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

my chance to live my dream. I think I want to try and get into the Golden Griffins like your brother.”

“That would be totally cool. I don’t know if they’d let you in, but anything can happen,” said Gracer pleasantly. It was then that he caught sight of Trance’s trombone. “I didn’t know that you had slybaces where you came from.”

Trance looked down and figured out that must be what the trombone was called on Althora. “Well this is my trombone. It’s an instrument from Earth. My uncle actually played this one when he went to school. When I started sixth grade I decided to play the trombone and he gave me this one to learn to play. I’ve enjoyed it ever since,” Trance said proudly. He then told about the coincidence about the horn going with his uncle and then him on a special band trip to Hawaii, and that it had played in the same parade, some seven years between the two appearances there.

“How interesting. What other instruments did you have on Earth?” Gracer asked. Trance started to answer when the tardy bell sounded and the band director entered the room for class to start.

The director took roll and then explained about the band schedule. He covered what music they were to start on and that they were going to have seven concerts. He said that they would play at the various sports events, and at three competitions. The class was going to have trials to see what chair they would get with the best players getting first chair and then on to last chair. Music was then handed out and Trance saw for the first time what Althorian music looked like on paper.

As the director started them playing and getting them to learn the first song of the year, Trance slowly started to pick up on the new notes and how to play with the other slybaces with his trombone. Gracer and another boy on his right helped him read the notes and explained what they were, how they counted and the right slide position for each note. It didn’t take long for the class and director to notice that he was different. Within a couple minutes his story was known. The director was patient and took a few minutes to cover the basic scales and notes. Gracer volunteered to work with Trance to show him the notes and class continued. When it was time for the class to put away their instruments the director took Trance aside and told him that he wasn’t too bad and that he would take the time to teach him the proper notes and how to read the Althorian music.

The bell rang and Trance and Gracer left the room talking. They checked their schedules and saw that they had four more classes together besides band and of course knight class. They both had second hour Government class. The instant they entered the room Trance’s eyes fell on a very familiar girl with soft brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. She looked up and smiled in surprise to see him.

“Hello princess,” said Gracer casually as he took a seat to her left.

“Hello Corena, how are you?” said Trance shyly as he sat to the left of Gracer. Gracer looked at him quizzically, and then he remembered that Zak had told him about Trance and that Corena was in their troop also.

“I’m fine. How have you been? I see you’ve met Gracer. Have you made any more friends yet?” she asked sincerely and smiled pleasantly.

“I’ve been okay. I love finally being home. I’ve met a few people. I didn’t know you went here to school. I thought that as princess you’d go to a very privileged and private school,” Trance said.

“Well my family has never really been part of the royal process. My great-great-great-great grandfather was elected king of Cator. He served for three terms before he passed away. By royal process the kingship was passed down the line till dad was crowned king. He didn’t want it to start with, but he decided to fulfill his duty and serve anyway. I’m next in line by birth. I would be the first ruling queen for about seven hundred years, barring something happening to dad or he somehow loses the next election,” Corena explained. She chuckled as Trance looked slightly confused. He knew of royal bloodlines from past history on Earth, but how could a king be elected and possibly lose an election.

The bell rang and the teacher came in. His name was Mr. Howard and he saw Corena and gave her a small nod. Then he took roll and noticed Trance. Mr. Howard could see that this was going to be a rather interesting year. He knew quite a bit about the Earth people and had begun studying their history and heritage. Like the other teachers Trance would have, he was curious to see what kind of student he would be.

Mr. Howard then started his class by handing out the textbook and started teaching. He smiled to himself as he saw Trance’s eager face paying attention to the lesson. Most students seemed bored learning about the other governments and their government and the histories behind them, yet Trance was fascinated. By the end of the class Mr. Howard knew Trance would be an excellent student by the notes he took and the expression he wore.

All too soon the class ended. Trance left the class with more new friends. He made a stop at his locker to leave the Government book and then went to Math class. Once again he found himself to be the object of curiosity. Here at least was a class he could really count on. The math symbols were slightly different, yet once he knew what they were he could easily do the problems. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide seemed to be universal. The numbers were identical. He surprised everyone including the teacher and Corena by being able to work