Chapter 5

Chapter 5 As she took her seat at the king's table, Princess Pulverizer found herself growing more and more concerned. And not just about the old unicorn. She was also worried about all the silverware that had been laid out in front of her. Was the big spoon for soup or dessert? What was that teeny tiny fork for? Which water glass should she use?

Princess Pulverizer wished she'd paid more attention to Lady Frump's lecture on fancy dining. Because if she couldn't figure this stuff out, no one would be fooled into thinking Princess Pulverizer was an actual princess. Even though she was. If King Harvey thought for one minute that there was a spy in his midst, there was no telling what he might do. Just then, the doors of the banquet hall opened. King Harvey walked into the room, surrounded by four large guards. "Hello, friends," King Harvey said. Princess Pulverizer choked back a laugh. She'd expected King Harvey the Lion-Hearted to have a big strong voice. Instead, he squeaked when he spoke. Oops! Princess Pulverizer had dropped her napkin under the table. She bent down to pick it up and— Thud! She bumped her head on the hard wooden table.

"Yikes! What was that?" King Harvey the Lion-Hearted grabbed one of his guards and held on tight for dear life. "Sorry," Princess Pulverizer apologized. "I dropped my napkin." "N-no problem." King Harvey loosened his grip on the guard and turned his attention to the butler. "Have the kitchen staff serve the first course," he commanded. The butler bowed and headed off. Not a moment later, there was a loud crash, like the sound of a pot falling from the shelf. "AAAAAHHHHH!" King Harvey leaped out of his seat so fast he reminded Princess

Pulverizer of the jack-in-the-box toy she'd played with as a little girl. Oddly, no one else seemed to notice the king's strange behavior. They must have seen him act that way before. "I'm sorry," the butler apologized as he came running back into the banquet hall. "There was a slight collision in the kitchen. The first course will be here any minute." Princess Pulverizer was starving. Luckily, a fresh-baked roll had been placed on the small plate in front of her. The princess bit off a huge hunk and turned to the woman seated to her right. "Do you know what's for dinner?" she asked her. The woman made a face. But she didn't answer. Hmmm... the princess thought. Maybe she can't hear so well. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S FOR DINNER?" the princess shouted at her. A piece of bread

flew out of her mouth and onto the woman's face. Oops. The princess had forgotten what Lady Frump had told her so many times: Princesses do not speak with their mouths full. And if she wasn't mistaken, no one began eating until the king did, either. She was doing everything wrong. "The royal soup, sir!" the butler announced as he returned to the banquet hall. "Very good," King Harvey replied. "You may serve." Princess Pulverizer watched as royal waiters ladled creamy navy-bean soup into each soup bowl. Her stomach gurgled in excitement, which wasn't very princess-y. But she couldn't help it. "Would you like me to get the royal taster, sir?" the butler asked. "No need," King Harvey replied. "One of my knights has given me something very special to prevent poisoning."

Princess Pulverizer frowned. The picture she had seen in the mirror was almost complete. There was little King Harvey, with his very large crown, seated at the head of the table, surrounded by four guards. The only thing missing was— "A unicorn horn," the king said as he held up a long, pointed horn. "This will protect me from poison." Everyone began talking at once. "A unicorn horn!" "How marvelous." "All hail King Harvey's royal knights." Princess Pulverizer didn't say a word. She was too busy staring at the horn. There was something odd about it. Something she hadn't noticed in the magic mirror. "That horn is not from a unicorn!" she exclaimed suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her. "I beg your pardon?" King Harvey demanded.