Snow Burial: Secret Love Poems from Winter

Karlan, whose hands were bound, stopped shouting, probably because blood was choking in his throat, and his voice was hoarse like a new wind.He kept struggling, but he still couldn't get rid of Norlins' strong grip, leaving a series of indentations of different depths on the snow as he walked, as well as sporadic blood that seeped into the snow.When passing through the bushes, sharp wooden branches scratched Karlan's cloak and coat, and several torn cloth strands hung between the branches.

Karlan trembled—of course it wasn't because of the cold, the Baiwan people were never afraid of winter—he felt unprecedented despair and resentment for his current embarrassment.

Norlins found his destination.

It was a dilapidated hunter's cabin, built of rough pine wood, the low fence was mostly buried in the snow, only a few broken wooden bars were exposed.He dragged Karlan across the front yard of the cottage and pushed open the ajar door.There is only a simple low bed and a square table placed in the corner in the room. The low bed is still piled with old animal skins used as bedding, which is already covered with dust.

Norlins found this place while hunting the day before, but he didn't expect it to come in handy now.And Karlan also guessed what might happen next, but he still didn't want to believe that he fell into such a situation.

"...What do you want to do?" The green eyes ignited by anger and fear stared at Norlins, and his lips moved like falling leaves.

Norlins was pleased with the sight.In fact, every "encounter" he had in the past was a love affair, but this time it was different, he suddenly wanted to see how this Baiwan man was driven into a desperate situation - he found that he could not only gain indescribable benefits from it Joy, and even experienced feelings of infatuation and "love".

The wandering lord of the Great Lake Territory pushed the young nobleman from the White Bay Territory face down on the wooden table, and ripped off his coat.

Karlan gasped, and struggled desperately with such force that he almost dislocated his elbow, but Norlins grabbed the back of his neck, and a wail was stuck in his throat. Defiled mercilessly.

Norlins relaxed the strength in his hand, leaned over to touch Karlan's trembling body, and whispered in his ear: "This is my territory, and I respect every inch of land, every house, and every person here." You have the right to claim it. And you just stepped into my border." The pronunciation of Common Tongue is gentle and soothing, but to Karlan, it is tantamount to the threat of a demon.

"I curse you—" Karlan gritted his teeth, and intermittently squeezed out all the evil words he could think of from the depths of his throat. The common language was mixed with the unique words of the ancient imperial language, and every syllable was a vent of hatred and pain . "—Your life, your family, and your territory will all pay the price!"

The scorching breath beat against the back of Karlan's pale neck.Norlings gave a short laugh, and whispered back between kisses: "That's exactly what I love for you."

Outside the wooden house, the sun tore through the remaining shadows in the forest, and the small animals looking for food left a series of shallow footprints on the snow, and the slender dead branches swayed in the wind; while in the still dim wooden house, Nolin Stan took nearly everything but his life from Karlan.

The next day, Norlins sent messengers and escorts to send Karlan and his captured entourage back to Baiwan.

He personally came to the checkpoint near the forest in the northern part of the Great Lake Territory, and watched the team of horse-drawn carriages pass through the heavily fortified border and head north along the snow-covered road, leaving beaded horseshoe prints and two ruts.

Norlins watched the convoy go away, his half-smile expression made others elusive.It was snowing again in the sky, and the attendants held up the canopy and escorted their lord into the gorgeously decorated but not complicated carriage parked beside the checkpoint.The fine horses in the northern part of the empire are larger in stature and have outstanding endurance, and have always been the preferred choice of carriages for dignitaries.

Mora tucked her hands into her thick sleeves, and sat docilely beside Norlins—this is really not something that ordinary cronies can do.When the carriage drove to the edge of the open snowfield, he pondered the lord's temper, and at the right moment, he said: "I didn't expect you to put him back just like that."

"I reached an agreement with Karlan." Norlins raised one corner of his mouth, and cast his deep eyes on the horizon blurred by the sun deep in the snow field, as if he was reminiscing what he did the day before. "He is not a simple-minded noble young master who is at the mercy of others."

As always, Maura carefully weaves each response—whether it's a seemingly sincere perfunctory or a constructive comment.He thought of Norlins' rough action when he forcibly grabbed Karlan into the hunter's hut, remembered the screams coming from the house, remembered his vicious eyes and bruises on his forehead when he sent Karlan away, Mora I feel more and more that this matter will not end so simply.

Norlins didn't care about the question that Maura was struggling with, just as he never took the other party's response as the truth.In fact, in the dilapidated hunter's hut, Norlins began to regret the moment he looked into the depths of Karlan's eyes, but he couldn't get rid of the great satisfaction brought by this wishful possession.Norlins did not deny that the previous actions were sinful, but another impression of Karlan gradually overshadowed his belated guilt.

"There was something far deeper than hatred and fear in his eyes, and I could see it, and there was a moment of creepiness in his eyes," Norlins said. "You may not believe it, but after what happened yesterday, we actually talked." Although Karlan stared at Norlins with murderous eyes the whole time, Norlins never untied the rope on Karlan's body. .

Although she has unreserved trust in Norlins' ability and judgment, Mora is still a little worried: "Will he tell that Star what happened? The relationship between the Giant Lake Territory and the White Bay Territory has always been tense, and I'm worried— —”

Norlins raised a hand. "He won't."

"I thought he was the standard Baiwan person: straightforward and reckless."

"He's not just a snow lion, he can also turn into a cunning fox in a desperate situation. He also has his schemes."

—You've got what you want, scum of the Lakeland; I have my own terms.

At that time, Karlan was leaning against the wall exhaustedly, his clothes were torn and messy, his mouth was still stained with blood, his face was pale, and there were some things in his sharp eyes that were difficult for outsiders to discern.Norlins couldn't help being shocked.

—Of course you can, my dear.I am willing to give everything I can give.

Norlins heard his own tactful answer.He tidied his clothes in an orderly manner, but his heartbeat began to subtly speed up.

Karlan's body trembled subconsciously because of Norlins' overly intimate title, but his eyes were always fixed on the other's face, as if searching for all available clues.

——I must return to Neverwinter, it will be good for you and me.

Karlan offered to return him and several of his captured entourage to Baiwanling, and to keep everything that happened that day tight-lipped.And Norlins said yes.

Mo La smiled and said, "I probably know why you like him."

Norlings sneered and asked, "What do you know?"

Maura shut her mouth just in time.

"I'm afraid I don't just like him." Norlins looked at his hand, which once grabbed Karlan's messy hair until he heard painful gasps, and also left shocking marks on Karlan's pale skin. "It's not just about his face and body."

What Norlins didn't say was that while he was desperately exchanging Karlan's body and dignity for spiritual pleasure, he had already realized that some opportunities that existed had been recklessly abandoned by him.Perhaps he should have met Karlan on a better occasion, instead of turning the encounter into an impulsive outrage.

At the same time, the convoy escorting Karlan arrived at the first small town in the territory of Baiwan.They made adjustments according to the pre-agreed plan: the guards sent by Norlins turned back to the Great Lake Territory; after a short repair, the White Bay soldiers in the town will take over from them and send Karlan and others back to the capital Neverwinter.

Before setting off again, Karlan called the entourage who accompanied him into the Great Lake Territory into his bedroom where he was resting.The hotels in the small town are somewhat crude, but Baiwan people who are used to the harsh environment never pay attention to dispensable decoration and consumption.

Karlan's complexion was still grim.Although he has washed his body and hair and put on brand new clothes, the wound on his face and the tiredness in his eyes cannot be easily concealed.He sat on the bed with his back against the wall, wrapping himself in clothes and quilts.

The entourage who had been captured with Karlan stood in front of him, visibly embarrassed by the naked eye.Of course they knew what Karlan was forced to go through: Norlins did it right before their eyes, and Karlan's screams could be heard even from the edge of the camp.

"You know what I mean," Karlan said quietly.His voice was tired but clear. "Don't mention this matter again, especially in front of Uncle Star."

The followers looked at each other, and one of them was about to say something, but was forced back by Karlan's sharp eyes.

"Remember, you didn't see or hear anything. We entered the Great Lake Territory to collect information, and happened to be caught by Norlins and others. They thought we were indeed White Bay nobles who crossed the border to hunt, and I Promising not to make such a mistake again, Norlins agreed to put us back—that's all there is to it. Do you hear me?" Karlan's cold eyes were far less warm than Brahe's painting.

They just nod.