Suddenly, Jenna was on the run for her life. But the Heaps stayed with her, and with the help of Marcia Overstrand and the Dragon Boat, Jenna overcame all the Darke forces that were against her.
On her return to the Castle, Jenna moved into the Palace with Sarah and Silas Heap and began to get used to the idea that one day, when the Time was Right, she would be Queen—although she is not sure whether she really ever wants the Time to be Right.
Jenna has a tutor for what she calls “Princess Stuff” and she also goes to school in the mornings at Snake Slipway Middle School. Jenna’s tutor encourages her to practice talking like a Queen. Jenna has put this to good use at the Manuscriptorium—and enjoyed the experience.
Jenna spends as much time as she can with her adoptive brother Septimus. Whether they are flying on Spit Fyre—Jenna is Navigator—or just wandering through the Palace talking, there is no one Jenna would rather be with.
Jenna's Palace Diary
Private.
Keep Out.
Princesses Only!
MONDAY
Today Mum and Dad and I moved into the Palace. It’s huge, and it is stuffed full of ghosts! Everywhere I go, especially at night, ghosts Appear and introduce themselves to me. They all tell me how pleased they are to have a real Princess here once again—so I suppose I must be a real Princess.
There is a really lovely ghost called Sir Hereward and he is on guard just outside my bedroom door. I have the bedroom that all Crown Princesses (that is what I am!) have had. I am glad Sir Hereward is there, as it is a little bit creepy. But the room is very beautiful and I suppose I shall get used to it—especially as it used to be my mother’s bedroom when she was young. I like to think of her here when she was the same age as I am.
TUESDAY
Bo came over today and we went exploring in the attic. I met a ghost of a governess; her name is Mary. She kept calling me Esmeralda and telling me to be careful, which was a little spooky. I am glad Bo was there, even though she didn’t see the ghost. Mum and Dad are really happy. They still can’t quite believe that Septimus has come back. Mum went to the Wizard Tower to try to see him, but he was busy today. She’s going to try again tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY
Mum had an argument with the Cook today. The Cook is very bossy and won’t let Mum into “her” kitchen. Mum misses cooking, but the Cook says it is her job to cook the food and Mum’s job to eat it—and we have to eat in the huge Palace dining room. Yesterday Mum sat at one end of the table—which is at least thirty feet long—and Dad sat at the other end and they couldn’t even hear what each other was saying. So then they started doing signs, which they thought was really funny. Personally I thought it was silly.
THURSDAY
Nicko spent all day at the boatyard and didn’t come back until really late. Nik told me that Jannit has offered him an Apprenticeship and he is going to tell Mum tomorrow. It will mean he has to live at the yard and I don’t think Mum will be very happy. And I will miss him; we spent so much time together at Aunt Zelda’s.
FRIDAY
I saw Boy 412—oops, Septimus—today! It was his day off so, as I haven’t gone back to school yet, I was allowed to go to the Wizard Tower and meet him. I had forgotten what a weird place the Wizard Tower is; it smells very peculiar. Septimus came to us for tea and Mum didn’t stop smiling. She kept trying to ruffle his hair; he looked a bit embarrassed, but he let her do it. Nik was around for a while and then he went to the boatyard. I don’t think he has told Mum about the Apprenticeship yet. Septimus and I walked back to the Wizard Tower, and Marcia came down to meet us. And guess what? She told me the password to the Tower! How amazing is that? But I am not allowed to tell anyone else what it is, so I can’t write it here.
SATURDAY
Nicko told Mum about the Apprenticeship and Mum is very upset. I went for a walk to the Wizard Tower; I said the password and it worked! Those huge silver doors swung open and they were totally silent. Septimus was allowed out for an hour, so we went down to the boatyard and saw Nik. It was fun.
SUNDAY
Tomorrow we will have been here a whole week! Mum has spent all day in the herb-garden-to-be and Dad has decided to be a writer. He says he is sick of being a Wizard. He says he has always wanted to write, but living with so many children in only one room meant he could never think straight. Now he has a huge room all to himself and has put up a notice on the door that says, PAMPHLETEER IN PROGRESS. QUIET! Sometimes I think my parents are a bit odd.
I am going back to school tomorrow and getting a tutor soon too. Must go; Bo is coming to sleep over and we are going exploring at midnight, but it is a secret. I like living here!
NOTES FROM PRINCESS LESSONS
A Princess must always walk with her head up and her back straight.
A Princess must speak slowly and clearly and not shout.
A Princess must smile when smiled at and not frown.
A Princess must learn to judge character.
A Princess must be fair, just and impartial.
A Princess must trust her instincts.
A Princess must listen.
A Princess must attend her Princess lessons.
A Princess must not sneak out of the Palace in the middle of the night.
MY HORSE
Today I got a horse! I love her—she is called Domino and she is beautiful. Here’s what she looks like:
She is pure white, apart from six black spots where the saddle goes. Her mane and her tail are white too and really long, so I am learning how to keep them brushed and braided. I have a horse instructor—Mrs. B—from the farm where Dad bought Domino (good old Dad!). Mrs. B is staying with us for a month and teaching me everything about how to look after Domino and how to ride properly too. We go for a ride every morning before school and people wave to us, which is fun.
THE QUEEN’S ROOM
TOP SECRET. DO NOT READ!
This is secret! The Queen’s Room is in the turret in the east end of the Palace, but only the True Queen and her descendants can see the door that leads to it. I found it because I am the Princess. I was able to open it with the key Aunt Zelda gave me, but Sep couldn’t see the door at all!
The door to the room is gold with all kinds of patterns in it. There is a big keyhole right in the middle and only my key can open the door, which comes down like a drawbridge. Sep says that when I go into the Queen’s Room, it looks like I’m walking straight through a wall and disappearing.
The room is smaller than you would expect and is surprisingly cozy. There is a fire burning in the grate, and a comfortable armchair is in front of it. I thought the chair looked like a really good place to sit, but I didn’t. It was strange—I felt as though someone was already sitting there. Someone nice.
But the best thing about the Queen’s Room is the cupboard. It has UNSTABLE POTIONS AND PARTIKULAR POISONS written on it—just like Aunt Zelda’s! If you go into it and close the door so that it clicks shut, then open the right drawer, it takes you straight to Aunt Zelda’s own UnStable Potions and Partikular Poisons cupboard. How amazing is that? That is how the Castle Queens have traveled to visit the Dragon Boat, and that is why it is called the Queen’s Way.
HOMEWORK NOTES FROM
OUR CASTLE STORY
Queens: the Good, the Bad, the Crazy and the Slightly Nervous
THE GOOD
Chapter Ten: THE FIRST QUEEN
Name: Not known, but some people call her Queen Eleanor the Wise.
Age when succeeded to Throne: She did not succeed to the Throne—she arrived one morning in the Royal Barge. According to legend she was twenty-one at the time.
Length of reign: According to legend it was one hundred and one years long.
Known for: Being the first and founding the Palace. Also for being very beautiful. And good.
Chapter Eleven: THE QUEEN AND THE DRAGON BOAT
Name: Queen Miranda
Age when succeeded to Throne: Twenty-two.
Length of reig
n: Thirty-one years.
Known for: Miranda asked Hotep-Ra to stay in the Castle and build the Wizard Tower. She was the first Queen to visit the Dragon Boat.
Chapter Twelve: A CASTLE WITHOUT ALE
Name: Queen Daniella (The Dry)
Age when succeeded to Throne: Twenty-three.
Length of reign: Five years.
Known for: Closing all the Taverns in the Castle.
THE BAD
Chapter Thirteen: ETHELDREDDA THE AWFUL
Name: Queen Etheldredda
Age when succeeded to Throne: Forty.
Length of reign: Approx. fifteen years. Ended with a suspicious drowning, although there is a legend that she never actually died and is imprisoned in the attic.
Known for: Murdering her two baby daughters and trying to murder her oldest daughter, Esmeralda.
THE CRAZY
Chapter Fourteen: THE NIGHTGOWN QUEEN
Name: Queen Doreen
Age when succeeded to Throne: Sixteen.
Length of reign: Ten years.
Known for: Running along Wizard Way in her nightgown. Keeping ferrets in the Throne Room. Making her advisers pass a skipping test every week.
Chapter Fifteen: WHICH WAY DID SHE GO?
Name: Queen Datchet III
Age when succeeded to Throne: Thirty-two.
Length of reign: Two years.
Known for: Moving the East Gate Lookout Tower to the western side of the Castle and Closing the Gate. It is thought she did this after being hit on the head by a rotten bedpost, which caused her to lose all sense of direction. One morning she took the dawn boat to the Port and was never seen again. Queen Datchet III had no daughter and was succeeded by her younger sister, Queen Daphne II (Daphne the Dull).
THE SLIGHTLY NERVOUS
Chapter Sixteen: THE LESS AWFUL DAUGHTER
Name: Queen Esmeralda
Age when succeeded to Throne: Eleven, but her brother was Regent until she was well enough to start ruling when she was twenty.
Length of reign: Thirteen years.
Known for: Having bad headaches and wearing a very large crown. N.B. Are these two facts related?
SUNDAY
Said good-bye to Milo—I mean my father. I still can’t get used to thinking of him as my father. Felt really annoyed with him. He just shows up with a lot of stuff for the Palace and then he goes straight off again on another trip. This time he brought a pair of gold dragons, which Dad says look cheap. He gave me a compass and said maybe one day I would go on one of his voyages with him and then it would be useful. But I am never going in one of his ships. Why should I? Felt really angry after he left and threw it across the room. Took Domino out, but it rained.
MONDAY
Mum is really worried about this Sickenesse that is sweeping through the Castle. No one—not even Marcia—can find a cure. Last week they opened up the Infirmary just outside the Castle in case the Sickenesse is contagious, and Mum is going over there a lot. Dad is thumping around in the attic.
TUESDAY
Mum spent the night at the Infirmary and did not come home until this morning. Mum is tired and grumpy. Even Sep is being a bit weird at the moment. He told me he’s been reading about some old Alchemist and he thinks he knew how to cure the Sickenesse. But what use is it anyway—the Alchemist was alive centuries ago.
WEDNESDAY
Had an argument with Mum at supper. Mum said she does not want me leaving the Palace in case I catch the Sickenesse. Said I have to visit the Dragon Boat every day. Mum said I didn’t. Am going to read for a bit.
LATER
I can’t sleep. It is one o’clock in the morning. It has been a foul evening. I was reading in my bedroom and I had a visit from a horrible ghost—Queen Etheldredda the Awful. I am not usually scared of ghosts, but I was scared of her.
Decided to sleep in Mum's sitting room as the thought of that ghost coming back gave me the creeps. Fell asleep on the sofa (after taking off all the junk) and was woken up by Sep! Suddenly he was in the room, soaking wet, white and spluttering like he was half-drowned. And even worse, that Awful Etheldredda was there, saying that she had saved him—I don’t think so.
And then, when I went to get Sep a dry tunic, Etheldredda ambushed me outside the door. It was horrible. She said that if I didn’t do what she asked she would “Reverse my ReClaime, Granddaughter, and your darling adoptive brother will drown at midnight tomorrow.”
I don’t know what to do. I want to ask Mum, but she is at the Infirmary. Sep has told me all about ReClaimes—when you save people at the very moment they are about to die from some kind of accident. I am pretty sure he said they can be Reversed.
I just don’t know what to do. Can’t sleep.
Things I Will Do in the Palace
When I Am Queen
BY JENNA HEAP
I WILL:
Have a candle burning at every window.
Ask lots of people to live there.
Open up the Throne Room and make it feel nice again.
Have a system of bells so that everyone can call one another.
Get more stuff in the Long Walk—lots of tapestries would be good.
Keep candles burning day and night down the Long Walk.
Have big parties in the Ballroom.
Open the summer house.
Never eat ducklings.
Find my mother’s ghost.
DELIVERED FROM THE WIZARD TOWER BY MESSENGER
Received at Palace 10:00 A.M.
From: Septimus Heap
* * *
Dear Jen,
Thank you for cutting Spit Fyre’s toenails—or claws, I suppose they are now. He likes it when you do that! Hope you have a nice day and the tutor does not do too much silly Princess stuff today. I have a few hours off this afternoon and will call in on you-know-who. He might just remember something.
Love to Mum and Dad.
Love, Septimus xxxx
* * *
Marcellus didn’t remember ANYTHING. Sep says they went all the way to the top of the house and then Marcellus forgot why.
Some Palace Ghosts That I Have Seen
BY JENNA HEAP, PRINCESS
ALTHER MELLA
Alther is not really a Palace ghost, but he is my top ghost of all time so he has to come first. I have known Alther since I was tiny. He is like a ghost-grandfather to me.
SIR HEREWARD
My second favorite ghost after Alther. He guards my room. He has only one arm and tells the same joke over and over again, but he is lovely and would do anything to protect me.
GHDRHN THE GREAT
She is an Ancient—an ExtraOrdinary Wizard ghost who lives at the Palace Gate. I don’t know why. I suppose she likes it there. She is from the Lands of the Long Nights and is really nice but very faded. In the sunshine you can’t see her at all.
GODRIC
He used to guard the Palace door, but now he sleeps in the big armchair in the hall. Sometimes he snores.
FARA FIELD
An old housekeeper. Has ancient uniform with lots of ribbons and carries a small piglet under her arm. She wanders around the battlements on the roof, where she says she can see danger coming from “farafield.” I don’t know what her real name is so that is what I’ve called her.
YOUNG WAINWRIGHT
He is a boy groom. I often see him curled up asleep in the corner of the stable. Domino likes him, so he must be okay. Sometimes he tries to help me brush her, which is a bit weird.
THE UNKNOWN PRINCESS
I think she is a bit crazy. I only see her at the full moon when she paddles in the ornamental Moat, waving her arms like a jellyfish.
SIR BRETTICUS-PETTICUS
He was a knight and a Wizard too, which is unusual—plus he married a Queen. I can’t think what she saw in him—he is very rude. He told me that I did not look like a real Princess. He was killed by an UnStable Spell of his own creation and now he roams the Long Walk with his feet on fire. At least he lights up the p
lace a bit.
MARY
Was once governess to Princess Esmeralda’s poor baby sisters. She is convinced that I am Esmeralda and is always telling me to be careful. I do feel sorry for her, but sometimes I just wish she would cheer up. If I see her coming I try and go another way.
DELIVERED BY HAND FROM THE WIZARD TOWER
Received at the Palace 11:20 A.M.
From: Septimus Heap
* * *
Dear Jen,
Came by to see you, but you were out with Mrs. B on Domino. Hope you had a good ride. Tonight there is a special evening at the WT, as one of the really doddering old Wizards is retiring. Marcia said I could ask you. Well, actually, she said, “It would be appropriate for the Princess to be present tonight, Septimus. Please give her this Invitation.” Except I have lost the Invitation. Oops. But please come tonight, Jen. A party of Wizards (me included!) will pick you up at the Palace at 7:00 P.M. Can you wear your best tunic with the gold stuff around the hem and clean your boots? You know what Marcia is like. And your best cloak.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Love, Septimus xxxx
P.S. Marcellus did not remember a thing. Spent the entire time looking for his glasses.
* * *
Marcellus and his stupid glasses! But I had a lovely evening in the Wiz Tower and Marcia was really nice.
People (and Dragons) at the Palace Who I Like
BY JENNA HEAP, PRINCESS