Chapter 6

On Monday after school, the flying coach with the team members of the Dunwiddie Village School arrived to start practicing with Royal Prep for the Quad School Games. Sir Gillium greeted the participants.

"Hello members of the Dunwiddie Village School! I am Sir Gillium and I will help you all get started on your training for the Games. First of all, I need to know who signed up for what events, so I can put you in the same group as our Royal Prep students."

The Dunwiddie principal, Miss Makin, them stepped forward and greeted Sir Gillium, providing him with a sheet of who signed up for what events.

Sir Gilliam decided that the 100M dash, Archery and the Flying Derby events would be practiced on Mondays and Wednesdays, Dazzle Ball and Bowling on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the students could choose what they wanted to practice on Fridays. He explained that the Quad School Games would be held in four weeks, but that should be sufficient time to get trained for the events.

Sir Gillium was making sure all participants were in their proper practice groups, but he wanted to closely supervise the Flying Derby practice, to ensure Ruby and Jade's safety. He asked King Roland if he could help with the archers.

"Why I would be delighted, Sir Gillium!" responded the King, and the archer participants went off with King Roland.

At the archery range, Princess Trudy was there to watch. Sofia had told her dad how good of a teacher Trudy was, but the King didn't want to shirk his responsibility to Sir Gillium.

The King addressed Princess Trudy amiably, " Good evening, princess! I believe you are Princess Trudy of whom I have heard a great deal about from my daughter, Sofia!"

"Good evening, your Majesty! Yes, I am Trudy and I came to see if I might be able to assist you with the archers. "

King Roland saw no harm in Trudy helping, so he agreed.

The four archery contestants chose their bows and arrows, and went to the line. King Roland gave a brief safety talk to them before they started practicing. Zooey and Jin were representing Royal Prep, and Meg and Peg, the Dunwiddie Village School.

As practice began, it became very apparent that Zooey could handle a bow and arrow well. As for the other three, they needed help.

Trudy asked King Roland if she could give some verbal instructions. Roland, with some misgivings agreed.

"Jin, Meg, and Peg, the most important thing to remember in the mechanics to shooting a bow is making sure that your spine is perpendicular to the ground. That gives you a solid foundation to take a shot." Trudy suggested.

All three tried, and Meg and Peg remembered that advice from when they visited Trudy on Saturday. When they all took their first shot at the 10M target, Meg and Peg each hit the 6 point scoring circle. Jin's shot only went about 2 meters.

"That's okay, Jin! Nice first try! Now pull your bowstring back farther, and put some arc on the shot," coached Roland. Jin did, and hit the 2 point scoring circle. He was elated.

"Nice shot!" exclaimed Zooey, which was echoed by, Roland, Meg, Peg and Trudy.

Archery practice continued to go off without a hitch, and Roland was favorably impressed with Trudy's knowledge of archery and her willingness to help others.

After the practice was done, Roland thanked Trudy.

"Trudy, I really appreciate your help today, and I think the archers did as well!" And all three archers smiled at Trudy. "Will you be my assistant coach?"

Trudy was pleasantly surprised by the request.

"Why I would be very happy to help!"

"Good! Then I will see you for the rest of the practices, Trudy."

"Thank you, your Highness!"

Jun and their flying coach had arrived to take Jin home. They waved happily to their friends, both old and new.

But before Trudy left, she went over to the equipment table, took a bow and three arrows , and shot them at the 10M target. King Roland was just settling into the coach to go home with his children when he saw Trudy take the shots and hurried quickly to the range. He wanted to make sure Trudy was alright. He was followed by his three children. He, James and Amber were shocked to see that Trudy had placed all three arrows in the 10 point circle of the 10M target. Sofia just smiled a knowing smile. Trudy had a small smile on her face, which quickly vanished, when she saw that King Roland and his children had seen her take the shots.

"Please don't tell Sir Gillium! I just wanted to try my hand at this target. I won't do it again!" Trudy pleaded with them

"Your secret is safe with us Trudy! Sofia told me you were an excellent shot in archery and I can plainly see you are. It is too bad Sir Gillium doesn't think it is safe for you to participate," replied King Roland. Amber and James just stood there astonished, and Sofia had a wide grin on her face.

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Sir Gillium wanted to watch the Flying Derby practice closely. He was concerned for the safety of the two Dunwiddie Village School riders.

"Alright, ladies! Today I just want you to get used to riding your chosen mounts. Don't get discouraged if you fall. That's why we have this field of cushions for you to land on. Everyone falls the first few times they ride a flying horse, including me!"

Jade had on her riding outfit and got on Ecru first.

"Let's go, Ecru!"

But all Ecru did was take Jade for a slow ride on the ground. Jade was confused.

"How do I get him to fly?" she asked.

"I tell Minimus 'Heya!', and Amber tells Saffron to 'Go'. Maybe a command for up?" suggested Sofia.

"Alright, I'll try 'Up, Ecru!'"

And with that, Ecru took off. Jade didn't expect the instantaneous take off and fell on a cushion. But it didn't take her long to stay on Ecru after that initial ride, and spent the rest of practice on a nice leisurely ride.

Ruby watched Jade and then got on Dove.

"Okay, Dove! 'Up!' "

And Dove took off! Ruby actually held on and was riding Dove well. But then she wanted Dove to go between two trees.

"Come on, Dove!" Ruby aimed Dove right at the middle of the space between, but because of Dove's smaller left wing, she veered to the left and almost hit the left tree! Dove swerved just in time to avoid hitting the tree. Ruby was a little shaken when she landed.

Sir Gillium rushed over to Ruby, "Are you alright, Ruby?"

"I'm fine, Sir Gillium! Just a bit shaken up."

"Now do you want to try to ride Pepper?" And Dove turned sadly toward the stable and started to slowly walk back to it.

Ruby though for a moment, and said, "No, Sir Gillium! It wasn't Dove's fault, it was mine! You told me she veered left, and I didn't take that into account. No, I still want to ride Dove!" When Dove heard those words, she stopped dead in her tracks, and looked hopefully back a Ruby.

Ruby said, "Come on, Dove! We are going to make a great team in the Flying Derby!" Dove was overjoyed and ran back to Ruby, nuzzling her when she got to her. Sir Gillium still had his misgivings, but if Ruby wanted to give it a go with Dove, he wouldn't stop her.