Authors: Monica Luke
Ogorec grinned wide.
“That I do,” he agreed, “And when all are resting, I shall.”
T
he arrows whirled high in the sky far short of their intended targets, and although Cyorec thought it was laughable, he dared not take the bowman of Celgon lightly.
The footmen all lined, he decided to launch the fifty clay jars into the midst of them, and use the frantic ensuing spectacle to entertain the men.
“Launch high on my command!” he yelled, “Three jars at a time.”
The men cut the robes sending clay jars reeling through the air, and as those from Celgon watched curiously none moved from their places until...
As jars broke into pieces when they crashed, the footmen jump in panic trying to get away. Each one filled with venomous snakes, Aderac thought it would be effective, as well as, humorous, to send them a symbolic gesture of their kingdom.
The men scattering to get away from the venomous snakes, many bitten instantly died where they stood, as others bitten tried to run only to eventually succumb to the poison and die soon afterwards.
“Belon was right,” said Cyorec to one of his lower commanders, “Such a sight this is.”
“I wonder if scorpions would have been just as good.”
Cyorec shrugged his shoulders. “It is not the same. Scorpions can be stepped on easily and Celgon’s crest is not a scorpion.”
The man nodded and turned his head back to the spectacle as men ran, jumped, stomped; thrust their spears; and hacked with their swords trying to get away or kill the poisonous snakes.
“Go,” Cyorec, then ordered once the snakes began to slither off. “Make short work of the men that survived. Be wary of the snakes that still remain.”
**
After they defeated the Segorans in short order, wanting the matter with King Gegorad over as quickly as possible, Baric quickened the men’s pace, but when King Gegorad received Arh’s head, he became less arrogant and asked to meet with King Baric in the Valley of Srine.
King Gegorad’s commander beside him. His constant scowling glare at Baric had the opposite effect he probably intended, and made him more amused than fearful, as the man looked at him long, studying his face, while his eyes glossed over with obvious hate in them.
“I invite you to my kingdom,” Baric voiced during their meeting, “And this is how you show your thanks. You conspire with another kingdom, and seduce a rogue tribe to fight against me, and worst of all, as you sit before me, you show no remorse at all.”
Baric’s comment made King Gegorad burst into laughter.
“I do confess all is true, yet I could not resist seeing WorrlgenHall first hand. After all, it will be my son’s new kingdom to rule.”
Baric scowled. His words obvious their conference was not about a treaty. “Why did you want to meet with me?”
“We can save many lives if you allow Worrlgen to be under Hemrock. Pay a large tribute each spring, and we will all march away quietly.”
“And if not?”
“Instead of peace, those from Worrlgen will be in pieces.”
The comment made King Gegorad’s commander let out a loud guffaw, then silence and again got back to his glossy eyed glare.
None from WorrlgenHall offered a word in return. All knew the other’s heart, soul, and mind, and knew none from Worrlgen would ever bend his or her knee to Hemrock.
Knowing that as well, Baric withdrew his knife, making all in the tent go for hilts, and sliced into his palm. As his blood flowed, he smeared it on the parchment paper in front of him making his own threat.
“In pieces.” Baric simply smiled. “Is how I will send you body to those from the smallest of tribes to beyond the Balran Sea.”
“At dawn!” King Gegorad blared.
“Do not keep me waiting,” Baric’s reply.
**
Enek rode ahead with his lower commander to meet with Cyorec and as he retold the story of the snakes, both laughed hard while they talked and ate.
“Still no word from the self crowned King Atorad?”
“He stays within,” Cyorec answered, “And sends groups ahead to fight. He may be planning for a grand attack.”
“Somehow, I reason otherwise.” Enek believed, “He is waiting for something, and I believe it has to with the king from Hemrock.”
“How long will you tarry?”
“Not long. Do not move more forward,” he advised. “We may have a friend within.”
“A friend within…means one?”
“If one is able to do a task,” Enek replied. “One is all that is needed.”
Enek stood to leave.
“Brother,” Cyorec voiced his concern, but not about battles. Instead, he voiced his concern about his brother’s demeanor. “Such a mood you have been in from the first I came to WorrlgenHall. It brings to mind when we were young, and that cook’s daughter broke your heart. Are you smitten?”
Enek half smiled, and nodded. His brother knew him well. “I am indeed.”
Cyorec gave him a returning nod. “You have held your tongue, why?”
“It is a love new to me, but deep. When the time is right, we shall speak of it.”
Knowing not to press the matter, he put his hand on Enek’s shoulder. “I shall be glad to at last know and meet who won my brother’s heart.”
**
“The hall by the lake is just ahead of us.”
“Go to it and search it, then post two men on four corners and two in front of it,” Belon ordered.
“It will be nice to eat and rest inside solid walls again.”
Belon moved his horse closer to Aderac’s horse. “Then shall we accept his offer?”
Aderac smiled. “Only if you reason it wise.”
“When we are sure the place is safe, we will ride in.”
After all had made camp for the night, several who rode to the house came back with their report, and advised Belon that they posted guards around it.
Still somewhat reluctant, Belon looked over at Aderac. His cheeks rosy from the brisk cold air, he slightly shivered, but made no complaints while he patiently waited to retire for the night.
“We will ride in.” Belon decided, wanting him out of the cold.
As they moved forward, Belon rode over to one of his men.
“Make sure a fire is blazing and that he has a good chair, a stool to prop his feet, and good light to read,” his order, “We rode longer and later this day, and I want him off his feet to warmly rest and read.”
The man nodded, and rode off.
When Belon got back beside Aderac, Aderac looked over at him adoringly smiling. “Belon, there is no need for such toil for me.”
Belon simply gave him one of his mesmerizing stares, and winked at him making Aderac’s face redden from more than the cold air.
“I will always toil much to see that the king is pleased,” he said in a tone of love that made Aderac want to leap from his horse into his arms, “And in such, I know that my only love is pleased.”
**
“They mock me,” King Atorad slammed his fist down onto this table, when he heard the account of the snakes and afterwards the attack on the remaining footmen. “And they mock my army.”
“Army…you have no true men or commanders other than fools from the fray you believed would be loyal to you.” Tagia sneered.
King Atorad glared at Tagia hard from her insulting words. “And who are you loyal to?”
His question catching Tagia off guard, she stalled for a moment wondering if he had intercepted the reply from Aderac. “I am loyal to my kingdom.”
Atorad didn’t reply and began to drink more, but as he did he again glared at Tagia across the table from him. Her breasts rising and lowering, as she slowly breathe, although she was no beauty, her body was voluptuous and he decided it was now time to indulge in such voluptuousness.
After all, she was his wife and queen, so why not take pleasure with her body for a short time before he snuffed the life out of her.
“Come wife,” Atorad said, and stood. “The time is late. Let us retire for the night.”
Tagia didn’t like the way he looked at her. She suspected what thoughts now filled his drunken head and started to refuse, but then she remembered Aderac’s letter and as her heart raced with fear and anticipation. She knew her time was upon her.
**
When Aderac arrived at the door, he saw an old man and woman standing humbly waiting for him who bowed, and after he walked inside and turned completely around inspecting the cozy living area with a blazing fire, approvingly nodded.
After their eyes lit with excited awe that they had a true king within their humble home, the woman, who Aderac now gathered was his wife, knowing their accommodations fell far short of what they knew he was accustomed offered more hospitality.
“Great king of all the lands far and wide to the north,” the wife said, but Aderac politely interrupted.
“King Aderac will do.”
“King Aderac.” She smiled politely. “Please allow me to cook for you.”
Belon looked alarmed about to refuse the offer; until he noticed Aderac’s face looked pleased to get a personally cooked meal and although he had his own cooks, Belon gathered the woman would delight in cooking for him adding her own personal touches.
“Hot and more flavored food would be greatly welcomed,” he agreed for Aderac.
Both hurried off and Belon turned to Aderac. “I saw the look on your face, as well as hers, and could not deny her the honor and you a more tasty meal.”
Aderac looked over at two guards inside with them. “That will be all.”
When the door closed, he put his body close to Belon’s body and wrapped his arms around him, and as Belon returned his embrace, the two kissed lovingly for a short while.
“Off your feet,” Belon whispered. Certain if they kissed longer he’d be more than just off his feet, he’d be on his back.
Aderac sat in a chair, and propped his feet before taking books out of his pouch, while Belon pulled off his boots for him.
“Still reading the tales of Worrlgen?” Belon questioned.
“Yes, honey. I find it gripping,” he answered. “Did you know that King Kael fathered a child who died soon after being born? Inscribes blotted out his birth, but I found another book with an account of it written by Apalgohor, the king’s head healer’s own hand. He wrote it in another language.”
“I did not know,” he said, as he sat next to Aderac. “Yet, I gather all kingdoms have dark secrets.”
“Well true.” Aderac winked. “At Ivodgald the word across the kingdom is that the king is in love with his commander. It is beyond me of how they came up with such mad tales.”
Belon burst into laughter, which contagiously infected Aderac. “Some tales are truer than if the sun will set and rise.”
“I love you,” Aderac whispered, as he looked into Belon’s eyes.
“I am fond of you, Aderac,” he teased.
Aderac playfully pouted. Even while marching to war, the men still lovingly teased each other.
“In bed this night, I will show and speak how much I love you.”
Aderac slightly adjusted in the chair, as Belon’s words began to stiffen his groin. “We shall be in bed early.”