Authors: Monica Luke
“
You must,” Ogorec answered with zeal, “I mean to have my way with you the same as I did this night before I go.”
“
Us under the stars?” he asked. Wondering if that is what he meant.
“
No,” Ogorec laughed at his innocent ways at time, “You under me.”
After both laughed, they parted and went about their day, but when nightfall came, instead of
going right to the chamber, Ogorec, who worried about Ovfren’s safety, went to speak to Belon first.
As he turned down the hallway of Bayl
’s guilds, Ovfren, who was coming up the back walkway, happened to see Ogorec walking, and knowing Belon’s chamber was close, jealously followed him.
Once at Belon
’s chamber, at first almost opening the door as he used to do without knocking, quickly Ogorec caught himself and stopped; then knocked.
“
Who?” Belon asked.
“
Ogorec.”
Nothing heard at first, after a long paus
e, finally Belon spoke, “Enter.”
Quietly, Ogorec walked inside; then stood on the far side of the chamber away from him.
“Why are you here?” he asked; his words cold and short, as he sat on the edge of his bed looking at Ogorec.
“
I will be away from WorrlgenHall for many nights.” Ogorec answered, as he leaned against the wall.
Belon frowned; then half laughed.
“Is your skull so thick that you reasoned that was unknown to me?”
Ogorec ignored his sarcasm, and spoke more.
“My mind is troubled of you finding cause with Ovfren to taunt him?”
Belon looked at him puzzled, and leaned back.
“I gave you my word,” he replied brooding, “Not to harm your pup.”
“
And what of your words to him?” he added.
“
I have none to give him,” Belon’s reply.
Relieved, Ogorec turned hi
s head and looked around his chamber, and long since he had come to it; he was surprised to find nothing had changed.
“
You look the chamber.” Belon noticed, “Dare times come to mind of our passion in here?”
Ogorec looked down, and ignored his question.
“I ask of you more,” he said, as he inhaled and exhaled hard instead.
“
What?”
“
That you watch over him while I am away.”
At once, Belon leaped out of bed angered; then walked towards Ogorec.
“What!” he blared, “Bold you are Ogorec. Bold you are! You betray me with him; then you ask me to watch over him! Now you have gone mad!”
“
You will watch over him,” Ogorec said, his voice toned and commanding.
“
No!” Belon blared, “I will not see after your piss pot!”
“
I ask it,” Ogorec added. Ignoring the insult to Ovfren, “And you shall.”
“
Why is it?” Belon asked, as he huffed and threw up his arms in disbelief, anger, and frustration, “That you reason he is such that he cannot fend for himself. Could the reason be you have made him weak like a woman?”
Angered, Ogorec tur
ned towards the door to leave, but when he opened it, Belon leaped forward, forcefully pushing it closed with his forearm.
It all done in the blink of an eye. The door caught Ogorec
’s foot pinning him in place, and startled by it, he gripped the hilt of his sword.
“
Unsheathe it, and I will bend the steel around your neck,” Belon slowly threatened, as he looked into his face.
“
The steel will long before that be in your throat,” Ogorec threatened back; then ordered, “Move from the door!”
Belon
’s face so close to Ogorec he could feel the heat of his breath. He began to breath heavy, and as he stared into his intense eyes, unable to control his want, suddenly kissed him hard, but Ogorec turned his head away.
“
No,” he spoke his now seemingly easy and ever-ready rejection.
Belon sighed, as his heart beat rapidly from his kiss to Ogorec, but weighed heavy from his instant rejection.
“You bond yourself to him, but there will always be more of a bond with us,” he said, low and exact hoping his verbal jab would leave a mark, “You killed a man for our sake.”
Ogorec
’s head sprang back to Belon, as if a tightly wound cord released.
“
Such is true,” he jabbed back, “Yet, for him my bond is this. I will take a life for him and many, not for the sake of passion, but for the sake of love.”
Unable to counter his verbal blow, Belon released the door; then stepped aside letting Ogorec now easily walk out of it.
At the end of the hallway, Ovfren waited; then when Ogorec walked out and passed, then not noticing at first, stopped and turned.
Surprised he was there he looked at him disapprovingly
, but began walking again,
“
Walk!” he yelled out without looking back.
Ovfren followed, then when both were in Ogorec
’s chamber, Ovfren crossed his arms and rested against the wall.
Unaw
are he did, Ogorec took off his tunic, then poured water into the basin and splashed it on his face, then when he turned his head, noticed.“Why pin yourself to the wall?”
“
To wait for words of why you went to his chamber,” Ovfren answered, before securing his crossed arm more tightly, “I want to hear them.”
“
It is not your worry,” Ogorec replied, as he dried his face.
“
What of your words that you would hold nothing from me?” Ovfren asked, “Speak.”
“
My words are unchanged,” he bluntly replied.
From his bl
unt reply, Ovfren’s arm uncrossed in an instant, as he moved his back off the wall and refused to let that be the end of the matter.
“
Ogorec!” he shouted resolved, “You will answer me Ogorec! I demand you annnsss …”
Ogorec turned. His patience already clo
se to its peak, Ovfren’s shouting took it over.
“
Do you reason you can speak to me in such a way?” Ogorec roared, “If so, you are wrong! You will silence your tongue and ask me nothing else!”
Enraged, Ovfren walked towards the door to leave, but Ogorec ro
ared again, “Do not pass that threshold, I command it!”
Ovfren became defiant, and unphased by his roar.
“Command me all you want!” Ovfren roared back, “As that of first in command, I will obey you, but as two in love, but angry with each other, I am walking pass this threshold!”
“
Ovfren!” he called out, but by then Ovfren has passed through the door.
At once, Ogorec followed him; then when he caught up to him in the hallway, grabbed him by his arm and forcibly pushed him against the wall, but still angry
, Ovfren struck him with his fist across his temple.
Stunned briefly more from surprise than the actual blow, Ogorec purposely hesitated in his reaction to Ovfren
’s impulsive act.
“
Hear me well Ovfren,” he looked at him sternly, as he breathed through his nose angrily; his temple still stinging from the blow. “Strike me again and you will put me in a rage.”
“
Shall you put to task all you taught me?” Ovfren threatened accepting his challenge, but he didn’t strike him again.
Ovfren
’s stare at Ogorec intense, he saw the fire in his eyes.
“
No,” Ogorec said, “There is no need.”
Both breathe hard in front of the other in the hallway, and as if in a standoff of will, neither spoke, but it was Ogorec who calmed first.
“A fire came from you,” his words, as his demeanor softened.
“
Anger came from me!” Ovfren; however blared still angry.
The stare from his gray eyes stern yet hypnotic, as they entranced him, Ogorec calmed even more.
“Then forgive me,” he said softly, and turned to go back to his chamber, “For bringing such.”
Saying nothing else, Ogorec turned and walked back to his chamber, and as Ovfren stood in the hallway debating whether he should leave or follow, he leaned against the wall frustrated and banged his head against the stone; then walked back into Og
orec’s chamber.
Quietly, he closed the door, and again stood against the wall.
“Speak it,” Ovfren, now calmed as well, said, “What reason did you have to go to him?”
After he took off his pants, then climbed under the furs, Ogorec answered him.
“That no harm comes to you while I am away,” his half-truth.
Ovfren sighed loudly. The air from his mouth hissing a sigh of relief as would a tomb
’s vault opened after being sealed for ages; he walked closer to Ogorec.
“
Such was my worry,” he admitted, “…of worse words.”
“
I pray it seizes you always once and for all,” Ogorec said, as he looked up at him, “That I want and love only you.”
As he smiled, Ovfren still had not come to bed.
“Will my own hand be what pleases me this night?” Ogorec asked, glancing up at Ovfren while touching himself.
“
No, it shall be me who pleases you.”
Widely, Ovfren pulled off his clothes, then pulled the fur off Ogorec and looked at him.
“Umm.” He hummed pleased at the sight of Ogorec rigid, as he climbed into bed, and got on his side to face him.
“
Such fire you had in the hallway. I want made known to others,” Ogorec said, as he moved closer to him, “As you fight, ride, train, and in all things.”
Ovfren breathe out hard when he felt the heat of Ogorec
’s body, and his manhood poking him.
“
Shall I thrust into you?” he whispered, as he pulled even closer leaving no space between them, “With this fire within me to make it known to you as well?”
“
It is well known to me,” Ogorec said, as he felt Ovfren rigid too, “…well known.”
As their bodi
es clung to each other, Ogorec moaned his anguish.
“
Four nights; four long lonely nights without the feel of your body beside me…”
Anguished also, Ovfren moaned back.
“My body will crave you such that I fear I will die from my hunger.”
Overcome by his word
s, Ogorec, although it didn’t seem possible, clung to him even harder longing for Ovfren to begin thrusting inside him.
“
Ssssssss.” Ogorec hissed long once he finally began, “Make your thrusts last long into the night…Ssssss.”
Their breath heavy upon the o
ther’s face; their bodies intertwined as they lay on their sides. Under the fur the heat of their passion lasted long into the night, then both drenched with sweat , finally, Ovfren cried out when his body seized, and his body in harmony with Ovfren’s, Ogorec cried out too.
“
Uuh,” was all that could come from Ogorec as his muscles tightened.
Ogorec barely beyond one spastic groan, Ovfren pushed him onto his back; then got between his legs and looked down into his face.
“Four nights.” He moaned, becoming rigid again almost right away, “We have spilled only enough for one.”
“Umm,” Ogorec’s only words delighted with Ovfren’s youthful vigor, “There is that fire again.”
J
ust as asked, Loth met Laad at the gate, but before they rode out, Laad stopped at the church to pray, and after patiently waiting, when he walked out and jumped on his horse, Loth questioned him.
“
Do we ride in the night towards danger that one should pray?”
“
No,” he answered, “But towards things unknown such that I pray God sees me through it.”
Both riding hard; they traveled late into the night; then when Laad saw the dense deep forest in
front of him, he stopped.
“
Where are we?”
“
We are at the Forest of the Lost or what others call the Black Forest,” Laad answered, “Where the Erlban men fled in the days of King Edre long ago. The king had all of them burned alive or so he believed who refused to abandon the
old religion
, but some fled and took refuge here. The king did not pursue them into it and named it the Forest of the Lost forbidding any to go into it for any reason and to this day there are those who still practice the
old way
.”
In
haling as he stared, the wooden box Irek’s wife gave him in his pouch, he looked to Loth; then kneed his horse on.
Both riding slowly, Loth
’s eyes keen to the left, Laad’s keen to the right, as the foliage and trees became denser, Loth looked to Laad.“Dare we lose our way?”
“
Just ahead,” Laad responded, as he nodded, then got off his horse, knowing to look for the thicker trees, “When the trees thicken we are there.”
Carefully, following the written instructions, after Laad got off his horse, he whistled
three times, paused and whistled three more, surprised that even in the thickest forest; the sound resonated to the top of the trees.
Both standing next to their horses, they eyes going back and forth carefully watching their surroundings when even though
their heads were still, after what seemed a long time, they heard sounds of leaves rustling and twigs snapping moving closer towards them.
Cautiously, Loth stared intently towards the sound, as he drew his sword. “
I fear my sword will not be without blood on it this night.”
Taking no chances, Laad pulled his sword too.
“Then we shall meet what comes out of trees head on,” he said. His stare intent as well.
Both ready to strike; when they saw two old men wearing heavy long robes walk out. The threat of th
e two being able to overpower them doubted, they looked to the other and put their swords away.
The two old men said nothing to Loth and Laad, and waited for one of them to speak first.
“In this forest a tree stands out. I am the tree,” Laad yelled out, more words given him to say, “I seek the aged Erlban Apalgohor,” Laad added, “Irek is dead and his ring I now wear.”
Saying nothing, the men turned and walked away, and after Loth and Laad looked at each other puzzled, guessed they were
supposed follow them.
Walking
for what seemed like a long time, as the foliage became even denser, they had to tie their horse and leave them in order to continue.
“
I am putting that trust you asked of me to the test,” Loth said, yet now he became more curious, “Yet I am peaked to know why we are here.”
As Laad
opened his mouth to answer, he noticed numerous small huts suddenly appearing in front of him. The huts surrounded a large one; then when they reached it, one of them extended his arm.
“
Wait must wait here,” he brusquely said.
Only inside a few minutes, he stuck his head out of door and signaled for Laad to come forth, but when Loth began to move forward
to, he blocked the door with his body.
“
He rode with me,” Laad was adamant when he did it, “And will go inside with me or I will not.”
The man looked at Laad annoyed, but relented; then moved to the side so both could enter.
Slowly, both Laad and Loth walked looking curiously around as they did. The smell of incense permeating all through the tent, they noticed candles lit from one end to the other with wax from them piled high; and dried animal bones here and there hanging from strings making both wonder what they could be doing with them.
Still walking, Loth leaned over to Laad.
“
What is this?” he commented never having seen anything like it before.
Again, as Laad was about to speak, he stopped when he heard a name.
“Ronegavlaad,” an old Erlban man cried out in a weak yet commanding voice, as he stood facing them, “Come forth.”
“
My name is Laad,” he corrected him.
“
Come forth.”
Warily Laad stepped forward along with Loth.
“Such a name he called you,” he whispered.
“
Dare he refuse his name?” he chastised hearing Loth, “Given to you as you came out of your mother’s womb.”
“
I know of no other,” his retort, “Than that of Laad.”
“
Have you come for the truth?” he asked, as he now sat, “Or shall you go on living the lie you have lived for twenty four summers until your death?”
Laad looked at him befuddled, and slightly irritated.
“I honor your age,” he voiced, “And from that I will guard my words. I have journeyed far to hear them and have no time for riddles.”
“
You came to me,” his lofty reply, “Not I to you.”
Laad couldn
’t counter his truth and irritated or not wisely knew to hold his tongue and just answer the questions asked without antagonism.
“
When you were born, I marked you,” he told him, “If the marks are not upon you; then you are not Ronegavlaad.”
“
What such marks?”
“
First,” he said cautiously, “Show me the ring.”
Laad gave
him the other ring Irek wore that was now his, and after he looked at it closely, again he spoke. “Remove all your clothes.”
Laad
’s expression showed his skepticism, and he looked around the room uncertain how he felt about his request.
“
What reason is there for it?” he had to ask.
“
For the truth …”
Hesitantly, Laad complied and removed his tunic.
“My words were to remove all,” Apalgohor demanded.
Still hesitant, but left with no choice, Laad complied and removed his boots and pants befo
re he crossed his arms.
As he stood there, he shook his head in disbelief that he was now in the middle of a strange tent, with others around him staring at him completely naked.
“Out of the womb I marked your body such that one day should you appear before me, I would know you.”
Laad
’s chest suddenly heaved. He knew his body had marks that no one ever explained how he got, making him listened intently.
“
The right side of your body is marked,” he told him, as he boldly walked to him to look at them, “You have a burn on your hip, one under your right arm, and on your right foot.”
As he examined Laad to see if he had them, pleased he did, he again went back to sit.
“The box,” he then requested.
After Laad again dressed, he took the box to Apalgohor.
“Break it,” he ordered without touching it.
Obeying, Laad smashed it under the heel of his boot making it splinter, and when it did
, something shiny appeared.
“
What is that?’ Loth questioned, as he tried to lean in and look at it.
Curiously, Laad picked u
p the shiny object and his jaw dropped. It was the crest of Worrlgen like that of what King Rone, Lord Baric, and Lord Bayl wore around their necks, but only one half.
“
Give it to me,” Apalgohor ordered.
Laad did as asked and gave the halved crest to him
, who when he did put it with the half he had in his hand.
“
Stolen and divided,” his words as he joined the sides, “One half with Irek, the other with me to one day be a whole again with its rightful heir.”
Beside himself with confusion, that suddenly his
life could change for the better or the worse deepening on how he handled it, Laad’s head spun.
“
How did it come to be that my life is as it is?” Laad asked, as his angst built more within him, “I was happy and asked for no more. Why reveal this to me now to change it all?”
“
You are who are you,” Apalgohor only offered.
“
And who am I?”
“
The brother of the king.”
Loth made a low gasp, always certain his friend was destined to rule.
“Speak all to me of this truth I came to you to hear,” Laad’s interest now peaked, “I have only known Boek as my father, as was his claim to be.”
“
He was your father because he cared for you and loved you,” he told him, “Yet, you are not of his seed.”
“
And my mother...” Laad spoke almost afraid to hear more.
“
Young and beautiful,” Apalgohor said, “Sent to King Kael to warm him as he shivered most nights, but one of those nights and only once he lay with her, and from it his seed took hold. The king died not long afterward.”
While Laad listened, he looked away,
as his mind ran with thoughts.
“
Queen Nohla, one consumed with place and power was who when she found out the old king still had fertile seed within him, with another’s help, since King Rone was away many seasons fighting a battle, took it upon herself to have you killed as you came into this world.
She knew the Law of Worrlgen was that when a king dies the brother and not the son inherits the throne if he is living. A law put into place long ago by King Helkar, who loved his brother and despised even th
e sight of his own son. A bastard child you would be, but the king’s pure blood would still be running through you.
She had already bore a male heir, Lord Baric and carried another child in her womb believed to be a male. Knowing the king was ill to near d
ying, she waited quietly longing to be queen and have her son be a king, and you Ronegavlaad, stood in the way of that.
Boek, Irek, along with me and your mother lied claiming the child in her womb died when born, but in truth we marked and switched you w
ith a dead male child deceiving Queen Nohla.”
“
Why were you a part of this?”
Apalgohor sighed.
For what seemed longer that it should have been he went into private thoughts of his own, and only after Laad made a grumble sound, did he continue speaking.
“
I was not only a healer to the old king. I was a friend to Irek, and as I just revealed, am who pulled you from your mother’s womb. When the old king died, an uprising brought about what we later called the
dark season
. It failed of course, but Irek chose to remain at Worrlgen. I did not,” was all Apalgohor would offer.
Now shaken, Laad looked stupefied as thoughts of his childhood ran through his mind. He thought of how they lived away from WorrlgenHall in a cottage far out in the glens, and that it was
only later in his childhood that they returned to live within it.
“
I have no words good or bad,” Laad could only utter, “I fear to reason why this is made known to me now.”
“
Only that you know what the truth is,” he told him, “I fulfilled my promise to Irek that should you come to me, I would reveal it as I gave you the other half of the crest -
your crest
.”
As he spoke, he stood and walked to Laad.
“Take the crest,” he said, and gave both halves to him. “One day wear it around your neck as is your fate, or hid it from all, all the days you breathe.”
Laad took the two pieces, and looked to Loth.
“Let us leave with haste,” he said, as he walked away still not sure what to believe, “That we are not missed and questioned.”
“
Ronegavlaad,” Apalgohor called to him when walked away, “Does Orhan the king’s healer still live?”
“
He lives, yet is ailing and held to his bed.”
“
And Orem?”
“
He is dead.”
Apalgohor
’s chin raised, and his face tightened contemptuously, yet his eyes showed a hint of gloating. “Some things buried and believed hidden will rise to the top of even the deepest places by no will of its own.”
Laad looked at him. His suggestive words not understood, he didn
’t respond to find out what they meant, and again walked away.