WORRLGENHALL (37 page)

“Our course, Lord Master,” one spoke out eager to obey.

“
Laad,” Laad chided, and looked at him disapproving, “Laad.”

The man nodded; then turn
ed and walked to stand with the others, but not longer afterwards, Loth appeared from the side of the mountain with his band.

After riding next to him, he wiped his brow, then jumped off his horse and stood beside him.

“The children,” Laad spoke, as he looked at them.

“
What of them?” Loth questioned.

“
They have no will over the evils of their mother or father,” he continued, “Yet they know of the practices they do and may turn to them when of age.”

“
Then what is your will? Sok asked, who was listening, as his impatience grew.

“
Take all of them to the monastery,” Laad commanded, and tossed a bag of coins to Sok, “To live until of age, and I pray they are converted.”

“
But Lord Baric,” Loth expressed his slight objection, “Took the children of the nomad tribe back to WorrlgenHall.”

“
That is true.” Laad knew why he mentioned it, “And I questioned not my lord. Yet, I feel a harmless seed can yield a poisonous fruit, and I will not plant one at WorrlgenHall.”

When both were side by side and out of earshot of the others, Loth voiced something that bothered him
, “Why did you not spare the women? They were helpless.”

C
oncerned the deed seemed brutal. Loth did not look at Laad fearing his answer would bring a disapproving frown.

Laad paused before he answered, and kept his words truthful, few, and simple in his reply.
“There is only one God, not the moon, the stars, or the sun, which they worship in these plains. A festering plague is their belief to spread to those they come across, and it will not be at WorrlgenHall.”

Pleased with his answer, Loth said nothing more about it.
“What is our course now?”

“
Seal all the mouths of the caves we find,” Laad yelled to the men; then looked to Loth, “Our course is home.”

**

When the gates lowered Laad’s band of men made their way to the stables to leave the horses, then as Lord Master, he went to the quorum to give an account of how they dealt with the people of the Mountain of Ash and a scouting report, but late when they rode in, all had gone to bed.

Certain his words could hold until morning, he didn
’t call for a special meeting, and eager to see his loved ones, instead rushed to his chamber.

So rapidly was his heartbeat as he did, he was certain it would burst, and his stride the pace of almost running, when he reached the stairs he slowed, and didn
’t burst instead inside, not wanting to wake them suddenly.

Quietly, he unlatched the door and saw his love soundly sleeping. Then, he walked more inside and looked over at his son, and at the vision beside him before gently lifting the precious bundle into his arms.

“A daughter,” he whispered pleased, as right away her name came to him.

After gently putting her down, he walked to the table; then quietly put away his sword and knife.

“Such a smell is upon me,” he mumbled to himself, as he thought of their grueling steadfast journey home.

Careful not to wake Nona, he undressed and went to the washbasin before diligently scrubbing himself free of dirt, sweat, and whatever he came across that may have stuck to his body; then as he turned, he stopped startled when
 noticed her leaning on her arm in bed.

Nona watched him saying nothing and her golden hued hair resting to one side on her shoulder, when Laad looked at her face, he knew she would always be a vision of utmost beauty to him.

Both their hearts about to explode from within; his heart reaching her first before his body, he kneeled beside the bed, then put his forehead to hers, and when he noticed how one eye was dry, while the other streamed a trail of tears, lifted her out of it.

With Nona in his arms, he carried he
r to the chair by the fireplace; then sat her sideways on his lap, and her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, she buried her head in his strong chest.

Still no words between them, he untied the strings of her bed gown; then as it fell and rested around
her tiny waist, he lifted her and let slide down her legs to the floor, while she unstrung his pants and slid them down.

Nona now naked in his arms, Laad cuddled her close, as he listened to her softly sigh in his ear and felt her breath upon his neck, whi
le his hand gently ran up and down her smooth thighs.

One last gentle stroke, his fingers moved to feel inside her heated moist walls before gently he replace
d his fingers with his manhood.

As she held him tighter awaiting his deep thrusts, there were
none, as he rested his forehead on the top of her head; then when she looked up at him, he kissed her tenderly, while he thrust inside her until their tender silent passion reached its peak.

When it had, Nona inhaled as Laad
’s body shivered while all within him spurted hard into her; then with her in his strong arms; he carried her to their bed.

“
I pray I leave this world in no other way than close to my only love,” his words to her when he lay beside her to sleep.

Soundly, Nona slept; then suddenly spra
ng up in bed, and looked to her right for Laad to be next to her; then when she did not see him, her body slumped saddened fearing she had dreamed it all, until she looked down at her arm.

“
How beautiful,” she said, as she raised her arm to examine it more; then looked across their chamber.

Laad, sitting in a chair holding their daughter, gently he cradled her, and smiled at Nona.

“Laadnia,” he said.

Nona smiled and put on her bed gown, then walked to him and ran her fingers through his thick black hair.

“Laadnia,” she repeated, “Laadnia, daughter of Laad.

After she took their daughter from him to feed her, Elaad woke and rushed into Laad
’s open arms; then once he swung him around, he put him on his shoulders and walked with him around the chamber.

“
Aaaaah,” Nona said playfully, “I plead to be in line for such… yet with me, I ask that you turn me so I can be facing you upon your shoulders.”

Laad stopped; then looked at Nona. His eyes widened with surprise because he had never heard her speak so provocativel
y.

“
Umm,” he said when he put Elaad down, “I shall grant that plea very soon.”

Lovingly, he walked to his beloved.

“My heart has missed you so,” his loving words, as he put his arms around her, “This day I give only to you after my words in front of the quorum and king, and also words to Wurden’s family.”

“
Husband, I am sorry you lost your good friend,” Nona said, and held him back, “If you wish, I can go to them from time to time.”

“
The kindness within you is also why I love you.”

“
With haste give them your words,” Nona said, and smiled, “We will be eagerly waiting.”

As he spoke, he turned when he heard
a knock on his door.

“
The day is early,” he said, as he walked to it curious who it could be.

When he noticed it was Loth, another smile graced his face when he saw how eager he was to begin the day.

“I gathered you would be still in a deep sleep,” Laad said, as he stood at the door.

Loth laughed.

“In time yes,” he said, “Yet my body woke of its own will, and I could not rest again.”

Laad nodded; then looked to Nona and smiled before he closed the door to go to the king
’s court to speak to him and the quorum, but before he did, he spoke with Wurden’s family comfortingly and revealed to them his dying words.

Once in front of the king and the quorum, his words the same as Baric
’s account, when he gave an account of what he called “ash people” the king nodded his approval.

“
Such a fine head upon your shoulders,” the words he now often spoke when he referred to most everything Laad did, “And one that I will make well use of.”

Not allowed to attend this particular court meeting, Loth waited in the hallway; then w
hen Laad walked out of the door, he joined him.

“
You and your wife join me and mine this day to eat,” he said, as they walked.

“
We would enjoy such,” Laad said, “But I beg it be another time. I devoted this day to be alone with my wife.”

“
Alone.” Loth laughed, “You have a young son and child; there is not much passion with them so close.”

“
There are ways.” Laad slightly chuckled, as he thought of her on his lap last night.

“
Bring them to us.” Loth laughed, “And enjoy such time with only your wife alone.”

La
ad stopped, and turned to Loth. “I thank you for offering to watch over them, but long have I been away. This day I devote to them, as well as my wife. “

Loth nodded.

“As you wish Lord Master,” he teased, as he began to walk away.

“
Loth,” Laad said after Loth took a few steps, “Laad…”

“
Laad Lord Master or Lord Master Laad,” Loth said, and playfully threw up his hands; then walked down the hallway.

Amused, Laad shook his head, as he watched Loth throw up his hands and walk away, and chuckled to himself at how steadfast he seemed on giving him that title.

**

Once the other band of men arrived back at WorrlgenHall, Irek decided to speak with Ogorec about his relationship with Belon, instead of waiting for Belon finally
to come forth with whatever they had decided to do, but as he watched them, he noticed a change in them.

Their words to the other few, Irek also rarely saw them near the other, other than when their lords went outside the walls of WorrlgenHall.

“Belon a word,” Irek said, after watching them for a while, “I can see there is a change between you and Ogorec. And no word has come to me of you or him leaving.”

Belon looked away, the anguished look in his eyes obvious.
“Ogorec and I are no more.”

“
Then what could not be quelled has quelled?” Irek asked sarcastically.

Belon grimaced. The words he was ab
out to say tore at his throat like jagged rocks. “Yes, well quelled.”

“
Mmhmm,” Irek sounded off skeptical; then asked, “Will there be woes and trouble within these walls from you both under your lords?”

“
There will be no woes or trouble,” Belon said, as he looked to Irek, “What we once had is no more other than we serve our king and lords.”

Irek said nothing, while he thought to himself, and Belon believing their conversation was over began to ride away, but when he did, Irek stopped him.

“Belon,” he said, and rode a little closer to him, “Under a lord you are seen more than any other. I will hold my tongue, but use great toil to keep your desires in hand and from shaming those over you.”

Belon nodded and rode away.

Ogorec, who used common sense, already knew to heed Irek’s words to Belon without any warning. He was discrete with his relationship with him, and to not taunt Belon and have him jealously challenge Ovfren again, hardly looked at him or spoke to him if he could help it.

Although, Ogorec said noth
ing to Ovfren outside of simple commands when needed, he loved him.

Each racing to the other in late hours of night or first light, Ogorec always the one who left word of when and where to meet, one night Ovfren surprised him, and left word for him.

Just as promised, Ogorec hurried to Ovfren, but as he rode, a dread seized him when he got closer because he realized the path was leading to where he and Belon often met.

Once there, Ogorec saw Ovfren waiting marveling over the beauty of the high and low grass
y mounds he watched.

“
We rode the lands this day,” Ovfren said, as he looked out when Ogorec approached him, “And as we passed all that came to mind were of us embracing here.”

Ogorec smiled, and stood next to him.

“Do you enjoy the sight?” he asked, pleased he found them a place meet. “When we wake at dawn it will be to the sun rising right above us.”

Ogorec smiled again, but this time lowered his head.

“Ovfren,” he solemnly spoke, “I pray my words not hurt you.”

“
What such words?” he asked, as he turned to look at Ogorec noticing his head lowered.

“
Here,” Ogorec said, “Were we stand, was once a place Belon found for me and him.”