Ch9-The Truth

CHAPTER NINE The Truth The stallion stopped and neighed at the prince. Alexander stood with his legs apart and his arms crossed. He was not smiling. "Hi there!" Annie said. Alexander didn't answer. He glared at Jack and Annie. "I shall have you punished for stealing

him," he said. "I have been looking for him everywhere." "We didn't steal him. We just took him out for a ride," said Jack. "Why did he let you two ride him?" Alexander asked. "Of all people?" Jack started to make a comment about Alexander's attitude, but then he made a different decision—he decided to be kind. "Maybe he let us ride him because he knew that you are a friend of ours," he said. The prince looked confused by Jack's answer. "Really?" he asked. Jack nodded. "Well, I suppose that could be possible," Alexander said. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "So where did he take you?" he asked. The anger had left his voice. Now it was filled with curiosity. "We just rode through town and down the main road and around the swamps and fields," said Annie. "I wish you'd been with us!" She swung her leg over the horse's back and slid to the ground.

Jack did the same. The stallion neighed and brushed his head against Annie, then Jack. Annie giggled. "That tickles," she said. "How did you tame him?" Alexander asked. "We listened to him," said Jack. "Listened to him?" the prince asked. "What do you mean?" "It was sort of like… we forgot about ourselves and paid total attention to him instead," said Jack. Alexander watched as Annie and Jack stroked the stallion's mane. "My father vows he will not waste his gold on this horse," he said. "But I… I see something very special in him. I believe he is extraordinary." "He is," said Jack. "He's incredibly loyal." "And he has a great heart," said Annie. "I know. I can tell," said Alexander. "Maybe you could tell your father that you will pay for him yourself," suggested Annie. "Do you get an allowance?" "I do not know what that means," said Alexander. "But no matter. I doubt that my father would agree to anything I propose. He has no

respect for my opinions—or my accomplishments." "Your father is wrong not to give you respect," said Jack, and he meant it. "One day all the history books will call you Alexander the Great." "Are you mocking me?" Alexander said, scowling. "No! It's true, I promise," said Jack. "Believe us," said Annie. "We know." "But listen," said Jack. "Being great doesn't mean you go around bragging about yourself all the time." "Don't tell everyone that you are a living Greek god," said Annie, "or that you're going to be master of the universe." "Or that you are the best athlete in the known world," said Jack. "Just accept that no matter what you can do, you're still a regular human being, a person like everyone else." "Are you insulting me?" said Alexander. "No!" said Jack with a smile. "Stop that! We're all regular human beings. Why don't you just let yourself be a real person for a change and laugh at

yourself? Be okay with making mistakes and looking like a fool." "Jack's right," said Annie. "Know that sometimes you're great and sometimes you're terrible. You're strong and you're weak." The prince frowned. "A fool? Terrible? Weak?" he said. "The truth is this: nobody's perfect. Even you," said Jack. "So just accept it." "You speak nonsense," said Alexander. "It's called humility," said Jack. "Humility?" the prince said slowly. "Jack!" said Annie. "Look!" She held her hand close to Jack's face. The Ring of Truth was glowing as if it were made of fire. Jack smiled again. "Yes. Humility," he said to the prince. That was the secret of greatness that Merlin wanted them to discover on this mission. "But you cannot expect me to show humility to the world," said Alexander, shaking his head. "No mighty king would ever do that." "Well, no matter what you have to do to be a mighty king, you can at least have humility inside

yourself," said Annie. "And if you do, I promise this horse will trust you." "There he is!" a gruff voice said. Jack, Annie, and Alexander turned to see two grooms coming out of the barn. One of the grooms held a whip. "You were looking for this horse?" Prince Alexander asked sternly. He stepped between the stallion and the grooms. "The king wants to see him in the ring again, with the others," said the first groom. He moved around Alexander toward the stallion. As the man's shadow fell over Buddy, the stallion snorted loudly and shied away. Alexander jumped in front of the groom. "Get away from him!" he ordered the man. "Leave him alone!" The groom stepped back. "Leave us!" roared Alexander. The two grooms turned and disappeared back into the barn. Buddy neighed. "Shh, my friend, shh," Alexander said softly, stepping toward the stallion. "You mustn't be