WORRLGENHALL (38 page)

Ovfren said nothing, as he turned and looked back out. Ogorec words like a scab scraped off a healing wo
und, he thought of all the seasons the two had together to know of many places to be away from others.

His head still slightly lowered, Ogorec raised it and looked out as well, but said nothing as he searched to find words to soothe the hurt he knew Ovfre
n felt, and gripped his hand lovingly.

“
What words must I speak to soothe the hurt I know you feel?” he asked as he held his hand, “And they will flow from me eagerly.”

“
Why speak of it?” he questioned puzzled and saddened, as he shrugged his shoulders, “It was unknown to me.”

“
Even if my words are hurtful,” he confessed, not wanting to meet there again, “I will not keep anything from you.”

Again, Ovfren looked out mulling over thoughts of Ogorec and Belon.

“Speak what goes through you head.”

“
Such is my fear of him haunting us from place to place and putting a wall between us,” he shook his head with worry, “Such is my fear.”

“
Then speak the words,” he said willing, “And we will leave with haste.”

“
Leave the place we stand?” Ovfren asked, as his head turned to Ogorec.

“
No,” he avowed, as he looked back at him, “WorrlgenHall.”

“
Under a lord you are,” Ovfren said. His slight angst mollified from Ogorec’s willingness to leave WorrlgenHall on a whim just for him, “I would never ask such a thing.”

“
Ovfren,” Ogorec said, his words of devotion coming from deep within him, “Yes this place was a place where Belon and I met – yet here no words of love came from me as they do for you. I love you.”

Ovfren closed his eyes and sighed comforted by Ogorec
’s words of love.

“
Or words of this,” Ogorec averred, as he released his grip; then took from around his neck the boar tooth he wore given to him by his father, “I give you something I hold dear to me - and bond you to me.”

As he took it, surprised by his gesture, Ovfr
en took of the shark tooth necklace he wore around his neck given to him by his father, and gave it to Ogorec.

“
We were already bonded long ago,” he said, as he held Ogorec’s gift, “When you vowed your love to me just beyond the Lake of Hebor.”

As both st
ood silently recalling their act of devotion to the other, Ovfren broke the silence.

“
Shall we leave this place and embrace at another?” he asked.

“
This place,” Ogorec spoke at once. His heart quickened, as always from his willing readily devotion to Ovfren, “Will be a place of old haunts, as well as any place and long forgotten. Now that I am with you there is no other before you or shall be after you”

Trusting all he spoke as truth, Ovfren
’s heart lifted.

“
Such passionate words flow from deep within,” Ovfren now teased, “Such that I fear when we ride out, I will not be able to sit upon my horse with ease.”

Ogorec rolled his eyes, as Ovfren showed his playful humor; then glad their somber moment was past them, gripped his hand and forced his arm behind his
back, before he kissed him.

“
You will for a time,” he said. His breath heavy with want when he pulled his lips away, “Only if you wish it.”

As Ovfren put his hand deep in Ogorec
’s hair with his arm still locked behind his back, he fell to his knees pulling Ogorec down with him.

“
I wish it always.”

N
ot long after Laad returned to WorrlgenHall with the rest of the men again Irek took ill, but this time as he lay sick in his bed, the severity of his illness hidden from all except his wife as long as he could, he called only for Laad to come to his bedside chamber.

As Laad stood beside him, he began to raise himself in
bed to speak to him.

“
Death follows me closely,” he made his confession, as he groaned and moved, “And with that spoken you must know what I had seeded for you.”

His words veiled, Laad reached for Irek
’s arms to help prop him up in bed comfortably, but did not understand.

“
Always words clouded to me,” he said once he was propped more comfortably, “Reveal what is behind them.” 

Irek looked at Laad, and asked him to sit, and only after he did, did he begin speaking again.

“I lost my only son in battle long ago when he was just a young warrior.” Irek revealed and reached for Laad’s hand to pat it, “And when Boek died you became the son I lost. I proudly watched you grow from boy to man and leader doing all I could for you, and I shall do one last thing.”

Stil
l Laad did not understand Irek’s words, and began to believe he was possibly losing his senses from illness.

“
What one last thing?” Laad was however curious.

“
I am setting in place what you are to become by planting a seed.”

“
Become?”

“
You shall become what you rightfully should be. A king.”

Laad stood and hurried to the door, then opened it to look out and make sure no one was near; then closed it.

“Your words spew treachery,” he was quick to quell him, “You are dying, yet you hasten death should others hear your words, and from it put my family at harm, as well as me.”

Irek laughed; then coughed loudly before he began to speak again.
“My words are not of treachery, but of a seed.”

“
A seed of treachery,” Laad added.

“
My words are not of rebelling against the king or his sons.” Irek coughed annoyed. “But that you are in high place should fate bring about a wind of change?”

“
Irek,” he tried to dismiss his ideas, “You are ill, and should rest and speak when your mind is suited for reason.”

“
My mind is well suited to speak what is within.”

Laad groaned; then sat again.
“Speak.”

“
Long have I put words in the king’s ear of you…And from it I will have you take my place as Lord Helm when I die watering the seed.”

“
Such words!” he protested, as he stood again, “I will not.”

“
Sit!” Irek mustered enough air into his lungs to put fire behind his command, “And you will take my place as Lord Helm!”

Laad shook his head in disbelief, but obeyed.
“There are more worthy, older, and wiser.”

“
There are none more worthy,” Irek said avidly, “And age is not always a companion to wisdom.”

“
Irek,” again, Laad protested, “Others envy such a place. To give it to me will make me hated among many.”

“
If such is true,” he told him, “Then win them to you.”

“
Irek,” again, Laad began to speak his protest, but Irek interrupted him.

“
My words are as unbending as steel and stone,” he said, “When I die Lord Helm you shall be.”

“
Then I pray you live long,” Laad rose annoyed, and walked out of his chamber.

**

Inside the walls of WorrlgenHall, still Laad worried over Elgen
’s warning. Other than the one hundred men they killed at the Valley of Tul, they came across no one else.

Elgen
’s words made clear of what his brother Thogor wanted, suddenly for him to give up without a fight, was unlikely, yet still as the scouts and guilds rode the lands, they found no signs or heard words of threats.

Feeling unsettled about it, Laad kept his thoughts to himself until he spoke to Loth who had become his tr
usted friend, as well as the only regularly with him, and by how they finished each other sentences, and were of like minds, if strangers observed them together would swear the two were brothers.

As they walked the battlement walls, another of Laad
’s habits when his mind was troubled from matters with the kingdom, one evening while they talked, he voiced his concern about the Celgon matter.

“
A smaller kingdom they are,” Loth said, one of those times, “And they hunger longing to devour the land of Worrlgen, as a wolf does its prey.”

“
Yes,” Laad agreed, “But even a hungry wolf dares not pounce upon what it knows it cannot bring down.”

Loth nodded; then as Laad stopped, his eyes squinted, as a thought came to him about what he just said.

“What?” Loth asked curiously.

“
Such fools we were. Wolves do hunt in packs for their prey. Celgon is seeking the help of others so many can fight against our king.”

“
Then Elgen coming to WorrlgenHall,” Loth said, as again they walked, “Was a lie to send us to the south as he made pacts to the east.”

“
Yes,” Laad quickly agreed, as he now walked down the stairs of the wall to go to the king’s court and reveal what he now believed.

Irek still stricken to his bed, Laad took his place in front of the quorum and spoke of his concern.

“Such came to mind with me too,” King Rone agreed, “Yet no scouts or spies have brought word of any seeking to bond.”

“
When the time is fitting,” Laad said, “I will have spies ride to the east and tarry to see what pacts are being sought.”

All in agreement
, when all left the king’s private court, as Laad was about to leave too, King Rone called him back to him.

“
How is Irek fairing?” he asked concerned.

“
I fear his state is as before long ago,” he answered, “But strong willed he is. Such that I believe he will be well again.”

King Rone nodded.

“He is well fond of you, and his speech in your favor is endless, as well as my queen’s,” King Rone added, “He wants you to take his place.”

Laad said nothing at first,
as words left him.

“
I am not worthy, my king,” finally his humbled reply.

King Rone was silent while he looked to Laad, as if in deep contemplation about something; then inhaled.

“I never spoke of this,” he now spoke more freely; “I knew your father and mother.”

Laad
’s eyes lit curiously; never would he have guessed the king knew them.

“
Your father and I fought alongside the other when I was a young lord. A brave guild he was indeed, and as for your mother, she was very beautiful. It was a pity she died so young.”

The king
’s words of praise for his father and mother made Laad smile; he always thought of him as brave and loved him, and although his mother did die young, and he didn’t remember much about her, he loved her too.

“
Should Irek’s illness overtake him, I see you as Lord Helm.”

Respectfully, Laad nodded.

“I thank you, my king,” he said, as he watched King Rone rise while he bowed his head, until he left his private court.

**

As the seasonal rains flooded the hills and glens, riding the lands with ease became difficult and because of it, Ovfren and Ogorec could not ride out to embrace during the night.

Both longing for the other, strong willed they stayed and showed no affection to the other in front of anyone still keeping their words few,
yet late one night, as the rain beat down on the stoned walls and the thunder pealed, while he lay trying to sleep, Ovfren’s want overcame him.

WorrlgenHall even more darkened by the blackened sky and heavy rains, the hallways were empty, as quietly he wa
lked the chamber floors careful not to make the wood creak when he finally made it to Ogorec’s chamber door; then looking this way and that, turned the latch.

Fearful at first of Ogorec scolding him, his want for him greater, carefully very slowly, he open
ed it and closed the door behind him.

As he stood by the door
’s entrance, only for a moment, he thought of turning around when he saw Ogorec asleep, but he had already gone as far as to sneak into his chamber, to turn around would be foolish.

Keeping his s
teps light, he moved next to Ogorec’s feet, and as his heart raced, he paused for a moment to decide how he wanted to wake him.

“
Such a thunder.” Ogorec yawned and stretched, then put his hands behind his head already awakened when he heard someone enter his chamber.

Ovfren looked startled fearful of Ogorec scolding him.

“I could not go another rain filled night,” he confessed, “And not touch you in some way.”

“
Only a touch...” Ogorec doubted, “Alone late into the night as rain pours from above darkening all of WorrlgenHall, and only a touch.”

From that Ovfren smiled, as he removed his tunic, then loosened his pants, and after they fell to his feet, he took off his boots.

As he watched him, Ogorec sat up; then began to turn over onto his stomach; but Ovfren stopped him.

“
Wait,” he whispered, “Stay on your back.”

Ogorec
got back onto his back leaning his head up to look at Ovfren as he touched feet, then his legs as he crawled upon him, then once positioned right over him, as he now tenderly kissed on him, although filled with anticipation Ogorec remained silent.

“
We have never been upon a bed. I want to be with you this way for our first upon a bed, and kiss you as I do,” he whispered, as his kisses gradually found Ogorec’s mouth.

At once, Ogorec seized him, holding him tightly taken in by his words.

“As would a man be upon a woman,” he spoke finally, as he breathed heavily into the mouth of his love.

“
Yes.” Ovfren moaned.

Ovfren pushed himself up
and reached for Ogorec’s thighs, then parted them.

“
Into your eyes I shall look as I move inside you.” He groaned with his first thrust, “While kissing you madly as I do.”

When he did, Ogorec panted unable to
respond, as Ovfren spoke while thrusting inside him.  

“
Uh.” Ogorec’s only sounds.

“
Time is not with us this night.” Ovfren moaned, as he pushed Ogorec’s lower body down hard into the plume-filled bed, “And will not let me have you at length though I long to.”

“
With thrusts into me in such as these,” Ogorec blurted in one breath, as one hand held his back and the other his muscled rear, “I will not last at length.”

Just as he spoke, Ov
fren’s body seized. “Sssss,” the only sound he could muster as waves of smooth milky fluid suddenly filled Ogorec.

His full weight upon Ogorec; he held him tightly, as his hand dug deep into his hair
while it did.

“
I am overcome,” Ogorec said, as he felt his own release squishing on his stomach between them.

“
The rain is not all that floods,” Ovfren teased, as his body shuddered while releasing the last of his emptying organ in one more wave.

“
Only floods as this,” Ogorec teased back, “Do I welcome with no end.”

Inhaling deep, Ovfren pulled out of Ogorec; then rested his weight on his arms.

“I will heed our words to the other and not come to you in the night,” he said and pressed his forehead to Ogorec’s before he got out of his bed, “But I throbbed below from much held within, and dare I spill it with my hand when I can put it all inside you.”

Ogorec raised himself onto his elbow saying nothing at first, as he watched admiringly and lovingly, Ovfren dress.

“Young guild.” he spoke finally; when he now began to walk towards the door, “This older guild loves you.”

Ovfren turned and smiled, then listened at the door before opening, then smiling to Ogorec one last time, quietly sneaked down the hallway.

Once gone, his heart still pounding from Ovfren’s passion, Ogorec flopped down onto his back, and put his hands behind his head lost in thought.

“
Umm,” his word to himself often, as he exhaled and thought of Ovfren’s virile thrusts into him; then closed his eyes to go back to sleep.

**