The
Perfect Princess - Jenny Pausacker
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Whenever people
talk about being a medieval princess in a past life, I always
suspect that I would've been a servant or a beggar - so, when
I read Michael and Paul's description of Quentaris, I instantly
related to the kids in the Dung Brigade who sweep the streets
of the city. Tab arrived in my mind straight away and while
I was wondering what would happen to her, I started to think
about those medieval princesses... and somehow 'The Perfect
Princess' ended up as a story that compares people at the top
of the heap with people at the bottom of the heap.
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Blurb
Tab Vidler is an orphan who works for
the Dung Brigade, sweeping the streets of Quentaris. One day
she meets a mysterious stranger called Azt Marossa and before
long she is helping him escape from the Archon's guards and
avoid Duelph and Nibhelline sword fighters. Most importantly
of all, she's finding out what really happened to her heroine,
the Perfect Princess, who fled Quentaris years ago...
Extract
A man charged towards Tab, swinging his double-edged sword.
When she yelped and ducked, the sword clanged into the breastplate
of a woman standing behind her. Tab stood up and came face to
face with another warrior, not much older than her. She slammed
her broom into his chest and grinned triumphantly when he fell
backwards, then jumped over him and ran for her life.
The flower sellers were hiding under their stalls and their
customers were diving into the cafes, calling desperately for
the City Watch. Tab saw a boy climb up to the stone dragon on
top of the fountain in the middle of the square. That gave her
an idea.
'The Princess!' she gasped. 'She'll save me.'
She skirted round the edge of the battle, fending off warriors
with her broom. Sweat dripped down into her eyes and before
long, Tab could hardly see a thing. She swerved and bumped into
a tall stone slab. When she wiped some of the sweat from her
eyes and leaned closer, she was able to read the letters cut
into the stone.
"Melindel, Princess of Quentaris."
Phew. So she had made it. Safe at last. |
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