Rescue Princesses #4: The Stolen Crystals Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Ten years ago, when I was working as an undercover agent, I was given a very important case. I was asked to find the missing Onica Heart Crystals and catch the thief who stole them.”
    “Heart Crystals? Were they really famous?” asked Clarabel.
    “The Onica Heart Crystals were the most precious jewels in the whole kingdom,” explained Jaminta. “There were four of them, each one in the shape of a heart. They were clear, just like diamonds, but had a flickering flame right in the middle. Grandfather told me that he used to keep them in a glass casein the banquet hall. Then one morning they were gone.”

    “They were beautiful jewels,” Ally agreed. “And really powerful, too. They were supposed to show a person’s true nature and whether they were good or evil.”
    “I’ve never heard of a jewel that could do that before!” said Emily.
    “What happened after they were stolen?” asked Lulu.
    “I investigated the robbery for months and months. I followed the trail across the ocean to the kingdom of Middingland.” Ally’s eyes flicked to Emily, the Middingland princess. “I was there to spy on someone suspicious. But I never managed to find the jewels, and finally I was told to give up. I was working as a maid in Middingland Palace at the time, and I liked it so much that I stayed there.”
    Emily’s mouth dropped open. “Do you mean you were an undercover agent when you became our maid? Being a maid was part of your disguise?”
    “It was only a disguise at first.” Ally smiled at her. “That was ten years ago. But I could never quite forget the Onica Heart Crystals. They were such special jewels.”
    A scuffling sound on the roof made them all jump.
    Lulu dashed out onto the dark balcony and came back a few seconds later. “It’s all right,” she panted. “It’s only an owl.”
    “I still don’t understand why you were sneaking down the hallway,” said Clarabel.
    “I always wondered whether the stolen Heart Crystals were actually still here in the kingdom of Onica. Maybe the robber hid them somewhere nearby because heknew we suspected him,” explained Ally. “When I saw the man I spied on ten years ago, I couldn’t help following him.”
    “You must be talking about someone from Middingland!” cried Emily.
    “Who is it, Ally? You have to tell us!” asked Lulu.
    “I don’t think I should,” said Ally. “I don’t want to get you into trouble.”
    Jaminta frowned for a moment, then her eyes widened. Ally had looked at someone very suspiciously that morning. Jaminta remembered the mysterious look she’d had in her eyes.
    Ally got up. “Now I must get back to mending the bow on that ball gown. After that I’ll bring you all some mugs of hot chocolate.”
    As Ally disappeared from the room, Emily turned to the others. “I can’tbelieve Ally kept her secret all this time about why she came to Middingland!”
    “I wonder if she’s right and the jewels are hidden somewhere nearby,” said Lulu excitedly.
    “But if they’re hidden here, wouldn’t someone have discovered them by now?” said Clarabel.
    “The jewels are hidden here! Don’t you see!” Jaminta leapt up, her brown eyes shining. “Ten years ago, Ally went to Middingland to investigate the thief. Emily, you said that Earl Scrant lives in Middingland! And when we hid under that table, we heard him say he wants to dig up something from the mountainside. He must be digging up the stolen Heart Crystals!”

Emily, Clarabel, and Lulu looked at one another, their eyes widening.
    “I hadn’t thought of that!” said Emily. “I think you’re right, Jaminta. Earl Scrant must have stolen the jewels and then buried them on the mountainside in a hurry because he knew he might be caught.”
    “But what should we do about it?” said Clarabel. “Would your grandfather really believe all this, Jaminta?”
    Jaminta shook her head. “We don’t have any real proof. We can only tell him what we heard while we were hidden under