Melisande is the daughter of the king's minstrel and lives among the royal French court. She, like many others, pays little heed to the dire warnings of Nostradamus the soothsayer. Chantelle, Melisande's older sister is betrothed to the handsome courtier Armand, and there is the excitement of the forthcoming wedding to think about. And Melisande is fascinated by the mysterious and silent Melchior, the boy who looks after the king's leopard. Only Catherine de Medici, the king's mother, listens to Nostradamus and fears for the life of her son. But when misfortune befalls Melisande's family and she realizes that it was predicted by Nostradamus, she turns to the soothsayer for help. Upon his death, he leaves Melisande with some papers which hold the secret of the royal line of France - it is up to her to help fulfill Nostradamus's final prophecy but will she have the courage to do so...?

Author Biography

Theresa Breslin is an award-winning Scottish author who is popular with children, librarians and teachers. She won the Carnegie Medal for Whispers in the Graveyard,The Dream Master was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award and Remembrance, a story of youth in World War One, was shortlisted for the South Lanarkshire, the Sheffield, and the North-East Book Awards. Divided City won the North Lanarkshire Children's Book Award in 2006 and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. The Medici Seal was nominated for the 2007 Carnegie Medal. Theresa lives in Glasgow.