They opened the door, expecting to hear a speech going on, but the kings and queens were talking over cups of coffee. Duke Levon was standing next to the throne, resting one hand on the Ice Diamond.
“So you’re having a new palace built, are you?” Lottie’s mom, the queen of Middingland, asked the duke politely.
“Oh yes! Once my palace is finished, it will be the biggest building in the whole kingdom,” Duke Levon said loudly. “And it will have twenty stables, fifteen fountains, and seven swimming pools. My workmen are starting to build it today.”
“Where’s your dad, Maya?” asked Lottie. “I can’t see him anywhere.”
“I don’t know.” Maya looked around worriedly.
“Because there’s no point settling for a tiny little palace,” continued the duke. “Not when you’re as royal as I am.” His hand tightened on the diamond.
“Who is that?” hissed Summer.
“That’s my uncle, Duke Levon,” whispered Maya.
“I wonder what he’s up to,” said Summer quietly.
Maya’s eyes widened as Summer went over to the duke and curtsied. “Excuse me,” said Summer. “Could I ask you where this new palace will be?”
“Of course, young princess!” The duke smiled. “In fact, that’s the other marvelous thing about it. My castle will stand on a mountainside. It will be the highest palace in the world!”
Maya gasped. Suddenly she understood why Summer had asked Duke Levon about his new palace. “But, Uncle!” she said to the duke. “Do you mean that you’re having a palace built in the mountain wildlife area? Are the machines near Ching-May Peak there because of you?”
The duke fiddled with his black velvet robe. “What? No, of course not! It’s a completely different mountain.” He glared at the princesses. “How do you know about those, anyway? You’re supposed to have been here listening to the speeches and behaving yourselves.”
He stared at Maya’s feet. “Your shoes are dirty. You’ve been in the stables, haven’t you? Did you go riding this morning?”
Lottie’s eyes flashed. “We rode all the way to the mountain, and we saw exactly what was happening there. The hillside is being destroyed!”
The duke glared at her. “You nosy girl —” He broke off as King Ramesh walked in.
“Your Highnesses,” said the king. “If you take your seats we’ll carry on with the Grand Assembly.”
All the kings and queens bustled around, finding their seats. Maya desperately tried to break through the crowd. “Dad!” she cried. “I’ve got something really important to tell you.”
“Can it wait till afterward, please, Maya? We really must get on with the speeches.” King Ramesh marched up to the throne and sat down. The Ice Diamond gleamed from the top of the throne.
“But it’s an emergency,” said Maya.
“There are backhoes on the mountainside,” explained Rosalind. “We saw them this morning.”
“And there’s a snow leopard den nearby,” added Summer.
“What’s this?” The king’s eyebrows rose. “You saw backhoes this morning?”
“I think I can explain, Brother,” said Duke Levon smoothly. “These girls have been out riding this morning instead of doing their duty by attending this Assembly. You can see where they’ve been from the state of their hair and their clothes.” Maya hurriedly picked some straw out of Lottie’s tiara. “As soon as I discovered what they’d done, they invented this story about seeing backhoes on the mountain to cover up their terrible behavior.”
“That’s not true!” cried Rosalind.
“Dad! The snow leopards really could get hurt,” said Maya. “We saw it all on Ching-May Peak.”
“Nonsense!” King Ramesh looked stern. “Deena gave me a full report about the animals in that area yesterday and they were all perfectly fine.” Maya tried to speak again but he held up his hand. “No more, please. I must say that I’m very disappointed in you. I told you that you should stay here and you ran off, anyway.”
“Shocking behavior!” The duke pretended to look indignant but Maya could see a faint smirk on his face.
“You clearly need some extra practice in good manners,” continued the king. “Tomorrow you will sit with the kings and queens and practice talking politely and serving drinks and cake all morning.”
“All morning!” said Maya.
“Yes, Maya,” said King Ramesh. “Perhaps it will help you to remember that your royal duties are important.” He looked at the other girls. “Actually, I will ask your parents if you can all join in. You can practice good manners together. Now, please sit down, I want to begin.”
Downcast, Maya went to find a seat. She bit her lip. If only Deena hadn’t gone to visit another wildlife area. Deena would have listened to what she was saying.
The other girls sat down next to her and Lottie muttered angrily, “It’s that duke! He stopped us from explaining, and now the grown-ups will never listen!”
“It’s because he ordered the diggers to start work,” whispered Summer. “He doesn’t want your dad to know about the new palace he’s building, Maya.”
Maya nodded. “He must be hoping that no one finds out and stops him. Then once the palace is finished, it’ll be too late.”
“We’ll just have to find a way to stop those men and their machines ourselves,” said Rosalind fiercely.
The princesses sat stiffly, waiting for the Grand Assembly to end. One speech followed another and another. Maya felt like they would never end. At last, King Ramesh thanked everyone and said it was almost time for the banquet. Glad to be free, the girls ran right out of the hall and across the garden to the palace gates.
Two guards stepped in front of them. “I’m sorry, Princesses,” said the tallest one. “We’ve been given strict orders by Duke Levon that no children should be allowed out of the palace gardens.”
“But I’ve always been trusted to go out before,” said Maya.
The guard shrugged. “Sorry, Princess Maya. We have to follow our orders.”
Maya turned away from the guards, her eyes full of tears. “This is all my uncle’s fault! Now what are we going to do?”
“At least the sun is setting,” Summer pointed out. “So the men will have to stop work until tomorrow.”
“But tomorrow morning they’ll start up again. They’ll destroy Cloudtail’s home while I’m stuck inside talking politely to the royal guests all morning,” said Maya.
“Why don’t the grown-ups ever believe us?” said Rosalind gloomily.
“We have to find a way to prove that those builders really are digging at the bottom of the mountain,” said Summer.
“If we took a photo we’d be able to show it to everyone,” said Maya. “But how do we get out of here to do that?
“By using The Book of Ninja!” said Rosalind, perking up.
The girls looked at one another. “We have to try something,” said Maya. “The snow leopards need us.”
Lottie nodded solemnly. “Rosalind and I made a promise to always help animals in trouble. Maya … Summer … will you join us and become Rescue Princesses, too?”
The princesses had to wait until the banquet was over to go to Rosalind’s room and look at The Book of Ninja again.
“To be a Rescue Princess,” Lottie said solemnly to Maya and Summer, “you must promise to help the snow leopards and other animals in danger, no matter how difficult it becomes.”
Maya and Summer looked at each other. “We promise!” they said together.
“Good!” Lottie opened The Book of Ninja. “There’s no time to lose. Tomorrow morning we’ll sneak out and take photos of the construction workers and all the damage they’ve done.”
“We just need to find the right ninja move,” said Rosalind, leaning over Lottie’s shoulder. “Lottie, be careful! You’ll crease the pages!”
“I am being careful,” said Lottie, flipping on to the next page.
“The problem is that we need to escape from a hall full of kin
“What about using this one?” Rosalind pointed to a page that showed a ninja walking along a tightrope over a waterfall.
“I’m not sure we have any rope like that,” said Maya, alarmed.
“How about we cause a distraction?” suggested Summer. “Then, while everyone’s trying to see what’s happening, we can sneak out the door.”
“Great idea!” said Lottie excitedly. “And we could tell the guards that they’re needed inside the palace, giving us the chance to get through the gate.”
Rosalind sighed. “I suppose that’s easier than the waterfall move. What could the distraction be?”
They were all silent for a moment, thinking. Maya caught a movement in the garden, as a dragon-eye lizard crawled over a stone. “I know!” she said. “I’ll set a lizard free among the guests. They’re lovely, gentle creatures, but they have a row of spikes on their heads and long tongues that can look scary. Sometimes they change color to match their surroundings.”
“Ooh!” Rosalind shivered. “Lizards are sort of creepy. We don’t have any in my country.”
“That’s settled, then,” said Lottie. “Does anyone have a camera we can use?”
“I do,” said Summer.
“I’ll catch a lizard tomorrow morning and hide it in the hall,” said Maya. “You could come and help me, Rosalind, and then you’ll see that lizards are actually very nice!”
Maya was pleased with the lizard plan and happy to be asked to become a member of the Rescue Princesses! But she couldn’t stop worrying about Cloudtail. The little cub must be really frightened by the noise of the construction near his den. She couldn’t believe this was all because her uncle wanted to build a huge palace.
She was glad when morning came and she could wake up Rosalind to help her catch a lizard. The two girls sneaked down to the garden to search for one of the creatures.
“They like to sleep in these gaps between the stones,” said Maya, peering into a little hole. “Yes, here’s one.” She gently picked the lizard up and popped it into a small box with some air holes in the top.
“Can I touch the little guy?” Rosalind stroked it carefully. “It’s scaly, but not as creepy as I thought.”
The lizard turned its head and looked at her with a beady black eye.
“He likes you!” Maya smiled. Then she made sure the lizard was all right before she put the lid onto the box. “Come on, let’s go and find him some vegetables to eat, and then we’ll hide the box under one of the long tables in the hall.”
The princesses met in the hall after breakfast, all wearing their best clothes and tiaras. Maya straightened her heart-shaped tiara and began setting cakes out on a silver tray. She needed to show she had good manners in front of all the royal guests. Then no one would suspect she was actually planning an escape! She glanced at Summer, who stood nearby setting out cups and saucers, and they both grinned.
King Ramesh walked in, talking to Lottie’s mom and dad. He saw Maya and came over. “Excellent!” he said. “I’m pleased to see you looking after our guests. I have to go and make sure that everything’s ready for the festival tomorrow. I hope you’ll carry on the good work!”
“We will, Your Majesty!” said Summer, with a curtsy. After he left, she turned to Maya. “I don’t see your uncle.”
Maya glanced around. “You’re right. He’s not here. I wonder what he’s up to.”
She suddenly noticed something odd about the king’s throne at the far side of the hall. The Ice Diamond at the top wasn’t shining the way it usually did. It looked dull and pale.
Lottie came over. “Are you ready, Maya? Do you have the lizard?”
Maya stopped looking at the diamond. “He’s hidden under a table. Just be ready to sneak out as soon as I release him.”
Picking up the tray of cakes, she walked over to where several guests were seated. A long tablecloth hung down to the floor, hiding the underside of the table from view.
“Would you like a cake?” she asked the kings and queens. “Oh, sorry! I think there’s a stone in my shoe.” Putting the tray on the table, she bent down and pretended to fiddle with her shoe. Instead, she put her hand under the long tablecloth and found the hidden box. She slipped the lizard out and watched it climb quickly up the tablecloth onto the table.
“Aaagh!” yelled a king with a beard. “What’s that dangerous creature?”
The queen next to him gave a faint squeal and put her hand over her mouth.
“Oh no, it’s a lizard!” said Maya loudly.
People sitting at other tables started to look around. “A lizard?” they repeated.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesties!” shouted Lottie. “I’ll get it!” She leaned toward the lizard, pretending to try to catch it.
The lizard ran over the cake tray and disappeared over the edge of the table, darting down a table leg to reach the floor. Another queen shrieked. Maya knocked over a cup of tea to add to the general confusion. She noticed Lottie and Summer creeping quietly out of the door.
The lizard stopped on the ground and froze, changing color to match the brown floor.
“Oh no! What’s happening to it?” yelped the king with the beard.
“Someone call the Lizard Catcher!” yelled Maya. “It’s getting away!”
“Yes! Call the Lizard Catcher!” repeated the king.
Maya choked back a giggle. There was no Lizard Catcher, because the creatures weren’t dangerous at all!
By now, kings and queens were rushing to and fro, trying to mop up spilled tea and keep an eye on the lizard. Some of the younger princes and princesses had run inside to find out what was happening.
Maya looked at Rosalind and nodded. It was time for the grand finale.
Taking a deep breath, Rosalind pointed at the lizard and screeched, “The lizard is coming to get me!” Then she toppled to the floor, pretending that she was feeling dizzy.
“Don’t worry, Rosalind!” said Maya, loudly. “I’ll help you get some fresh air.”
Taking the other girl’s arm, she helped her walk through the door. As they passed the lizard, Maya managed to scoop him up and take him with her.
As soon as they got outside, Maya released the lizard into the garden. Then she and Rosalind ran off to the stables, giggling.
Maya ran into the stable yard with Rosalind right behind her. Lottie and Summer were waiting with the ponies.
“We told the guards they were needed inside,” said Lottie. “And they ran straight to the palace.”
“They’ll go back to the gate once they realize it’s only a lizard,” added Summer. “So we’d better hurry.”
Maya patted Dazzle’s soft black coat. “We don’t even have time to change. It’ll be funny riding in a dress.”
They left their tiaras in an empty stall and put on riding hats. Then they climbed onto the ponies and rode quickly toward the palace gate. Maya could feel Rosalind holding tight to her waist. She leaned down to whisper in Dazzle’s ear. “Go as fast as you can!”
The pony tossed his mane and sped up. The palace gates passed in a blur, and they raced on into the countryside. Fernleaf galloped beside them with Lottie and Summer on her back.
At last, they came to the foot of the mountain and slowed down. Maya jumped off and helped Rosalind climb down from Dazzle’s back. The grumbling sound of construction was louder than before. They could hear the machines before they’d even finished putting the ponies into their field.
The princesses ran across the slope toward the curve of the mountain, where they would be able to see the machines and the snow leopard’s den. They gazed around anxiously.
“I’ll take some pictures.” Summer picked up the camera, which hung on a strap around her neck.
“Look, Maya!” Lottie pointed. “Isn’t that your uncle?”
Duke Levon was standing on a stretch of flattened ground, talking to the pudgy builder that the girls had met the day before. The duke grinned widely as he spoke, and pointed to the dull brown earth covering the mountainside.
“Yes, that’s him,” said Maya. “And look, there’s Cloudtail, peeking out of his den. I hoped he might have escaped up the mountain by now.”
The girls gazed at Cloudtail. His head was poking out from a gap in the rocks. They could just see his gray-white ears and a pair of blue, inquisitive eyes. Suddenly, he popped his head farther out and mewed unhappily.
“Poor thing!” said Summer as she began taking photos. “He must be really hungry and want his mother, but she’s probably too wary of the backhoes to come back to the den.”
“What’s that in Duke Levon’s hand?” asked Rosalind.
The duke had taken something out of his pocket. It was round, and it sparkled brightly in the sunlight. Maya knew what it was right away. “That’s the Ice Diamond! My uncle must have stolen it from the top of the throne. I can’t believe he would do that.” She remembered how dull and strange the diamond had looked earlier that morning. Her uncle must have already taken the real diamond and left a fake one in its place!
“Let’s get closer and try to hear what they’re saying,” said Lottie.
The princesses crept a little farther up the mountainside.
“The palace will take a long time to build,” the workman was saying.
“Hurry up, then!” replied the duke. “I don’t want to wait weeks for it to be ready. I want it done quickly. Then I can put a fabulous throne inside with this diamond at the top.”
“I promise that we’re working as fast as we can,” said the builder, and he bowed before climbing into his backhoe and turning on the engine.
It rumbled across the mountainside and dug its big metal teeth into the earth.
“The backhoe’s getting too close to the cub’s den!” Lottie shouted over the noise. “There’s no time to take the photos back to the palace. We have to stop this right now.”
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