WORRLGENHALL (56 page)

“
It is only you lying beside me,” Belon said, before he could, “And we will not touch.”

Although reluctant, Ogorec carefully got beside Belon, but made certain they did not touch by keeping the distance at least a stretched hand span between
their bodies.

“
Long has it been for such,” Belon said, as he inhaled pleased.

Ogorec didn
’t respond to the comment. “Have you spoken to Moura of what is within you?”

“
No.”

Belon turned to look at Ogorec, and did for a long time before he spoke again.

“You are still pleasing to look upon,” he confessed, “And still true to your well made form, yet you had more of a beard with me.

“
Ovfren likes it close to my face and low on my chin. It is as this to please him.”

“
Still your face stands out above any other. I have always enjoyed looking at it, as well as your body, and I wish I had spoken it more to you.”

“
From only one mouth,” Ogorec let him know right away, “Will I welcome words such as that to me Belon.”

“
Those words came from me,” he reminded him, “Long before from him.”

“
Will we go this course again?” Ogorec asked, as he failed to keep from becoming agitated, “I came here to know of your state, not hear your regret.”

“
Regret,” he repeated, “I spoke no words of such, but...”

“
There is no need to speak it,” Ogorec interrupted.

Quickly, Belon rose onto his side more, and looked at Ogorec.

“I do feel regret,” his rueful words, “Such was my love for you, yet so vain was I, I did indeed have my way with women when with you, and am filled with it from foot to head.”

Ogorec said nothing, as he listened.

“He, young and untouched, knew only the feel of you, and I gather still only knows of one,” Belon said, “…you.”

“
This is known to me,” Ogorec said, “What of it?”

Belon looked away, letting his mind wander back
on how they once laid on his bed and talked, which now seemed so long ago.

“
Belon.” Ogorec sensed Belon was thinking of their past, “Your mind is wandering, and I fear to that of what it should not.”

Deeply believing somewhere within Ogorec was still a f
lame for him, Belon again tried to put doubt in Ogorec about Ovfren.

“
Ogorec,” Belon spoke his concern of Ogorec’s blind love for Ovfren, and still slightly jealous, “Reason he kept himself untouched only to win you, and now might yearn to know how another would feel.”

Ogorec shook his head, and knew what Belon was suggesting.

“I fear our words of this will never end,” he expressed, “Belon, fate is fate. If he had not come to me in life, deep within I know my want for you would be the same, and still without love.”

“
Your words wound me,” Belon confessed.

“
They were not spoken to wound,” Ogorec said, “Just a truth.”

Belon inhaled; then put his hands behind his head and looked up.

“Bond yourself to Moura,” Ogorec suggested hoping to reach him, “You have one that cares for you, and receives you when you go to her. Do not push her from you.”

Belon nodded, but offered no response.

“I will leave,” Ogorec said, and added when he stood, “Go to her and let her be your comfort.”

Ogorec got out o
f bed, and again put his hand on Belon’s shoulder.

“
A friend you are to me,” he told him, “And shall always be.”

“
I will welcome such.” Belon nodded; then began to rise, as he watched Ogorec leave his chamber.

After Ogorec walked down the hallway, Belon
heard a knock at his chamber door; then when he opened it and saw Augerd standing outside it, quickly pulled him inside.

“
Speak it,” Belon said impatiently.

“
He is well true to him,” Augerd said; then opened his hand.

Belon groaned at his failed attempt
to try Ovfren, then quickly gave him silver coins, but as he was about to put away his pouch, Augerd gave him an odd look.

“
My deed was great,” Augerd added. His greed feeding him, “He warned he would speak to Ogorec if I spoke to him again in such a way.”

Belon huffed, but gave him more.

“You deed is great with me as well,” he warned him too, “Speak of it to anyone and suffer my wrath.”

When Augerd left, Belon inhaled disappointed. Slightly envious of their love for the other, he longed to feel that kind
of love; then after he inhaled deeply once more, left his chamber, and as Ogorec suggested went to Moura.

**

After his words with Belon, Ogorec rode to his chamber, and the time late, noticed Ovfren sound asleep lying in bed, but on top of the blankets from the heat.

Quietly, he walked inside and put away his swords before he undressed and climbed in bed next to him.

“Mm Ogorec,” Ovfren groggily said, and stretched, “Forgive me, I was sleepy and could not stay awake.”

“
There is nothing to forgive,” Ogorec said, and moved close to him to go to sleep, “Go back to sleep.”

Ogorec closed his eyes to sleep, but the hot air still and stifling, he couldn
’t relax, and tossed and turned trying to adjust to a comfortable position.

“
What bothers you?” Ovfren finally sat up, and asked, as each time he did, woke him.

“
It is this heat,” Ogorec irritably said, but Belon’s words to him about Ovfren also bothered him, “If inside WorrlgenHall at least we would be high for the wind to blow inside the window.”

When Ovfren sat
up, Ogorec looked at the outline of his face. He looked at his brow and the cut above it, then at his nose and mouth, and smiled at how his face had matured making him even more handsome than he already was.

“
What is it?” Ovfren asked, when he noticed him studying his face, “That made you gaze at me for so long.”

“
Such a cherished gift you are to me and have known only the feel of me,” Ogorec said, needing to speak what bothered him, “I ask for a truth from you.”

“
All my words to you have been only truth,” Ovfren said proudly.

“
Have you wanted to know the feel of another, either man or woman while you have been with me?”

“
Such a question you ask me?” Ovfren asked surprised by it and inwardly wondered if he knew what happened earlier, “What words were between you and Belon?”

“
You ask me one,” Ogorec said fearful of his answer, “Without answering mine.”

“
Does he now cause you to question my want for you?” he asked defensively, “Is that why you cannot sleep?

“
Ovfren such passion we have, yet should I fear my question?” Ogorec blurted, not meaning to upset him, but compelled to speak what now bothered him, “I would burn from within and be overcome if within you is a desire to know how any would feel other than me.”

Ovfren looked at Ogorec devotedly, and decid
ed not to become upset from his question, or worry if he knew about the incident earlier because he did nothing wrong.

“
Before you were mine,” he confessed, while he lovingly looked at Ogorec’s face and thought back in time, “I woke to visions of you, and more than I care to speak; my hand was my embrace to those visions before I fell asleep. All this, I felt long before you became mine, so how can you reason from such desire, I would want another when all I have wanted since hair grew well on me was you Ogorec?”

Ogorec put his head on Ovfren
’s shoulder. “I am such a mad man to ask such.”

“
Yes, mad is your thick head,” he agreed with him, “To reason such notions would come to me when I have so great a man as you.”

“
Forgive me for asking,” he said, well pleased with Ovfren’s words of truth before he kissed him.

“
Lets us sleep,” Ovfren said, and put his leg over Ogorec’s legs.

“
Let us,” Ogorec agreed and rested on his back, but still hot, as he lay for a while, he exhaled uncomfortable.

“
Rise and dress Ogorec.” Ovfren huffed lightheartedly, and jumped out of bed, then began to dress, “With haste.”

“
Why?” Ogorec said, as he quickly rose to obey.

“
We are sleeping outside by the river,” Ovfren told him, and smiled, “Soon enough the wind will blow off the water and cool you.”

Pleased with the thought, Ogorec grabbed their swords and some blankets to lie on for the night.

“Hurry,” Ogorec said eagerly, while waiting by the door, “So I can hold you as well.”

“
Let us go,” Ovfren said, while rushing pass him.

Ogorec
jumped on his horse, then as Ovfren was about to jump on his, Ogorec stopped him.

“
Get behind me on mine, so that as we ride I can feel you pressed behind me and touching on me.”

Ovfren laughed.

“I am riding my own horse,” he teased, “And when we get there, you can feel me pressed behind you in other ways as I touch on you.”

Pleased, Ogorec laughed, and rode away with Ovfren right behind him.

**

As Loth walked down the hallway on his way to speak with Laad, one he trusted called him over to him.

“A word,” he discreetly whispered, while he looked this way and that way.

From the expression on his face when he whispered, Loth knew the matter was serious, but he said nothing at that moment. Instead, he acknowledged him by nodding, and kept walking.

Knowing to follow, but not closely, the man stayed behind him; then once away from any listening ears, spoke.

“
Someone heard your words to the Lord Helm.”

“
What words?” Loth guardedly asked.

“
That you called him by another name,” he whispered, “And spoke of him as a king.”

Loth
’s temples tightened.

“
Who?” he asked, and looked away to avoid displaying an alarmed expression.

“
Ober was under the stairs as you walked down it while you spoke.”

“
And how is this known to you?”

“
He spoke such words to me,” he answered, as again he looked this way and that way, “I laughed as if it was known to me of your teasing ways with the other and warned him not speak such words to others.”

Loth now showed him his face, when he gave him a grateful nod.

“What happens from this,” he said shrewdly, “Reason it no more. It is now out of your hands good or bad.”

Indicating he understood fully by a nod, Loth watched him walk away and again continued walking to speak with Laad, and although bothered about the man
’s words, just before he reached him feigned a smile.

“
What is wrong?” Laad asked the second he looked at him. His smile unable to hide what was within his eyes, which was worry.

Loth looked away. Annoyed for the first time since they bonded as brothers and friends, that he a
lways knew when something bothered him.

“
I will keep it from you,” he answered, not forthcoming, “That my deeds or death be off your head.”

“
Loth.” Laad’s forehead wrinkled, “Do you really believe you can speak so strangely, and I not question you more?”

L
oth opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“
Speak!” Laad commanded, as his worry grew, “Speak it now!”

Loth lowered his head.
“My tongue has teased you one time more that it should have.”

Only one tease that Laad often warned him of, he knew wh
y the worry.

“
Curses!” he angrily blared, “Curses, Loth!”

“
There is no need to scold me,” he spoke out, “I know I have erred great – I would rather cut the tongue out of my mouth than do it again.”

“
It has gone pass that!” Laad blared sarcastically, “And lies on the tongue of another to speak it!”

Loth turned, and looked out briefly, then back at Laad.

“Any blood is on my hand,” he promised him, “I will lead no path to you.”

“
Bonded we are,” Laad avowed, “All you do leads a path to me.”

“
Then shall I do nothing,” he asked throwing his hands up in frustration, “And let his tongue reveal our words to another here or there until it reaches the king?”