Free Rescue Princesses #4: The Stolen Crystals by Paula Harrison Page A

“But I was just trying to finish Grandfather’s present, and then something went wrong.” She held out the lump of crystal for him to see. The crack running down one side seemed even bigger than before.
    The Master Gem Maker took the rough jewel from her hand and studied it carefully with a magnifying glass.

    Jaminta watched him anxiously. Then she swept a quick look around the room. The workshop was crammed with even more jewels and equipment than the last time she had been here. Shelves lined the walls, full of tools and little pots of polish.
    A wooden chest stood open on the floor, bursting with every kind of gem. There were ocean-blue sapphires, forest-green emeralds, and rubies as red as fire. They dazzled her eyes and sent sparkles of colored light dancing across the wooden ceiling. She remembered how she used to come here every day when she was little to learn jewel crafting from the Master.
    “What kind of gem are you trying to make?” asked the Master Gem Maker.
    “I wanted to make it heart-shaped because it’s for Grandfather’s birthday,” Jaminta said miserably. “He always says that the kingdom hasn’t been the samesince the Onica Heart Crystals were stolen. I thought if I made him a crystal that looked the same, he’d be pleased.”
    “It’s been nearly ten years since the Heart Crystals were stolen,” said the Master. “Each one was as clear as a diamond, with a flickering flame right in the center. Those jewels were so magical that they could reveal the true nature of a person’s heart.”
    A gust of wind from the mountains swept around the hut, sending an icy chill under the door and making the windows rattle.
    Jaminta bit her lip. “I collected lots of tiny crystals at a place called Shimmer Rock and stuck them all together. I thought it would be beautiful.”
    The Master placed the rock crystal back into Jaminta’s hand and looked at her over the top of his spectacles. “You canstill make something special. You just need to do one more thing.”
    Jaminta felt her heart leap. “What is it? What do I have to do?”
    “You must dip it into the Silver River.”
    Jaminta stared at him, openmouthed. “Really? I just have to put it in the river?”
    The Master Gem Maker smiled. “The river has a natural magic. You can’t use it to turn a frog into a prince or a pumpkin into a carriage, but you can make a crystal its true shape. Go there at sunrise. That’s when the magic is strongest.”
    “I’ll go first thing tomorrow.” Jaminta’s face glowed. She could just imagine how beautiful the jewel was going to look and how happy her grandfather would be when she gave it to him.
    The Master smiled. “Remember! Only tell people that you really trust aboutyour crystal. They’re very precious things!”
    “I’ll remember,” said Jaminta. “Thank you!” She hid the rock in her pocket and opened the door, then turned back for a moment. “If only I could find the lost Onica Heart Crystals for Grandfather as well!”
    The Master Gem Maker’s eyes turned hazy, as if he was gazing at something far away. “Crystals are full of surprises. Maybe one day the Heart Crystals will return.”
    Jaminta was about to ask him what he meant, but just then the deep, clear sound of a bell rang out from the palace.
    Jaminta caught her breath. That was the signal. The royal visitors were arriving. Soon she would see the other Rescue Princesses again!

Jaminta raced back toward the palace, a fizzing feeling growing inside her. She could hardly believe that the river was magical, although she’d always thought it was special somehow. Now she knew exactly how to turn her rock crystal into a finished jewel in time for Grandfather’s birthday.
    Her grandfather was Emperor Cho, the ruler of the kingdom of Onica, and tomorrow he would be ninety years old.There would be games, feasting, and fireworks. Jaminta could hardly wait! More than anything, she longed to show the Rescue Princesses her beautiful panda