Eleanor had dropped her glove like usual - and it was from a set of her most favorite pair of gloves, too - only this time they were not in the presence of a future gentleman. The glove was picked up by one of the boys from the very gang Lucy had been training against. He seemed to have no knowledge of Lucy or Eleanor or their ties to his two rivals, which made his next act all the more deplorable.
"What's this then?" He sneered. "I know my sister's tricks and look, this proves it! All girls are the same." He shook the glove and a slew of taunts started pouring from his mouth. "Are you looking for a prince? Who would want an ugly thing like you? Are you always this desperate for attention? Look at all that snot!"
And now Eleanor was fighting back tears, her humiliation giving way to a flush of red that traveled from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, trying her hardest to take back her glove, but the boy kept dancing out of her reach, refusing to let go of his prize. She chased after his steps helplessly, but her smaller height did her no favors. "Give it back!"
Lucy wished to see no more, and so stepped to Eleanor's side and reached for the other glove, still clutched in Eleanor's white-knuckled grip. Eleanor was too distracted to stop the glove from being taken away, not quite understanding what was happening, and paused at what Lucy was doing. Once the boy was in reach again - momentarily disappointed to see Eleanor's attention being drawn elsewhere - Lucy smacked his face with it and stomped on his foot, to the boy's outraged cry.
"I challenge you to a duel!" She screamed.
*
The boy she had challenged flinched when Lucy glared at him from behind their snow fortress.
As the boy had declined a one-on-one duel - probably for the best, as the boy had nearly wet his pants - it was decided the matter would be settled during the snowball tournament. Desmond and Clay had been excited about this new incentive to win, and the other side agreed; the results from their battle would decide the winner. The losing team would have to perform one task; whatever the winning team decreed. A group of other boys had arrived to bear witness, now standing a good distance away so they would not be in the line of fire. The role of the judge, it had been decided, was given to the oldest boy of their neighborhood.
A dozen boys against their small group of three did not look very promising, but Desmond and Clay assured Lucy their combined skills and practice would prove victorious. Eleanor very much doubted their claim but to everyone's surprise, promised to join them. Now that she watched the scene before her, she looked reluctant.
"Come, Eleanor, we must rally," Lucy addressed her cousin. They were all taking positions now, waiting for the signal.
"For Maria!" She cried, followed by Desmond and Clay. Encouraged, Eleanor smiled as she followed it with the same war cry. "For Maria!"
FILL: The Exploits of Maria, Adventurer Extraordinaire (6/7)
In which Maria still provides inspiration
*
Eleanor had dropped her glove like usual - and it was from a set of her most favorite pair of gloves, too - only this time they were not in the presence of a future gentleman. The glove was picked up by one of the boys from the very gang Lucy had been training against. He seemed to have no knowledge of Lucy or Eleanor or their ties to his two rivals, which made his next act all the more deplorable.
"What's this then?" He sneered. "I know my sister's tricks and look, this proves it! All girls are the same." He shook the glove and a slew of taunts started pouring from his mouth. "Are you looking for a prince? Who would want an ugly thing like you? Are you always this desperate for attention? Look at all that snot!"
And now Eleanor was fighting back tears, her humiliation giving way to a flush of red that traveled from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, trying her hardest to take back her glove, but the boy kept dancing out of her reach, refusing to let go of his prize. She chased after his steps helplessly, but her smaller height did her no favors. "Give it back!"
Lucy wished to see no more, and so stepped to Eleanor's side and reached for the other glove, still clutched in Eleanor's white-knuckled grip. Eleanor was too distracted to stop the glove from being taken away, not quite understanding what was happening, and paused at what Lucy was doing. Once the boy was in reach again - momentarily disappointed to see Eleanor's attention being drawn elsewhere - Lucy smacked his face with it and stomped on his foot, to the boy's outraged cry.
"I challenge you to a duel!" She screamed.
*
The boy she had challenged flinched when Lucy glared at him from behind their snow fortress.
As the boy had declined a one-on-one duel - probably for the best, as the boy had nearly wet his pants - it was decided the matter would be settled during the snowball tournament. Desmond and Clay had been excited about this new incentive to win, and the other side agreed; the results from their battle would decide the winner. The losing team would have to perform one task; whatever the winning team decreed. A group of other boys had arrived to bear witness, now standing a good distance away so they would not be in the line of fire. The role of the judge, it had been decided, was given to the oldest boy of their neighborhood.
A dozen boys against their small group of three did not look very promising, but Desmond and Clay assured Lucy their combined skills and practice would prove victorious. Eleanor very much doubted their claim but to everyone's surprise, promised to join them. Now that she watched the scene before her, she looked reluctant.
"Come, Eleanor, we must rally," Lucy addressed her cousin. They were all taking positions now, waiting for the signal.
"For Maria!" She cried, followed by Desmond and Clay. Encouraged, Eleanor smiled as she followed it with the same war cry. "For Maria!"
And what else could they do, but win?