by Luke, Monica
“Just one more matter,” Atorad added.
Curiously, he stopped and waited for his next words.
“You did not call me king or bow to me,” he scowled, and gave his sadistic command to one of the guards, “Strike him down.”
**
Belon carefully handpicked those most skilled and trusted to escort his children back to Ivodgald; even though, every day they unsuccessfully begged to remain.
On the morning they were set to leave, as he and Aderac dressed to surprise them by riding halfway, stopping along the way to enjoy the sights, hard persistent knocking interrupted them.
“So early it is…” Aderac commented knowing they still had awhile before leaving.
“My command was we would not leave until later in the morning,” Belon added, as he slid his tunic over his head, and went to the door.
Curiously, Belon opened it halfway; then when he saw Silinia standing next to one of the guilds crying, he flung the door open and hurried in front of her.
“Aderac!” Belon called out, knowing whatever she was about to say, would not be good.
Hysterically crying, Silinia fell to Aderac’s feet when he came to the door.
“Why are you crying?” Aderac asked, as he looked down at her.
Trying to speak as she cried, snot, tears, and saliva making her words unintelligible, Belon pulled her back up by her shoulders.
“You must calm,” he urged, “So we can understand you.”
“It is the… the… children.”
Alarm swept across both men’s faces. Their eyes unblinking, as they looked intently at Silinia tear stained face.
“What about the children?” Aderac asked first.
“Speak it!” Belon impatiently added.
“They were not within the chamber when I woke, and Belo is gone as well,” she blurted. “I fear they sneaked away in the night.”
Stunned, Belon braced himself against the threshold, and gripped the top edge of door for balance.
“Belon,” Aderac said worried, as he moved close to him, “Where do you reason they are?”
“I do not know,” he answered, as he looked at Silinia, “Go back to the chamber and search again to make sure they are not hiding within.”
Quickly, her head nodded, and still crying she hurried away.
“Get word to the king, Laad, and Loth of this,” his ordered the guard still standing by the door, as he fought to remain calm.
When the guard hurried away, Belon closed the door in silence, and as Aderac watched him walk to his clothes to finish dressing, knew he was beside himself with worry by the entranced look in his eyes.
Once Belon tightened his belt after he dressed, he inhaled deeply; then looked at Aderac, who had waited patiently for the right moment to talk to him.
As Belon’s eyes now called him over to him, Aderac came close, looked at him lovingly and supportively of his decision, then brushed his hair to the side away from his saddened worried eyes, and lifted his chin to kiss his nose.
“I know,” Aderac answered the question he spoke from them.
“Aderac,” Belon voiced his worry anyway, “If something happens to our children for my stubbornness, I shall throw myself from the wall.”
“Speak no such thing,” Aderac said soothingly, knowing it was his turn to remain calm and help Belon with his worry and guilt.
“They did not want to go,” he recalled again, as he shook his head wishing he had listened to them. “They begged to stay. They begged Aderac, and I was to stubborn to hear them.”
Aderac’s hand stroked and touched Belon’s face.
“You only wanted them to return so they would be safe. You did nothing wrong.”
Belon’s tall frame slumped, then he put his large hand on the back of Aderac’s hand that touched his face, and held his hand with his other hand.
“We will find them,” Aderac assured him, “And when we do, we will sit them down and speak to them at length of why they must return.”
Quickly, Laad and Loth hurried to meet with Belon and Aderac, but as they walked down the hallway, another guard came up to them.
“Two children are asleep in the outside stable,” he told them, “Hidden away in the back on straw. The servant knew they were the two children from Ivodgald by their clothes.”
As he spoke, Belon and Aderac came walking down the hallway.
“The children have left their chamber, and we do not know where they are!” Belon said before he even reached them, “Gather the guilds and I shall gather those from Ivodgald to search for them.”
“No need to worry,” Laad quickly revealed, “A servant saw two children sleeping on straw; we believe they are your children.”
Aderac turned to Belon, and sighed loudly. “Come, let us go to them.”
Belon sighed as well, and both hurried away almost running to the stable, then after bursting inside, when they saw them cuddled together laying tucked under two loose heaps of straw asleep with Belo right beside them, their hearts turned to mush.
Quietly, they entered; then Belon gently woke them.
“Dare both of you do such a deed,” he chided them, as he dropped to his knees to speak to them.
Groggily both woke; then when they saw Belon, jumped into his arms.
“We hid,” they admitted right away, “So they would have to leave without us.”
Belon could only lovingly chuckle as he imagined them with their heads huddled together secretly conspiring their childish plan.
“Do you know how much I love both of you?” he asked, as he let out a sigh of relief after his chuckle, as his strong hands gently touched both their chins.
“Yes we do,” they answered in unison.
As he listened, Aderac overcome, decided to try once more to sway his decision.
“Belon, honey,” Aderac’s bottom lip and chin dropped, as he got on his knees and joined them, “Such a bold deed just to stay here with us shows how set their minds are.”
“Yes, such a bold deed,” Belon agreed, as he pulled them even closer, so moved that he couldn’t send them back even if he wanted to, “Dare I sadden my treasures more, and send them back when so set are their minds to stay.”
The children happily bounced and cheered that they could remain, and as they did, Aderac smiled wide pulling everyone together.
“Come family,” Belon said, as he kissed both the children’s heads, then the head of his love, “Let us get away from this smell, and get hot food into both of you. It is still early, so after you eat, both of you back to bed.”
**
“Do you reason King Gegorad has received the message King Baric and King Aderac sent him?” Loth asked Laad as, as always they walked on the wall and talked.
“I reason if not,” he answered, “Then he shall in two or three days.”
Both looked out and over to the glens faintly hearing the sounds of swords clashing, and men groaning and chatting as they readied themselves by practicing.
“I hear the men of Ivodgald are training with the guilds and gruels,” Laad commented, “How are all fairing?”
“All seems well,” he answered, leaning his shoulder onto one of the columns, “But, I have a worry.”
Laad leaned onto the column facing him to hear what he had to say.
“Well,” he urged when Loth hadn’t began to speak, “Speak your worry.
“Osgorad is speaking bitter of Belon.”
“Why?”
Loth turned, and now leaned his back onto the column. Always informed of what goes on with the men when they had free time, many reported to him they heard Osgorad and some of his friends laughing over Belon’s love for King Aderac.
He revealed some of the mocking was that King Aderac seemed more womanly than manly, and they often laughed amused at the irony that they had children.
“I hope that you jest with me,” Laad expressed concern, “Words as that will not end well.”
“There is no jest from me in this
,” Loth’s reply wishing for once he were, “Soon enough if he will not stop, his words will reach Belon.”
“He has changed since he has become The Commander of Ivodgald,” Laad said hopeful, “As I have seen with my own eyes.”
“Well true,” Loth reminded, “Belon now cares of no insult to him, yet let another insult King Aderac or speak wrong of or to his children, and he will find his fate filled with suffering or worse, the same as the men from Hemrock.”
“I will speak to Osgorad,” Laad said, knowing that as Lord Helm it was his duty, “To see that he holds his tongue of anything about King Aderac or their children.”
**
In the glens, as Enek practiced with those under him with the guilds and gruels, while Ogorec watched him from a distance on his horse, Belon rode up beside him.
“The highest guilds and men of Ivodgald’s horse guard are training together I see.” Belon noticed, “By whose words.”
“Rulgesic saw them training apart, and reasoned why not have them train together to pass the time.”
Belon nodded approving. “How are all fairing?”
“All seem to be fairing well,” Ogorec teased, “Their commander has held true to how those trained him.”
Both laughed.
“Where is King Aderac?”
Belon jumped off his horse, then grabbed his horse’s rein and petted its side.
“Since the children are remaining,” he answered softly laughing, “He wants them still learning while here. He is speaking to the priests, who teach King Baric’s son and Laad’s children to see if any are learned enough to teach them.”
Ogorec chuckled at the thought of King Aderac examining WorrlgenHall’s priests at length.
“They already speak another tongue,” Belon jested thinking of Aderac and his obsession with books and always learning, “They, I reason could teach the priests.”
Again, both laughed, yet unable to resist, as he looked out at him, his mind rampant with thoughts of what drew Ovfren to him, Ogorec asked about Belon’s first in command.
“Speak to me of him…” Ogorec said, as he sat on his horse avoiding eye contact by keeping his eyes forward.
Knowing of whom he spoke, Belon hesitated, unsure how he should respond to his request.
“Ogorec,” Belon only said, as he looked over at him noticing his intentional stare ahead, “I did not know, and when I did, I…”
“I know,” Ogorec cut in, “He chose me, but I know he is struggling within to keep him out of his head.”
“Then I am sorry. Never would I have reasoned this would be. I did not send for him, he came to help me of his own will with Aderac,” Belon’s candid truth, but still somehow he felt guilty.
“Do not be,” Ogorec responded, “His love is for me, but somehow something about him seeded within Ovfren.”
Ogorec let out a strange laugh, but not from something amusing, but rather the quirk of fate. He remembered his discussion with Belon when he head butted Ovfren after they returned from the Valley of Tul.
“I fear to bring to light my wrong to you long ago,” he voiced his thoughts; “I now know how you felt you when you learned of me and Ovfren?”
“I felt anger and wanted revenge,” Belon admitted, “And then felt sorrow for myself by sulking.”
“I hoped you forgave me.”
“And, I did in time,” Belon responded, “But, we both know long afterwards, I still longed to again set our spark to a flame.”
“Until...”
“Yes,” Belon shuddered, not even wanting to think of his life before him, “Until Aderac.”
“Our places have changed much over time, as I now find myself asking you what you asked me as we rode to the People of the Vells,” Ogorec commented, since both spoke honestly and freely, “What is it about King Aderac that changed you from the old Belon. To speak I did, I shall reason is part, but we both know not enough? I do not mean to offend, but he is not pleasing to the eyes, and at times speaks such that he annoys those near him who if he was not a king, would run away.”
Belon could only laugh, because Ogorec spoke the truth, but he gave him his truth as well.
“All is true that no woman’s head turns to look at him as he passes, yet when I look at him, I become lost in his green eyes. When he speaks, I take in every word with awe, and become weak for the reason his words, any words, which he is able to speak in many other tongues stay with me and strengthen me. He revealed he loved me, and like a fool; I almost denied myself happiness vowing to never love again, and dare a chill.”
Belon again shuddered, and paused to take a deep thankful breath, “Not come over me when I wonder what would be my loathsome life if he had taken to heart my words, and returned to Ivodgald right away?
One night on the way to Ivodgald, as if lightning struck me was my overcome feeling when I began to love him, and to this day, it feels just as that when he is near me. The purest love he has for me, and by the very life within me, I shall always return it.”
Ogorec’s head bowed to Belon, impressed with his words, then when he noticed the resolute expression on his face after he confessed his heart decided to lighten the moment.
“You do know that your words were long winded,” he teased to get him out of it, but was glad to hear it from him, “But, you spoke them well.”
Again, both chuckled; then back to the matter at hand, Belon offered Ogorec information on Enek that probably dwelled in his head.
“He is a good friend, a strong and fearless commander, and true to his will,” Belon revealed, “And other than you, my friend, to have him in battle beside me is an honor.”
Since the gate was open, Ogorec rode through it asking more. “Is there another in his life?”
“A few women, I have seen from time to time, but none held his heart.”
“Could he be such a way with Ovfren?”
“I do not know, but never,” Belon again revealed, as he shrugged his shoulders, “Has he spoken of such, or done anything to have me reason such.”
As they spoke, one of the inner guards came for Ogorec.
“The king wishes to see you,” he said, “In his private chamber with Laad and Loth.”
“Is it a matter for King Aderac as well?” Belon asked.
“It is not.”
“Then, I shall tarry and watch.”
As he turned his horse to ride away, Ogorec nodded to Belon, who nodded back, and both understood the nod meant that would be their last conversation over the matter.
Once Ogorec rode away, Belon got on his horse and rode down to the glen, and as he sat on his horse watching, Osgorad, who was among those training, began to mock Belon to his friends.
“I wonder if his ride over to us was a painful one,” he mocked, “With all that trotting on his backside.”
After he and his friends laughed, again Osgorad made a sarcastic comment, and now annoyed by it, Enek decided to humiliate; then shut him up.
In a line farther down, as the men paired training, Enek told three of the men to move to his left, which would pair him with Osgorad, and when Belon saw it, one brow lifted puzzled.
“Hmmm,” he said to himself, and called Enek over to him.
Enek broke the line, and walked over to him.
“You are out training, and now you move yourself such that you pair with Osgorad,” Belon mentioned, “Why to both?”
Enek shrugged his shoulders, and grinned. “It is something to do.”
“Mmhm,” Belon doubtfully expressed, before he nodded knowing Osgorad must have said something that offended Enek, “Do nothing to put the men of Worrlgen and Ivodgald against the other.”
Egen nodded, then walked back, but by now, all had again moved.
“I was about to pair with that one,” he said causally, as he pointed at Osgorad, “I want my place again.”
Puzzled Rulgesic looked over to Belon, who nodded his approval.
“Very well,” Rulgesic said, although wary, “Osgora
d pair with Enek again.”
While walking back to pair with Osgorad, amusing himself Enek took off his tunic, and when he passed Ovfren, Ovfren had to turn his head because his breath quickened confirming what he already suspected, that his muscles rippled down his broad chest to his stomach, and down his back to his rear.
Once in front of Osgorad, he nodded pleasantly, then as all again began to train, after awhile Osgorad became frustrated that no matter what he did or which way he moved, he couldn’t get the upper hand on Enek, who barely broke a sweat as he taunted him.
“Come now,” he mocked while using only his left hand, as he did. “What is it that they call you, oh, high guild? Come now high guild, overcome me.”
Osgorad groaned in frustration wildly swinging forward, and when the others noticed how furious he had become and loudly groaning, they began to move out of the way, and circle them.
“Overcome me!” Enek repeated solely to taunt, “Overcome me!”
Aggravated to the point his temples pulsed, Osgorad now charged blindly towards him, and as he watched Belon laughed amused already knowing what would happen next.
A bad habit of his, which was to charge when angered. Osgorad kept his head down when he did not paying attention to his readying foe, which any much taller and faster than him merely had to do was quickly step out of the way of his charging path then strike him.
Exactly what Enek did, he struck Osgorad in the top of his head with the pommel of his sword dropping him face down in the ground, then got over him and effortlessly flipped him onto this back.
After jamming his knee into his sternum, he looked down at him and spoke to him quietly, keeping his words few, but meaningful.
“Speak hatefully or mock who commands me again, and I will slit your eyeballs in half while they still sit inside your head.”
Never having heard such a threat, Osgorad looked at him dumbfounded, as he struggled to breathe.
“Have my words reached you?” he made him answer by adding an incentive burrow deeper into his sternum with his knee.
“They have,” Osgorad painfully groaned.
