Kaya Morgan’s Crowning Achievement by Jill Tew

Author:Jill Tew [Tew, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Freedom Fire / Disney Hyperion
Published: 2025-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Melee Madness

It’s Friday, the day of the Week One Showcase, and the day we get our Week Two assignments. By the end of the day, I’ll be bidding “fare thee well” to Barry, and “good morrow” to Queen Daphne and a week of regal instruction. Either that, or my dream will be crushed like peanut shells in the jousting arena stands.

I stuff a piece of toast in my mouth and look at my reflection in the entryway mirror. My outfit doesn’t look quite like I hoped—no dress, no socks, no makeup—but I’ve got Daddy’s quiver. My quiver. I don’t have time to work any archery into my showcase performance today, but the quiver still feels like a good-luck charm, so I decide to bring it along. I make sure Tyler sees the quiver when I get into his mom’s car. By the way his eyes widen, I know he does—who could miss such a thing of beauty? But he doesn’t say anything about it, or much of anything to me at all, actually. Guess he’s in his head about his performance later today.

The showcase is the last thing on the day’s schedule, and all the campers are done practicing about an hour into the morning. I guess at this point you’ve either got it or you don’t. At ten, Zach calls us together at Dragon Ales for an announcement.

“I’d kind of figured this would be a light morning for everyone. So…He claps his hands together and rubs them. “We’ve got a little surprise. Several of the Faire’s cast members are here to work their stations and give you all a private taste of the Faire.”

Carter’s hand shoots up like a rocket.

“This does not include the Crazed Columbus,” Zach says. Carter lowers his hand, pouting as Zach moves on. “But other stations, like face painting, the castle maze, carnival games, and more are waiting for you. Enjoy!” With every attraction Zach listed, the excited looks and murmurs grow within our group. When he steps away from the pub stage, the Woodbridge kids all start scrambling for their maps of the fairgrounds.

“The carnival games are this way,” I tell them, pointing west with a smile. I’m proud of myself: Four days ago it bugged me that they weren’t as familiar with the Faire as I am. But I’m about to be queen, and queens aren’t petty. The weight of Daddy’s quiver against my back is quiet reassurance. I belong here, and I can help the others belong, too.

We take off for the carnival booths, barely able to keep ourselves from running. Everyone except Tyler is curious about my quiver on the way over. I let them take turns holding it. Even Wren, whose stank face softens long enough for her to begrudgingly admit that it’s “really cool, I guess.” A win is a win.

Jessie and I go straight for the face painting, while the rest of the group tries their luck at the Test Your Strength booth, where you slam a giant mallet down as hard as you can and try to make the bell at the top ring.

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