The Secret Star Shield — Behind the practice yard wall, Pip rubbed one plain shield in tiny circles. Scritch, scritch, scritch went the cloth, and the metal smelled like rain on pennies. Read the full story →
Behind the practice yard wall, Pip rubbed one plain shield in tiny circles. Scritch, scritch, scritch went the cloth, and the metal smelled like rain on pennies. He had set himself a challenge: make one shield shine before the trumpets, then slip it back without anyone knowing.
A tired page hurried by, carrying a bent crown from the play parade. Three paper points snapped off and fell. Pip whispered, “Waste not,” and pressed them onto the shield’s middle with warm beeswax. In the dawn, the crown pieces made a bright star. No one saw Pip tuck it by the rack.
By breakfast, every knight wanted a star on their shield for courage they could share. Ever since, castle shields have carried stars, and if you peek at this one, you’ll know whose secret gift started it.
