Jemima Pett

The Messenger Misadventures Jemima Pett

In the wilds of north-west Mull, three friends have their duties to the laird of their castle, but it doesn't stop them getting mixed up with myths and legends. Dylan is the messenger, sent off on journeys all over the island to gather information and send the laird's communications to their addressees. Dougall is his brother, a quiet chap with a knack for science, who spends his nights watching the stars with his uncle Hamish. Deirdre is the smith's daughter, and her duties mostly keep her close at home, but she would love to go exploring the island like Dylan. This collection of stories introduces Dylan, in his original guinea pig form; he eventually becomes a key player in the author's Princelings of the East series. In the first tale, Dylan's life is in danger when he discovers something brewing in the hillside, the reason the whole castle is in dire straits. The second story sees Dylan accidentally washed into the sea, and Deirdre using her initiative to find him, with a little help from a mythical friend. The third story brings Dougall to the fore, when he makes friends with a reindeer who has lost his compass, or so he says. And in the final story some mysterious lights on the island of Ulva prove a temptation to Dylan, despite the warnings in an old legend. These four fantasy adventures with guinea pig characters are written for readers aged 8 and upwards. Each runs to about 7,000 words, with 4, 5 or 6 illustrated chapters.