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

cub. She knew they would love him as much as she did.
    The bell rang out again from the top of the high pagoda roof.
    Jaminta scanned the driveway, but there was no sign of the visitors yet. She ran up the palace steps and gazed at the purple mountain peaks soaring beyond the river. Thick green bamboo forests stretched halfway up the slopes, leaving bare rock at the very top. The cold breeze from the mountains tickled her cheeks. It wasn’t winter yet, but soon the peaks would be covered in snow.
    She swung around as her grandfather came out of the palace door behind her.
    “There you are, Jaminta!” EmperorCho climbed slowly down the steps. His gray hair looked thin, but his brown eyes twinkled at her.
    Jaminta smiled back, secretly checking that her rock crystal was hidden deep inside her pocket. Tomorrow at sunrise she would take it down to the river, just like the Master Gem Maker had told her.
    “Are the visitors almost here, Grandfather?” she asked.
    “Yes. Look, you can see the carriages.” The emperor pointed at the road that led up from the valley.
    Jaminta spotted the long caterpillar of carriages trundling up the hill. As they moved closer, she could see kings, queens, princes, and princesses waving from the carriage windows. Her eyes searched for three princesses, one with black hair, one with golden hair, and one with wild red curls.

    Soon the carriages climbed the hill to the palace gate and passed between stone pillars topped with statues of dragons. They came to a stop. Princess Emily appeared, climbing out of the first carriage, her red curls waving in the breeze.
    “Emily!” Jaminta hugged her friend. “I’m so happy you could come!”
    “Hello, Jaminta!” said Emily, hugging her back.
    Emily’s parents, the king and queen of Middingland, climbed out next. Then Emily’s maid, Ally, appeared carrying Emily’s pink suitcase. She smiled at Jaminta, who grinned back. Ally had once been an undercover agent who caught jewel thieves. She had used ninja skills when she was an agent and taught them to the princesses to help with their animal rescues.
    “Your Majesties!” Emperor Cho bowed to the king and queen of Middingland. “Thank you for coming all this way to celebrate my birthday!”
    Suddenly, another figure hopped out of the Middingland carriage. She looked just like Emily, except that her red hair was even curlier and her eyes were a sparkling green.
    “Hurry up , Lottie. You’re being so slow.” Emily turned to Jaminta. “This is my little sister, Lottie. She didn’t come along the last time the royal families gathered together because she was staying with our cousins.”
    “Hello, Lottie.” Jaminta smiled.
    Lottie stuck out her tongue and then grinned.
    The next carriage came to a halt, and a tall man with a red cloak and a crooked mouth climbed out, followed by his servant.
    “Welcome back to Onica, Earl Scrant,” said the emperor. “I don’t think we’ve met for many years.”
    “Greetings.” Earl Scrant bowed stiffly before walking away. Unluckily, he bumped right into Ally and sent the pink suitcase flying. He glared at her and then marched away, his red cloak billowing out around him.
    “Sorry, sir. Please excuse me,” said Ally, darting a mysterious look at the earl.
    Jaminta noticed Ally’s strange glance as she ran over to help pick up the suitcase.
    One by one, Emperor Cho greeted all the other royal guests. Jaminta’s mom and dad, the king and queen of Onica, came to greet the visitors, too. The orchestra played a beautiful tune, and trays of honey cakes were brought around for everyone.
    Emperor Cho clapped his hands. “Ladies and gentlemen, kings and queens,” he announced, “welcome to the kingdom of Onica. There will be feasting, fireworks, and a twelve-tier birthday cake! This has always been a land of adventures and we hope you enjoy your stay very much!”
    A buzz of excitement came from a group of princes standing nearby. “Adventures!” cried