Read Rescue Princesses #4: The Stolen Crystals for Free Online Page B

came the panted reply.
    “Shovel! Just be thankful you’re not carrying this wretched, squirming animal,” said the earl. “If it wriggles again, I’ll drop it off the mountain. I’d drop it right now if I could be sure that those frilly princesses aren’t following us. But they’re tricky! They may have found another way around that ravine.”
    “But, My Lord? Do you know the right way back to the palace now that you’ve cut the rope bridge?”
    There was a pause.
    “I brought you here to dig, Drudger, not to think. I can figure out the way back myself.” The earl coughed uneasily. “This is the right place. I’m sure I buried my lovely Heart Crystals here. Start digging at once!”
    The princesses crept forward and peered through the bamboo trees into the clearing. The earl still held Lucky carelessly under one arm. The little cub twisted anxiously and let out a tiny whimper. Jaminta longed to hug him and make him feel better.
    “I wish we could tie up that nasty earl,” hissed Lulu.
    “Isn’t this where we came before? When we first saw Lucky and that rockslide happened?” whispered Clarabel.
    Jaminta glanced around the clearing and nodded. The skin on the back of her neck tingled. Something important was about to happen here. Somehow, she just knew it was.
    “Do you really think you should take the crystal in there?” said Emily.
    Jaminta drew the Star Crystal fromher pocket. Inside its diamond-clear shape, the flame burned brightly. “This is the only thing I’ve got that the earl will want in exchange for Lucky.” She took a deep breath. “Ready, everyone?”
    The others nodded. Together, they stepped out of their hiding place into full view.
    “You again!” yelled the earl. “This time you will be sorry —”
    But Jaminta interrupted him. “Stop! We’ve come to ask for the panda cub in exchange for this crystal.” She held the Star Crystal out for him to see.
    The earl’s eyebrows rose. “What? Where did you get that from?”
    “Never mind where we got it!” said Jaminta, her voice trembling. “It’s a Star Crystal and you can have it if you hand over the cub right now.”
    The earl strode toward her and snatched the Star Crystal out of her hand,dropping Lucky on the ground without a second thought.
    Jaminta ran to Lucky, gathering the little cub into her arms and feeling his soft black-and-white fur against her cheek. “Lucky!” she whispered. “I’m so glad you’re safe!”
    Lucky squeaked happily and snuffled into her ear.
    The earl’s face broke into a twisted smile of delight as he gazed at the sparkling Star Crystal. “This will truly make me rich!” He turned to his servant. “Now, Drudger! Tie up these nosy princesses!”
    But the other man wasn’t listening. He dropped his shovel and looked around with wide eyes. A sound began to rise above the bamboo trees, clear and sweet. The Star Crystal had started to sing.

Jaminta backed away, holding Lucky tightly in her arms. The other princesses edged backward, too.
    “What’s going on?” moaned the earl.
    The song became higher and more haunting, weaving around them like the wind. The earl dropped the Star Crystal and put his hands over his ears. The rocky outcrop behind the men began to shudder. The earth trembled. Anenormous splinter of stone broke off and shattered on the ground below.
    “The mountain’s falling down!” cried the earl.
    The two men ran away, stumbling over rocks and crashing through trees as they fled back down Cloud Mountain.
    The princesses stood their ground. Jaminta held on to Lucky even tighter, while he buried his head in her shoulder.
    The Star Crystal sang a final, piercing note, which made the earth rumble and opened up a gaping hole in the ground. Then the song faded away to nothing and the mountainside stopped shaking. One last swirl of dust rose from the fallen stones and floated away.
    Jaminta breathed deeply in the sudden silence. She looked around, strokingLucky’s soft fur. She