Moonlight on the Magic Flute: A Merlin Mission Read Free

like Cinderella going to the ball,” Annie said to Jack.
    Josef snapped the reins. The horses took off, and the guards opened the gates. The coach clattered over the cobblestones into an immense square.
    The square was bathed in the last light of day. Monks in brown robes strolled around a huge fountain. Soldiers in uniforms rode on horseback. On the far side of the square was a long building. It had bright yellow walls and dozens of windows that flashed with the light of the setting sun.
    “Is
that
the summer palace, sir?” Annie called to Josef.
    “Yes, indeed,” Josef said over his shoulder.“And there is much more that you cannot see! Behind the palace is a garden of nearly three hundred acres. It has beautiful flowers, orchards, fountains, and a zoo.”
    “A zoo?” said Jack.

    “Hello, boy and girl!” came a high little voice. A closed blue coach passed them. A small boy wearing a white wig was calling from a window. He pointed at Jack and laughed. “Your wig is crooked!” he shouted in his high voice.
    Before the boy could say more, someone pulled him back from the window, and the blue coach rumbled away.
    “What an annoying kid,” said Jack. “
Is
my wig crooked?”
    “A little.” Annie lifted Jack’s hat off. She tried to straighten his wig as they lurched and swayed on the cushioned seat. “There,” she said. “That’s better.”
    Josef drove the horses to the front of the palace. The coach stopped near a staircase that led up to a terrace. Josef helped Jack and Annie down from their seat.
    “I can tell this is your first visit to the palace,” said Josef. “At the door, you must show the guard in the red uniform your invitation. He will direct you to the receiving line.”
    “The receiving line? What’s that?” said Jack.
    “That is where you will wait to be introduced,” said Josef.
    “Introduced to who?” asked Jack.
    “To Her Imperial Majesty Maria Theresa. She is Archduchess of Austria; Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia; and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire,” said Josef.
    “Oh, right,” said Annie.
    Yeah, right,
thought Jack.
Help!

“T hanks for your help, Josef,” said Annie.
    “Yeah, thanks a lot,” said Jack.
    “You’re very welcome,” said Josef. “I hope you will enjoy yourselves at the party.”
    “ We will,” said Annie. “Bye.”
    As the coachman climbed back into his carriage, Annie turned to Jack. “This is so cool!” she said.
    Not really,
thought Jack. He didn’t know how he was supposed to act with Her Imperial Majesty whatever-the-rest-of-her-name-was! His hands feltclammy. “What do we do when we meet her? What do we say?” he asked.
    “ We just watch what other people do,” said Annie, “and we copy them. Come on.”
    Jack and Annie walked over to the sweeping stairway. They started up the steps, following the other party guests. The women all wore glittering jewels and gowns with giant hoopskirts. The men wore wigs with white curls flowing down over the collars of their long coats. All the clothes were made of silk and satin and velvet in rich colors and patterns.
    “Oh, brother,” said Jack.
    “What?” said Annie.
    “There’s that kid who yelled at me,” Jack said.
    The small boy from the blue coach was standing at the top of the stairs. He wore a lilac-colored coat with gold braid. A tiny sword hung from his side.
    “A sword?” said Jack. “That’s ridiculous. He can’t be more than four or five years old.”
    The boy turned and caught sight of Jack and Annie. A big smile crossed his round face. He waved at them.
    “He’s cute,” said Annie. She waved back.
    “Not really,” said Jack.
    A man grabbed the boy’s hand and pulled him into the palace.
    “And he thought
I
looked funny,” said Jack. “How’s my wig now?”
    Annie giggled. “It’s crooked again,” she said. “And your ears are poking out. Hold on.”
    Jack and Annie stopped on the stairs. Annie grabbed both sides of Jack’s wig and gave it a good