SmartGirl Authors

The Race for the Ruby

by SG Author Shanice

For her thirteenth birthday, Jessica Walker joins her 'mum' Vicky and her boyfriend Alan for a picnic. They go to Delfino, a beautiful but strange town. On her way to Delfino, Jessica regains her memory and remembers that she is the princess of Delfino. Jess needs to find a ruby that Vicky and Alan want before they do. But can a mere girl save Delfino?

Prologue

Robbie walked into the meadow. Standing by the rock near the stream was the water spirit, Iris.

Her face looked paler than usual, and her usual cheerful smile had been replaced with a worried frown.

Robbie sighed. Would Iris ever give up?

"Any luck?" he asked.

He knew the answer but hoped that somehow he was wrong. After all, if the princess didn't remember her past, then Delfino and its people were doomed.

Iris turned away from the rock reluctantly and sighed. "No. I've given her dreams and visions, but she completely ignores them," she said sadly.

"You're done everything you possibly could do, Iris."

"She turns thirteen tomorrow. If she doesn't remember anything by now, what will she remember by then?"

"She's just a girl," Robbie said defensively.

"She's just a girl on whom the entire population of Delfino depends. This is all--" Iris stopped abruptly.

She had left her sentence incomplete, but Robbie knew what she wanted to say.

"It wasn't your fault, Iris," he said softly.

Iris didn't respond. She turned and walked back to the rock. Robbie rolled his eyes.

"Iris..." he began.

"Wait in the village. Vicky will have to bring her to Delfino if she wants to take her powers."

Robbie suppressed a shudder at the thought of the princess being harmed.

"What are you going to do now?" he asked with a sigh.

"I'm trying again. I'm going to show her the castle on the night that Vicky attacked."

"And how will that help?" Robbie asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm hoping it will help her remember."

"Good luck."

Robbie had no alternative but to wait for the princess. It was a matter of life or death. He watched the setting sun as it sank lower over the horizon, marking the end of another day. And possibly the end of Delfino.