WORRLGENHALL (9 page)

Although at first
doubtful, they sat amazed as the arrow glided high a little more, then descended and honed right into the man’s spine, then as he grunted and fell forward, still on his horse, he disappeared into the trees.

When he disappeared into them, a loud shout echo
ed out with men charging wildly from two directions, but unlike the first battle, now on higher ground, the king’s men had the upper hand.

Forcing the men of the lowland to fight moving upward, the guilds on their horses charged down, each one of killing
three of theirs, but the battle was far from over.

“
Be wary of their blades,” Belon warned Bayl and the king, who fought alongside the others from his chariot, “They are poisoned.”

Swords clanging, bodies fell quickly, as each man fought with vigor. The lo
wland men seasoned from years of fighting to keep their land, again made victory seem in doubt, as many of the king’s men fell also.

“
Father!” Bayl yelled, as he groaned and wielded his sword, “We have slain many, yet their number does not fall!”

“
More are coming out of the forest!” the king shouted, “…this fight will end here with our defeat or victory. None will flee and let my son’s wound or Orem’s death be for nothing!”

“
So be it!” Bayl yelled.

The king
’s declaration set, Bayl had a gruel blow the horn to fight on and each man able to see his enemy’s face clearly as the sun now beamed, all obeyed and fought.

“
Belon!” Laad shouted, as he made his way to him striking down those in his path, “We need to pull back!”

“
The king’s wish is to fight on!” Belon words between slashes.”

“
My words were not to flee!”

“
Then speak them with haste!” Belon impatiently yelled, “We have no time to dance around words!”

“
Hear me! Ask the king to pull the men back to the high ground!” Laad shouted quickly, his voice certain of his plan, as he rode away “Ask him!”

“
Lord Bayl!” Belon shouted, “Laad has a plan, but we must pull back!”

“
Father!” Bayl turned quickly to him.

“
Blow the horn once!” the king shouted, who had already heard him.

The horn blown once, the men pulled back an
d withdrew to high ground, and the others believing again that they had forced them to flee; chased them this time vowing to kill them all.

Knowing they would and waiting, Laad who had already gathered the bowman, ten in rows of three, ordered them to shoo
t high into the air as the men ran after them. The center aimed at those straight ahead, the row to the left and right aiming at those to the left and right, their arrows rained down killing many instantly; then as others stopped to pull arrows out of themselves, the king’s men charged back down, slaying all who survived until all lay dead sprawled about from higher to lower ground.

“
Make your way to the villages!” Bayl shouted, “And seize all!”

Such was their attack on the villages that no hut remained unb
urned and as they lined those who lived in them who were still alive, the king considered their fate.

The villages filled with widowed and young women and boys to young or men to old to fight, other than the assembly of men who were leaders of the villages
, which King Rone had beheaded before all else, again mercy came from him. “March the others to Worrlgen to inhabit the land.”

Bayl
’s head sprang towards his father with surprise and dread.

“
Some will fall as they cross,” he spoke quickly trying to deter his command, knowing such a deed would be grueling.

“
Then would you rather strike them down as they stand?” the king sarcastically questioned, “They are all lined, give the command.”

Bayl did not give the command
. But, in his mind he questioned his father’s change of heart. Not so long ago, bodies young and old, men and women would be laying dead before them both, and as he reasoned he knew why his father’s heart had softened was because of a woman.    

“
March them,” Bayl, through now tightly clenching teeth begrudgingly ordered Belon and then rode off.

“
Bayl,” King Rone called out, making him turn to look at him, “Warn the men. The women, who wish it, should arrive with the same virtues they had before marched.”

Belon nodded, and again spurred his horse of
f.

Watching from his horse as the guilds lined the people to march, King Rone looked out then up at the tall thick trees and out at the vast green meadows.

“This land I will call Orem,” he said, as he also turned to ride away, “In honor of my commander and friend slain here.”

Just as the king turned to ride away, Laad approached.
“My king, I beg a word.”

“
Such a mind,” the king praised, as he thought of Laad’s quick reasoning in battle and of his deed with Uded, “I must put to use. Upon my return, when I am on my throne come before me.”

“
Yes, my king,” Laad said, humbled.

“
I remember your favor,” he added before Laad could ask it again, “Enjoy your bride and speak of our victory to the quorum.”

N
ona,
although she wanted to shout gleefully to everyone she had wed, with Laad now away, she knew she still had to work in the meal house alongside Anla, and to keep from being taunted, held her tongue and kept her joy within.

Already endlessly mocked for helping Seda, she held her tongue with each sneer, but when she began to speak of Laad, it became
to much.

“
The man that stood at the door,” Anla questioned Nona each day, “You were asking others about him, what did you find out?”

“
Nothing of use,” her reply, but Anla was relentless in her questions each day asking a new one.

“
He is so handsome to look upon,” she said constantly, “I wonder if he has a wife.”

“
I am sure he does, “Nona said hoping that would end it, but still Anla questioned her.

“
He is one of the high guilds and a messenger under the king’s command,” Anla reasoned, “I would wager he is without a wife.”

“
I know he is wedded.”

“
No one has spoken of him or made claim to him,” Anla again reasoned, “And strong and brave he is to strike Uded down. If he had a wife, she would make known he is hers.”

“
Such questions you keep asking me now,” Nona said slightly amused for a moment that she constantly spoke of who now belong to her, “It causes one to believe you will seek him out.”

“
More than once since I set eyes him, “Anla said quickly, again lustful thoughts coming to mind, “Has my mind danced with ways to please him inside me and of what I would do between his legs.”

“
Such wickedness is in your head,” Nona said as she turned; then looked at her now angered that she lustfully wanted who was hers, “It is no wonder men take you; then brush you aside without a second glance at you.”

“
When you know the feeling of a man deep inside you,” Anla smirked, before she began to walk away, “Then you will know why such wickedness comes to mind.”

Nona watched Anla walk away, but that night she felt her words well. The nights long, such was her want f
or Laad she could hardly sleep. Her time with him brief, she did know why such thoughts came to mind as she recalled their night together and of his deep moans and thrusts, as his strong arms held making her as helpless as a newly born fold and hopelessly in love.

Her thoughts of Laad lasting long into the nights keeping her awake while he was away, once she fell asleep it was deep, and a time before him always able to hear when someone was at the door, she heard nothing as someone banged on it with determi
ned purpose.

“
Wait a time! Wait a time!” Anla yelled annoyed, as thunder pealed from a fierce storm that had spread across the land, and as she hurried to the door, the banging and the thunder got even louder.

“
The time is early,” she said, as she cracked the door slightly half-asleep, “What reason is there to bang so hard?”

“
I seek Nona!”

Anla stared at the man, his clothing soaked from the rain, had she not looked a second time, she would not have remembered him, but just as before, once she stared into h
is face she could not help but recall who owned such flawless features. His hair braided in one braid, she remembered the braid the men wore when in battle.

“
Who do you seek?” she asked again, though she heard him clearly the first time.

“
Nona!”

“
The time is early; you should come back in the morning,” Anla said, again crushed that a hopeful husband was asking for the name of another, “At a fitting time.”

“
Get her for me now,” he calmly demanded.

“
What need do you have for her?”Anla spewed jealously, “She is but a young girl. Perhaps you should seek someone close to your age, or is there an ailment you suffer that you cannot please one your own age.”

Her remark insulting, he ignored it; a more pressing concern consumed his mind.

“I swear this door between us will come down, if you do not get her!” he vehemently vowed, “Wake her!”

Now fearful, Anla called for Nona, who sat up in bed. The name not given of who wanted to see her, sluggishly she got out of bed and walked to the door, then once her eyes c
leared from the fog of sleep, when she saw it was a man, knew it was Laad and rushed to him.

“
My husband,” she cried out, as she jumped into his wet strong arms, “I prayed for your safe return to me.”

Tenderly she kissed his lips; then when he put her dow
n, noticing how wet he was, she hurried away, but as she passed Anla, she slowed just enough to make it clear to her, “It is I, who has laid claim to him.”

Quickly, she got a blanket from her bed; then raced back to Laad.

“You are soaked,” she whispered, as she put them around his shoulders, “Come with me.”

Quietly, she led him away to a room each day she made ready for his return.

“WorrlgenHall has many chambers,” she whispered, “I have searched and found one suited for us.”

Carefully, she opened the door
so the hinges wouldn’t creak loudly and slowly walked inside.

“
Come.” She held out her hand, as Laad lovingly took it.

Once inside Nona closed the door just as carefully as she had opened it; then when they got just beyond the foyer, Laad stopped, lettin
g his eyes adjust to the darkness before he scanned the room.

“
It has warmth to it.” He looked at her, and smiled.

“
WorrlgenHall has been without guests for a long time,” she said, as she took the blanket off his shoulders, “I see no wrong if we make use of it, but we well have to go without a fire this night.”

“
We will have no need of one.” He hinted, “My body will keep you warm.”

“
Then I know what desires you have for me this night before we sleep.” She blushed.

“
You blush.” Laad noticed amused, “Before we parted, you longed to feel me.”

“
I do still blush,” She confessed shyly, “…a little.”

“
Then blush, but my flesh heating your flesh will fill this night and before light comes you will know the feel of me well,” he said, his voice tender yet commanding. “I journeyed hard and slept nearly none to return to my wife, as all the while my heart burned with love and below me burned with want.”

As he moved and sat on window
’s ledge, his clothes still soaked from the rain, she removed them, then took down his braid and dried his hair, and as she did, when a sudden peal of thunder filled the air, she jumped startled and moved closer to him.

“
Never be afraid with me,” he whispered, “I would give all and my life to keep harm from you.”

His body naked, he pulled her close and kissed her; then moved her bed gown off her shoulders.

“In the morning we will speak much,” he whispered, as it now fell to her feet, “But this night no words, only moans, do I want from you.”

“
Yes, my husband,” her whispered reply, as she stepped out of her gown and again into his arms.

Only for a second stan
ding in his arms, he rose and carried her to bed, tenderly kissing her as he did.

Her moans deep, as he pressed her close he betrayed his own request, as he put his hand on her firm breasts and looked up and down her body.

“Nona, my heart has missed you with such ache I cannot put to words.”

Still obeying him, Nona said nothing, instead she raised herself from the bed, and as he raised himself too, she pushed him back down and sat on his thighs before looking down at him lovi
ngly.

Gently, she ran her fingers along the hair on chest and kissed him.

“Let me hear your words, as well as your moans.” He sighed, as she did, but Nona did not speak, as she now gave tender kisses upon each of his hard nipples.

As she did, slowly she m
oved her hand down his chest and stomach to what would fill her. It already rigid and wanting, she caressed it.

“
Speak to me softly.” Laad moaned, as he watched how with great care, she now positioned herself to ease down his manhood.

At first gasping fro
m the pain his large swollen manhood long absent inside her. She raised quickly, but his hands now on both hips with her feet tucked under his knees, he gently eased her back down onto him while keeping his eyes locked in her lovingly gaze.

“
Will you speak?” he asked, and held her hips firmly when she began to lower and raise her hips moving in sync with his thrusts.

“
I will speak, and then no more until morning,” she whispered in panting breaths, “But it will only be of what you asked of me and nothing more…”

“
What did I ask of you?”

Again, Nona did not speak, and instead moved her hips faster. Their bodies joining and parting, he moved his hands from her hips to palm her rear for a better hold, as now wildly both moaned.

Laad thrusts deep, he bounced her vigorously on his lap, then...

“
A pleasure comes from deep within me!” she cried out, as she tucked her arms under his arms and grabbed his shoulders, pressing her breasts against his strong chest.

His request of her brought to mind, Laad
’s heart raced, as her words stirred him more.

“
Call to me!” he demanded, as his voice raved with passion.

“
Oh Laad!” she cried out, as she felt her bud swell and quiver, “Aaaah, my husband!”

Right away, Laad lifted her; then laid her onto the bed. Stirred by her words he
was far from reaching his peak, and his time away from his new bride long; he had set in his mind on his return to seize her passionately.

“
This night is far from over,” he whispered, as he moved her nimble body well under his; then spread her legs wide, “And before it ends we both will have nothing more to give.”

Laad kept his word and thrust into Nona, who not less than four cried out as her body quivered, so long that he could swear that if his heart
had not beat rapidly, he had filled her so many times that all his blood had drained from his body too.

“
Sleep, my love,” he now whispered, as he pulled her close.

Late in the afternoon, Laad
finally awoke and right away reached for Nona, then surprised to find her not beside him; sprang up.

Noticing honey,
a fresh bread loaf, and softened goat cheese next to the bed, along with water for drinking and a basin for washing, slowly he stretched, ate; and waited for her, but after a while, when she had not returned, he rose, washed, and dressed.

Gathering she would be in the meal house doing her duties, Laad did as the king requested and delivered word of battle to the quorum; then tended to his horse, but the hour still early, he decided to speak to those he knew for a short time, before going t
o get her.

**

Gleefully, Nona went about her day as not once a smile left her face. Her mind so filled with thoughts of Laad’s words and passionate touches, she sighed as she worked, but after a while, unable to stand it, Anla approached her.

“
Why did you not speak it me?” she asked pleasantly, “I would have given you my blessing.”

“
I reasoned it wise not to,” Nona’s truthful simply answer.

“
I ask that you forgive me for my envy,” Anla pleaded, “And to show it, I saw your husband in the men’s hall talking freely. It is well known that when wives go to their husbands and sit on the laps while they are speaking, it honors them and makes others envious.”

“
Are such words true?”

“
They are true Nona,” Anla said, and falsely added, “I gather it would do his heart good even to be greeted with a passionate kiss from his newly wedded.”

“
I am not yet done with my tasks,” Nona said, as she kept working.

“
I will do it for you,” she said, and smiled, “Though I have no one to love, I will be happy to see others happy.”

Nona smiled; then after she fixed her hair and rubbed ginger oil on herself to smell nice for Laad, made her way to the men
’s hall. The hallway long, quietly, she walked it listening to the sounds of robust laughter from men; then once at the entrance, timidly walked inside the room.

Once inside, she stood by the door noticing the half-dressed women serving men at long wooden tables who groped them at will as they passed; then she saw Laad at a table talking freely with other men, and after musterin
g courage and pushing aside her timidity, walked to him.