9 Obstacle Course

CHAPTER 9

Obstacle Course Lucas, Clara, Tublock, Thea, and Farfalee tromped over a snow-packed trail to the obstacle course. Tublock pulled a sled with supplies behind him. Ruskin bounded ahead of the others. When they got to the top of the hill, the children sledded down onto a snowfield. Spread out before them were tunnels, sled chutes, and climbing structures—all made from snow! Ice targets stretched across the landscape. Carved snowmen stood in rows, holding clubs, battle-axes, and war hammers. There was even a maze of ice, and a snow village. "Did you make all this?" asked Lucas.

"We did over many months," said Tublock proudly. "This is what we do for fun in Flatfrost." "It's a snowy playground!" Lucas exclaimed. "It's amazing," Clara declared. "Let's get to work," Tublock said. "We haven't much time before you'll have to return to the castle." He pulled a big wooden bucket from the sled and set it on the ground in front of the targets. "I hold in this bucket the secret to dragon training," said Tublock. Clara and Lucas looked in the bucket. "Fish?" questioned Lucas.

"Yes, your dragon loves fish!" Thea exclaimed. "He'll do anything for it."

"Watch this," said Tublock. He threw Ruskin a fish. Then he gave Ruskin a hand signal. Ruskin leaped toward the ice targets and shot a fireball through each one. "Target practice will help Ruskin gain control over his fire breathing," Tublock said.

Farfalee threw a fish to Ruskin as they moved to the next obstacle. "This one will be much harder," said Tublock. "Ruskin must disarm the army of snowmen without