Zenak by George S. Pappas

spurting blood all over Gam’s white coat and Zenak’s sweaty body.
    While the battle progressed Zenak noticed, as he put away two adversaries by chopping one’s head off and on the re­bound stroke crushing the ribs of another, that Habor was in trouble. For some reason Habor was battling eight marksmen at once. He bled all over and wheeled a bit from fatigue, but the smile on his face assured Zenak that he had the situation under control. Zenak could see, however, that Habor’s control wouldn’t last long, so slicing his way through the paid warriors, Zenak rode quickly to Habor’s side. “Like old times,” yelled Zenak to Habor.
    â€œTonight we will go whoring and drinking,” replied Habor
    â€œTonight?” Zenak asked as he shot his broadsword through a warrior’s body. “The battle goes well—it will be this afternoon.” Habor guffawed and swung his broadsword into the knees of one of the unmounted mercenaries, slicing the lower legs off.
    In no time Zenak and Habor had sent the eight marks­men to their Destiny and for the moment did not fight. Zenak studied the battle. Every man was in a pitched contest for his very life. All the warriors, on both sides, were complete­ly at home. They were living their life the way they wanted it even though the dread specter of death hung over them. Prob­ably if the shadow of life was not there, none of them would have savored the lust they had for battle. They were warriors and they loved their work.
    â€œWe’re winning,” Zenak said.
    â€œI know, and we have Soci to thank for that,” Habor re­plied.
    Zenak looked quietly at Habor and then looked back at the battle. “Our right lines are loosening a little. Get over there and order the captains to close their lines. I don’t want a mercenary left alive,” Zenak ordered Habor.
    â€œIt is done,” Habor said and rode toward the right lines.
    Zenak stayed where he was and fell deep into thought. What was this task that he was to do? Also, who hired this army, and did whoever it was have anything to do with his predestined task? He was at a loss and resolved that as far as his task was concerned, he wouldn’t worry about it. There was nothing he could do anyway, unless the Fates fell asleep. He then turned his attention to Habor as the powerful man rode to relay his king’s orders and Zenak said to himself, “A good man.”
    Zenak’s reverie did not last long on the battlefield and his thinking was disturbed by a deep grating voice behind him. Zenak turned around quickly with his sword poised to kill. He then saw his adversary was Tabilo himself.
    â€œSo we meet again,” Tabilo said with a sneer. A great scar ran across his pockmarked face going through an empty eye socket. It maimed his face grotesquely.
    â€œTabilo, it appears Habor’s sword was not powerful enough for you,” Zenak said
    Tabilo’s dense-muscled body jumped with laughter and his one good eye stared coldly at Zenak while the black socket stared like death. “It will take more than one sword wound to take Tabilo down,” said the mercenary as he raised his sword. “Now King Zenak—King, that name does not fit a pirate such as yourself—prepare to fight hard for your life. But be even more prepared to die.”
    Tabilo rushed Zenak. Zenak, however, was able to duck the swinging scimitar Tabilo wielded. Then Gam moved back and gave Zenak time to put his broadsword into play, and swiftly did it come into play. When the two great fighters clashed together, it was as equal a match as anyone could find. Zenak’s speed was somewhat hindered by his broadsword, but the lighter scimitar of the slower Tabilo could not take the crushing blows of a broadsword well. The marks were battling also. Each of them had the other by the neck and blood from both marks made the ground beneath them slippery. Zenak kept battering his