watching, waiting; before they whispered their plans.
“Most fighting men have left their homes to go into the field to fight against us.” Belon reasoned, “We should come back; then invade the village and search for Lord Baric.”
“ We are still at their mercy,” Tohlor said shrewdly. Not wanting to risk his life and hoping one day to rise in place pass Belon, “They have the stronger hand.”
“ If Lord Baric is here and we leave him,” Belon said wisely, as he thought of King Rone, Bayl and Baric’s father, “Should the king find out I shudder to reason our fate.”
As both men whispere d, stunned at the sight of Baric’s knife in the hands of a man outside a hut, Belon wanted to charge in slaying all in sight; but decided against it.
“ They have him,” Belon said now sure of it before both hurried away to inform Bayl.
Swiftly, Belon and To hlor rode to rejoin the men and the thought of Lord Baric possibly still alive pushed them to ride hard back.
“ We believe he lives,” Tohlor blurted just as they reached the dead trees, causing Bayl suddenly to rise to his feet so quickly he almost stumbled.
“ If you are wrong,” Bayl’s unspoken words to both assuring his crushed hope would bring his severe wrath.
“ We followed a blood trail,” Belon added quickly, “Someone in the village nearby we are sure took him.”
Always prepared at a moment ’s notice to fight or flee, the men grabbed their armor, packed up and mounted their horses.
“ Lead me to this village, “Bayl spoke with renewed hope; then followed Belon.
After battle, only forty-three mounted high guild warriors who were the best fighters, along with a h andful of gruels, who were men of labor and also fought, and footmen left in all, certain their enemy’s strongest men were away, Bayl had them surround the village.
“ We will not lay waste to this place, “Bayl said, but stipulated, “Unless they attack us first.”
Grabbing the first man he came across, an old one, Bayl put his sword ’s edge close to his face. “We are looking for someone.”
“ I gathered such.” The man, remembering the glimpse of a man he saw sideways on a horse earlier suspected, pointed.
Bayl loo ked towards the hut he pointed to spurring his horse forward; then after ordering the men, other than Belon to stay back, he dismounted his horse and with his sword still drawn cautiously entered.
His crouch set to encounter trouble . His eyes seeking enemies; they fixed upon a bed next to a fire. Under furs a large male’s frame possibly his brother, and beside him a smaller frame as that of a woman.
The hut empty other than whoever was on the bed, he straightened and quietly walked to it careful not to awak en them before hastily pulling the furs back causing a surprised woman to gasp softly.
When she looked up and saw a tower of a man looking menacingly down at her. Her first instinct fear, from the look on his face, she knew he had a greater purpose than t o be bothered with her.
Considering her no real threat, and more curious and hopeful the man next to her was his brother, Bayl turned the man ’s head discovering it was indeed Baric.
He appeared to be in a deep sleep, and although his heart lifted, he sai d nothing for several seconds while he stared at him.
“ I did not harm him,” Ecia, although in no fear for her life was no fool either, quickly said.
Bayl stepped back only slightly , his attention now on the woman, he noticed her apprehension and obvious beauty.
“… your name?”
“ I am Ecia daughter of Lerd who was slain long ago in battle.”
“ Slain by what king?”
“ It was a battle that waged when I was a child before I could even walk, I do not know.”
The openness of her nightdress allowing him to see her breasts move as she breathed heavily . Had he looked harder he could have easily seen her perky nipples as they molded to the cloth. Yet, he turned his head and she immediately sought cover for
“Most fighting men have left their homes to go into the field to fight against us.” Belon reasoned, “We should come back; then invade the village and search for Lord Baric.”
“ We are still at their mercy,” Tohlor said shrewdly. Not wanting to risk his life and hoping one day to rise in place pass Belon, “They have the stronger hand.”
“ If Lord Baric is here and we leave him,” Belon said wisely, as he thought of King Rone, Bayl and Baric’s father, “Should the king find out I shudder to reason our fate.”
As both men whispere d, stunned at the sight of Baric’s knife in the hands of a man outside a hut, Belon wanted to charge in slaying all in sight; but decided against it.
“ They have him,” Belon said now sure of it before both hurried away to inform Bayl.
Swiftly, Belon and To hlor rode to rejoin the men and the thought of Lord Baric possibly still alive pushed them to ride hard back.
“ We believe he lives,” Tohlor blurted just as they reached the dead trees, causing Bayl suddenly to rise to his feet so quickly he almost stumbled.
“ If you are wrong,” Bayl’s unspoken words to both assuring his crushed hope would bring his severe wrath.
“ We followed a blood trail,” Belon added quickly, “Someone in the village nearby we are sure took him.”
Always prepared at a moment ’s notice to fight or flee, the men grabbed their armor, packed up and mounted their horses.
“ Lead me to this village, “Bayl spoke with renewed hope; then followed Belon.
After battle, only forty-three mounted high guild warriors who were the best fighters, along with a h andful of gruels, who were men of labor and also fought, and footmen left in all, certain their enemy’s strongest men were away, Bayl had them surround the village.
“ We will not lay waste to this place, “Bayl said, but stipulated, “Unless they attack us first.”
Grabbing the first man he came across, an old one, Bayl put his sword ’s edge close to his face. “We are looking for someone.”
“ I gathered such.” The man, remembering the glimpse of a man he saw sideways on a horse earlier suspected, pointed.
Bayl loo ked towards the hut he pointed to spurring his horse forward; then after ordering the men, other than Belon to stay back, he dismounted his horse and with his sword still drawn cautiously entered.
His crouch set to encounter trouble . His eyes seeking enemies; they fixed upon a bed next to a fire. Under furs a large male’s frame possibly his brother, and beside him a smaller frame as that of a woman.
The hut empty other than whoever was on the bed, he straightened and quietly walked to it careful not to awak en them before hastily pulling the furs back causing a surprised woman to gasp softly.
When she looked up and saw a tower of a man looking menacingly down at her. Her first instinct fear, from the look on his face, she knew he had a greater purpose than t o be bothered with her.
Considering her no real threat, and more curious and hopeful the man next to her was his brother, Bayl turned the man ’s head discovering it was indeed Baric.
He appeared to be in a deep sleep, and although his heart lifted, he sai d nothing for several seconds while he stared at him.
“ I did not harm him,” Ecia, although in no fear for her life was no fool either, quickly said.
Bayl stepped back only slightly , his attention now on the woman, he noticed her apprehension and obvious beauty.
“… your name?”
“ I am Ecia daughter of Lerd who was slain long ago in battle.”
“ Slain by what king?”
“ It was a battle that waged when I was a child before I could even walk, I do not know.”
The openness of her nightdress allowing him to see her breasts move as she breathed heavily . Had he looked harder he could have easily seen her perky nipples as they molded to the cloth. Yet, he turned his head and she immediately sought cover for