The Crown Princess

Chapter Two

The boys were all waiting for her in the meadow, just downhill from the stable.  Lyle sat on his brown-speckled pinto, Earnest, with his arms crossed.  Beside him, on a shimmering gray mare was Tristen, another one of the palace children.  There were several other boys standing off to the sdide, here to watch the race.  Lilianna recognized all of them to be from her manners class.  Lilianna led Bolto to Tristen, keeping her distance from Lyle.  Tristen was the same age as she was, with curly brown hair and brown eyes.  He was abnormally tall and lanky, with long, skinny arms and legs.  He had a voice that was high and sweet.

Chandler was the leader of them all, with short straw-colored hair and hazel eyes.  He was tall and muscular, around the age of eighteen.  He had the most promising reputation in Lady Ethel's manners class, and would probably be able to pick any position he wanted.  At that moment, Chandler was standing in front of all the children, calmly waiting for them to silence themselves and listen to what he had to say.  He cleared his throat, "the course goes down to the river," he said, putting a hand over his eyes so he could see where he was pointing, despite the bright sun, "you must dodge the obstacles--no going around them, and cross the river.  First one to touch the wall wins."

Lilianna surveyed the course.  There were assorted barrels to go around, stacks of hay to jump over, and posts with flags hanging from them to retrieve.  It certainly seemed easy enough...

"Whoever grabs the most flags gets to have their opponents clean their stall for a week," Chandler said, stepping back, towards the sideline.  Lilianna, Lyle, and Tristen lined up parallel to each other, while the rest of the boys had already begun to run to the other end of the track.

"you go in three," called Chandler.

"Good luck, princess," Lyle said, looking strangely confident.

"Three!" Chandler yelled, ignoring the taunting between the competitors.

"Who needs luck?" Lilianna gloated.

"Two!"

"We'll see," Lyle smirked.

"One--go!"

In a split second, they were off.  Lilianna kicked Bolto's sides, and yelled words of encouragement.  Tristen and Lyle followed suit, and were right on her tail.  Bolto came to the first barrel and swerved around it, only to rapidly come against a second one a moment later.  Bolto dodged it skillfully, picking up speed.  There was a hay bale, and Bolto leaped over it and landed on the other side.  With a quick glance, she saw that both boys were still just behind her, and gaining.  Lilianna lifted herself off of Bolto's back, so she was only putting weight on the stirrups.  Adrenaline was pumping through her now, and her heart was beating along with the hooves on the ground.  The wind whistled through her ears and her hair whipped her face.  The course widened, as the three competitors were now able to ride side by side as they came upon their first flag.  Tristen took the lead, made a wild grab for the flag, but missed and continued onwards.  Lilianna reached as well, but also missed.  Lyle slowled down slightly, grabbed the flag, and grinned from ear to ear.

Lilianna sped up so she was even with Tristen as they came upon the second flag.  This time, Tristen grabbed it, letting out a cheery holler as he urged his mare to hurry.  Lilianna groaned and kicked Bolto's sides again, until she was just ahead of Tristen.  A third flag was nearing, and she told herself that she would not miss it.  The red flag was dangling at a height that was just out of her reach.  She would have to stand up, risking losing her balance.  Slowly, she began to straighten her knees, fingers tightening around the reins.  She let one hand go, and nearly flew off Bolto.   Lilianna righted herself just in time to grab the flag.  Meanwhile, Lyle had caught up with the group, laughing hysterically.