Chapter 12

Chapter 12 This better work. Princess Pulverizer's mind raced nervously as she watched King Harvey take a bite of his three-bean salad. If the king thought for one moment he was being poisoned, she and her friends were in big trouble. AAACHOOO! Dribble let out a massive sneeze. "Silence!" King Harvey shouted at him. "I can't help it," Dribble replied. "There are so many flowers here." AAACHOOO! Lucas patted his friend on the back and bit his lip nervously. Being brave didn't come naturally to Lucas. Princess Pulverizer looked around the banquet hall. No wonder Dribble was

sneezing. There were an awful lot of flowers. Gladioli for faithfulness. Heather and foxgloves for protection. And giant sunflowers for health and vitality. The king had taken the princess's advice very seriously. This better work. "Your chamomile-flower tea, sir." The butler poured steaming yellow tea into the king's cup. "This better work," King Harvey told the princess. Exactly what I was thinking, she agreed silently.

The king took a sip of the tea. Immediately his face turned beet red and his eyes began to bulge. Princess Pulverizer's heart started pounding. Had King Harvey really been poisoned? "Too hot!" King Harvey shouted. Phew. Is that all? "Tea is best served hot, your majesty," Professor Coggin-Noggin reminded him. "Perhaps you should blow on it." "Very wise, Professor." The king blew on the tea and took a big sip. "Do you feel ill, your majesty?" Professor Coggin-Noggin asked. The king touched his stomach. He wiggled around in his seat. And opened his mouth as if to burp. But not a single sound came out of him. "I feel quite well!" the king announced happily. "The flowers protected me from being poisoned."

More likely the chamomile tea had settled the gas in his stomach. But Princess Pulverizer was willing to let the king believe anything he wanted, as long as she could leave Leononia. She was a know-it-all no more. "Right," Princess Pulverizer told the king. "Now that you're safe, we'll be going. Nice to have met you." The princess hurried toward the door, with Lucas and Dribble following close behind. "Guards! Stop them!" King Harvey ordered. Two guards leaped in front of Princess Pulverizer and her friends. The princess gulped. What now? "We're not your enemies, your majesty," Princess Pulverizer insisted. "We helped you." "I know," King Harvey replied. "I wish to thank you properly." AAACHOOO! Dribble sneezed again. "I really gotta go," he said. "This will only take a moment," the king said. He opened a drawer and pulled out a

velvet box. "This pendant belonged to my father. He wore it in the battle against Panthera. The lion charm has a magic power —it brings the wearer great bravery." "So why do you keep it in a box instead of wearing it?" Princess Pulverizer asked. Oops. Maybe that had been a bit rude. But the king didn't seem to notice. "I guess I was afraid I'd lose it," he admitted. Princess Pulverizer choked back a laugh. What wasn't this king afraid of? "Anyway, I'd like you to have it now," the king continued. Princess Pulverizer didn't need a charm to make her brave. She was already pretty fearless. But she did know someone who could use a little bravery. "Lucas should have that pendant," Princess Pulverizer told King Harvey. "He has done some brave things. With that charm I am sure he will do many more." "Me?" Lucas asked.

"Sure. You gave up your blanket to help our friends," Princess Pulverizer said, being very careful not to mention that those friends were unicorns. "That took a lot of courage." "I will miss my blankie," Lucas admitted. King Harvey fastened the chain around Lucas's neck.