Beneath the Stone Forest Read online

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1: Daydreamer

  Chapter 2: Bella and Percy

  Chapter 3: Peasant Girl

  Chapter 4: All That Glitters

  Chapter 5: Pilwinkle

  Chapter 6: Tinker’s Tower

  Chapter 7: Damsel in Distress

  Chapter 8: Underground

  Chapter 9: Friends

  Chapter 10: A Good Report

  ‘Let the Games Begin!’ Excerpt

  About Jordan Quinn and Robert McPhillips

  Daydreamer

  * * *

  * * *

  Mistress Carson pointed to a map of the Kingdom of Wrenly. The map was worn around the edges and had begun to fade.

  “Clara, please name the tallest peak in Flatfrost,” she said, looking directly at her star pupil.

  The classroom was quiet.

  “Clara?” repeated her teacher.

  But Clara didn’t answer. She hadn’t heard a word her teacher had said. She sat and gazed out the window, daydreaming. Her boots scuffed back and forth underneath her bench. Clara loved geography, and whenever the subject came up in school she would daydream about her next adventure with her best friend, Prince Lucas.

  Madeline, the girl who sat beside Clara, nudged her elbow.

  “Umph!” groaned Clara as she sat up straight.

  Her classmates laughed. Clara’s face flushed. Oh no! she thought. I’ve been caught daydreaming! How embarrassing! Clara looked at her teacher. Mistress Carson repeated the question.

  “The tallest peak in Flatfrost is Mount Linton,” said Clara. She had just been to Flatfrost with Lucas, so she knew exactly where it was.

  “Thank you, Clara,” said Mistress Carson. “Class, today I have a special geography assignment. I want everyone to research a place in the kingdom they haven’t been to. Talk to the people who live there, and observe their land. Find out as many details as you can. Then write about the place and draw a map and picture of what it looks like on a piece of animal hide, which I’ll pass out. I’ll also hand out charcoal for you to draw your scenes. You will present your projects a week from today.”

  Some of the children moaned at the thought of a new assignment. Others began to talk excitedly about where they might go. Clara had always wanted to explore the Stone Forest.

  The Stone Forest, in the south of Wrenly’s mainland, was a grove of stone pillars and arches, formed by gnomes tunneling for gems beneath the ground. The rubble from the tunnels had piled up for hundreds of years and created a fanciful forest of stone towers, steeples, and arches.

  Clara had heard about the maze of gemstone tunnels that lay beneath the Stone Forest. She had also heard that the gnomes were the only ones who had ever been able to mine the gems. For everyone else, the gems were permanently stuck to the cavern walls.

  I can’t wait to tell Lucas, thought Clara. This assignment will be the perfect chance for us to explore a new place.

  The best part was that they’d be able to go today: Mistress Carson let school out before lunch!

  Bella and Percy

  * * *

  * * *

  Lucas pulled at the collar around his neck. His mother had asked him to dress in his finest clothes. His uncle and aunt, King Rufus and Queen Eleanor of Kestrel, were due to arrive at the castle shortly with their daughter, Princess Arabella (or Bella, as everyone called her).

  Lucas sighed loudly. He could hardly move in his starched linen undergarments and blue silk jacket. His jacket had the family crest embroidered on the front. Lucas looked at himself in the mirror. He had to admit, the crest made him feel important, but the rest of the outfit made him feel like a prisoner trapped in his own clothes.

  “Mother, I can’t breathe,” he complained.

  “You’ll get used to it,” said Queen Tasha. “You have to wear your good clothes for Cousin Bella. Remember, she’ll be dressed like a proper royal too.”

  “Ugh,” Lucas murmured.

  “And please try not to ruin your good clothes this afternoon,” added his mother.

  Lucas nodded, even though he knew that there was a good chance of that happening.

  Then the royal trumpets sounded and the drummers began to drum.

  Lucas’s family hurried to the great hall and stood side by side to greet their guests. Lucas heard a shrill bark.

  Yap! Yap! Yap! went the sound. Yip! Yap! Yip!

  Ruskin, Lucas’s pet red dragon, cocked his head and began to growl. Smoke trickled from his nostrils.

  “Easy, Ruskin,” Lucas said firmly. “It’s only a dog.”

  Ruskin settled down at Lucas’s command. King Rufus and Queen Eleanor entered the great hall, followed by Princess Bella. Bella held a small, fluffy white dog in her arms. The dog yapped all the way across the room.

  The yaps echoed throughout the hall. King Caleb put a hand over one of his ears. Queen Tasha raised an eyebrow. Princess Bella made no attempt to quiet her dog. She walked gracefully across the room with her dainty nose up in the air.

  The princess had a long braid of golden hair and green eyes. A circlet of twisted silk fit snugly on the crown of her head, and a lovely jewel dangled in the middle of her forehead. She wore a long gown of fine purple silk with bell sleeves and matching satin shoes. Bella gave Lucas a cool glance.

  Lucas forced a smile.

  Yap! Yap! Yip! The princess’s fluffy white dog demanded to be introduced.

  “When did you get a dog?” asked Lucas, trying to show interest.

  “For my eighth birthday,” said Bella. “His name is Percy.”

  Ruskin squawked playfully at Percy. Percy growled. Ruskin snorted and looked at Lucas as if to say, Is it okay to growl now?

  “No,” Lucas said to Ruskin.

  Ruskin dropped his head and stood by his master.

  Bella gave Lucas a disgusted look. “Please keep your serpent at a distance. He’s scaring Percy.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Lucas. “Ruskin won’t hurt your little fur ball.”

  “I should hope not,” she replied.

  Lucas sighed. How was he supposed to pass a whole day with his unpleasant cousin? The grown-ups laughed and talked noisily. They seemed to be having a great time.

  “Would you like to go to the playroom?” asked Lucas, trying to sound cheerful.

  “I suppose so,” said Bella. “Does that overgrown lizard have to come?”

  “His name is Ruskin,” said Lucas. “And he’s a good dragon. And yes, he’s going to come with us.”

  “Hmph,” said Bella.

  Ruskin squawked and bounded after Lucas. The princess and her dog followed at a safe distance.

  Peasant Girl

  * * *

  * * *

  Clara ran down the lane and up the hill toward the castle. She had some animal hides for her class geography project tucked in her pocket. I can’t wait to tell Lucas the plan, she thought.

  First, Clara stopped by the royal stables to give her horse, Scallop, a carrot muffin from her father’s bakery. A fancy horse and carriage was parked near the stall. The palace must have visitors, she thought.

  Clara hugged Scallop and rubbed her cheek along her horse’s neck. Then she ran up the back stairs to the palace. She opened the heavy oak door and bumped right into her mother, Anna Gills, Queen Tasha’s seamstress.

  “Hello, honey,” her mother said. “I was just on my way to town to pick up some thread. Lucas is in the playroom with Princess Bella.”

  “Princess who?” questioned Clara.

  “Princess Bella,” repeated her mother. “Lucas’s cousin. Be sure to curtsy when you meet her, and please stay away from the throne room. The king and queen are entertaining.”

  I wonder what Princess Bell
a is like, thought Clara as she watched her mother tap down the stone stairs. And curtsy? she wondered. I’ve never had to curtsy for Lucas. But then again, she never thought of Lucas as royalty. She knew he was a prince, but they had been friends for so long, she never had to behave formally around him.

  Clara went inside and bounded up the stairs to the playroom. She swung open the door, and it banged against the wall accidentally. Bella’s dog growled and scampered toward Clara.

  “Be quiet, Percy!” ordered Bella as she looked Clara up and down.

  “Lucas, why is there a peasant girl in your playroom?”

  Clara’s face flushed. Peasant girl? she thought. Well, I suppose I am a peasant girl. But suddenly it sounded like a disease.

  “This is my friend Clara,” said Lucas. “My father has allowed her to visit the castle anytime.”

  “Is that a joke?” asked Bella, keeping her eyes fixed on Clara.

  Ruskin squawked. He didn’t like the princess’s tone of voice.

  “Watch what you say, Bella,” said Lucas. “Clara is my best friend.”

  Bella rolled her eyes and folded her arms. “Fine. Then she should curtsy and kiss my hand like a proper subject.”

  Clara’s mouth dropped open. She felt more like throwing up than curtsying. But Clara knew she had to follow the royal rules. She took a deep breath, walked up to Bella, and curtsied. Then Bella lifted her soft, milky white hand up to Clara’s face. Clara shut her eyes and quickly kissed the back of the princess’s hand.

  It smelled like dog.

  All That Glitters

  * * *

  * * *

  Percy sniffed Clara’s boots. Then Clara took a giant step over Percy and walked toward Lucas.

  “So, guess what?” said Clara as she tried to ignore Bella’s watchful eye.

  “What?” asked Lucas.

  “I have an idea for our next adventure.”

  Lucas’s eyes widened. He loved it when Clara got ideas. “What is it?”

  “My teacher said we have to research a place in Wrenly that we haven’t been to before,” Clara explained.

  “Where haven’t you been?” Lucas asked.

  “The Stone Forest,” said Clara. “Have you ever been there?”

  “I’ve only seen it from the road,” said Lucas.

  “Same here,” said Clara.

  Then Bella huffed. “Why would anyone want to go there?” she questioned. “Isn’t it just a bunch of crummy old towers and creepy dark tunnels?”

  Clara almost said, Who asked you? But she stopped herself. If Bella didn’t want to go to the Stone Forest, then Lucas wouldn’t be able to go either. Hmm, thought Clara. How can I make this adventure sound like one that Bella would want to go on? She took a good look at the princess. Then she noticed the lovely gemstone hanging in the middle of the princess’s forehead. It gave Clara an idea.

  “Bella, did you know the most beautiful jewels in the kingdom come from the Stone Forest?” she asked. “Those creepy underground tunnels are just bursting with precious gems.”

  Bella’s eyes lit up. “Precious gems?” she repeated.

  “Tons of sparkling jewels everywhere!” insisted Clara.

  Bella set down her dog and clasped her hands. “I love jewelry!” she exclaimed. “When do we leave?”

  “As soon as possible,” Clara said.

  “Okay, I’ll go,” said the princess, “but on one condition.”

  “What?” asked Clara.

  “That we take a carriage,” said Bella. “I don’t want to rumple my dress sitting on top of a horse.”

  “It’s a deal!” said Lucas before Clara could answer.

  Clara sighed heavily. She had hoped to take Scallop.

  “Oh, okay,” said Clara. “I suppose it’s better than not going at all.”

  Pilwinkle

  * * *

  * * *

  Lucas ordered a carriage and driver from the royal stables. Soon the children and Ruskin and Percy were off to the Stone Forest. Lucas and Clara played I Spy along the way. Bella rebraided her long blond hair. Clara glanced out the window from time to time to check their progress. Suddenly she leaned forward.

  “I see it!” she exclaimed. “The Stone Forest is on the other side of that river!”

  The early afternoon sun shone on a thick forest of stone pillars and arches that towered over the landscape.

  “Wow!” exclaimed Lucas. “They look like the drippy sand castles we make at Mermaid’s Cove.”

  “Only life-size!” added Clara.

  The carriage rumbled over the uneven ground. Bella stared at the spires uncertainly.

  “I’m not sure if my father would approve of this place,” she said. “Are there wild animals?”

  “Not that I know of,” Clara said. “But you never know.”

  Bella’s eyes grew wide.

  “There are no wild animals,” Lucas assured Bella. “But there doesn’t seem to be anyone around either.”

  The carriage stopped a short way from the towering pillars and arches.

  “Look again!” Clara said excitedly.

  The children looked carefully at the stone structures. Little faces peeked from the chinks and cracks in the stone.

  “Gnomes!” Lucas cried.

  Clara smiled and waved at the gnomes. Some of them waved back. The children hopped out of the carriage.

  Clara rushed toward the stone towers. “Hello!” she called.

  One by one the gnomes climbed out of their hideouts. The men had lovely long beards, rosy cheeks, and pudgy noses; some of them wore pointed colorful stocking caps. The women and girls wore dresses and had their hair in braids. The boys wore overalls. The children all wore red hats with pom-poms on top.

  Lucas and Ruskin ran to catch up to Clara. And Bella stepped daintily over the pebbly ground in her satin shoes. She lagged behind, holding Percy in her arms.

  “Wait for me!” she cried.

  But Clara was already on to introductions.

  “This is Prince Lucas of Wrenly,” she said to the gnomes who had gathered to greet them. “And this is his scarlet dragon, Ruskin.”

  The gnomes smiled and bowed. Clara noticed that the tallest gnome only came up to her chest.

  Then Clara pointed to Bella. “That’s Princess Bella, and her dog, Percy,” she said. “And I’m Clara, a friend of the royal family.”

  “We’re honored to welcome you,” said an elder gnome, who leaned on a pickax that was almost the same size as he was. “My name is Pilwinkle.”

  Tinker’s Tower

  * * *

  * * *

  Bella caught up to the rest of the group and teetered on the uneven ground. Pilwinkle reached out and steadied the princess. But when Bella saw his dirty hands and grimy nails, she shrank back in disgust.

  “Ew! Don’t you dare touch me!” she cried. “I’m going back to the carriage!”

  Then Bella picked up the folds of her gown and walked carefully toward the carriage. How embarrassing! thought Clara. She was glad Lucas didn’t try to stop the princess. And the gnomes simply acted as if nothing had happened.

  “What can we do for you?” asked Pilwinkle.

  This time Lucas spoke up. “Clara has come to learn about the Stone Forest for a school project,” he said. “The princess and I are along for the adventure—or at least, I am.”

  “We’d love to show you around,” Pilwinkle said. “We only have one rule in the Stone Forest.”

  “What is it?” asked Clara.

  “No one may enter the underground city without a guide,” said Pilwinkle. “It’s much too easy to get lost.”

  Lucas and Clara both agreed to obey this rule.

  “Okay,” said Pilwinkle cheerfully. “Follow me!”

  So off they went into the spires of the Stone Forest.

  First they climbed up a winding stone staircase inside one of the towers. Ruskin’s claws clicked over the stones. The higher they climbed, the more beautiful the view became. From one si
de of the tower, they saw farms rolling across the land like a colorful patchwork quilt. Cows grazed on the patches of green. From the other side of the tower, they could see the island of Hobsgrove.

  Around and around they swirled until they came to a sitting area at the top. They sat on a stone bench, and Pilwinkle pointed out some of the towers and arches.

  “We just climbed Tinker’s Tower,” said Pilwinkle. “Over there are Alwin’s Arch and Sim’s Steeple. Beyond that is Sprout’s Spire, and the one with the turret is Pilwinkle’s Peak.”

  “How did you get a tower named after you?” asked Lucas.

  “Well, I guess you have to do something to help the community,” Pilwinkle said.

  “And what have you done to receive such a great honor?” Lucas asked.

  Pilwinkle chuckled. “I’ve been the chief gnome for more than fifty years,” he said. “When you’ve been in charge that long, you get a tower named after you. It reminds me to be my best.”

  Damsel in Distress

  * * *

  * * *