8 Prove Yourself!

CHAPTER 8

Prove Yourself! Flutes piped merrily as Lucas, Ruskin, and Clara entered the tournament at the King's Gate. The big day had finally arrived! Villagers, noblemen, fairies, trolls, gnomes, and wizards had all gathered for the festivities. Lucas, Ruskin, and Clara walked to the bakery tent. Mr. Gills handed them each a sweet roll. They licked the icing on the way to the puppet theater. Then they sat on a bale of hay and watched a puppet show about a princess and an evil queen.

There was so much to see at the tournament! They saw acrobats, potters, and glass blowers. They sipped rainbow tea at the fairies' tea party. Then the children

strolled to the fruits and vegetables tent. A troll juggled tomatoes.

Splat! A tomato landed on the troll's head.

Lucas laughed and pointed. "Hey, that's our friend Bren!" he cried. Bren had helped Clara and Lucas find the vixberries that had cured Ruskin of a terrible illness soon after he had hatched. Bren's cheeks turned red when he saw his friends. He used the back of his hand to wipe the squished tomato from his face. "When did you learn to juggle?" asked Clara.