Imagine a city. A place where respectable men and women rub shoulders with thieves and madmen. A place where two runaway children can easily be lost among the smoke and grime.

But beneath this city there is another world. A world of Courts and Warriors, where the rat Kingdom is ruled by the great King Tzuriel.

This world is about to end.And it all starts with a young ratling called Efren...

Terence Blacker is a columnist for the Independent and has written many books for adults and children. He is an active member of English PEN. www.terenceblacker.com