“I think it’s, um, charming, and we should just be grateful it popped up and not be so quick to judge by appearances,” I said.
Rexi opened her mouth to mock but a tail whack upside the head cut off whatever unpleasant thing she might have said. Instead, she switched her focus off me and narrowed her eyes at Nikko. “Not that I believe for a second that this place is what you claim, but how do you know so much about wizards, Makers, and magic? I don’t think you found us by accident.”
“Of course not,” Nikko said brightly, unaware or uncaring of Rexi’s implied meaning. “I’ve been sent to bring the Emerald Princess home.” He offered me his arm. “Shall we go?”
Suddenly, it felt like the three suns would come out tomorrow after all, that birds were chirping again instead of being eaten by fungi, and surely, my happy ever after was right around the corner waiting for me.
“Sent by who?” Rexi asked, not buying it.
“By Mick, the Magnificent Wizard of—”
“That’s why you smelled like that yucky incense,” I interrupted, making the connection.
“So you know who he’s talking about?” Rexi asked me.
“Yeah. Remember all those singing telegrams and gifts baskets that started showing up about six months ago?”
“I think so,” Rexi said slowly. “Did they smell like someone dumped a bucket of perfume on them?”
“Yup, those were from Mick. He might have some obsession issues, but he’s also a wizard, so maybe he’s teamed up with Verte back at the palace to help undo the whole wish thing.”
Maybe they’d even already managed to bring back my parents.
Rexi gave a wary look to the vicious yet still unmoving trees, then shrugged. “Okay, then what are we waiting for?”
Nikko put a hand out, stopping Rexi. “I’m sorry, I should have been clearer. The princess and I are going alone.”
“When invited over to a tea party, the only acceptable behavior is to eat every last crumb and drop. Then, even if it turns you big or small, don’t forget to say thank you with a tip of the hat.”
—Hatter’s Mad Manners
12
Friends of a Feather
Everything got a whole lot louder as the three of us yelled at Nikko. Or roared in Kato’s case. Nikko slowly backed away from the very real possibility that he might be eaten by the ever-growing beast.
“It’s not by my choice, I assure you,” Nikko said.
I positioned myself between ape and winged dragon mutt. Probably not the smartest place to be, but I was too pixed to care.
“Whose choice is it then? My palace, my rules. And I say we go home together.”
“That’s right,” Rexi said while slowly scooting closer to the building of books and out of Kato-tail range. “Tell him who’s boss.”
Great. Now she recognizes my position.
Nikko turned his fez over in his hands. “My apologies, Princess, but it’s not your palace we’re going to. We’re off to see the wizard at the Ivory Tower. It’s not far, but my master was most insistent that I only bring you.”
Normally I’d yell and scream until I got my way, but I had a feeling that wouldn’t work here. Nikko was just following orders, and you do not disobey someone who has the power to turn you into slimy green things. Just ask Rexi.
So instead, I held my tongue and thought about what to do: Stick to Verte’s more dangerous plan, or stay safely in a tower and wait to be rescued? Chasing rainbows hadn’t worked out so well and the wizard might be able to just poof my parents back. But I couldn’t leave Rexi and Kato behind on a might.
Well, I could, and it would serve Rexi right for attacking me. But then Kato would probably eat her, and then he’d get indigestion…
I sighed. “If you’re positive that we all can’t go, then you’ll have to go to the Ivory Tower without me too.”
“I knew you’d ditch us…” Rexi spat out, then paused mid-stomp. “Wait…really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Oh. Hmph.” Rexi suddenly became very interested in the scrolls along the closest shelf.
Kato sat on his haunches and growled at me. I had no clue what that meant.
Nikko smiled and patted my arm. “Loyalty is a noble quality, so I won’t ask you again to betray it. Thank you for invoking the protection of Oz back at the trees.” He looked off in the distance and shuddered. “Now to deliver the news to him.” Nikko ran away, even faster now that he wasn’t carrying me.
What was he talking about? I didn’t do anything. “Hey, wait!” I called, but he was already gone. I took two steps and realized I’d lost my shoes after my last fall. One ruby heel was within reach, the other had—
“Ew, get away from that one-of-a-kind Hans Christian Louboutin shoe!” The bibliobug or whatever had its slimy green body wrapped around my right heel. I reached down to pry it off, but when I touched the worm, it puffed out a little cloud of green dust that smelled like moldy bread.