The Star Bracelet

by Paula Harrison

Amina’s shoulders drooped. She wished she could go and see the tiger first. She’d seen deer and monkeys near the palace before, but never a tiger.

  Rani noticed her disappointed face.

  “Maybe Amina could pick some flowers from the garden to decorate the tables?” she said. “Perhaps some of those pink and white lilies.”

  Amina perked up. If she was picking flowers in the garden, then she could sneak a look over the wall with her binoculars at the same time. She looked hopefully at her aunt.

  Queen Keshi nodded. “Just make sure you pick plenty, and don’t forget to put them in water so that they last until the wedding. And don’t get dirt under your fingernails!” And she swept back up the steps.

  Rani gave Amina a quick grin and followed her mum.

  Amina hurried through the archway, grateful that Rani had found her a reason to be out in the garden. She was also glad that the queen hadn’t noticed her binoculars as she would have wanted to know what Amina was up to.

  She walked down to the side gate and climbed the stone steps that led up to the top of the high wall. There was a walkway there that the guards used when they were patrolling. Amina leaned her elbows on the stone and lifted the undamaged part of the binoculars to one eye.

  The Palace of Kamala stood on top of a hill. The countryside spread out below, full of grass and rocks and bushes. A sparkling river wound its way through the middle and purple mountains rose in the distance.

  Amina scanned the tall grass near the river. At first, she couldn’t see the tiger and she began to wonder if it had disappeared among the bushes. Then a sudden movement caught her eye.

  A large tiger with bold black stripes walked proudly along the river bank and lifted its head to look around. It had a white mark on its nose.

  For a moment, Amina wondered if she should have told her aunt about the tiger. Queen Keshi loved animals and had even set up a wildlife hospital on the far side of the palace grounds so that any sick animals could be cared for. But lately it had been difficult talking to her aunt because she was so busy thinking about Rani’s wedding.

  As Amina watched the beautiful tiger, she noticed a patch of long grass begin to quiver. Two more animals with orange and black stripes sprang out and galloped down the river bank. These tigers were much smaller. They chased each other playfully and tumbled over into the grass.

  Copyright

  First published in the UK in 2018 by Nosy Crow Ltd

  The Crow’s Nest, 14 Baden Place,

  Crosby Row, London SE1 1YW

  Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered

  trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd

  Text © Paula Harrison, 2018

  Cover illustration © Sharon Tancredi, 2018

  Interior illustrations © Artful Doodlers, 2018

  The right of Paula Harrison to be identified as the author of this work

  has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs

  and Patents Act, 1988

  All rights reserved

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  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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  ISBN: 978 0 85763 987 5

  eISBN: 978 0 85763 988 2

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