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

the downstairs family room. His bookshelves were against the far wall and he had a small white table with red legs under the window. He had a small television on the table and there were two old comfortable chairs set at the table. This was where he did most of his homework. Also along the far wall was a fairly simple desk with metal legs where his small computer and printer sat for him to write and print his essays and reports for school. They took the chairs at the table and took out their schoolbooks and started on their homework.

After a few minutes Eileen, Trance’s mom, came down and asked if they needed something to eat or drink as they worked. “Now your family knows where you are, right?” Eileen asked. She was slightly nervous. She had never hosted a princess before.

“Yes ma’am,” Corena answered politely. “I called my folks at lunch and told them that I was coming here to study. They’re going to send a coach for me at six, if that’s alright with you.”

“Yes dear, that’s fine. I just wanted to make sure that they knew where you were,” Eileen said. Trance smiled to himself. His mother was like that with all of his friends. She was a very good mother and tried to look after all of the kids that came to the house.

“Your mom’s a very nice lady,” Corena commented.

“Yeah,” Trance grinned. “I think she really likes you. She’s just a little nervous since you’re the princess. She wants to make a really good impression since you’re here, and she wants to make sure you’re safe.”

They laughed and then went back to their homework. The time went by more pleasantly and they got all of their work done. They packed their books back and looked at the clock. Corena’s coach would be there in seven minutes. While they had been working Trance had kept glancing at Corena and he felt even luckier and more blessed that she was now his girlfriend. He kept thinking to himself about how he truly felt about her.

He knew deep down that he’d really fallen for her. He wanted so much to kiss her that he almost ached. He knew that she was the princess and that seemed to go right in line with his childhood fantasies about being a knight and meeting a beautiful princess. Well he was now on his way to being a knight and here with him was the beautiful princess. As gorgeous as she was he felt that he’d have fallen for her even if she weren’t the princess.

Suddenly as he was about to stand because he couldn’t bring himself to kiss her, he felt her warm lips on his. They parted and he felt his face blaze red. “I’m sorry,” she said feeling embarrassed.

“Don’t be sorry. I’ve wanted to kiss you all afternoon,” he said trying to calm down. His heart was really racing now.

“I know, I saw it in your eyes every time you looked at me,” she said smiling. They kissed again just as the doorbell rang. They parted and Corena grabbed her backpack and Trance escorted her to the door. They said good-bye and she gave him another quick kiss before climbing into the coach. They waved at each other and both felt that they had met the love of their lives.

Trance seemed to float for the next few days in school and reveled when they were together. Two days after her visit to his home Trance received a package in the mail. It was actually addressed to Odin in care of him. Curious Trance opened the package and pulled out a micro compound bow.

Chapter 17

Jousting

Trance had Odin finished, as best he could. He was now ready for the field competitions to begin. Trance would be leading his team at home for their first battlefield match against the Black Knights today. He had planned out his strategy carefully and thought that if his team did as instructed they could win.

The day was crisp yet sunny with a very slight breeze. Trance was amazed at the fact that the stands on both sides of the field were packed. He’d gotten used to the fact that most of the crowd was there to watch him; however, he used the crowd to rally his team and got them to see that even though he was probably the main focus for the crowd, each of them should be proud and should use the occasion to show their talents as well. He continued to encourage them to showcase their skills, because the scouts for the various knight branches were still out watching for prospective talent to be the new defenders of Cator and Althora.

At a signal from the main judge both teams began to march toward each other. There was nowhere to hide as with a castle; everyone was exposed. Part of Trance’s strategy was to have the spearmen lead the march, followed immediately by the archers. His reasoning was that the spearmen had larger shields and could protect the archers.

Trance marched with the archers and nocked an arrow to his bow. He was carrying his shield on his back where he could reach it when he was too close to be able to shoot the bow at approaching enemies. He watched the distance between the two teams and waited to signal his team for the start of the battle. The tension in his team was quite tangible they were ready to try the new battlefield strategy.

Suddenly the Black Knights launched a great volley of arrows. “Raise your shields,” shouted Trance as he ducked himself behind the spearman in front of him. “Return fire!” was his second command as he launched an arrow that was lost in the crowd of arrows that took flight toward their opponents.

Now that the battle was begun the next phase of Trance’s strategy started. As the Black Knights’ archers loaded and launched another volley of arrows, Trance