"I think Shimlara might be in a hurry to find out about her parents," said Katie.
"Oh." The princess looked disappointed. Nicola could see her struggle. She was so used to getting her own way.
"Well, all right," she said ungraciously. "I guess we can go now. After all, you are all my friends. Friends make sacrifices for one another, don't they?"
"That's right," said Katie encouragingly.
"Excellent! I adore friendship! So now Shimlara owes me one sacrifice! Should we record that somewhere?" said the princess.
"How are we getting to the palace?" interrupted Tyler.
"Why, the Royal Aero-Carriage, of course," said the princess.
"Why, of course," said Sean. "What a stupid question, Tyler!"
Tyler grinned and the princess smiled uncertainly at the two boys. She sometimes had a hard time following Earthling humor.
"Yes indeed! Ha-ha!" Then her smile vanished. "Go outside to the front of the house where the carriage is waiting. All of you. Now."
They all went outside (past the palace guards on their hands and knees attempting to fix Shimlara's front door) to find an enormous, intricately carved carriage floating in midair in front of the Gorgioskio house.
"It's so beautiful," breathed Katie.
"It's actually becoming quite shabby," sighed Princess Petronella. She stepped forward and a staircase carpeted in red velvet sprang out from the carriage door. "Follow me," she ordered.
They walked up the elegant royal staircase.
The inside of the carriage looked like a sitting room in a palace. "Oh, yes, this is very shabby," said Sean dryly.
"Do you really need to have your own throne when you travel?" Sean pointed at the three thrones. "Would it hurt you to sit on a couch for five minutes?"
"I don't understand the question," said the princess.
"Don't worry about it," muttered Sean.
"We're moving," marveled Tyler. He'd gone to stand at one of the windows. "And there's no turbulence at all."
The princess ignored him.
"Can you at least give me an idea of where my family is?" asked Shimlara.
"I'd really prefer to talk about myself!" said the princess brightly. "I want to tell you everything! Well, let's see, I've been doing kickboxing lessons, and I--"
"I don't think it's fair to Shimlara to make her wait," interrupted Nicola.
"Oh," said the princess. She frowned."Well, all right! That's two favors you owe me now, Shimlara! Why don't I sit on my throne and you can all sit at my feet while I explain."
"I'm not sitting at your feet," said Greta disgustedly.
"Why don't we all sit on these comfy couches," said Katie.
"I guess I could do that," said Princess Petronella. She sat down tentatively on a plush velvet lounge. "Actually, this is quite comfortable! How fascinating!"
Shimlara's voice suddenly spoke up loud and clear in Nicola's head.
If she doesn't tell me soon, I'm going to strangle her scrawny neck!
Nicola glanced at Shimlara and saw that she was sitting in the seat opposite the princess, her hands demurely folded, her eyes downcast.