Chapter 60

“Bartz! Hold on a tic,” the voice continued insistently.

Bartz and the others paused and turned. A grimy figure they remembered well emerged from the shadows of the stable.

“Mattt!” Tomas said, then, as the boy reached them, “Zoot, you stink!”

“Tata demoted me to horse duty as soon as Rapha was gone. She said I cluttered up the castle.”

“Tell us what happened. Quickly, boy!” Opal said.

Mattt looked at her carefully. “Princess?” he asked.

Opal nodded.

“Tata and Baris are taking over,” Mattt said, satisfied. “As soon as they are married and all coronated, they are going to lead TechnoLot against all the other territories.”

“What happened to my mother?” Nata demanded.

Mattt shrugged. “I don’t know. They said she and King Lary were assassinated by spies from Firsta. Cara had nonstop coverage of the funeral, but no one saw the bodies,” Mattt’s voice cracked, “I don’t believe it. I think Tata fried them.”

“Hang on, boy,” Bartz sa