Zenak (6 page)

“If Vokar has any chance of escaping, it will be by markback. Famad go to the stables and find out if any marks are missing, especially the queen's. I'll go back and sound the alarm to seal off the city. And if they have already escaped we'll have to dispatch troops to find them,” the captain said.

“Will I go to the hunt?” Famad asked, reverting to his cowardly ways.

“No, you will stay behind and tell the King what happened,” the captain answered with a smirk.

“How do I know that the King will not kill me when he hears the news?” a frightened Famad asked.

“You don't,” replied the captain. Then the captain rushed for the barracks to rouse everyone into ac­tion.

Famad stayed in Mara's room biting his nails and trying to figure out the best way to word the bad news to this man of explosive emotions. He knew he wouldn't get away without at least a missing tooth.

Chapter 8

The trumpets were blaring, their majestic tones re­sounding off the city's walls. And the banners were waving in a sea of black and gold, Deparne's colors, when Zenak and his scarred, battered, but victorious army marched into Balbania. Zenak and Habor marched in the front of the victorious procession. Zenak stared to the front of him and his countenance was grim. Habor, on the other hand, was smiling. He didn't have the burden of a traitorous priest on his mind as Zenak had. Habor's happy scarred face told the people of Balbania that peace once again reigned. To show their happiness the people showered the army with the yellow flower petals of the blossoming hica plant. From every window the young women of Balbania, females as voluptuous as any man would hope for, bared their pert, smooth breasts beckoning every marksman to the ultimate hospitality a young woman could give a brave man coming from a fierce battle. Because of these awaiting beauties the parade did not last long, and by the time Zenak and Habor arrived at the gates of the palace, they were alone.

Habor laughed at their parade of two and said, “Ah, to be young again, but instead of some wild wench, I shall go see my first woman and have my feet rubbed.”

“Good, and give her my best,” Zenak said.

“I don't have anything that good,” Habor said to Zenak jokingly. “Oh yes, when you see Tenen, for you will see him before I do, tell him that I have a young girl who has never been touched waiting in the wagons outside the city walls.”

“That reminds me, why didn't Tenen meet us at the city's gates?” Zenak asked.

Habor became more serious and said, “I don't know. I also thought he would for I know how much he loves women and ale. When I saw that he wasn't there, I figured that he would meet us here at the palace gates. But he is not here either.”

“I felt the same as you my friend. Something is amiss,” Zenak said.

“I agree. Shall I let my foot rubdown wait and come with you into the palace to find out what happened?” Habor asked.

“No, if anything is wrong you will be the first person I will contact. No sense delaying your homecoming if nothing is wrong,” Zenak said.

“Fine, I will go home now, but don't delay sending a message if something is wrong,” Habor said.

Habor said good-bye to Zenak and rode off to his house. Zenak rode into the palace grounds and to the stables to have Gam bedded down. After that he went quickly to the throne room.

The throne room was quiet when Zenak walked into it. It was a dread, foreboding quiet that bespoke of developments filled with grave consequences. Zenak called for a servant, but none answered. He shrugged his shoulders and walked toward Mara's chambers. But before he had left the throne room, he heard someone feebly calling out to him.

“My King,” said Famad quietly from the other end of the throne room. Famad was petrified. He didn't want to tell the king the bad news, but the captain of the guards made him because he was the only one with first-hand knowledge of the situation. Famad knew this was going to happen when he saw his comrades being melted. He had hoped that the captain of the guard would not make him face the massive king if he told him of the events quick enough. But that didn't happen, so there he stood facing the most terrifying man he had ever seen or known.

Zenak, upon hearing this almost silent beckoning, turned around and ordered Famad to come closer and to speak up. Famad meekly came forward, his chin resting on his chest.

“The captain of the guard said I should tell you since I saw it all,” Famad said, hoping to push his responsibili­ty off on the captain.

“Tell me what?” Zenak bellowed. He was quite irritated by this meek guard.

Famad stepped back a little and then spoke up, his voice shaking, “Vokar has kidnapped Mara and the prince.”

“And you saw it and did nothing,” Zenak yelled. His hand gripped his broadsword and Famad could feel his head resting on the cold stone floor.

“He melted my friends and comrades,” Famad cried out. “What could I do? I was helpless.”

“Melted?” Zenak asked quietly to himself. His hand was red as it tightly grasped the hilt of the sword. “Go get Tenen,” Zenak ordered Famad.

“I cannot,” Famad said.

“You little bastard,” Zenak yelled as he slugged Famad in the face, knocking out his few front teeth and sending him to the floor.

Famad stayed quietly on the floor. He was bleeding heavily from his mouth and when he looked up at Zenak tears fell from his eyes. They were not tears of pain, however, but tears of sadness, for every soldier at the palace loved Tenen. Zenak stood above him, his fists clenched as he stared at the bleeding man.

Famad then said, “Tenen is dead.” This time Famad didn't cringe even though he felt sure that he would get kicked by Zenak's heavy, booted foot. Instead, Zenak offered his hand to Famad and helped him off the floor.

“How did he die?” Zenak asked softly.

“I didn't see it, but it's said that Tenen knifed him­self to death. His second woman found him sprawled on the floor lying in his blood and intestines. Also one of Mara's silks was found by his side,” Famad said, his face spattered with his own blood.

“Tenen would never have knifed himself. It must have been the work of Vokar. And my Mara was probably forced to see it—that would account for her silk,” Zenak said. Zenak could read an enemy's mind, a sword-fighting enemy, that is, and he ruled his kingdom wiser than any king before him had, but he was blind to Mara. When it came to her, he was as innocent as a three-year-old child.

“That's true,” Famad said a little more confidently. “Vokar was implicated, but never to his face.”

“Cowards,” Zenak said. “When Vokar took Mara did you keep it to yourself or did anyone go after them?”

“Oh, I went straight to the captain of the guards and he sent four platoons out, each in a different direction,” Famad said. He was relaxed now and he felt important because his great king was relying on him for answers.

“Did any of the platoons go to the east, toward Soci?” Zenak asked.

“Yes,” Famad said.

“Yes!” exclaimed Zenak. “Why didn't I see them as I came from the east? I'm sure there was no missing us.”

“My King, I heard that the captain told the major of the platoon that was heading for the east to contact you. When I saw your army come into the city 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.”

“Get Habor and then tell my grooms to prepare Gam. I will ride to the east as soon as possible,” Zenak said.

“Why 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.”

“My 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.

“I 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.

“I 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.”

“How many marksmen will march with us?” Habor asked.

“I go alone,” Zenak said.

“I guess it will be better for just the two of us to go,” Habor said.

“No, my friend, I go completely alone,” Zenak said.

“Tenen was just as much a friend of mine as he was of yours.” Habor yelled, “And I loved Mara as a sister.”

“I know, I know, but you will have to stay behind and take care of the kingdom,” Zenak said.

“I really don't give a blast about the kingdom,” Habor said. “I want revenge.”

“Habor!” 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.”

“Why?” Habor asked persistently.

“Because 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.”

“Good, and if something does happen, kill Vokar as fast as you can,” Zenak said.

“Vokar 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 stables,” Zenak said.

The stables were on the west side of the palace and it took only a few minutes to reach them. Gam was ready and waiting impatiently. It was as if the powerful war mark had a sixth sense that made him cognizant of an impending errand of great importance that he and his master were em­barking upon. Sharp, new razors had been installed in his hooves and his hair had been quickly but expertly groomed. There was no doubt in anyone's mind, nor in Gam's mind, that he was a magnificent war mark. Zenak looked at Gam in loving admiration and then patted the warm hairy nose and said, “You are a fine mark, my good friend.” Then he lightly mounted Gam and looked down upon Habor.

“Good times, my friend,” Zenak said. His face was stern and grim.

“Good times to you, Zenak,” Habor said.

They both stared intently at each other and then Zenak and Gam bolted away. Habor watched Zenak ride through the palace gate. He could not help but think what a spectacular sight Zenak and Gam made as Gam lightly trotted out of the Palace. Habor felt sure that no foe, no matter how formidable, could ever stand up against such a pair.

Zenak's swift ride through the city aroused much commotion and emotion. The people knew by Zenak's dress that their king was riding to avenge the abduction of his beloved wife. Many people stopped what they were doing and stared at Zenak as he swiftly rode by. Some of the people called out to Zenak wishing him good times in his quest for revenge. Zenak never even slightly acknowledged the well-wishers. His grim, swarthy countenance and frowning brow bespoke of a man lost in thought. The people, however, did not begrudge Zenak for his lack of social manners by not answering their cries of good times. The people knew that Zenak was really a wild ani­mal: self-tamed for the purpose of social amenities and the ruling of a country. But when a great crisis arose, the tameness was left to drift back into the recesses of the brain and the untamed animal was allowed to rear its savage head, causing Zenak to move toward the settlement of a great crisis with unerring fortitude.

Many of the citizens could not control their emotions when just outside the city gates Zenak stopped Gam abruptly and turned around to look at his adopted home. Some of the inhabitants insisted it was only a glance but others insisted that their king stared longingly at the gates and that tears came to his eyes. Even if the time span was disagreed upon, all agreed that Zenak's action was a terrible premonition of future atrocities that would befall not only Deparne but also the entire Island. The city was never again its joyous self.

Chapter 9

When Vokar melted the guards, Famad did not leave the area quickly enough to tell the captain of the guards of the “abduction.” Consequently Mara and Vokar were not questioned when they ordered the stableman to get two riding marks. If Deparne had had the bureaucratic bewilderment of its neighbor­ing country, Vespu, Mara and Vokar would have had a much more difficult time obtaining the marks. Papers would have had to have been signed, officials would have had to be called, and most likely there would have been a waiting list. Deparne, however, was simpler and on the whole her more simple system of life and government was much appreciated by all, even though someone as evil as Vokar was allowed to escape,

It wasn't until Mara and Vokar had secured their marks that the captain was alerted by Famad, but the captain was in time for the city gate guards to be alerted. A series of blasts from three great horns on top of the palace indicated to the gate guards that the gates were to be shut. So when Vokar and Mara arrived at the eastern gate, ten guards with swords in hand awaited them.

“Open the gates. Vokar the High Priest orders it,” Vokar bellowed. Mara sat very quietly. The prince was asleep.

The gatekeeper fearful of the high priest began to open the door, but then was stopped short by the captain of the gate when a series of blasts from the horns at the palace resounded through the air once more. The horns told the guards, through a code, that Vokar was holding their queen captive. The gatekeeper, upon finding out, quickly locked the gate and threw the key into the dirt. Then the guards surrounded Vokar and Mara.

“Get off your mark, scum, so we may take you to the dungeons and our queen back to her rightful place,” the captain of the eastern gate said to Vokar.

Vokar glared at the guard. He never realized how in­tensely loyal the military was to the king and queen and not to him.

But this did not bother Vokar and he said, “Open the gates.” He said it with such fierceness and authority that the guards could not believe that the order was coming from such a small man.

“Off your mark,” the guard ordered. He was not going to be intimidated by anyone.

Mara laughing and rearing back her mark yelled out for Vokar to do away with these guards as he had done away with the palace guards. The men stared at the queen dumbfounded and then the captain ordered his men to take the two forcibly. But when the men tried to move from the spots they were standing in they found that they could not.

“What sort of trickery is this?” questioned the captain. Fear shook his voice.

“Very boring trickery,” said Vokar. Then he raised his hands toward the moon and called upon its spirits. “Down from the moon, Oh spirits of death, and take these fools who stand in the way of my destiny.”

The echoes of Vokar's words had not finished rebounding from the city's walls when out of the sky creatures appeared. The bright red creatures were the size of large men but their resemblance to mankind stopped there. Their heads were hawk­-like and their bodies were like a great cat's body. Large diaphanous wings spread out behind them.

The ten guards fell to the ground. Their feet were still transfixed to the ground. They were cringing in fear and one had already died from fright. He lay on the ground; his face was contorted with twisted fear. The demons hovered above the men's heads, saliva dripping from their sloppy mouths onto the men below. Then, as if they had not eaten in a week, the demons hurriedly fell to a bloody repast on the ten men.

Vokar was quiet this time. He did not laugh. He was too worried about escaping to appreciate his deed. Mara, on the other hand, was in sexual convulsions as she watched the men's entrails being ripped away from their bodies by the razor-like beaks of the moon demons. Vokar let Mara watch for a while for he knew it was now the one thing that made her quite happy. Then after a few moments even Vokar was revolted from the ghast­ly sight and with a gesture he opened the gates.

“We're off,” he told Mara.

“No, let's stay until the end,” begged Mara.

“No!” said Vokar firmly. “My destiny and the destiny of the Island will not wait any longer for your perversions. We're off for Soci now.”

And with that said Mara, her son, and Vokar left Deparne and the bloody demons to their feast. As they rode out Vokar remarked to Mara, “We must fly like the wind. Apparently, someone saw us leaving and thinks that I kidnapped you. At least that's what the horns said.”

“So what?” Mara asked.

“So, my magic has not been perfected yet and I do not believe I can conjure up many more demons or melt many more men. But don't worry, my dear loved one, by the time we reach Soci, I will wield the powers of the universe. I may even have these powers before we reach Soci.”

Mara smiled politely for she had stopped listening. Her mind had drifted back to the eastern gates and she thought about all that had happened with relish.

Mara and Vokar rode swiftly through the night. The night air was humid and hung heavy causing the coldness to sink into the very marrow of the two fleeing travelers. Vokar, however, did not feel the cold; his mind was set on just one task, his destiny. But he was aware enough of the situation to realize that he and Mara were to be pursued and that they had to run; at least until his energy for his evil sorcery was once again built up.

Vokar's strength came from the universe itself. Vokar had found, through very diligent studying of the sorcery of the ancients, the means of harnessing the great energy of the cosmos—energy to call upon spirits and demons from the very pits of the black Varsoula or energy to move mountains as if they were small stones. The perplexity of receiving the energy was that it came to his body slowly as it was drained from the cosmos. The energy then reproduced itself in Vokar's body and re­turned to the cosmos. Vokar had discovered the power only two days before Zenak had marched against the mercenaries and it would take weeks before he was in complete control of the powers. For the time being, therefore, Vokar had only a minute portion of the immensity of power that he was to wield. It was for this reason that his power could be drained easily and that he had to keep running all the way to Soci.

Five hours had passed since Vokar and Mara with her child had left Balbania, and they had ridden their marks to their limit.

“We will camp up there for a little while to give our marks a rest,” Vokar said pointing to a wooded hilltop.

When they reached the top of the hill, they could see Zenak's victorious army returning from the mercenary battle.

“A hollow victory for our great king,” said Vokar, “for in the end I shall rule the entire Island.”

Mara looked at Vokar admiringly. Then she reached for the farthest parts of his body in hopes of a small orgy on the hill­top. Her sensuous demands, however, were dashed when Vokar nearly turned his eyes upon her.

“Try that again and your body shall burn from the in­side out,” Vokar said cruelly.

“But you said earlier that we were to have each other,” pleaded Mara.

“I may have, but I no longer feel the same. Now I can feel the great possession of power that I own. Base actions such as yours interest me not,” Vokar said.

Mara looked down in disappointment and sadness. She was afraid of what Vokar would do next.

Then Vokar said, with the compassion of young, boyish lover, “Mara, I love you dearly but any unnecessary energy spent by me will only lengthen the time before you become queen of the Island. I want you for my spiritual companion. As far as your physical needs are concerned, you will have your pick of any lover either upon this world or any other world you desire.”

Mara's eyes sparkled at the thought of Vokar's suggestion. She realized the potentialities of this situation and relished the idea that Vokar could conjure up the greatest of demons for her desires. At this thought Mara smiled broadly at Vokar and squeezed his hand signifying to Vokar that she had grasped the importance of Vokar's offer and how much it meant to her.

It took approximately four hours for all of Zenak's army to pass the hill on which the king's most loved and most hated sat. Mara did not like waiting on the cold hill and wanted to proceed through the woods away from the army. But Vokar de­cided that it would be best for them to stay where they were, for if they were on the move there would be a better chance of being caught. This decision was almost their undoing for it wasn't any longer than five minutes after the army had been lost from view by Vokar that the platoon looking for the run­away couple appeared on the neighboring hill.

The platoon, led by a captain of no low repute, had com­pletely missed the marching army because he had taken his troops into the hills to look for the “kidnapped” Mara. The captain had been wise for there was no use in searching the road heading east out of Balbania because the captain had heard the news from a runner sent by Zenak that the battle was over and that the army was heading home. So if the army was heading home to Balbania, then Vokar would surely run into the army and be caught by Zenak. But if for some reason Vokar saw the army before the army or any of its scouts saw him, then he would head for the brush and stay away from the road. Because of this logic, the captain proceeded to search the land on either side of the road for any clues as to where Vokar and the queen were. While the platoon was furtively gliding over a hill out of sight of the road to Balbania, the captain sighted Mara's bright red cape in the green woods. He was pleased for he knew that he had the advantage of surprise when he saw that Mara was lying down and Vokar was staring into the sky. Little did the captain know that Vokar was drinking in the power of the cosmos and every second of the draught made him stronger.

The captain ordered his men, by a series of whistles, to split up and surround the hill. They succeeded with the greatest of stealth and speed. Then the platoon moved as quietly as the soft breezes flowing through the trees, stopping behind the trees in their climb every few feet, thus making it through the wooded hill without even a robin noticing. In minutes the tiny encampment of the vicious priest and his perverted lover was surrounded, and the party was watched by 100 pairs of eyes. They could see that Mara was sleeping soundly; her face revealed a beauty that was incomparable and her shape was filled more perfectly than a goddess's. Any fear that the warriors had was completely forgotten, and when the captain signaled the men to attack they did so with great ambition. Three brawny men were the first to enter the camp and they grabbed Vokar.

“What goes?” Vokar yelled as he tried to wrest himself from the vice-like grips of the men who held him.

The captain walked up to Vokar and said courteously, “You are a prisoner.”

“Oh, really,” Vokar said and started to laugh. The captain stared at him puzzled.

“It seems rather strange that you should laugh at such a grave moment,” the captain said.

“It's not grave for me!” Vokar exclaimed. Then he turned his eyes toward the trees in the immediate area. A blue light flashed brilliantly from the evil eyes lighting up the en­tire hill. Mara, who had awakened, was totally stupefied from seeing so many warriors around her. Seeing the blue flash, she quickly covered her and her child's eyes from the blinding light.

The light glowed for about a minute and while it glowed no one did anything. But when it disappeared Vokar said, “Get the warriors.”

As soon as the order was delivered the trees began moving, and moving as agilely as a man. The warriors fell into a panic and tried to escape. However, their exit was hindered by the swift moving trees and their crushing limbs.

“Behind me my queen,” cried the brave captain. He stood in front of Mara and like a woodsman sliced at any savage limb that came near him or Mara. “You need not fear,” he said, “you shall see your king again.”

“I only wish to see his head,” Mara said. Then she drew a dagger from her cloak and sheathed it into the back of her protector. The captain stiffened and dropped his sword. He turned around to face Mara; he was baffled. Mara looked at him and smiled. Then she wiped the blood off her knife onto his pants.

“We must not have a dirty knife, must we?” she said.

The captain came at her with his hands poised to strangle, but he never made it because a large tree picked him up and threw him on the ground. The cracking of his bones could be heard over the cries of the panicked men. In a matter of minutes every man in the platoon had met his unnatural death, and when the last of them released his final breath the light once again appeared and disappeared rooting the trees back into the ground. From their branches hung the arms and legs and bodies of 100 brave soldiers. The escaping blood of the warriors dripped to the ground and mixed itself with the black dirt making a dread, dark color. Mara stared at all the bodies and smiled broadly.

“I seem to be getting lazy in my vigil when I am gaining my powers. I didn't notice our menace until we were caught,” Vokar said in a somewhat apologetic tone.

“I thought it was rather fun,” Mara said as she quieted the child by letting it feed on her warm milk.

Vokar grunted and then said, “Let's go.”

Mara grabbed her cape and mounted the black-and-white mark that she rode. Then Vokar mounted his mark. He turned around and faced one of the trees.

“Take some of the bodies to the road and leave a trail of bodies to this hill. When the man Zenak comes you will know what to do,” Vokar said.

“What was that about?” Mara asked.

“Can you doubt that Zenak will not follow a trail of human body parts? Can you also doubt that his eagle eyes will see these dead fools hanging from the trees? When he comes into the woods to see what is wrong, the trees will once again come to life and he will not come out of these woods alive,” Vokar answered.

Mara smiled to herself and if time had not been so press­ing she would have loved to secrete herself and watch the de­mise of her husband. But instead the two of them rode off to the main highway so they could ride to Mea, the capital of Soci.