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Pets Theme Unit

Golden Nemesis, Part 2

Golden Nemesis, Part 2
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   4.44

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    back-winging, gryphon, scribe, teaching, countryside, writing, candidate, hastily, presented, reading, plots, pavement, rate, arrival, rushing, being
     content words:    King Kyros

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Golden Nemesis, Part 2
By Mary Lynn Bushong 		  
1     Arion was being presented as a candidate companion for a young gryphon. Now it was his turn to be examined. It took Arion a moment to realize that the gryphons were not reading his mind so much as they were speaking to him telepathically.
 
2     "What is this I see about injustice in your mind?" asked the male.
 
3     "My father is shunned by the palace when he did nothing wrong. There was never any proof, yet no one believes him. It makes him very sad."
 
4     "Does that bother you?" asked the gryphon.
 
5     Arion nodded. "My father's whole life revolves around serving King Kyros. It hurts to see him unhappy."
 
6     "Young Arion," the female's voice spoke. "Would you consider my son a pet?"
 
7     "Maybe, I mean, I might," gulped Arion.
 
8     "An honest answer, at least," confirmed the male.
 
9     "I have no doubt your mind will be changed on that score," said the female with a smiling voice.
 
10     The gryphons sat down in front of Arion and his family. The male called out in a loud voice.
 
11     "An injustice has been done here!"
 
12     The court scribe rushed forward followed by two assistants carrying his materials. He sat down at the hastily arranged table and got ready to write.
 
13     "I have searched the mind of Jahi and found no lie. He has made no plots against the king and has only a desire for truth. From this point, he shall be returned to his place of authority and confidence. So it must be for his son, Arion, will be companion"—Arion alone heard the inserted words, "‘and pet'—to the gryphon now known as Nemesis. Funds will be discharged from the king's treasury to pay the costs for his food."
 
14     The scribe completed writing the first copy and then completed two more. Then all were sealed and signed. The scribe kept on, gave the second to Jahi and the third to the gryphons. Finally, the crowds dispersed, leaving Arion's family alone with the huge animals.

Paragraphs 15 to 26:
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