aderac began to get excited again.
“I hear horns. I hear them!”
Right away, they listened; then looked at each other once they recognized the horn signal.
“Friend!” Both Laad and Loth said in unison.
Now so excited he could hardly catch his breath, Aderac began to pace more.
Stopping and looking out every few turns, once the horses got closer, even more exuberant, he moved onto one of the columns to look down so he could see Belon.
“I swear if he could fly off this wall to Belon he would,” Loth said, and shook his head by how excited Aderac became when he knew Belon was on his way back.
“My fear now is that he will slip,” Laad added, because the stones were completely wet, “And we will not be able to catch him before he falls.”
His eyes searching for his warrior, as soon as Aderac spotted Belon, he began calling out to him.
“Beellloon! Beeellooonnn!” he excitedly yelled, “Beellllooon!”
When he heard someone shouting, believing Aderac would be in the chamber sleeping, Belon didn’t pay much attention. But, as the shouting got louder and more enthusiastic, he realized it was Aderac on the wall calling out to him, and spurred his horse hard forward and hurried under the gate before it was completely up.
