THE POTION DIARIES: ROYAL TOUR ***excerpt***

Chapter Two!

'Ready?' Princess Evelyn squeezes my hand as she leads me out of the make-up room and towards the studio. The set-up is a cosy living room: two pale pink, crushed-velvet sofas are angled slightly towards each other, a low mahogany coffee table in front of them, all perched on top of a richly knotted oriental carpet. If it weren't for the array of cameras facing the sofas and the bright lights, I could have been round for tea at someone's house. A very rich person's house.

Evelyn's hand slips from mine as she extends it towards the presenter who comes forward to greet us. I wipe my sweating palms on my cotton dress. I wish I'd been allowed to wear my jeans.

Chamomile and valerian tea – a calming potion to relax the nerves, boost confidence and soothe anxiety. 

My second wish? That I could run home and take some calming potion now, but it's too late for that.

The presenter turns to me, and I swear her eyes have actually morphed into stars after her close encounter with the Princess. She looks dazed as she focuses on me, but maybe it's me who is not seeing straight – I can't believe that I'm actually meeting the people I've watched almost every weekday since I can remember. Their morning cast has become part of our daily routine, as comforting as a cup of coffee and a bowl of honey-nut cereal. Except now they want to interview me. Well, me, Princess Evelyn and Zain. I picture my family all squished around our kitchen table, angling for the best view of the television. It's pretty surreal. 

'So nice to finally meet you, Sam!' says the female presenter. Up close, she has the bounciest blonde hair and the whitest teeth I have ever seen. 

'Thanks for having me, Ms Carter,' I reply, trying my hardest to calm my shaking fingers. 

'Call me Annie! How are you feeling? Any nerves?' 

'Maybe a few . . .' I say, but I'm interrupted by the male presenter, Mike Evans. My first impression is surprise: he is so much shorter in real life than he looks onscreen. I tower over him by a good head-and-neck. 

'Nervous? This girl, who faced down enemies of our country and came out a winner?' He claps me on the shoulder. 'Impossible.' 

Someone behind us calls out 'thirty seconds' and there's a mad rush as we all get into place. I'm sandwiched onto one sofa between evelyn and zain, while the presenters take up their position opposite us. 

'Remember,' Evelyn leans over and whispers to me, 'focus on the presenters, not the cameras. This is just a normal conversation. Act natural. And cross your legs at the ankle, not the knee.' I adjust my legs, and before I know it I hear 'Three . . . two . . .' and Mike turns to the nearest camera and begins his introduction. 

'Princess Evelyn hit the headlines this year when she fell gravely ill, initiating the first Wilde Hunt in Nova for over fifty years. After a nail-biting and often dangerous search for the cure, the Hunt was won by young Samantha Kemi, an apprentice alchemist from right here in Kingstown. The two of them join us now, alongside Zain Aster, who was runner-up in the Hunt along with his father, Zol Aster, CEO of ZoroAster Corp. Now, your Highness, first of all, how are you feeling?'

'I'm pleased to say that I'm one hundred per cent better, thanks to my friend Sam,' Princess Evelyn says, angling her head towards me. She sits with natural grace on the sofa, her head held high. I straighten my spine in response, trying not to slouch. The muscles in my back and shoulders twinge. My normal position is hunched over a mixing bowl – or maybe my laptop – not rod-straight in front of a television camera. 

As Evelyn and the two presenters continue to chat, my eyes dart around the studio. The lights shining down onto the sofa are so bright, I can't see much beyond the cameras without squinting. Except I know that scrunching my face up live on national TV is probably not the best way to present myself. I try a more neutral expression. I feel a small but purposeful pressure on my big toe and I frown – but then I catch Annie Carter's eye. She's looking at me expectantly, like she's waiting for something from me.