9 Be Your Best

CHAPTER 9

Be Your Best Lucas and Ruskin wandered the fairgrounds. They had a little time before Lucas would have to drop Ruskin off at the dragon pen. They cheered on the gnomes in a tug-of-war match. Their friend Pilwinkle and his team tumbled to the ground as they pulled the other team over the line. After that Ruskin watched Lucas play a game of Jack Straws, a gigantic version of pick-up sticks. Next they scampered toward the ice house. "Remember when you melted the ice in the larder?" said Lucas, laughing. Ruskin whimpered. "We got in so much trouble!"

Then they stepped into the ice house. The cold air felt good. All around them stood the most beautiful ice sculptures Lucas had ever seen: elephants, mammoths, mermaids, unicorns, knights, and dragons. "Look, Ruskin!" cried Lucas. "The giants even made an ice sculpture of us!"

Lucas looked for someone to thank, but he knew the giants never stayed for the tournament. It was too

warm for them near the castle so far beneath the icy mountains. "Come on, Ruskin," said Lucas. "We need to get going!" Lucas dropped Ruskin off at the dragon pen. Ruskin had to get ready for the dragon show. Then Lucas went to meet his parents at the fruits and vegetables tent. He spied them by the pumpkin display.

"I've never seen such large pumpkins in all of Wrenly!" commented Queen Tasha. "We owe our beautiful crops to the Witch of Bogburp," said one of the trolls. He tipped his hat to Tilda the witch, who was standing nearby.