1 Music Lessons

The Bard and the Beast

CHAPTER 1

Music Lessons "Yes! Sir Archie won!" Prince Lucas shouted. "No, Sir Fred won!" cried Clara. "Squawk!" crowed Ruskin, Lucas's pet dragon. He was definitely on the prince's side. "Okay, let's call it a tie!" Lucas said. "No way!" argued Clara. "Sir Fred won fair and square!" Prince Lucas and his best friend, Clara, had just had a toad race. They argued and laughed as they ran down the castle halls. Then, all at once, Lucas's muddy leather boots skidded to a stop. Clara didn't see in time and bumped into Lucas. Ruskin smacked into the back of Clara's knees. Queen Tasha blocked the hallway. She tapped

her black velvet shoe on the stone floor and stared disapprovingly at the mud-covered children. "Where on earth have you been, Lucas?" she said sternly. "You are late for your first music lesson!"

Clara peeked out from behind Lucas. "Um, I'd better be going," she said uncomfortably. Then she turned and hurried toward the door.

The queen kept her eyes on her son. Lucas wiped some toad slime on his pants and sighed heavily. "Come on, Mother," he complained. "You know I don't want to play a musical instrument!" "It's not up for discussion," his mother said. "Music is part of your royal education." Then she grabbed Lucas by the hand and marched him to the music room. Lucas stumbled along behind his mother.