Star of Gazle - H.Young (sight word books TXT) 📗

distance the thundering of hoof beats. The Kings Knights where getting closer. Both of them mounted the horses and they where off but not as fast as yesterday.
Another hour of hard riding the King’s Knights saw at a distance three horses and two women, resting. The Knight’s kicked their horses into a faster gait and Charles yelled, “STOP IN THE NAME OF KING CYRUS!” Charles knew that the women couldn’t escape, he was to close and he wouldn’t stop until he captured her.
Kally heard noises and saw that the bands of the King’s Knights were coming toward them and fast. They had just stopped to water the horses and both animals and humans were worn-out. Kally told her mother and they where off once again.
“Don’t even think of using your Talent Kally you might fall of Dancer. I’m fine, I can handle it.” Riana called to Kally because she could tell that Kally was worried about her. All the horses were very tense and drenched in sweat. Black Mage and the other horses could tell that their mistresses where afraid. Riana knew that if she used any more of her magic she would fall but she didn’t want the Knights to catch Kally. Kally had never been a slave or servant, she was raised to think and stand up for herself and choose what she did and didn’t want to do. So Riana gathered up all the magic she had left, which wasn’t much, she gave it to the horses to make them go faster.
“Mother! NO!” Kally yelled in horror when she saw her Mother slide from her saddle. Kally stopped Dancer and dismounted, running frantically to her mother’s side.
“Go Kally… go on without me.” Riana’s voice was a faint whisper and Kally knew she would faint any second.
“I can’t leave you here! They will catch you.” Kally’s voice was shaking with fear.
“Let them, at least I’ll know that you will be able to live freely . . .” Then Riana closed her brown eyes and passed out. Kally couldn’t leave her mother, she just couldn’t, and she had no idea what to do so she cried over her mother, as the King’s Knights got closer.
All of a sudden the riders stopped and Charles was relieved that they caught them before they reached the Gazle Desert. When the group finally caught up they where surprised to find a weeping girl and a sleeping woman that looked very familiar to Charles. There had been a description of her yes but there was something about her that he couldn’t quite place. Charles put that thought to the back of his mind and sighed knowing what he had to do, “Bring the girl to me and tie the women up.” The king knew that Charles didn’t like this kind of thing but he also knew that Charles would bring the slave back to him.
Two men dismounted with rope in their hands. One grabbed the girl from behind, pulling her up. Kally felt the two strong hands grab her and three years of training took over. She kicked backwards; the unsuspecting man let go of her. She twirled and tried to run back to her mother since another knight was tying her hands, “Leave her alone!” She yelled and lunged but another knight had grabbed her and kept out of kicking distance and dragged her to Charles.
Kally was brought to a man with brown-blonde hair and hard hazel eyes. His skin was tanned from working in all elements, “Who are you and why are you traveling with this runaway slave?”
“Who I am and why I’m traveling with my mother is none of your business! Let us GO!” She demanded as she struggled to get free of the hands that held her.
Everyone was shocked that this little girl thought that she could command Sir Charles and get away with it. The knight that held her yelled, raised his hand ready to smack her, “why you little-”
“Wait!” Charles commanded and everyone turned his or her eyes to him. Charles quietly dismounted and walked over to her. He was amused at this girl but a twinge angry because she thought she could give him an order, “Release her.” He told the knight.
“But-”
“You would question me too?” Charles asked sharply and the knight released her. Kally wasn’t sure what was happening so she stayed where she was, “I’m curious,” Charles started, “If I did let your mother and you go, how would you leave with your mother unconscious. You are too little to lift her onto a horse.” Kally was silent. She had no idea how she was going to move her mother. Her silence answered Charles’s question, “I thought as much. And one other thing-,” He slapped her and she fell not because he had hit her hard just that she was caught off guard, “Don’t ever command someone who is a higher rank than you. You say that this is you mother and I’m pretty sure that you won’t leave her behind so you’ll be coming with us. You have Bazle blood in you so you’ll make a good slave. Tie her up.” With that Charles turned away from her and the knight next to her. As he mounted he gave the others orders, “Gather up the other horses and put her on one. Keep them; they’ll be good horses for the King . . .” He gave them more orders but Kally wasn’t listening as her hands where being tied together, she hated the sharp bite of the rope. She was so angry and the ropes suddenly gave her a sense of loss like she was losing something she took lightly for. Something inside her screamed out that it wasn’t right for this to be happening. After her hands were tied she was lead to Dancer who’s reins where tied to a squire’s saddle. He sneered at her and Kally knew that this wasn’t going to be pleasant. The knight turned toward her to give her a boost but she wouldn’t let him.
“I can do it myself.” Kally growled. Her growl caught the attention of the other men and they stopped and looked at her. Kally faced Dancer’s side and reached up and grabbed the saddle horn and some of Dancer’s mane. Sensing that her mistress’s was determined Dancer stood dead still. Kally knew she could do it but it would be difficult since her hands where tied but she jumped and pulled her self up. From her horse she could see that some of the knights where trying to hide their awe and others shook their heads thinking that she was going to be too proud to be a good slave. As she looked around she saw a knight mount and another one handing Riana up to him. Kally clenched her teeth until they ached because she wanted to yell, “Get away from her!” Kally knew that she couldn’t do anything because she didn’t want to be slapped or worse. If they'd hurt her mother because of her she would feel bad, but her anger rose anyway. Charles gave the signal and they headed at a trot south, toward Darji, the capital of Denmare.


Two days had passed and Riana was still sleeping but at least she didn’t look sick like she did the first day. The knight that rode with her took care of her well enough so Kally didn’t say anything. Kally’s journey was far from tolerable; the squire that Dancer was tied to always pestered her. He would tease her, order her around, trip her, even scare Dancer and when they where eating he would knock the bread out of her hand and if she was drinking he’d yank on the ropes to make the water spill everywhere. Kally hardly slept because she was afraid that he would do something. Sometimes Charles would catch him teasing her and would give him a stern look and the squire would stop for a while until Charles wasn’t looking but Kally couldn’t muster a thank you.
On day three, Riana was still sleeping and Kally was fed up with the squire. He yanked her ropes sharply and she spilled all her food onto the ground and just as she was about to pick it up he stepped on it. She growled and gave him an evil look then quicker than the squire’s eyes could follow she punch him square in the nose with both hands. He fell from shock of the blow and he looked at her with disbelieving eyes then outrage. He was so furious that he charged her without thinking and she was ready for him. When he got close enough she dodged him and tripped him making him stumble over his own feet. The Knight’s around them where too shocked to move at first; how could this girl first tell off the Commander and then make a fool of a 2nd year squire who had two years left of becoming a knight.
Charles came then and Kally didn’t even care when he slapped her again and scolded her for the outrageous behavior. After he was done talking to her he scolded the Squire as well and sent him to get his noise healed by one of the other knights. As Charles ordered them to make camp he couldn’t stop thinking of the two women, ‘One causes me too much trouble and they both remind me of a person. I can’t place it but when that slave wakes up she had some answering to do.’

The knights went to work on setting up the camp but couldn’t quite stop talking about the girl. In the evening Kally got a surprise, her mother had woken up. Her hands where untied and both of them where escorted to Sir Charles. Charles looked at them both for a minute before talking.
“Do I know you for somewhere? You look very familiar.”
“You might have seen me around Eagles Peak milord.” Riana responded meekly.
“What is your alias name and what is your daughter’s name?”
“If you would beg my pardon milord but it isn’t my alias name. I have chosen this name: Riana Zennell and my daughter is Kally Zennell who is fourteen years old.” Riana hesitated for a moment before speaking again, “I will go with you willingly and I won’t give you anymore trouble if you would let my daughter go free. She’s isn’t and has never been a slave.”
Charles scoffed, “I could have guessed that. Do you know what she’s done since you’ve been asleep?” Riana’s eyes widened, excepting the worse, “No? I thought not. She commanded me to let you both go and later she punched a second year squire and broke his noise.”
Riana gasped and looked sharply down at her daughter. Riana shook she head in disapproval and looked back at Charles, “I understand.”
Charles looked at her silently for one more moment. She looked so familiar but he knew he hadn’t ever met her. Riana smiled inside knowing exactly why he thought he knew her but refused to say. Thinking it was too late to do anything about it and she wanted him to find out by himself. Finally he shook his head in frustration and waved his hand, “Get out of my sight!”
“Yes milord. I won’t bother you in this matter again.” Riana bowed and made Kally bow as well then they left together. Riana and Kally where giving permission to sleep together. Before going to bed Riana scolded her daughter but saw how distraught her daughter was stopped and hugged her. Kally cried in her arms and told her what happened until twilight.
Charles fell asleep still thinking what to do with the two slaves. . ‘I don’t think that she’ll try to escape. It’s almost like she’s accepted