Rescue Princesses #4: The Stolen Crystals (3 page)

“Wait, Jaminta! What about the cub’s mother?” called Emily. “Will she mind you going near her baby?”

But Jaminta kept running, her heart pounding. She’d watched the little panda grow every week since the springtime, and she couldn’t stand the thought of him being hurt. Skidding to a halt, she scanned the rocky outcrop. There was a jagged slice right where the stone had broken away.

A thin cry came from the ground. Jaminta knelt down, holding her breath. The panda cub lay among the fallen rubble. The stones seemed to have missed him, except for a rock that lay across his back paw. He wriggled and gave a frightened whimper.

Jaminta reached out and carefully lifted the rock away, setting the little cub free. “There you are. Are you all right now?”

The cub looked up at her, his black eyes solemn.

Amazed at her own daring, Jaminta lifted up the paw that had been trapped and touched it gently. He had soft pads beneath tiny sharp claws, and his fur was so long and soft that it made her want to give him an enormous hug.

“You have to be careful,” she told him gently.

The cub yawned, showing rows of little teeth and a pink tongue.

“Is he all right?” asked Clarabel anxiously, as she, Emily, and Lulu reached Jaminta’s side.

“He was lucky,” Jaminta told them. “One paw was trapped, but there’s no sign of injury.”

“That’s what we should call him — Lucky!” said Emily. “It really suits him!”

The little panda snuffled at Emily’s shoes, as if to show that he liked her idea. “Lucky!” murmured Jaminta. “That
is
a good name for him.”

“Let’s move these stones and clear a path for him.” Lulu began moving the fallen rocks aside.

Emily and Clarabel started to help her.

Jaminta looked around, suddenly remembering the mother panda. But there was no sign of her in the clearing.
“Maybe the mother didn’t see what happened,” she said. “She must still be getting bamboo.”

Lucky watched the princesses with his big eyes. His white belly looked plump and fluffy. He rolled onto all fours and walked down the grassy path that the girls had cleared for him. Only the tiniest limp gave away that anything had happened to his back paw.

There was a loud rustling at the edge of the clearing, and the large shape of the mother panda became visible through the trees. The princesses backed away quickly as Lucky skipped over to join his mother. She nudged him with her nose and they walked into the bamboo forest together.

Jaminta gave a deep sigh of relief. “He seems just fine now.”

Lulu frowned. “He could have been
really hurt, though. Maybe you shouldn’t bring that crystal thing up here again. It’s not safe.”

Jaminta stared at her. “It wasn’t the crystal’s fault. I’m sure it wasn’t.”

“But it did make that really loud singing sound,” said Emily. “Sometimes loud noises can cause a rockslide.”

“Poor little cub! I’m so glad he’s all right,” added Clarabel.

Jaminta gazed at the rock crystal in the palm of her hand, her mind whirling. How could they blame the crystal for what happened? She was sure it wasn’t a bad jewel. But why had it felt so heavy just before it started to sing? What if they were right and the crystal really had made the rock shatter?

“We’re not saying you did it on purpose, Jaminta,” said Clarabel. “Please don’t be mad.”

Jaminta tried to smile. The rock crystal felt light again as she put it back in her pocket.

“I’ve never heard of a gem making a sound before,” said Lulu. “How did you get it to do that?”

“I didn’t!” replied Jaminta. “I haven’t been able to change its shape at all yet.”

“It was such a beautiful song,” said Clarabel. “Maybe it means something.”

“Maybe,” said Jaminta with a frown. “I just wish I knew what it was.”

“Come on! Let’s go back,” said Emily. “It’ll be time for the banquet soon.”

The mist started to fade as the girls made their way through the forest. They came out of the trees and headed toward the wooden bridge that spanned the river.

“Lucky is so adorable,” sighed Clarabel. “I wish we had pandas in my kingdom.”

Emily nodded. “He has such lovely little paws!”

They climbed onto the wooden bridge, and Jaminta heard a noise behind them. She looked back, wondering what it was, and glimpsed a flash of red material disappearing between the trees.

When they returned, the princesses found that the banquet was almost ready. Sizzling noises came from the kitchen, along with wonderful cooking smells.

The lump of crystal still felt light inside Jaminta’s pocket. She clutched it anxiously. Maybe she should take it to the Master Gem Maker and tell him what had happened in the forest. But the sound of the dinner gong stopped
her. There was no time to see him now. The banquet was about to begin.

The princesses rushed upstairs to brush their hair and straighten their tiaras. Emily wore her favorite tiara, which had beautiful gold leaves woven together. Clarabel’s tiara was made from a delicate wiry gold decorated with sapphires, and Lulu’s was a stunning golden crown. Jaminta checked her own tiara in a nearby mirror. It was shaped into three flowers with white crystals glowing on each petal. It was the only tiara she owned that had crystal decorations, and it sparkled like the first snow on the mountains.

The dinner gong sounded again and the girls hurried to the Fan Room to collect the fans they’d chosen earlier.

“We’d better not flick the fans at the banquet,” said Clarabel.

“I’ll try to remember not to!” Lulu’s eyes gleamed teasingly.

Smoothing her green silk dress, Jaminta led the princesses back downstairs to join the crowd of kings and queens in the banquet hall. She blinked as she walked into the room. She’d never seen the hall look so amazing. Masses of gold streamers and round red lanterns hung from the ceiling. The princesses gazed at all the delicious food on the tables.

Jaminta pulled out a chair to sit down and stepped on something hard. She gasped.
Was that somebody’s foot?

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were there,” she said, looking up to find a tall man with a crooked mouth glaring down at her.

She shivered. He looked so angry that she wondered what he was going to say. But he just turned away, pulling
his red cloak around his shoulders. As he marched off, Jaminta suddenly remembered where she’d seen him before. That morning, he had bumped into Ally and knocked over Emily’s suitcase. Ally had given him a really strange look and she had wondered why.

“Are you all right?” Clarabel waved her fan next to Jaminta’s flushed face.

Jaminta managed a smile. “I’m fine. But I don’t think proper princesses are supposed to tread on their guest’s toes!”

Emily rushed toward them, nearly knocking a chair over in her hurry. “That’s him! That man you just spoke to, Jaminta. He’s the one whose voice I recognized. I remember him now!”

“You mean the man who wants to go digging on the mountainside? Are you sure it’s him?” said Lulu, looking over Emily’s shoulder.

“Completely!” Emily nodded her head knowingly. “He lives in Middingland, where I come from, but he doesn’t come to our palace very often.” She motioned them toward her, and when their heads were close together, she whispered, “His name is Earl Scrant.”

The princesses all looked at the scowling Earl Scrant, who was now standing on the other side of the room. He was wearing shiny black shoes just like the ones they’d seen from underneath the table.

“We’ll have to keep an eye on him,” said Lulu firmly. “I don’t know what he’s digging for, but there’s something sketchy about him.”

The other princesses nodded.

“What are you all whispering about?” Emily’s little sister, Princess Lottie, bounced over to them, her bright eyes inquisitive.

“Nothing! Go back to Mom! The banquet’s about to start,” said Emily.

Lottie pouted. “I know you’re talking about something secret and
I
want to know what it is!”

“Look! Mom’s calling you!” said Emily, hurrying her sister away.

The banquet sped by in a jumble of eating, drinking, and talking. The princesses were glad to get away at the end, despite the extra helping of chocolate ice cream they were given. By the time they left the hall, the sun had set and stars had begun to appear in the dark sky.

“That earl with the black shoes has a room just down the hallway from mine,” said Lulu. “Let’s go and hide nearby so we can see what he does after dinner.”

“Great idea!” said Emily. “I want to know what he’s doing. I don’t trust him one little bit.”

They climbed the first set of stairs and walked down the hallway. As they went around a corner, Jaminta caught sight of someone slipping into the shadows behind them.

She flicked her fan open and whispered behind it, “There’s someone spying on us! Over there!”

The girls froze.

“What should we do? Should we run away?” muttered Clarabel behind her fan.

“No! Let’s pretend we haven’t seen them,” said Lulu. “Just keep walking.”

The princesses climbed up the next staircase. As they reached the top, a shadowy figure moved through the darkness behind them for a second time.

Jaminta felt a tingle run down her spine. She recognized that ninja move. Ally had taught it to them a few months ago, when they were together at Mistberg
Castle. She bit her lip. There was definitely someone sneaking after them, someone who didn’t want to be seen.

Glancing back nervously, the princesses scurried down the corridor. Halfway along, Jaminta ducked behind a large dragon statue, making sure she was well hidden by its wooden body. She looked at the others and put a finger to her lips. They nodded quickly and continued walking.

Jaminta crouched down, waiting, her heart thumping.

The shadow flitted closer. It paused for a moment by an open doorway. Then it moved a little closer.

Jaminta held her breath as she watched the shadow edging toward her. What if the ninja had already seen her? For a moment she wished she hadn’t hidden here without her friends. But it was
too late now. Feeling shaky inside, she jumped out from behind the dragon statue.

“Stop right now!” she called out, trying to sound brave.

The shadow shrieked and almost fell against the statue.

Jaminta grabbed the shadow’s arm to hold it steady.

“Oh, thank you!” said a muffled voice.

Jaminta felt a shock run through her. “Ally? Is that you?” she asked.

The shadow unwound a dark scarf from around her chin. “Yes, it’s me!” Ally said, more clearly this time. “Goodness, Jaminta! You made me jump!”

“But, Ally?” Jaminta stared at her. “I don’t understand. What’s going on? Why are you following us around in the dark?”