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

The Western Constellation Schools would assault the fort defended by the Eastern Constellation Schools. As Trance figured, his team was ordered to the front of the other teams. Rex and his team were at the back of the column as the match was started and they were ordered to march. He hefted his shield and strode forth. He proudly raised his head, looked toward the fort and scanned the wall, noting how the eastern schools were preparing to defend it.

He was not surprised to see that they had lined the wall with almost all of their archers and spearmen. Trance and his team were going to face the greatest challenge yet. Even though Rex was the captain of their entire team, Trance found that he could still command his own team.

Quickly Trance rearranged his team and they proceeded in a more protected state. Some of the other teams that were close to them, including the Armories and Azarians, saw how Trance had rearranged the Gray Mountain Warriors and how well they covered themselves that they followed suit. It didn’t take long for Rex and his team to notice that there was a subtle change in how the teams up front were marching forward.

“What are they doing?” Rex angrily asked his nearest teammate.

“It looks like Trance has rearranged his team and they are covering each other more. It also appears that there are other teams that have followed,” he replied.

Rex was furious. He had hoped that his plan of placing Trance and his team, along with some of his other strongest competitors in the tournaments, in the front would cause them to be picked off easily and removed from the competition. Now they were more protected and might last longer in this event. “They have to follow my orders and change back,” he said rather haughtily.

“Actually no,” another White Knight said rather reluctantly. “Sorry Rex, but by rule you are the captain of the whole team and you can place any team anywhere in the column, but their team captain can still command his team and direct them how he sees fit to protect his own men.”

Before Rex could do anything about Trance and his men, they were at the outer range of the bows of the Eastern schools. Moments later the battle really started as the boys that operated the catapults loaded them and launched the heavy foam rubber balls at the fort’s walls. With skill Trance directed his team to form around the archers. He then joined them in firing their arrows at the fort’s defenders.

Rex was torn as he tried to direct the battle so that Trance and his team would be eliminated, but soon he had to concentrate more on himself and his team as they started to be picked off one at a time. He actually backed off and directed the rest of his team from outside the range of the archers defending the fort.

Trance watched the fort and noticed boys from both sides being eliminated from competition. Rex directed more and more boys toward the fort. To his surprise Trance and most of the Gray Mountain Warriors had not been eliminated yet. Every minute more of the Eastern boys were being eliminated from competition. Suddenly he saw something that really took him by surprise. Standing on the fort triumphantly was Trance.

Trance and his team had entered the fort in a breach in the fort’s wall and begun organizing in battle positions. He also started to direct the other teams to protective positions as they entered the fort and gradually engaged the fort’s defenders. Within minutes he had the western teams going both directions in the fort. He led the charge to the right and battled several defenders. Gradually he fought his way to the stairs that climbed to the top of the wall. With his careful leadership he fought his way to victory. In a bold push he directed the battle on the wall and was then able to turn the fight from there.

Immediately after this victory there erupted a serious discussion among the teams of the Western Constellation schools. They debated whether Rex should continue to lead in the castle defense or should he be demoted and replaced by Trance. Most teams and coaches were unimpressed with Rex. Not leading the teams or putting his team in danger, and sending all the other teams that he didn’t like into harm’s way, was not making a positive impression on anybody. However, Trance humbly enjoyed being celebrated for his courage and daring as he ended up leading not only his own team, but the other teams as well.

Once again Rex was allowed to lead the teams; however, Rex and his team were told that if he wasn’t active in leading the team, win or lose, he might not lead for the battlefield event.

Trance now looked around at the castle defenders and spotted Rex down at the far end of the wall. He noticed that Rex was trying very hard not to look at him and focus on the Eastern teams as they were lining up and preparing for their advance. He looked back and saw the opponents start their march. Seconds later he was shooting arrows along with the other defender archers and dodging incoming arrows as well as the foam boulders from their catapults.

With arrows and boulders flying in and gradually taking their toll on the defenders Rex slowly drifted back from his position and headed for the stairs down. Trance continued to shoot arrow after arrow. He knew that his first couple arrows probably wouldn’t make much of an impact, but as the other team approached he was able to concentrate and take aim at individual knights and try to shoot one opponent down at a time. With a glance he saw that Rex had retreated to the ground level and was getting his team and the few teams that were still behind him