City of the rats. Emily Rodda. 2000.

Lief, Barda and Jasmine - companions with nothing in common but their hatred of the enemy-are on a perilous quest to see the seven lost gems of the magic Belt of Deltora. Only when the Belt is complete once more can the evil Shadow Lord be overthrown.

They have succeeded in finding the golden topaz and the great Ruby. The two gems’ mysterious powers have strengthened them and given them the courage to move on in their search of the third stone. But none of them can k own what horrors await them in the Forbidden City of the Rats.