How To Train Your Princess

The Polo Boys

"Lets move it girls. Posture is key. The prince isn't looking for hunch-backed old ladies," Phlegma orders.

This morning, it wasn't easy to get up and moving from my lack of sleep. I missed breakfast since I was slow getting out of bed and dressed. Right now, we are balancing books on our heads as we move about the ballroom. Turns out, I am actually pretty good at this. My mother always taught me to stand up strait and be proud of myself. She said I always looked more beautiful when I stood up strait. Also, years of horse-riding helps.

I look over at Ruff as she picks up her book for the seventy-fifth time. I've noticed it's the Lower Valley girls that are struggling the most. It almost seems like the Upper Valley girls are cheating since they have a lead on us, being trained in proper manners and edicate at early ages because it is a way of life where they are from. The Lower Valley isn't worried about pinkies up and curtsying and the niceties. We get up, work, and go about our business, doing what needs to be done to sustain the kingdom with food and agricultural products. The Upper Valley makes clothes and silks and furniture.

"How are you making it look so easy?" Ruff asks me, setting the book on her head and holding her hands out from it a few inches , ready to catch it again if it decides to fall.

"I don't know," I say, concentrating on the movements my feet need to make in the dance.

***

The next morning, I was late again to breakfast. I came rushing in in the middle of Phlegma's speech. I stopped at the stairs, scanning for my friends so I could sneak in without being noticed. I see an empty chair beside Ruff, so I make a run for it, ducking, my hand shielding my face. "Why Ms. Astrid, how nice of you to join us," Phlegma says. I straiten up, revealing myself now that everyone is staring at me anyway. I walk the rest of the way to my chair, shoulders slumped forward. "That's two mornings in a row. You are not getting off to a very good start. You will be cleaning the arena today after class. Don't make this a habit or there will be worse consequences," Phlegma tells me.

"Yes ma'am," I respond, my head hanging in shame.

***

Lets just say she wasn't joking about cleaning the arena. When we were done with class, I was instructed to tie up Stormfly and then was handed a shovel and a metal gin to place the dung in. Several girls giggled at my punishment as they left to wash up for dinner. A few just cringed. I sigh, once they are gone and decide to get started. It could be worse.

We had been practicing the proper way for a young lady to ride a horse and be evaluated on our skills of jumping and polo. The jumping was simple, and I picked up on polo pretty quick, but I kept getting in trouble for being too aggressive or not being  lady like. "A princess is always a good sport. We don't holler and get excited when we score. Polo is a way to relax and spend time outdoors in serenity," is what Phlegma told me. But I can't help it. I got my competitive and fighting spirit from my father. 

***

When I finished, I drug the bin to the entrance and headed back to Stormfly. I untie her and take a few steps toward the stables, but stop, looking back at the polo field, noticing no one is around. I'm still full from lunch, so I decide to practice by myself, skipping dinner. I mount Stormfly and trot over there. I lose myself in practicing, hitting the ball into the goal and running it down the long stretch of field. Who knew there was such a sport? I was on a role, making goal after goal.

"The field is reserved for the polo team at this time," a voice calls from the sidelines. I stop where I am, looking to see three boys on horse back, watching me.

"I am so sorry. I- I didn't know," I apologize quickly, cantering off of the field.

"Don't mind him. You have as much right to practice here as we do," an auburn haired boy says, then scowls at a beefy, muscular, dark haired boy beside him. "Right, Snotlout? It's not like you're the prince." Snotlout glares back at the boy.