Rise of the Darekian's, The Read Online Free PDF Page B

it. Luken picked the boy up, "come on" he said "how would you like to ride on my horse with me, and we go find you something to eat?" A nod of the head, and what he thought a little smile, was the reply.
    Lifting the child onto his saddle before getting up himself , and holding his arms around him with the reins in his hands, they once more rode off towards the palace. Luken was not entirely sure what he was going to do with Taylor, by the smell, coming from him, the young boy desperately needed a bath, and a haircut would not go a miss. Captain Jak Corley continued riding alongside, "would you like me to take him to the orphanage your highness, they would take him and they will feed him and scrub him clean." Luken had visited the orphanage once, and pitied every child he had seen there. He had deemed it more a prison than a home, true they were fed and given clothes and a bed of sorts to sleep in, but they were also badly treated and quite often beaten for the slightest of misdemeanours. "No Jak, thank you, I will sort him out," he said a little more sharply than he had intended, though quite what he was going to do he had no idea.
    They rode for a few minutes towards the palace, "do you have a house?" Taylor asked, "I live with my mother and father" Luken replied with a smile. "Is it a big house?" came the next question, "I would say so, it is this one ," he pointed ahead as they approached the gates. The youngster flicked the hair from his face and looked in awe at the palace, and even more so when they rode though the gates and into the yard, "I thought this was the king's house" he said. "It is, but I live here, the king is my father, and the queen is my mother," Luken explained. "Is that grumpy old man your grandfather?" Taylor asked pointing at the Captain, who looked stunned at the remark. Luken laughed, "No Taylor that is Captain Jak Corley, he is my friend, and I am sure yours too," before adding "though between you and me he does get a bit grumpy sometimes," in a voice slightly above a whisper so the unimpressed Captain could hear.
    Once they had stopped and di smounted, Luken left the somewhat crestfallen Jak to deal with his horse, before taking Taylor by the hand and walking to the side entrance leading to the kitchens. Popping his head through the doorway, he noticed one of the staff he knew, and after she had noticed him, came out to see what he wanted. Curtsying before him firstly, "your highness, what may I do for you?" asked the short round faced lady, rubbing her hands on her apron as she spoke, "well Mitsie, it is really what you can do for my little friend here, he is very hungry, and I said we would find him something to eat, and maybe a drink please." Another curtsy and she turned quickly back into the kitchen, and was gone no more than thirty seconds before reappearing with a small tray. On the tray was a slice of bread with butter on, as well as a few slices of ham and a small piece of cheese, on a little side plate was a slice of fruit pie and in a cup was what Luken presumed to be milk. "Would this be sufficient highness?" she asked handing it over, "that is excellent," he replied. "I have another little favour to ask you, if I may Mitsie," he said ushering her over to one side slightly, speaking out of earshot from Taylor.
    Passing over some coins , he had taken from the small purse attached to his belt she nodded and walked off at pace to carry out her orders. Luken carried the tray in one hand and held Taylors hand with the other, as they walked to find a quieter spot, across the other side of the palace yard. Once happily situated, the two sat down on the ground, "here we are," he said and gestured for the young boy before him to eat if he wished. Taylor quickly grabbed the meat and shoved it in his mouth, then picked up the bread and tried shoving it inside his dirty vest before Luken stopped him, "no need for that my young friend, it is all yours Taylor. Take your time; no one is going to take