Read Online Green by Laura Peyton Roberts - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Peyton Roberts
Tags: Fiction, General, All Ages, Children's Books, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Ages 9-12 Fiction, Science Fiction; Fantasy; & Magic, Children: Grades 4-6, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Legends; Myths; Fables, Grandmothers, Legends; Myths; & Fables - General, Fairy Tales & Folklore - General, leprechauns
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ale belly, and the women were all decked out with ribbons and flowers in their hair. "I don't see any runners."
I'd no sooner spoken than a pack of leprechauns on dogs streaked onto the field. They rode bareback, knees tightly pressed to their dogs' shaggy ribs and hands gripping long ears. The crowd rushed the barricades. I recognized Fizz on a mop of a mutt as a hail of coins hit the grass, all flipped out of leprechaun pockets.
"What are they doing?" I asked.
"Wagering," Bronwyn answered from my other side. "Irresponsible fools. They don't have access to their funds yet."
"Here come the archers!" Lexie cried, pointing.
Dogs and riders took positions at the start of the course as a trio of pipers marched onto the field, followed by two dozen leprechauns with bows and quivers slung over green coats like miniature Robin Hoods. I spotted Balthazar puffing along beside a guy with a mustache that hung past his belt.
"What are they going to shoot?" I asked nervously. Their arrows weren't much longer than pencils, but they had wicked-looking barbed tips.
"Why, whatever you choose, Lilybet!" Sosanna answered from across the table. "They've come to compete for the honor of guiding you on your next test."
83
"Really?" It was a huge relief to know I wouldn't be on my own again--just so long as Balthazar wasn't my guide. "What is my next test anyway?"
"It's traditional to announce the second test after breakfast," Sosanna said. "Only a select few know that secret, and the whole clan is eager to hear it."
"Well ... can't I be one of the few?"
Bronwyn scowled, but Sosanna smiled indulgently. "I suppose it does no harm. For your second test, Lilybet, you will catch a spotted pisky and require it to give you a wish of your choice."
Lexie gasped, a long, stunned exhalation. Her small pointed face went as white as whipped cream. For a moment, I didn't get why. Then I remembered Bronwyn's story. Things hadn't worked out well for the wishers in the only pisky encounter I knew of.
"Catching a pisky. Isn't that kind of ... risky?" I asked.
Lexie nodded vehemently.
But Sosanna just smiled. "The test o' cleverness must be a challenge, else nothing has been proven."
Her ladies murmured in gentle agreement, but Lexie looked stupefied. Even Bronwyn could only manage a sickly grin. A knot tied itself in my gut. I'd gotten lucky on my first test, fumbling my way into passing with no clue what I was doing. If I had to prove I was clever ...
84
I'm not clever! Anyone could tell them that!
I suddenly realized I had no idea what happened if I failed my trial. I got to go home if I passed ...
But what if I never did?
A gun went off, starting the dogs and my heart both racing.
The only way back is forward . The words flashed into my mind directly from Gigi's letter. They were more than grandmotherly advice--they were a clue! If I wanted to see my mother again, if I wanted my normal life back, I needed to tackle this pisky thing.
And I pretty much had to succeed.
85
Chapter 7
"On your marks, get set ... shoot!" I cried, flinging a doughnut hole skyward with all my strength. The tiny pastry sailed out over the racecourse, a doughy blip against blue sky. Eighteen archers, including Balthazar, had already hit five larger targets, and I just wanted the contest to end.
A flurry of tightly grouped arrows raced up from the ground. Before the doughnut hole reached the top of its arc, the lead arrow pierced it dead-center, knocking the target off course a split second before the other barbs arrived.
86
"Honor mine!" the mustachioed leprechaun cried. "That's my dart!"
His name turned out to be Cain, and after the arrow was confirmed as his, Sosanna announced my second test--catching a spotty pisky--to the rest of the gathering.
The stunned hush that fell over the crowd made me feel even worse. They started cheering a second later, but my confidence was already shattered. They know I have no chance , I thought, slumping dejectedly in my
I'd no sooner spoken than a pack of leprechauns on dogs streaked onto the field. They rode bareback, knees tightly pressed to their dogs' shaggy ribs and hands gripping long ears. The crowd rushed the barricades. I recognized Fizz on a mop of a mutt as a hail of coins hit the grass, all flipped out of leprechaun pockets.
"What are they doing?" I asked.
"Wagering," Bronwyn answered from my other side. "Irresponsible fools. They don't have access to their funds yet."
"Here come the archers!" Lexie cried, pointing.
Dogs and riders took positions at the start of the course as a trio of pipers marched onto the field, followed by two dozen leprechauns with bows and quivers slung over green coats like miniature Robin Hoods. I spotted Balthazar puffing along beside a guy with a mustache that hung past his belt.
"What are they going to shoot?" I asked nervously. Their arrows weren't much longer than pencils, but they had wicked-looking barbed tips.
"Why, whatever you choose, Lilybet!" Sosanna answered from across the table. "They've come to compete for the honor of guiding you on your next test."
83
"Really?" It was a huge relief to know I wouldn't be on my own again--just so long as Balthazar wasn't my guide. "What is my next test anyway?"
"It's traditional to announce the second test after breakfast," Sosanna said. "Only a select few know that secret, and the whole clan is eager to hear it."
"Well ... can't I be one of the few?"
Bronwyn scowled, but Sosanna smiled indulgently. "I suppose it does no harm. For your second test, Lilybet, you will catch a spotted pisky and require it to give you a wish of your choice."
Lexie gasped, a long, stunned exhalation. Her small pointed face went as white as whipped cream. For a moment, I didn't get why. Then I remembered Bronwyn's story. Things hadn't worked out well for the wishers in the only pisky encounter I knew of.
"Catching a pisky. Isn't that kind of ... risky?" I asked.
Lexie nodded vehemently.
But Sosanna just smiled. "The test o' cleverness must be a challenge, else nothing has been proven."
Her ladies murmured in gentle agreement, but Lexie looked stupefied. Even Bronwyn could only manage a sickly grin. A knot tied itself in my gut. I'd gotten lucky on my first test, fumbling my way into passing with no clue what I was doing. If I had to prove I was clever ...
84
I'm not clever! Anyone could tell them that!
I suddenly realized I had no idea what happened if I failed my trial. I got to go home if I passed ...
But what if I never did?
A gun went off, starting the dogs and my heart both racing.
The only way back is forward . The words flashed into my mind directly from Gigi's letter. They were more than grandmotherly advice--they were a clue! If I wanted to see my mother again, if I wanted my normal life back, I needed to tackle this pisky thing.
And I pretty much had to succeed.
85
Chapter 7
"On your marks, get set ... shoot!" I cried, flinging a doughnut hole skyward with all my strength. The tiny pastry sailed out over the racecourse, a doughy blip against blue sky. Eighteen archers, including Balthazar, had already hit five larger targets, and I just wanted the contest to end.
A flurry of tightly grouped arrows raced up from the ground. Before the doughnut hole reached the top of its arc, the lead arrow pierced it dead-center, knocking the target off course a split second before the other barbs arrived.
86
"Honor mine!" the mustachioed leprechaun cried. "That's my dart!"
His name turned out to be Cain, and after the arrow was confirmed as his, Sosanna announced my second test--catching a spotty pisky--to the rest of the gathering.
The stunned hush that fell over the crowd made me feel even worse. They started cheering a second later, but my confidence was already shattered. They know I have no chance , I thought, slumping dejectedly in my
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