Zenak by George S. Pappas

with such joy, I figured either you found Queen Mara or that the platoon never contacted you. Since I saw no sign of the queen, and since I know too well the evil ways of Vokar, I assumed the latter to be true.”
    â€œGet Habor and then tell my grooms to prepare Gam. I will ride to the east as soon as possible,” Zenak said.
    â€œWhy the east?” questioned Famad.
    Zenak glared at him for not jumping immediately to his order but then answered, “The platoon never contacted me, so apparently Vokar annihilated them before such a contact could be made. Also, Soci lies in that direction. Now get moving. I haven’t time to dawdle with you.”
    â€œMy King!” Famad said as he abruptly slapped his thigh and then went to do the bidding of his king.
    Zenak strode out of the throne room and into his chambers. On his way he found a slave girl and ordered her to bring a bottle of wine to his chambers.
    His room was cold and the dampness from the stone walls penetrated Zenak’s body to the point of being chilled. He wrapped himself in his furs and began to sharpen the blade of his great broadsword. He was an imposing looking figure; his stone-cold, black eyes stared hard upon his blade as he honed it to such a sharpness that even a touch of a finger upon the edge of it would produce blood. The dark furs wrapped around him made him look like the terrifying maga, a bear of the far north. So terrifying were his looks that the slave girl barely handed the bottle to him before she fled from the unfriendly room.
    Zenak had almost finished downing his wine when Habor came in. Habor’s eyes were red from crying and he had a grim and vengeful look upon his face that made even the saddened Zenak take note. “You have found out,” Zenak said.
    â€œI found out about Mara and Tenen from my first woman and was on my way here when I ran into the messenger that you sent to get me. He told me that you are having Gam prepared,” Habor said.
    â€œI leave when I finish this wine,” Zenak said. “Blast that Vokar! He has been a thorn in my side for a year. I should have split his skull when I had the chance.”
    â€œHow many marksmen will march with us?” Habor asked.
    â€œI go alone,” Zenak said.
    â€œI guess it will be better for just the two of us to go,” Habor said.
    â€œNo, my friend, I go completely alone,” Zenak said.
    â€œTenen was just as much a friend of mine as he was of yours.” Habor yelled, “And I loved Mara as a sister.”
    â€œI know, I know, but you will have to stay behind and take care of the kingdom,” Zenak said.
    â€œI really don’t give a blast about the kingdom,” Habor said. “I want revenge.”
    â€œHabor!” Zenak yelled back, “Don’t you understand? This is sorcery we are dealing with. Tenen did not commit suicide. Vokar killed him and Mara did not go willingly. Vokar made her. We are dealing with a powerful man. If we both go after him and he kills us both, Deparne will be at his mercy and so will my wife and child. But if just one of us goes after him, we may save the kingdom and my family.”
    â€œWhy?” Habor asked persistently.
    â€œBecause it is easier for one man to dog another man and not be discovered. And if I am discovered and killed, my kingdom and family may still have a chance because you will be here to fight off Vokar if he attacks Balbania,” Zenak answered.
    Habor thought for a moment and then said reluctantly, “I will stay.”
    â€œGood, and if something does happen, kill Vokar as fast as you can,” Zenak said.
    â€œVokar will never step in Balbania alive,” Habor said. Zenak smiled at Habor. Little did the king’s friend know that this was the last smile ever to cross that swarthy face.
    Zenak dropped his furs to the ground and threw the empty bottle into the corner of his room. “Gam should be ready by now. Let’s go to the