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

“Well,” Marlett hesitated; he didn’t like telling anyone about the soldiers that were lost under his command. “Most everyone that you met is still with us. However, we lost a few guys in a battle thirty miles north of the capital two months ago. By the way I’ll be watching your performance during the tournaments. I don’t have much say so, but I may be able to pick some new men to join my division,” he winked at Trance and walked over to speak to the King and also with the head of security for the spaceport.

Trance turned his head and to his very happy surprise saw Zak and Bear standing a few feet away in conversation. He wondered whether he might go over and talk with them before they all had to board the space ship and begin their journey to Caldar. As he stepped in their direction Kyle came up and got their attention. Zak and Bear greeted Kyle very enthusiastically and at that moment spotted Trance and all four were soon in a very energetic conversation. The four talked so intently that they didn’t notice the time slipping by. Soon they’d have to board the ship and start on their way.

“It’s really cool seeing you guys again,” Trance said rather happily.

“We’re happy to be here too,” said Zak. “I think that Marlett has another reason for being here, but he’s not telling us why he volunteered us to be the bodyguard.”

“Yeah, this is going to be an entertaining mission,” said Bear. “I haven’t been to the tournaments for a few years and it’ll be nice to see what takes place and how you do.”

“Well, I’m going to do the best I can and see how far I can lead my team. I hope we can win at least one event, but with so many teams competing against us we’ll have a hard time winning any,” said Trance modestly.

“I’m sure you’ll win at least one event,” said Zak, “Especially after the way you had defended yourself before we found you last summer.”

“I agree,” said a sweet female voice. The four young men turned around and were delighted to see Corena. “I think that Trance will lead his team to probably several titles.”

“Thank you for saying so,” said Trance, blushing as she approached. Corena joined in their conversation and raved about how brave and noble she thought Trance was. She also talked about how well he had captained his team this year and got them in very good position to go into the end of year tournaments.

“Attention all passengers, we will be boarding in five minutes,” came a brisk female voice over the intercom system. Trance found his family, which seemed very close to the royal family, as everyone started making their way near the loading gate. Trance could feel the anticipation in the air as he exchanged glances with Corena and also watched the faces of his teammates and family. Soon they would be boarding the stellar ship and blasting off for Caldar and the end of year tournaments.

The five minutes seemed to jet by and now it was boarding time. The royal family went first, followed by the Golden Griffins, then both coaches and their families, and then by the Sondersons. Dr. Sonderson took care of the tickets and gave his family their boarding passes.

They walked through the boarding tunnel toward the ship and stepped inside and gasped. The interior of the ship was very much like an airliner as the seats were in rows of twelve. There were four seats together near the right side of the ship with an aisle and then four in the middle of the ship, another aisle and the four seats on the left. Trance looked amazed to see that there were sixty-five rows of seats. Near the front were the first fifteen rows of royal class and then the remaining fifty rows for ordinary passengers.

Trance looked at his ticket and was rather taken aback because it looked like he might be in royal class. He nudged his dad to see where the rest of the family was going to sit and was slightly surprised that it didn’t seem that he would be sitting with his family. They would be just two rows behind him. Still puzzled he headed toward the front of the ship while his family moved toward their seats. Finally he arrived at his seat and at once felt his face flush and smiled broadly.

“Hi sweetheart,” he said gazing down at Corena.

“I thought you might want to sit with me for our trip to the tournaments, dad arranged it,” she said rather slyly.

“You are so wonderful!” he said and leaned over and kissed her. He sat back in his seat and fastened his seat belt. As he smiled and tried to relax he thought about the last time he’d boarded a spaceship. That time he had boarded a rocket ship he and his family were in white suits and placed in the deep sleep chambers for the trip through space to arrive here on Althora. Now he was wearing more normal clothes and sitting next to his girlfriend, a very beautiful princess even, and they were sitting like they were on an ordinary plane and about to go to another planet. He knew that the planet Caldar was very close and that the trip wouldn’t take long.

Trance tried to relax more and he held Corena’s hand as they continued to chat and waited for their trip to begin. Suddenly the ship’s captain spoke through the intercom system. “Ladies and Gentlemen, We will be starting our engines and starting for the runway in ten minutes. Please relax, the Ships Aides will be by to ensure your comfort and take care of any of your needs.”

Trance glanced down the aisle and saw a number of ladies and a couple men in rather neat and crisp blue uniforms go about assisting passengers with drinks, pillows, blankets,