Space Knights: The Arrival by Gregory Samuelson (buy e reader .TXT) 📕

the stalls where their robot horses were kept. He didn’t notice the increased security on the field and in the stands, nor did he notice more Griffins and some other beings there. He also didn’t notice that there was a change set up for the jousts until he was mounted on Odin and heading toward the start of the Swordsmen Joust. That is when he finally came out of his reverie and looked around.

“What’s going on,” Trance asked his two friends, as all three of them were being lead to their starting positions.

“Didn’t you catch the news last night?” answered Zam. “Three Boulthorian battleships were spotted in space apparently heading here, and were turned away.”

“Yeah, and they didn’t give more details than that. My dad thinks that they don’t want to create a panic. What were they doing here? The planet isn’t as powerful and influential as Althora,” added Gracer.

Before Trance could ask more questions he was placed in line and looked across to his opponent. A moment later he charged forward on Odin and the tournament was under way. He was victorious and had a moment to pay attention to the new set up for the tournaments. It seemed that after learning of the Boulthorian battleships the officials governing the tournaments had decided to speed up the events so that the tournaments could be completed and then the kids and their families could quickly and safely return to their home worlds.

For the upcoming jousts Trance learned that all of the participants would be paired as before but this time they would all be lined up at the same time, so half of the participants were on one side, with the other half of the participants facing them. After a five minute break as all of the results were sorted out Trance, Zam, and Gracer, as well as Rex and many of his friends, were being lined up again. Moments later Trance found that he and his friends had made it through another round. Unfortunately, Rex and five of the White Knight swordsmen had advanced also.

Two more rounds later and Trance and Zam were still competing, Gracer having been eliminated by an Azarian knight in this round. Trance could once again sense the anticipation as he saw that in perhaps three more rounds he would face Rex in the quarterfinal round. Somehow he wasn’t nervous or even concerned. If he met Rex again fine, he would face him like every other opponent. Winning or losing to Rex now didn’t mean as much to him. He had beaten Rex many times already here at these tournaments.

On the other side of the field Rex was burning and determined to beat Trance and knock him down just once. In his mind he considered that it would bring him back to where he belonged. He couldn’t ever remember feeling so angry and frustrated. It was as though Trance had set out to absolutely humiliate him here. This would be one of his last chances to gain back some of his glory.

The quarterfinal round came, and, as everyone expected, Trance and Rex were once again opposite each other. Zam had also made it this far and was to face a Samurai warrior. Of the five other knights, there was an Azarian, an Amorite, a White Knight, a Melcorian Warrior, and a Kainanth Knight.

“Okay Odin, here we go again. This is just another joust, we’ve been here before,” Trance said, as he patted the robot horse’s neck before drawing his sword and positioning himself ready to race down the field to meet Rex.

“I’m ready,” Odin replied and the horse proudly stepped up to their starting line. Even though the robot horse was an older model and was surrounded by much newer robot horses, and especially since Rex was astride the very latest model, it knew in its circuits that it belonged here. All of Trance’s upgrades and improvements had given Odin new life and a purpose few horses could hope to receive. The almost organic way the horse processed information told him that though his exterior was rougher and not as sleek and polished as many of the other robot horses, his internal parts and motors were on an even par with the other horses on the field.

Both horse and rider had gone through their struggles and each had learned to trust and rely on each other. From their first ride together to now they had made an unusual team, but as Trance had worked on Odin and had ridden him in every event all year long they had formed a very formidable team. Now the moment had arrived for them to once again ride against Rex and his shiny stallion. It even seemed to Trance that Odin raised his head and neck higher, straighter, and with more confidence. In response Trance sat straighter and steadier in the saddle as he waited for the signal to go.

With the wave of the referee’s hand they were off and in only seconds the participants charged at their opponents. To Trance it was as though time had slowed and it seemed to take minutes for him and Odin to reach Rex. Unknown and unseen to him everyone in the stands was on their feet and holding a collective breath. Wooden swords were raised and ready for a moment to strike a blow that would and could bring glory or defeat. Neither boy wanted to duel on horseback. Trance had won every duel on horseback so far. Trance knew that if Rex didn’t knock him off right now then he would come at him with such fury that they would be on the field and that it could turn out like their last duel. So here they were with one blow to settle the joust once and forever.

Smack! A train wreck would have been more humane. Trance heard and knew that his wooden sword that had survived all year was seriously cracked or broken. At this moment he wasn’t concerned