Zenak by George S. Pappas Read Free Book Online Page A

the land of Soci.” Habor glanced at Zenak. “And we have come with knowledge of your barbarous powers. I have been asked to implore you not to attack Soci.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” asked Zenak.
    â€œOur wizards want you to know that Soci has no interest in this mercenary army that is sitting near our border,” the rider stated. “When you have conquered them do not march on Soci for we have not hired them.”
    Zenak was even more baffled now. It would take him months to drag an army through the mountains to the paradise retreat of Soci, assuming the army could even make it. It would probably be frozen by the icy winds of the mountains or it would die of hunger for no food can exist on the barren mountains that pro­tect Soci. And even if the army got through to Soci, the sorcerers could destroy any conventional army.
    Zenak after a few moments finally recovered from his bewilderment and said, “I cannot believe that Soci worries about so small a thing as my army. Surely, the great wizards have some ulterior motive. Tell me what it is, for I am no fool and I do not believe your phony compliments.”
    â€œThe king is wise,” the rider said. “And that is no phony compliment. I can tell you only one thing: you are des­tined for some greater achievement. An achievement that must be realized. That is why we are here. We have been sent to help you so you can accomplish the feat that is in your future.”
    â€œIf it is in my future, then why do you have to protect me?” Zenak asked.
    â€œEven the Fates and Destiny sometimes sleep,” the rider answered. “We are given only one chance to help you before you accomplish your task—your major task that Destiny has assigned you. And we have chosen this battle to help you, for the sooner you finish this fight the sooner you will do what has to be done.”
    â€œWhat is it that I have to do?” Zenak asked. He bit his lip slightly for he did not like to be part of any sorcerous des­tiny.
    â€œYou will not know until it is done,” the rider said. “Now we must do what we were sent here to do.”
    The rider who had spoken motioned to the rider on his right. That hooded rider took down his hood and turned his head and eyes toward the sun. He stared straight into the sun and his body was as still as a windless summer day. Zenak watched calmly and seemed rather interested. Then the man began to sing a soft melodic song. Its pleasantness could be felt throughout Zenak’s army and Zenak himself felt as if he were floating in a dream. Then the dream was quashed and Zenak, along with all those who were near the rider staring into the sun felt an impending doom, but oddly enough it did not bother them. On the contrary, they felt more courageous than ever. They studied the wizard even more as his jet black eyes pressed toward the sun. All of a sudden his eyes began to fizzle and burn. The whites of his eyes began boiling and finally, in a puff of smoke, his eyes burned out. Zenak stiffened in his saddle as he looked into the sorcerer’s eye sockets. Habor, who never trusted wizards, backed his mark up a bit. An instant after the rider’s eyes went dark the sun blacked out. Both armies jumped to attention and stared in fear at the darkened sun. Then, as fast as it was blocked out, the sun reappeared, revealing a black shadow falling in the direction of the mercenary army. Tabilo, the mercenary leader, ordered shields up, and not more than a second after the order was relayed and obeyed, black arrows struck throughout the mercenary army. The marksmen, trained in war, raised their shields quickly, so only a minimum number of marksmen were fatally wounded. But at least 20,000 war marks were killed forcing their masters to defend in the impending battle on foot. The archers, however, had not been as lucky as the marksmen. Every one of them was killed for none of them had a shield nor was there