Free Zenak by George S. Pappas Page A

consi­dered normal by many people of the kingdom, so no questions were ever asked even when she would invite multiple men to her room for the night.
    â€œWhere could they have gone?” Famad asked.
    â€œIf 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.
    â€œWill I go to the hunt?” Famad asked, reverting to his cowardly ways.
    â€œNo, you will stay behind and tell the King what happened,” the captain answered with a smirk.
    â€œHow do I know that the King will not kill me when he hears the news?” a frightened Famad asked.
    â€œYou 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.”
    â€œGood, and give her my best,” Zenak said.
    â€œI 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.”
    â€œThat 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.”
    â€œI felt the same as you my friend. Something is amiss,” Zenak said.
    â€œI agree. Shall I let my foot rubdown wait and come with you into the palace to find out what happened?” Habor asked.
    â€œNo, if anything is wrong you will be the first person I will contact. No sense delaying your homecoming if nothing is wrong,” Zenak said.
    â€œFine, 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