WORRLGENHALL (25 page)

“For the better part of this day I have searched for you,” he said bitterly, “Do you reason I have nothing else to do? Speak where she is.”

“
We parted when we fled from the forest,” Dan quickly gave his lie.

Just as the guard spoke, he looked up and he saw another guard walk from another big rock dragging Anla by her hair.

“Parted,” he growled, as he turned his head to look at him again, “If the king did not want you brought to him. I swear before the sun rose your flesh would be rotting here.”

Dan and Anla
’s hands bound tightly, the guards practically dragged them back to WorrlgenHall behind their horses, and when they reached the gate, all who passed them spat on them and turned their heads in shame.

Now back beside her, King Rone watched intently as Tela pressed on the queen
’s stomach after she gave her something thick and clear to drink, until a servant informed him a guard was at the door.

“
My king, we have found them,” the guard informed him.

“
I will not be gone long,” he said; then looked over at Seda, “Get word to me of any change great or small.”

His steps heavy, he made his way to the bottom o
f WorrlgenHall to where they called their dark rooms; then when he entered, the only light from two small lit torches, he noticed them right away on the cold stoned floor panting out of breath from being dragged several launches.

“
Please, I beg you,” she pleaded, as soon as she saw him, “He spoke he would kill me if I did not help him.”

“
Liar!” Dan shouted.

“
He brought the queen’s cherries to the table!” Anla cried out, “I begged him not to!”

“
She poisoned the cherries!” Dan again shouted.

King Rone showed
no sign of emotion as he looked at them both.

“
As you would a swine for gutting,” he ordered, “Put them up tight one facing the other.”

As both cried out when the guard strung them up one facing the other, he showed them no mercy pulling the ropes as tigh
tly as they would go.

“
Why?” King Rone asked, as he watched, “She is a humble queen.”

“
My king,” Dan confessed already aware of his fate, “A jealous rage is within Anla and she seduced me to her will.”

“
Speak and hasten your death,” he suggested, “Are there others?”

“
You fool,” Anla spouted and spat defiantly knowing her fate, “Let him run you through with no words from you to please him. Our fate is sealed.”

“
Then let me pass with a confession, I beg you,” Dan pleaded, “That I may not leave this world with such a sin upon me.”

“
Speak.”

“
It is not the queen she wanted dead only the child within,” he said, “The poison was to do only that deed, but the queen ate to many of them.”

King Rone felt himself sick,
and as dread seized him so did anger as his fist tightened. “Why?”

“
Jealousy, my king,” he confessed, “From the first, Anla has hated Seda who won the heart of a king. Something she could never do, “Speak your prayer.”

“
I beg forgiveness God for my sins,” he prayed, “That He may welcome me into His kingdom.”

King Rone nodded to the guard, who quietly walked behind Dan after he prayed; then grabbed his hair, and with one even long swipe across his neck ear to ear slit his throat open.

Quietly, he gurgled, as the guard let go of his hair letting his head slump quickly forward.

“
And her great king?” he asked, as he moved behind Anla, his knife still dripping with Dan’s blood, ready to slit hers too.

“
Strip the flesh from her back with lashes,” King Rone ordered, as he walked away wanting her to suffer in agony until she died, “Then hang her upside down with her arms and legs spread wide to a tree so the vultures can pick at her flesh until she is dead.”

King Rone hurried back to his chamber, and when he entered, he saw Tela and Orhan hovering over Seda, and
rushed to her side.

“
What is it?” he asked

At first not noticing the two servants were weeping, wh
en he did, he closed his eyes as great sorrow came over him.

“
Have I lost my queen?” he asked, as his heart fell heavy.

“
A potion has opened her womb,” Tela said, “And your child came forth.”

“
My child?

Tela said nothing at first, then only sighed and tur
ned, before Orhan put his hand on the king’s shoulder.

“
My heart goes out to king,” he spoke.

“
Nooo!” King Rone cried out; then fell to his knees and wailed.

“
Cursed I am to lose both my queen and my child at once.”

“
My king,” Tela quickly turned, and said, “The queen lives.”

In an instant, he rose to his feet and hurried to their bed, then fell back on his knees beside her.

“My queen,” he whispered, but Seda did not answer.

“
She sleeps,” Tela said.

“
Does she still suffer as before?

“
Her sleep is without sickness.”

“
What did she bear me?” he asked afraid to look.

“
A girl,” a servant said, as she brought the wrapped bundle for him to hold.

Tears in his eyes, still on his knees he held her; then kissed her tiny head.

“She would have wooed many,” he said tearfully, “She was indeed beautiful.”

As the servant took the precious bundle away, King Rone rose; then looked at Tela.

“Ask it.”

“
My king,” Tela said, “Such a thing, I would never do now.”

“
Then when my heart is less heavy,” he said and turned back to Seda, “Ask it.”

“
Yes my king,” Tela said.

“
Leave us,” his order to all.

As everyone left the room, he lay beside Seda and kissed her head.

“I will not leave your side until you wake,” he vowed.

Long into the night, as King Rone star
ed at the ceiling above, he heard a soft moan from Seda, who as she turned her head to him smiled; then felt her stomach.

“
Our child?” she asked, “What do we have?”

“
A girl,” he managed to choke out, as his eyes filled.

“
Bring her to me, that I may hold her.”

“
Seda,” he said, as he touched her face tenderly, “Someone poisoned you. When she came into this world, it was without life.”

Slowly, she turned her head from him, as a deep wail came from her.

“My heart is broken!” she cried out, “I would rather be dead than bear such agony!”

“
Please, my wife,” he said, as he held her and cried along with her, “My agony is also great, but I thank God I did not lose you.”

Gently, he pulled her more to him while she cried, lovingly cradling her to his chest.

“Never have I loved another so,” he proclaimed, “I would give my own life to take away your pain.”

“
Forgive me king.” She sniffled, as she put her arm around him, “She was your child too. I felt only my own pain, you are worthy of better than me.”

“
Silence,” he softly ordered, as he listened to her cry again, “I thank God for the sleepless night that brought you to me, and from it blessed me with such deep love. It is I, not worthy of you.”

L
aad, who was once a messenger and often traveled into or pass the Valley of Tul, knew the paths in and out of the valley, and as he reasoned where one hundred Celgon men could camp from the sight of others, suspected they were somewhere in the northern part.

Just north of the valley seldom-journeyed paths that led from the valley to the dry Plains of Aldec, the men must have traveled through one of them.

“What is your plan?” Ogorec asked, now annoyed after waiting for what seemed a long time while Laad thought, “Or do we do nothing and wait here for them to attack us.”

Laad, not easily driven by emotion or offended,
he overlooked his impatience.

“
The Valley of Tul has people dwell in it that have no control over who comes and goes. Shall we charge in and have the innocent harmed too?”

“
Laad,” Ogorec said, “Something must be done soon; even now as we speak I know they have gathered their forces against us.”

“
With forces of one hundred?” he questioned, “The south is far and wide to the sea. This valley, I will gather is just a place to rest.”

“
A messenger and bowman you who became high in place,” Ogorec spoke in an annoyed tone; “I have been under the king’s command longer and know more of these things.”

Laad looked at Ogorec while he boldly spoke, but kept control of his temper and his voice low to keep the others from hearing the growing contention between them.

“True you have,” he replied, “Yet it comes to mind a slaughter against us in the lowland as no one heeded my words, and we had to flee for our lives.”

“
Curses Laad!” he said, as he jaws tightened, “If nothing else will reach you. Wonder of Wurden and Glen’s fate.”

“
I have,” his stare to Ogorec intent, “But, I will not be goaded by you.”

“
A fine friend you are,” Ogorec scoffed and turned his head, “I hope and pray I never have you as one.”  

“
Ogorec!” he said, his voice still controlled, yet his face showed his beginning anger, “Mind your words. Who is it that commands who?”

“
Ogorec enough!” ordered Baric, tired of listening to them, “Laad speak! What have you reasoned?”

“
I reason they are camped just north of the valley,” Laad answered, “We should deal with them swiftly, yet quietly.”

“
Your plan,” Baric urged.

“
Let the men linger here,” Laad said, “But some will make their way down the path and attack those to the north of the valley.”

“
And of those inside it?” questioned Ogorec.

“
It is a trading dwelling,” Laad said, “Some should go inside and walk about.”

“
This is to much,” Ogorec said, as he huffed, “I should have vied and showed who has the true skill for reason and the blade, and been in command.”

“
Put me to the task?” Laad looked in his direction, but not directly at him and warned him, “And you will know firsthand what skill I have with a blade.”

“
From a messenger,” Ogorec sneered, “We shall see.”

Knowing this was not the time for quarreling, Laad decided not to take Ogorec seriously.

“I will deal with you firsthand,” he however assured him, as he now looked directly into his face, “At a more fitting time.”

“
Enough!” Again, Baric ordered slightly raising his voice, “Ogorec, a word.”

Ogorec gave Laad a scolding glance, then rode beside Baric to speak with him.

“What has come over you and darkened your mood so?” he asked, “You know Laad is over you, yet you keep challenging him?”

“
My lord,” Ogorec confessed, “I parted with harsh words to someone and from it my mood is dark.” 

“
I see, then shall we all cradle and rock you like a just born child?” Baric mockingly asked, as he looked at him, “Mind your ways, as well as your tongue,” then rode away from him.

Ogorec followed Lord Baric back beside Laad, and although still annoyed, he held his tongue and listened.

Now both men’s attention on him, and listening carefully to his plan without sarcastic interruptions, Laad gave it.

“
I reason,” he said, “That we have the men stay here, but with fifty less. Those fifty will go around the valley and attack their camp while a few others go into the valley and look for Wurden and Glen.”

“
I will lead the fifty,” Baric always ready and eager words, not one for waiting as men fought on his behalf behind the battle lines.

At once, Loth came forth; as he listened to Laad speak.

“I ask to go with you,” he eagerly volunteered.

“
You were beaten,” Laad said concerned, “You should rest.”

Loth dismissed his injuries.
“…scratches.”

Laad nodded his approval, as Loth fell in line behind him and both rode over to the men.

“I shall go into the valley!” Laad shouted to the first row of men he lined along the river, “I ask for ten footmen only to step forth who will walk in with me!”

Without even a pause what so ever, a great many came forth, and as Laad looked at them, a rush of pride filled him as
their leader.

“
I cannot choose all,” he said regrettably, “Yet, all I know would do well any task.”

As he spoke, Laad rode down the line of men and chose one out of every five, while Baric and Ogorec chose fifty to ride around the valley.

Baric on one end of the group and Ogorec on the other, each rode and chose those who would go with them; then when the numbers were down to ten, each chose five guilds to ride among them.

While Baric quickly chose randomly his five guilds, Ogorec after he chose his four,
searched hard until he found his fifth, and out of sight, he made his way through the line until he found him.

“
You,” he said, as he pointed. His expression stern, “Will ride with me.”

After he chose him, Ogorec waited for him to respond, but all he got wa
s a nod.

“
No words still,” he said remembering what Ovfren said to him in his chamber, “Speak.”

“
I obey commands as they are given,” Ovfren bluntly replied.   

“
We shall go,” Baric shouted to Laad, “Listen for the horn. If four we have triumphed and slain them, if five we have failed and bring to arms the rest of the men.”

As Baric and Ogorec rode away, followed by the men, Laad looked at his ten lined along with Loth slightly in front of them.

“Men,” Laad said calmly, “Remove anything that will bring eyes on you of being from WorrlgenHall. You are to seem as if travelers yet hold close to you your sword and any chance you get slay those from Celgon, do so.”

Swiftly on foot, Laad, Loth right behind him, made his way to th
e entrance to the valley, followed by footmen; then two by two they walked into the valley as if travelers.

As they entered the valley, Laad looked to Loth.

“We must find Wurden and Glen.”

Loth nodded and began to scan the crowd. His eyes not settling on a
ny one person, but keen for whose may be upon him a second longer than a glance.

As they walked, Laad approached one of the trading tables.

“Where is Okev?” he asked those at the first table he stopped at, because Okev was who usually greeted the king’s men in the springs as they passed, urging them to purchase from the tables, but she only shrugged her shoulders offering no verbal answer.

Just as Laad believed, no one paid much attention to them as they mingled among the busy trading and chatterers, walki
ng, buying and bartering back and forth, including those from Celgon.

Laad on one side, Loth on the other, both men able to kill at least four Celgon warriors casually with a subtle quick stab deep into the side just enough to quietly kill, they eased eac
h down as if they had sat to rest.

Still no sign or sight of Wurden or Glen, when two other guilds noticed an opportunity to kill more Celgon men who were walking side by side, they took it.

Looking this way and that, quietly one withdrew his knife, but when they did, two others stepped out with their swords drawn.

“
You mean to rob them do you?” one mockingly asked, “Let us see how well you rob others with no hands.”

Just as the man spoke, Laad called to Loth.

“Look.” He noticed the men’s dire situation, “Four against Belev and Pirod.”

“
Shall we rush to help them?”

“
Let us even the number.”

Casually they withdrew their knives and moved closer, still keeping their eyes keen to those around; then both reared back and threw.

Laad’s aim more deadly, his target fell over dead, but Loth’s target only wounded in the back cried out, which alarmed another Celgon warrior close by.

Acting quickly, when the shriek startled one, Belev turned and thrust his sword into his stomach.

Suddenly, several Celgon warriors ran towards him to help him, but as they did, Laad and Loth closed in.

“
Behind you!” one shouted when he saw them.

As four footmen and six Celgon men now fiercely fought
, the trading tables cleared and people moved out of the way, as women screamed and grabbed their children and hid in their huts.

**

Just as Laad had told him, as they journeyed around the valley, they saw the path leading into the valley.

“Laad reasoned well,” Baric said, “Have one climb this peak and look below.

Ogorec pointed.

“Cered,” he said right away, “Climb it and look below.”

After Cered reached the top, he looked down; and again as Laad suspected saw many from Celgon camped; then hurried back
down.

“
Just inside the north mouth to the valley,” he said, as he breathed heavily from rushing back, “They are camped.”

“
Their number?”

“
I reason their number no less than one hundred men, yet others could be in their tents.”

Baric looked to Ogorec, then
at the path.

“
The path is narrow,” he said, “We cannot charge through it, but in a line.”

“
Put them off their guard by an attack from above,” Ogorec suggested, “Put those bowmen of Laad’s to use and as they scurry about, we can hurry along the path.”

“
Those who are also well skilled bowmen!” Baric shouted, “Come forth!”

Once twelve bowmen were in front of Baric, he gave his command.

“Climb this peak; then spread yourselves, and as we come into valley rain arrows.”

With efficient ease, the men climbed the pe
ak, and spread themselves into place, while the others hurried around to the north and traveled the path.

All riding hard, when the men camped heard the thunder of hooves, at once they armed themselves, but while they anxiously waited for the first horse t
o appear, arrows suddenly rained from the sky.

“
Above us!” one shouted, “Bowmen are on the peak!”

With haste, Celgon
’s bowmen shot their arrows back, but the twelve hidden well behind rocks went untouched, then as they heard the thunder of hooves draw closer; Baric’s horse appeared, followed by Ogorec, and just like the confrontation in the valley, all charged towards the other.

“
Let none remain standing!” Baric’s loud cry, as he slashed through one of Celgon’s men.

Ogorec close behind him, slashed several
to his left and right, but when he turned his horse, one of them struck it in the head with a mace and forced to jump off or have the horse crush him, he landed hard on his back releasing his sword.

The wind knocked out of his lungs from landing hard, he
lay dazed for a moment not noticing the man now raising the mace high about to crush his skull.

“
Ogorec!” Ovfren called out before he threw his sword back to him, but as he did, he thrust his own sword into the man, which sank deep in his stomach.

Ogorec
rose to his feet, and pulled Ovfren’s sword out of the man’s stomach and tossed it back, but once he caught it, for some reason expecting him to say something, he was taken aback when he simply jumped back on his horse and rode off.

His horse now wounded b
adly.

“
A horse!” Ogorec shouted to one of the men.

Right away, one of them brought him the horse of a slain Celgon man, then once back on one; again Ogorec fought with verve along with the others killing many, then before he realized it, when he looked up
all that remained standing were only the men of WorrlgenHall.