The midwife took the squealing

bundle to the door of the cottage

and held the infant high to see the

lights sparkling in the dark. ‘There,’

she said. ‘That’s for you, my dear, to

welcome you to the world.’

She smiled down at the tiny round face

with its mop of dark hair. Huge eyes

stared back at her, amazed. ‘She’s a

pretty little thing,’ Gilda said. ‘She is

indeed.’ Nessa stroked her baby’s cheek.

‘I’ll name her ‚Tegen‛ – pretty thing.’

For many long years

after Tegen’s birth,

the druids and their

servants looked for a

boy born on the night

the stars had danced.

Dressed in their white

robes of office, they

walked far and wide

through valleys and

over hills.

Tall and lithe, dark-haired and green-

eyed, Tegen ran about her parents’

home, chasing the geese and learning

to work.

‘I want to know where the Star Dancer

is!’ The young man glared down at

Witton. ‘You’ve given us nothing but

promises for years, but he never comes!

They say the only child born that night

is a girl! A female Star Dancer?’ He

clicked his tongue and tapped his head,

making the sign for madness. ‘What will

you think of next?’

‘The Goddess has always honoured

those who act with faith!

Just waiting for a mere child will only

end with us all being slaughtered! Who

knows what the coming evil is?

It may be demons, or it may be the

Romans with their

short swords and shorter skirts that

we hear so much about.

Suddenly Witton raised his staff and

crashed it down between the burning

weapons. ‘Stop it, both of you! Neither

the stars, nor Gorgans are liars. The

child will appear, of that you can be

sure.’

Tegen was afraid.

She stared up at the night sky through

the wind-eye. The constellation of the

Watching Woman burned brightly. It

always seemed to be watching her,

following her;

but was it speaking to her?

It is the end of the Iron Age. In the face of Roman invasion the druids believe a warrior-magician will

appear when the stars dance. Two children are born that night. A girl and a ‘half-

head’ boy.Both are rejected.

As they grow, Tegen and Griff struggle against treachery and malice as they unlock the true magic

that will save Britain.But for Tegen, this is only the beginning …

A rich … shaggily textured tapestry: Daily Telegraph Family Book Club Choice

An absorbing tale: Carousel (editor’s Choice)

A many layered and satisfying tale: Books For Keeps

Rewarding and complex … highly recommended: Book Bag