Born to Rule

on the Purples’ side of the hall. All the other princesses sat excitedly with their birds in their show cages. She was the only camper on either team without one.
    Princess Morwenna was first on the stage for the Crimsons. “My bird is a silver blue-tipped squinch. They are known for doing their best songs at funerals. It shall sing a hymn.”
    “Whoopie!” muttered Kristen.
    “Glockschnotten ferkyn!” exclaimed Gundersnap, which roughly translated from Slobo to “about as much fun as a snotty nose on a freezing day.”
    Three candles were lit when Morwenna’s bird completed its song. Most of the princesses had gayer songs. By the time it was Princess Gundersnap’s turn, no one had yet received a one. Nor had any princess’s bird received a five. The Crimsons were in the lead.
    Gundersnap was quite a hit as she and her little bird marched about the stage. Her bird sang a rousing tune called “The March of the Fifth Artillery.” The scorekeeper footman went to the Purple team’s candelabra. Everyone held their breath as the footman continued on after lighting the third candle and then the fourth! Would there be a fifth? No. But still, a huge cheer burst out. The two teams were tied now. What was needed to break the tie was another high-scoring bird from the Purples. But the Purples were out of birds, and still the weeb was nowhere in sight.
    The Queen Mum came back onto the stage. “I think everyone has performed except for our Princess Alicia?”
    The entire audience turned to look at Alicia. She shrank down in her chair. A titter spread through the Crimson team. Even the Snort was smirking. Gundersnap squeezed her hand gently and said, “It’s not your fault!” But just then Alicia felt something brush her shoulder.
    Gundersnap gasped. “Your veeb!”
    Alicia slid her eyes sideways. The golden bird was perched right on her shoulder. “You’re back!” she whispered.
    And the weeb opened his beak. A beautiful song unfurled in the air like a ribbon of gold. Alicia straightened and then rose from her seat. The audience sat spellbound. Never had anyone heard such caroling. The bird itself seemed to sparkle. It was as if the sun shone from the Princess of All the Belgravias’ shoulder. Her weeb sang and sang and sang.
    When it finished, the judges conferred. The footman began his excruciatingly slow march toward the Purples’ candelabra.
    “One, two, three, four,” members of the Purple team whispered to themselves. Did he stop? Did he slow? Would there be…? Everyone sat at the edges of their chairs.
    “Five!”
    A tumultuous shriek rose from one side of the Hall of Music. Five new candle flames licked the darkness of the hall. The Purples had won the Color Wars!
    The din of the Purple team princesses’ screaming could be heard all the way to Camp Burning Shield.

Chapter 20
    STITCHES IN A LONG NIGHT

    Long after the concert had ended, while the castle slept, three princesses slipped through the shadows of the night to begin work on the tapestry. In the Portrait Gallery, they stopped in front of the painting of Princess Kyranala. Alicia touched the frame, and it swung open to reveal the door.
    “This way,” Alicia whispered to Gundersnap and Kristen. The three princesses began to climb the winding staircase. When they reached the top, Alicia showed them the tapestry. She held her candle up to the cloth, and with her finger traced the stitches she had completed. “You see, this is the ghost princess.” She touched the figure in the tapestry. “And do you see the outline of this bird?”
    Kristen and Gundersnap stepped closer. “It looks as if it is half in and half out of the cage,” Gundersnap said.
    “Yes, I know. You see, we must stitch it to find the answer.”
    “Look at that princess’s headgear!” Kristen whispered. “And the veil. It’s so Middle Ages!”
    They felt a cool breeze stir the air. She’s coming, Alicia thought.
    “But of course, dear, it was the Middle Ages,” a voice said. The three princesses whirled around to see Princess Kyranala.
    “I brought my turretmates, Your Highness, as you suggested. We are ready to sew.”
    “Yes, Your Highness, vee are here to report for duty.” Gundersnap gave a little salute.
    “Is the bird in the cage or out of the cage?” Kristen asked. “We can’t tell.”
    “He is in more than just a cage,” Princess Kyranala replied mysteriously.
    What did she mean, more than just a cage? Alicia wondered.
    “Free him, my