Read Online Savage Games of Lord Zarak by Gilbert L. Morris - Free Book Online Page B

Hunt?”
    â€œI think not, Father. There is work for many slaves in the castle,” she said.
    â€œYour Majesty, I protest! To give spies so much freedom—these prisoners could be dangerous!”
    But the king chuckled again. “Ah, these two are but children, Zarak. You are too cautious.”
    Sarah felt a quick wave of relief. At least they were not going to be the quarry in the Hunt of Death.
    â€œGive word to my chamberlain that these are to do his bidding.” The king nodded to a guard.
    â€œLet them be given, then, the harshest, dirtiest work possible,” Zarak urged.
    â€œAs you please, Lord Zarak,” the king said carelessly. “Now, my daughter, we shall have our ridetogether.” He nodded to the guard. “Turn the prisoners over to the chamberlain.”
    â€œYes, Your Majesty.”
    As Sarah and Josh were led out, he whispered to her, “At least we’re not going to be hunted down. Not yet anyway.”
    Sarah could not answer, for the guard jerked her roughly by the arm. “No talking,” he said. “You are slaves now. Keep your mouths shut!”
    Discouragement swept through Sarah, but she remembered that many times in the past they had endured dark hours. Goél will not fail us, she thought. Somehow we’ll endure all of this. Endure and survive.

7
The Duel
    H urry up! Get a move on!”
    Roland Winters felt a stick strike him across the shoulder, and he blazed with anger. He straightened up and whirled, but then he saw the sneer on the face of the soldier guarding him. The man was as broad as a barrel and had huge paws for hands. Roland swallowed hard and nodded without saying a word.
    â€œGo ahead. Why don’t you come at me? Try it. Maybe you could put me down.” The soldier stood waiting, almost eagerly. “Come on. Take a try. Maybe you can pull my sword out and take off my head.”
    Roland was strongly tempted to do exactly that, but out of the corner of his eye he saw two other guards loitering in front of the stables. They stood watching with grins on their faces. Even if I did get this one, he thought, those two would be on me before I could get away. So he simply stood there, quietly waiting.
    The guard rapped him sharply on the crown of his head with the stick. The blow stung, and the man laughed. “You’re just a real meek pussycat, aren’t you? I thought maybe you’d give us a little fun. The last one that tried to get away from here did fairly well. He got out of the castle, but the dogs tracked him down.”
    Roland continued to stand and wait. He had learned that all the guards liked to poke fun at him. They enjoyed seeing him flare up with anger, and at first he had given them that satisfaction. But he hadsoon learned better. Now he simply clamped his lips together and stared blankly over the soldier’s shoulder.
    â€œWell, you’ve got no spirit. I can see that.” The guard seemed to consider striking him again, but then laughed shortly and turned away. “Clean up the rest of these stables! I want ’em as clean as the princess’s rooms. Mind you what I say!”
    Wearily Roland began to shovel the muck out of the stables. He had always loved horses and had not minded caring for his own, but there were many stables here and many horses within the stables. He also suspected that the other stable slaves had been moved to other jobs so that he would have to do them all.
    â€œThey haven’t broken me yet,” he muttered under his breath as he filled the wheelbarrow. Then he wheeled the load toward the garden where it would be used for fertilizer. He dumped it onto the pile that he had begun there. Then he straightened up and took a deep breath.
    He had been up well before daybreak. The sun was just beginning to rise even now. As usual, his breakfast had been revolting, but he had learned to gulp it down, knowing that he needed the strength it would provide. For a