WORRLGENHALL (87 page)

 
     Completely enraged, Aderac turned from him disgusted that they had even planned to kill Ihon, who was completely innocent.

 
     “Enek.”

 
     “Yes, great king.”

 
     “Free this treacherous filth’s head from his body!”

**

      After Aderac had Ciron’s head freed as well, and the children moved safely to another chamber, he rushed to Queen Irenea’s chamber and the door sealed, he had the same three that helped kicked in his chamber door, kick in hers.

 
     Once the door swung open, slowly and cautiously he walked inside, with Bregon’s and Ciron’s head in either hand.

 
     “Which did you truly love?” he asked, as he came towards her.

 
     At first refusing to answer, she looked at him hatefully.

 
     “None,” she answered, as she spat at him, “Just as I do not the one who holds them.”

 
     “Foolish you are,” Aderac said, keeping his distance as he tossed both heads at her, “You had all, other than my heart and body.”

 
     “Am I not a woman?” she spewed her question. “What right do you have for pleasure, and I none?”

 
     “Then you could have left Ivodgald,” Aderac reminded her, “And not remained and brewed treachery in that stone heart of yours.”

 
     Wanting to behead her, Aderac softened remembering she was with child.

 
     “Your tongue is bold and venomous of me it will be always.” He knew, “I will not have such.”

 
     Aderac looked over at the three.

 
     “Remove her tongue!” he ordered no one in particular, but all three stepped forward ready to obey, “But be careful of her, she is with child.”

 
     While one of the men cut out her tongue, Aderac watched and glared at her; then as she stood before him, he spoke the last words she would ever hear from him.

 
     “I give you your life and the child’s life,” his words and vow, “But within these walls you will never walk again,” and banished her to most isolated southern monastery he could think of and with the promise that if she left it, he would have her hunted like an animal and killed.

**

 
     For the sake of later haunts that when older Beladera would try to go her mother, Aderac didn’t withhold the truth of her deeds or that he sent away and for a long time Beladera cried for her mother, until little by little her tears dried.

 
     Anything belonging to the queen burned or refashioned and put in the treasury, Aderac had her whole chamber floor remodeled and any traces of her removed.

 
     He also, although his first thought was to kill them, unsure which knew of her planned deed, had all her servants except one, the one who spied for Gueden, branded so they couldn’t try to work again within Ivodgald and banished. In addition, he had her guards branded and sent to the gold and silver mines and replaced.

 
     With the ugly deed of banishing servants and guards, repairing chamber doors and removing blood from the floors done, as life turned back to normal, Aderac wanted to get one final important matter he had longed to do out of the way.

 
     “You sent for me King Aderac,” Belon questioned, after Aderac had him summoned to court; then noticing he wore his crown bowed his head respectively.

 
     “Yes,” Aderac said, and stood; the expression on his face serious as he did.

 
     The court filled with scribes and priests, as well as his council and people of court, with Ihon and Beladera on either side of him, Aderac revealed why he called him to court.

 
     “Grand Commander Belon,” he proudly spoke, “I have called you to court to bear witness to my deed and as his father.”

 
     Belon’s look to Aderac one of puzzlement, he was clueless of what he meant by his words, but said nothing.

 
     “This day, I shall have it written by the scribes and signed by me and it shall bear my seal,” Aderac said, as he breathed in hard and now looked lovingly at Belon hoping he would be pleased with his deed, “That I claim Ihon as my son as well, and he shall now bear the name Ihon En Velgarid.”

 
     Belon looked at him completely astonished, and his speech forsook him; then caring nothing of protocol walked right to Aderac, took his hand, and softly kissed the back of it.

 
     “Bold you are to walk to the king and kiss hand without his consent,” Aderac whispered when his lips left the back of his hand after he opened his eyes weakened by it. “I could have you beheaded for such a deed.”

 
     “Yes, bold I am,” Belon, again able to speak, now said, as he moved his head back slightly to look at him, and from that look, Aderac knew if they had been alone, their bodies would have been pounding together vigorously.

 
     Even after he regained his composure, Aderac still fought to pretend to be unphased by how Belon could make him literally weak as all in the room seem to vanish other than him and Belon.

 
     “Then be as bold to kiss the lips of the king,” Aderac softly whispered, as he looked at him, “Who is also his eternal love.”

      “
K
ing Gegorad of Hemrock and his champions as well?” Laad questioned, as he looked at Baric concerned, “Coming from a land far to vie along with those from Celgon, which forgive me, I still question why you even have them coming?”

 
     “We have made a treaty with them,” Baric answered, as he walked from his throne to his council room, “And to not have them come would be an insult.”

 
     “None of them came to WorrlgenHall when your father left this life,” Laad said frankly, “And we know why.”

 
     “Such is true,” Baric agreed, “But they did send a messenger with gifts of mourning to express their deep sorrow.”

 
     “Gifts,” Laad said sarcastically, “False sorrow for who they hate.”

 
     “Celgon has already agreed to come,” Baric said, closing the matter, “To send another when they will be here soon is an insult.”

 
     “The insult is to have them among us,” Laad said, and scowled when he thought of what happened the last time they were there.”

 
     “What is done is done,” Baric shrewdly said, “We shall put it behind us and hope they have as well.”

 
     “Let us hope.” Laad doubted.

 
     Ogorec listened as he followed, his mind also recalling what happened the last time those from Celgon came to WorrlgenHall; then when Baric had finished talking with Laad and walked away, Ogorec paused before he followed him.

 
     “Are all three coming?” he asked Laad.

 
     Laad put his hand on Ogorec’s shoulder. “I gather.”

 
     Ogorec nodded, and asked nothing else; but as he thought of Lord Cadon and of how he insulted Ovfren, he scowled disgusted because he still despised him; then walked down the hallway.

**

 
     “Aderac you have tarried enough,” Belon chided, while Aderac was saying goodbye to the children before their journey to WorrlgenHall, “It is time.”

 
     “Watch over each other and obey Gueden,” Aderac instructed, “And should I learn that you both have not been reading and learning while we are away, in such trouble you both shall be.”

 
     As Belon watched Aderac say goodbye to the children, he turned to Enek. “You shall have two great treasures to see no harm comes to,” he said to his trusted high in command and good friend, “See well after them.”

 
     “Let no such worries of harm to them enter your head,” Enek avowed, “And if harmed in any way it is only for the reason I am dead.”

 
     Belon nodded and knew he meant his words as truth, and would protect them to his death; then turned again to Aderac.

 
     “Aderac,” he called, as he looked at him this time more sternly, “Enough.”

 
     Aderac inhaled, then jumped on his horse and after he did, Belon walked over to the children; then picked Beladera up and kissed her cheek, before he rubbed Ihon’s head messing up his hair.

 
     “Behave well both of you.” He smiled and winked, “We shall be with you again soon.”

 
    “Must we leave so soon?” Aderac questioned, and although excited about going, he dreaded leaving the children and even pleaded to take them along with them.

 
     “I want to get there long before the others,” Belon said, as he now jumped on his horse, “I gather those from Celgon will come and that will put a bitter taste in the mouth of one.”

 
     “If we must,” Aderac said; then gave one last glance at the children and waved.

 
     After they rode for a while, Aderac became curious about Belon’s comment and looked at him for a long time.

 
     “What?”

 
     “Well.” His brows lifted curiously.

 
     “Well what?”

 
     “Dare you keep your words before we left veiled and not reveal what they mean. Who will be bitter and why?
      Others ears to close around them, Belon shook his head. “When we are alone later, I shall speak of it.”

 
     Wanting to hear it now, Aderac spurred his horse forward.

 
     “We shall be alone soon enough,” he said when he looked over at him, “As I ride away from all.”

 
     When he hurriedly rode away, Belon spurred his horse hard and caught up to him.

 
     “Aderac you rode your horse away ahead of the others,” Belon now scolded, “You will stay the trail alongside them at all times.”

 
     “Where is the joy in slowly riding?” Aderac whined, “I want to ride hard and fast in the open.”

 
     “Aderac.” He looked at him disapprovingly, “You will not behave haughty as we ride. Look behind you, we are barely beyond the wall of Ivodgald?”

 
     Aderac looked over at him and gave him an imperious look.

 
     “And just what does that mean?” he asked, but already knew.

 
     “It means you will obey me Aderac, or be punished.”

 
     His imperious look turned into a devilish smile. “I will obey. I will.”

 
     Right away doubtful because he agreed to easily, Belon gave him a sharp look.

 
     “From your grin, now I question if you will,” he said, and raised a disbelieving brow, “We have been one a long time, and I know how mulish you can be. Look behind you Aderac,” he added his warning, “The wall is still within my sight. If you will not behave you are going back?”
      “Belon,” Aderac dared, as he puffed his chest and lifted his chin proudly, “Need I bring to your mind that I am the sole king of that kingdom behind me?”

 
     “A king, who I shall send back to his kingdom with haste just as if one who was not.” His deflating prick into Aderac’s puffed chest.

 
     Aderac laughed. He knew Belon meant every word and would send him back just as easily as blink and that if he did, although he would be upset, he would obey him.

 
     “I shall obey you,” he obediently said, and smiled, “And dare not anger my giant.”

 
     Belon returned his smile.

 
     “Once we have been on the trail for a time and when in open land,” he now teased, “I shall race you to get some of the vim out of you.”

 
     “There are other ways to get the vim out of me Belon.” Aderac grinned wide, “That you do so well.”

 
     “Not on a trail,” Belon said, “But soon enough, we shall do that as well.”

 
     “Soon enough, is not soon enough.”

 
     Belon burst into laughter. “When at WorrlgenHall I will have you pressed hard under me, but for now we shall race.”

 
     Another grin graced Aderac’s face.

 
     “And lose,” he playfully taunted, “I have a new horse.”

 
     “That you shall lose riding,” Belon said, as he winked, “It is not just the horse that brings a victory. Who rides it also brings the victory.

 
     “Then, I know you will lose,” Aderac playfully challenged, “I have been riding a horse, before I could even walk.”

 
     Belon winked lovingly. “We shall soon see, now get back alongside the others.”

 
     “Yes, yes shielding one,” his reply, as he fell back alongside the others when they caught up to them, and rode quietly along.

**

 
     “Is it true?” Ovfren asked when Ogorec walked inside the cottage for the night.

 
     “It is.”

 
     “Such dread,” he now fretted certain Lord Cadon’s memory of what happened was still fresh in his head.

 
     “We shall behave as if this is all past us,” Ogorec said, trying his best to remain hopeful and positive, yet deep within he hated Lord Cadon, and if he hated him, he was certain the feeling was still mutual.

 
     “Ogorec, I am worried.”

 
     “Do not be.” Ogorec’s feigned assurance, “This is to honor Lord Oen’s coming of age and nothing more. We will be friendly to one another.”

 
     Ovfren nodded, wanting desperately to believe Ogorec’s words.

**

      After they raced and Aderac won, Belon jumped from his horse, sat down, and leaned his back against a tree, and at once Aderac got between his legs and rested his back against his chest.

 
     Both enjoying the soft spring breeze from the cool night air blowing on them, they always relished their tenders moments of late night kisses and cuddling.

 
     “Look at the moon, so bright it is,” Aderac finally said, when he looked up after nestling the back of his head into the crevice of Belon’s shoulder, but instead of looking up to see it, Belon looked down and kissed him.

 
     Always closing his eyes to enjoy the full effect of his kisses, when their lips parted, he opened them and softly hummed.

 
     “Pleasing this is,” Belon whispered content, “In the wide open, under the moon and stars alone with you.”

 
     “Pleasing yes,” Aderac agreed, “Alone under the beautiful moon and stars with who I love arms wrapped around me.”

 
     His body tight in Belon’s grip, Aderac nestled even more.

 
     “Speak them,” he then urged.

 
     Knowing what meant, Belon sighed, as his mind thought back on the event.

 
     “King Thogor, Lord Cadon, and Lord Elgen brought a chest of gold to WorrlgenHall as a token of peace, but as all spoke and drank in the gathering hall later, Lord Cadon set it eyes on Ovfren.”

 
     “Set his eyes?” Aderac questioned.

 
     “He lusted for him and had his guard offer gold to Ovfren if he would come to him late in the night.”

 
     Aderac gasped. “Such a deed!”

 
     “Yes,” Belon agreed, “And it angered Ogorec, who made Lord Cadon’s guard swallow the gold and after he did, he hit him in the face and left him on the floor.”

 
     Aderac held his breath while he listened and as if a child completely captivated eagerly urged to hear more. “Speak it Belon. Speak it, then?”

 
     “When he woke,” Belon continued, “He challenged Ogorec, who knew he would.”

 
     “And then?”

 
     “They vied to the death, but in truth, it was Lord Cadon, Ogorec longed to kill.”

 
     Now breathing with his mouth wide open, Aderac turned and faced Belon. “And?”

 
     “They fought across the courtyard in front of all as he taunted Ogorec about Ovfren to enrage him; but Ogorec refused to allow his words to make him falter.

 
     Finally, Ogorec championed by cutting off Lord Cadon’s guard’s head; then walked over to Ovfren to honor him with it before he threw it over the wall.”

 
     Again, he gasped.

 
     “That was a wonderful tale. Such a wonderful tale,” Aderac marveled, “He was bold and fearless for the one he loved. Never have I seen or known such in all my life.”

 
     Filled with jealousy by how Aderac marveled over Ogorec’s challenge for Ovfren’s honor and fought on his behalf. Also now wounded by how enthralled he was over the two, who caused him anguish long ago, and his words of marvel, Belon’s brows furrowed.

 
     His demeanor now morose, Aderac didn’t notice because he was in front of Belon and couldn’t see his face, and he had stopped talking.

 
     “Such a sight it would have been to watch,” Aderac continued, “Such a sight.”

 
     “We should get back,” Belon now abruptly said, and quickly moved off the tree, and since Aderac was between his legs leaning completely on him with all his weight, he fell backwards against it.

 
     After groaning from his tall frame suddenly rising, Belon brushed the leaves and grass off him; then saying nothing began walking to his horse.

 
     Also groaning, but because his back had hit the tree. Aderac stood befuddled and watched Belon silently walk to his horse, and when he saw how instead of jumping on it, he stood facing away from him, gathered something bothered him.