Chapter 52

He laughed. Hard.

"So Daya was right. You are curious about my–" Rhobart started saying, but Ayla put her hand against his mouth.

"That was your, you know, anatomy?" Ayla asked. Now she was curious about it.

Rhobart pulled her hand away from his mouth, "Cock! And it gets like that every time I think about fucking you until I forget my own name. Or just think about you, in general."

And there it was, that word 'fucking.' She wanted to know what the act meant.

Ayla opened her mouth to say something, but Rhobart spoke first, "If you ask me one more thing about my cock or fucking, I will lose my control, and this time I won't stop. And the first time we do it, Ayla, because this will happen, it will be because you will feel like dying if I don't touch you. And I want you to ache for me the same I have been aching for you with needs and desires I never knew someone could feel."

"You ache for me?"

"Ayla! You are not making it any easier!" Rhobart said and stood. "We better go because otherwise, I will fuck you until we melt all the damn snow from this kingdom!"

They gathered their things, and before they left, Ayla insisted on seeing his wound once more.

"You saw it earlier. It's fine; no need to check it again," Rhobart said.

"That was before you moved that much," Ayla said.

"You just want to touch me. Admit it!"

Ayla looked into his eyes and grinned, "I do want to touch you. Maybe kiss another tattoo."

She had never seen someone take his cloak, jacket, and tunic as fast as Rhobart did.

When she was sure the wound didn't open, Ayla went to her horse.

"What about my kiss?" Rhobart asked.

"I didn't say when I will give it to you," Ayla said and laughed as she got on top of Spirit. "Come on, Kerra," Ayla said before leaving.

"Wait, t'xoria!" Rhobart yelled and hurried to get dressed.

They traveled fast all day long, and stopped for the night at another camp that was almost entirely occupied by hunters.

In the morning, while they were traveling once more, Rhobart pointed at a big mountain, "That is our destination. We will get there by late afternoon."

Ayla looked at the mountain. It was one of the biggest mountains she had ever seen. And to her surprise, it wasn't entirely covered by snow. The part that was without snow had the same dark blue color as the magic ore.

"Do you know what makes this mountain and the Hammer Clan special?" Rhobart asked.

"No," Ayla said.

"It is said that after Beliar created the Orcs and started killing men, elves, and other creatures of Inoss, Adanoss gave the men and elves the magic ore and built the Forge inside this mountain. The first weapons made from magic ore were created here, and since then, in this Forge, only magic ore weapons have been created. All the weapons the Paladins use are made in this Clan."

Ayla looked at the mountain once more, "Is it made entirely from magic ore?"

"Yes! And in this mountain, it is the biggest magic ore mine."

They continued traveling until they reached the Clan. Behind a big, tall stone wall, buildings and houses were built at the mountain's base. They took a road that went up, and Ayla saw more buildings constructed on each side of the road.

"This is a big Clan," Ayla said.

Rhobart nodded, "The second biggest in the Kingdom."

They climbed for around an hour until they reached a big plateau. Big houses, small houses, shops, smithies, and other buildings were built on the plateau. Ayla even saw a beautiful Church of Fire. The biggest building was what appeared to be the Clan Hall.

But what impressed Ayla was that many people were on the streets dancing, singing, and celebrating. They were wearing beautiful, colorful clothes.

"Are they celebrating something?" Ayla asked.

Rhobart frowned, "I am not sure. The Longest Night in the Year is the biggest celebration in Nordmar, but it is still a month away. We better ask. Let's go to the Clan Hall. We will be staying there, and Chief Ulfr will tell us anything we need to know."

As Ayla and Rhobart guided Runner and Spirit towards the Clan Hall, people made way for them to pass. Some children hid behind their parents at the sight of Kerra, who was in her battle form.

It didn't take long to reach the Clan Hall, but to Ayla's and Rhobart's surprise, the building was decorated with flowers and colored fabrics. Music sounded from inside, and some people were in the gardens, dancing or talking.

Rhobart dismounted and made a sign to Ayla to do the same. They got close to the entrance, and Rhobart went to talk to the guards and then returned to Ayla.

"I let them know that I am looking for Chief Ulfr. He will be here in a few moments," he told Ayla.

A few minutes later, a servant approached Rhobart and Ayla, "My King, Chief Ulfr, invites you inside. Please, follow me. Someone will take care of your horses. And of the snowcat also."

Rhobart looked into the servant's eyes, "Kerra goes where I go."

"Of course, My King!"

Ayla and Rhobart followed the servant that led them inside a big room. Big tables filled with foods of all kinds and drinks were next to the walls, leaving the rest of the room free. Inside was a group of people.

The servant led the King and the princess to the group then he retired.

"Chief Ulfr!" Rhobart said, and a very tall man with long white hair turned.

"My King! You are just in time to celebrate with my family and the Clan!"

"What are you celebrating?" Rhobart asked.

"My son, he found his n'alxa! Today they are having their alxa-lotx ceremony, and I want to celebrate this with all the Clan because the last alxa-lotx ceremony we had was fifteen years ago!"

Ayla wanted to know what a n'alxa and an alxa-lotx ceremony were, but she bit her tongue to stop herself from speaking.

"We will gladly celebrate will you and your family!" Rhobart said. Then he put a hand on the lower back of Ayla and said, to the Chief, "This is Ayla, she is my–" He looked at Ayla as he continued, "She is mine. And I am hers. Now and forever!"

Ayla blushed went Rhobart claimed her as his. She looked at him, and her heart beat like a trapped bird in a cage.

"Finally, someone that melted your cold, frozen heart!" the Chief said to the King. Then he looked at Ayla, "I have fought along his side in the war, and let me tell you, I have never seen with a woman. And I don't even remember how many have entered his tent, but he would always make them leave within a minute before entering."

When Ayla thought about Rhobart being with other women, she felt physically sick. She hated the idea that he had touched and kissed and even did that thing that men and women did–fucking. She tried not to think about it.

"Chief Ulfr!" Rhobart said in a cold tone.

"All right, all right! I won't say another word! I have to go to make sure that everything is ready for tonight. I will send some servants to take your room?" the Chief asked and arched an eyebrow.

"Two would be better," Ayla and Rhobart said at the same time.

"Two it is then! And I will make sure that you have clothes for the ceremony!" the Chief said before he and the group left.

"What's a n'alxa and an alxa-lotx ceremony?" Ayla asked.

"A soulmate and a soul-bond ceremony," came a voice behind her. A voice she missed.

"Milton!" Ayla said and turned around and hugged the Fire Mage. She inhaled deeply. He smelled like herbs and magic. She frowned. Didn't he smell like something else?

"My Lady! I am so happy to see Rhobart found you. And I am glad that you too are not killing each other."

Ayla stopped hugging Milton, looked at Rhobart, who was looking at Milton as if he wanted to strangle him, and said, "I think we are past that now. So wait! A soul-bond ceremony? I have never seen one!"

Rhobart pulled Ayla next to him and whispered into her ear, "You only get to hug me like that!" Then the King looked at Milton and asked, "What about the others?"

Milton looked at Rhobart, then Ayla, then back at Rhobart, "Is this what I think it is?"

"Just answer my question!" Rhobart snapped at Milton.

"You really need to work on your manners. They are here. All of them! The Chief invited them to the ceremony."

"What about the Black Forest?"

"We will talk after the ceremony," Milton said.

A few minutes later, two servants came looking for Ayla.

"Rhobart, have Milton look at that wound!" she said before leaving. Kerra went with the princess.