Two weeks later, Zadok was lounging around Samuel's house, still trying to forget Tamar. Samuel was with Trover in town and Abiathar was out with Ahinoam. He didn't know where. Unexpectedly, someone knocked on the door. He checked the corner for his swallow then opened the door. It was Tamar and Nahash.
"Hey," she said uncomfortably.
Zadok glared at Nahash. "Hey," he replied.
"We were wondering if you wanted to-,"
"No, you were wondering," said Nahash in a bored voice.
Zadok growled. "Let her finish," he snapped.
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to come with us on a horseback ride."
"Is someone in trouble?"
"No, it's just a leisure ride. Samuel said we could ride in the fields."
"Oh," said Zadok, surprised. He thought about it for a moment.
"He's stalling, let's go," said Nahash, grabbing Tamar's arm.
"Whoa," said Zadok, stepping forward and slipping the swallow onto his back. "Yeah, I want to go."
Zadok retrieved Solomon from the barn, who had recovered nicely from his arrow wound, and met up with the two at edge of the fields. Tamar rode between the two men, oblivious to the mounting tension. When Zadok had ridden with Tamar before, he respected her space and stayed a little ways away. But he was sickened to see Nahash ride with her. His horse was touching hers, and Zadok could hear it quietly protesting the contact. He stared at her ravenously, making Zadok all the more sickened. Finally, when the man had wrapped his arm around her tightly, Zadok could see what he was trying to do. Enough was enough.
"Get away from her," he commanded, leveling the swallow with his eye.
The man sneered at him. "What are you gonna do, little Jesus nut?" he smirked. "You're not allowed to kill me. Remember? Those strange elves from the Other Continent said so."
"Get off the horse then, and we'll fight it out. Hand to hand," growled Zadok.
Nahash slowly, arrogantly climbed down from his horse. Zadok did also. The wind blew through trees on the edge of the forest, the sound increasing the amity. Cracking his knuckles, Nahash dashed at his opponent. Zadok flattened his palm and stiff-armed the man's gut, who then doubled over Zadok's hand. Zadok then flipped him over onto the ground. He kicked his head, then grabbed the collar of his shirt and hefted him up. He punched him in the face twice then hurled him into a tree. Nahash slumped to the dirt.
"Hardly a fight," said Zadok. The opponent looked angrily up at him. He staggered back to his feet then was quickly leveled again by Zadok.
"Think twice before you take another man's girl," he said disgustedly. However, when the weight of the event hit him, Zadok staggered back in amazement of his own intolerance. True, I don't like him, and true, he may have really been doing what I thought, but maybe I just made myself think that. He ashamedly turned to Tamar. In his embarrassment, he said nothing.
"Why did you do that?" she said quietly with hardly controlled rage. "Did you ever think of how I feel?" Zadok remained silent. He propped Nahash up onto his horse, then mounted his own horse and galloped away. Back at the house, he grabbed Abiathar who had since then gotten back from his date.
"I have to leave. Come if you want, Ahinoam can come too, but I'm leaving before Tamar gets back." Abiathar was stunned.
"What happened?"
"I can't talk now, I have to pack," he said over his shoulder as he ran down to the cellar to get the rest of his swords. He strapped his cutlass, broadsword, and rapier to his belt. His claymore was slung across his back along with the swallow. He ran up the stairs again and into his room. He threw a few articles of clothing into a leather bag along with a few sentimental things. A ring that belonged to his mother, a necklace his father made for him. He was about to run back out his door when another item caught his eye. It was the stone Tamar had given him on the day he had rescued her. It wasn't very big, about the size of a small apple, but it was a deep red that Zadok had liked. He hesitated then pocked it as he rushed into the kitchen to grab some food. He found Abiathar a moment later.
"No, I'm not coming," said Abiathar when inquired upon.
"Why not?" inquired Zadok.
"Because I need to be here with Tamar. Everyone except her knows that you care for her, and someone has to keep an eye on her. God help us if it should be Nahash," he said simply.
"Thank you. I hope I see you again some day." said Zadok. "I'll get my horse ready, then I'm going to the inn to see if everyone else is coming."
He set out of the gate a few minutes later with the other horses in tow. Ahimaaz, Ammiel's horse Shobi, and the newly purchased horse for Makir, Zimri. He stopped by Ziba's house. He eagerly joined him, on the condition that Hannah came also. At the inn, Abiel joined also, for he claimed the same thing had happened to him. Makir came along in loyalty. However, Ammiel was very confused.
"What are you doing?" he asked indignantly.
"I'm leaving. Ziba is coming along. There is no reason to stay here. Tamar hates now."
"So you're going to run from her?" he cried in response.
"Look," said Zadok coolly. "If you don't want to come, fine, but I'm not going to change my mind."
Ammiel came.
Solomon performed amazingly well on the road. His wound was completely healed and Zadok was very thankful to Abiel for the tonic. Hannah was somewhat uncomfortable traveling, for she had never been farther from Ziklag than Nob. But Ziba being there made her uneasiness subside somewhat. No one approached Zadok about Tamar, letting him remain silent in thought almost every night. However, Ammiel couldn't take it after more than a week.
"I want answers!" he demanded one night. "You dragged all of us out of our towns without so much as two words and now you won't even talk to us!"
Ziba shot the man a warning look. "Cool it," he said. "Zadok's been through a lot."
"Cool it down," he said. "Zadok's been through a lot."
"So that makes it right?"
"Ammiel!" screamed Zadok suddenly. Ziba looked at him quizzically. He had never been this mad before. Ammiel even staggered back from the outburst. Zadok continued. His voice quieter but the anger and pain were still there.
"I never had anyone there for me. God is the only one who was always there. Ziba and Abiathar left me out sometimes. Then she came. I really thought she liked me. I was happy. She wanted to be with me, and I had never had anybody like that. But-" he choked up for a moment. "Then Nahash came." Venom, the likes of which had never been heard by human ears, dripped thick through his voice. "He stole my only joy on earth. The only thing that prevented me from ending my life that night was the thought that God had a plan for this. That's why I 'dragged', as you put it, you away." He sighed and fell back onto the boulder he had been sitting on. Ashamed, Ammiel shrunk down into his bedroll. Everyone else then dropped off into an uncomfortable sleep, one by one. Zadok stayed up to think. Soon, everyone but he and Hannah were asleep. They both stared at the fire for a long time, neither saying anything. Eventually she broke the silence, asking, "So you never had anyone?"
Zadok looked up at her.
"No."
"Then why did you leave, if she was the only one? I mean, maybe you could get her back."
Zadok snorted. "Not after what I did to Nahash."
"What did you do?"
"I beat him up bad and threw him into a tree."
Hannah went silent again. Presently, she said quietly, "I'm so sorry." And then she too, fell asleep. Zadok punched the dirt and screamed to himself. Everything had fallen apart.
Suggestions please? I'm currently revising a few things, so suggestions would help a ton. Thanks!
