Hashim Khail and Keeper of the Gates by Richard Shekari (learn to read activity book txt) 📕

than a thousand men that surrounded the battlefield began marching downwards. The Therakanians were terrified.
“The Gruxians!” King Yuri yelled, “You coward!” He appeared frightened by their number and size.
The Gruxians charged towards the centre of the battlefield.
“You see, my friend.” Jamil said, “I am not as stupid as you think. I am in the business of making friends, making friends with the right people that is, and I offered you that chance which you turned down. Not only have you come before me with an army to insult me, but defiled our soil with your foul presence.”
Nabil rode her horse gently and stood between the two sides as the Gruxians approach them.
“Coward of a king you are,” Jamil added “You should throw them in the room where meals are prepared not fields where battles are fought!”
“Vina!” Nabil called.
Vina came down from her horse and walked to her sister. Nabil turned to her and smiled. Vina then removed her shoes and sank her feet into the soil, she lifted her two hands and chanted; tiny roots sprouted from where she stood.
Jamil, his men and their horses drew back.
The roots grew larger in size and many more sprouted from the ground and made their way to the Gruxians’ position, the roots ferociously pieced the grounds as it approached them. The spikes impaled them; many where flung into the sky by the roots and landed on bare ground, some on the sharp edges of the roots that appeared to come to live. The Gruxian army began to flee but the roots were faster than their dreaded heartbeats. Jamil watched as the might of his ally was put to shame in a matter of minutes.
The entire Gruxian army were wiped. Fear gripped Jamil’s heart as two of his men ran away back to where the Tzurian army stood.
Vina slipped her feet into her shoes and quietly went back, she climbed her horse.
“Shurriah!” Nabil called again.
“No, Nabil!” Hashim said as he got off his horse. He pulled his sword from its sheath and threw it on the ground, then walked right up to Jamil, the two men beside him quickly drew their swords. Hashim took off his helmet and flung it away.
“Brother?” Jamil said as he trembled.
Hashim stared at the two men, they pulled back their horses.
“You fool!” Jamil yelled as he turned and stared at King Yuri. “We had a deal! You betrayed me?”
“Betrayal?” Hashim remarked, “You? Speak of betrayal?”
“Brother, it’s not what you think!” He said.
“Sure, I know!” Hashim responded, “You ophidian! Who was the one wearing the Barbute?”
Jamil was bewildered, he turned to his men and then swiftly pulled his sword, “Someone loyal to the course!”  He yelled as he delivered a strike; Hashim dodged and dragged the horse down to the ground along with Jamil.
Shurriah evoked a powerful vortex that flung the other men off their horses. Hashim then seized the sword from Jamil and placed it around his neck. “Let’s hear what the king’s men have to say about this.” He said as he dragged Jamil towards the city.
“Hashim wait.” King Yuri yelled.
“You all stay here!” He yelled back. “I’ll go settle this alone with my people. Stay-here!”
“I told you this was a bad idea!” King Yuri said to Nabil.
“Stubborn man!” Nabil whispered as she got off her horse and ran after them, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Just go back, Nabil!” He answered, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this!”
“Hashim,” she said. “What if…”
“Nothing will happen!” He interjected. “Go back!”
“I can’t!” She said. “I am coming with you.”
“Oh, brother, this one smells like she is in love with you!” Jamil mocked, “I can see it in her eyes too, and she is wearing your favourite colour!” He laughed then turned to Nabil, “Did he get this dress for you? It looks great on you!”
Hashim continued to drag Jamil along to where the Tzurian army were stationed.
“Brother, you don’t have to do this!” Jamil pled, “Hey you!” referring to Nabil, “Talk to your lover here for me okay? I was going to come look for you. I swear on mother’s grave.”
“You shut up!” He yelled, “You killed father and planned to have me killed?”
“I can explain everything,” he added.
“No! No! No!!! Jamil, No!” Hashim yelled.
The entire soldiers pulled their swords, and the archers drew their arrows as Hashim brought Jamil to their position.
“Don’t shoot!” Jamil yelled, “You imbeciles!”
“Where are the elders?” Hashim yelled. “Where are the generals?”
The soldiers made way for them to pass. Hashim pulled him to the middle of the Tzurian army.
“It’s Hashim!” Some of the soldiers mumbled.
“They said he was killed!” Others grumbled. They whispered his name.
“You call this man your king?” He yelled, “You rested your loyalty on the knees of this traitor and murderer of our beloved king?”
All the soldiers remained mute.
Some elders made their way through.
“Hashim?” Said one of the elders who made his way through the soldiers. “We were told you died in an ambush the day your father was found dead in his chambers.”
“How did my father die?” He asked.
“Heart attack!” Said the elder.
“Lies!” Hashim said, “He murdered father and almost had me killed, King Yuri will testify to his ugly act.” He kicked Jamil to the ground, “And for what? So you’d…”
“Why must it be always about you?” Jamil interjected. “You’re as weak as was father! Weak! Arrest him!”
The entire soldiers stood still. Their silence deadened his command.
“I said arrest this man! Now!” Jamil yelled once more.
 “Stand-down!” Said one of the Generals, “This matter shall be treated in accordance to the laws of this kingdom.”
“I am the law!” Jamil yelled, “I say take this man away! Seize them all at once!”
“Prince Hashim,” said the General. “Please, relinquish your sword. You know it deep within you that your father’s soul aches as he watches these happenings.”
Hashim turned to Nabil, she nodded.
While everyone’s attention was on Hashim, Jamil drew a dagger from his right shoe and with great speed quickly stood up to attack Hashim, Nabil blocked him and the dagger got buried in her stomach. Hashim turned and punched Jamil to the ground.
“No!” Hashim cried, “Nabil, please no!”
Vina and Shurriah let a powerful cry out as they rushed toward them, they found Nabil coughing out blood with the dagger in her stomach. They began to chant as they raised their hands up; a thick dark thunderous storm formed a wild tornado over them. A dark cloud blanketed them, and the grounds began to shake.
“Vina! Shurriah! No!” Nabil said, “No! It’s okay!”
The sisters calmed down and so did the storm, the ground stopped shaking as they along with King Yuri ran and knelt next to Hashim.
Nabil managed to stretch her left hand towards Hashim’s face, “I told you about the broken bridge.” She said as she buried her head in his chest, and gave up the ghost.
Hashim, and her two sisters sobbed inconsolably.

















Chapter Seven: Arrivederci.

The next day, Hashim was crowned king. And after being found guilty of the late king’s murder among other things, Jamil was exiled. He is to stay away from the kingdom until dead or when his brother, Hashim, the new king of Tzuria decides to pardon him.
Nabil’s body was laid in the king’s garden, on an altar made from two mighty roots like two hands that emerged from the ground, holding her golden see-through casket. She was adorned with a beautiful white silk dress. She laid elegantly and smiled as though asleep.
Hashim stood with his crown and gazed upon her. King Yuri, and her sisters stood by his side.
“Hope it’s okay if I keep her here?” King Hashim said, “She’ll be treated with all the respects she deserve.”
“I have no problem with that.” King Yuri said, “And her sister’s wouldn’t mind either.” He turned to Vina and Shurriah. “I believe that if she was alive this is the one place she’d have loved to spend the rest of her life.” He tapped King Hashim on his back.
“Thank you,” said King Hashim.
They shook hands and hugged each other. King Yuri and the two sisters bid farewell to him and left the garden.
Twenty hefty men were ordered to deliver five big wooden boxes filled with gifts to the Therakanian camp that was set up outside the city.
The Therakanians and their King were set to leave, and as they were about to embark on their journey, they sighted king Hashim fast approaching on a horse.
“Yuri! Yuri!” He called, “Dear friend.”
King Yuri ordered his men to halt.
King Hashim arrived and came down from his horse as he smiled.
“I hope your queen’s heart delights in these gifts I offer.” He said.
“She loves shiny things!” King Yuri responded, “She’ll love it. Women,” he snorted, “You can’t blame them.”
 “Please, sorry to disturb you.” He added as he panted. “There is a man among your slaves, he goes by the name Brutus Boriah. He hails from Damarus, I’ll be more than thankful if you’d have him brought before me. He’s a nice man,” he nodded, “I can offer you twice what’s in those boxes just for his freedom, if you don’t mind.”
King Yuri nodded and smiled. “Anything for a friend!” He said, “My men and I should be home by nightfall, I’ll make sure he’s set free on my arrival and will have him escorted to your castle before sundown tomorrow.”
“Thank you very much, friend.” King Hashim said. “Oh, thank you so much! This means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome,” he responded. “I hope you do not seek trouble, my men informed me of a slave that speaks to other slaves about freedom and a certain saviour. I am told of the things he does and says, and I think the name of this man sounds like the one you seek.”
“No,” King Hashim remarked. “I don’t think he is trouble to the kind of kingdoms you think. He was good to me while I was there, and I thought I should return the favour.”
“Well then, expect him by dusk tomorrow.” He said, “Oh, I almost forgot to ask; your brother, Jamil? Where do you think he’d go?”
“To the one man he adored the most?” King Hashim said.
“Arrazaq?” He asked, “Hmm! I guess it means a benighted season awaits our demesne hereafter.” He giggled.
“Good always prevails, my friend.” King Hashim said, “We shall pray and remain ever ready; besides, we’ve got each other!”
King Yuri smiled and bowed. He ordered his men to start moving.
Vina and Shurriah wove at King Hashim, he wove back with a smile.
The Therakanians rode off. King Hashim heaved a heavy sigh of relief then climbed his horse and went back to his city.
To be continued….
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