1- Ak-Baba
The music was filling Lief's mind stronger now. Maybe it was because the Pipe was finally complete now? Or is it because the Pipe is nearing it's home-place, the current Shadowlands. The former Pirra.
"So how are we going to deal with the belt?" Jasmine asked dryly. She was still angry with Lief for being very secretive.
Lief paused. He hasn't thought of this before. Because if he leaves the belt here, Deltora would be in danger while he's in the Shadowlands. But if he stopped here and not enter the Shadowlands, what would his people in there think of him? An unworthy king? History would definitely repeat itself. And not just that. Barda and Jasmine would end up dead even before they take their 2nd step on Shadow grounds.
Suddenly, while he was pondering this, a great black bird dimmed the sky.
"Run for cover!" Barda cried, "It's an Ak-Baba!"
They looked around for any hiding place, but could only see plain ahead.
"Lief, your cloak!" Jasmine yelled. "It may cover us well. An Ak-Baba couldn't see well in broad daylight!"
Lief untied his cloak that has covered them up well on more than 1 occasion. Barda and Jasmine quickly threw the cloak around them and all 3 huddled together, hoping against hopes that the Ak-Baba wouldn't see them.
And Jasmine was right. The Ak-Baba just flew on ahead towards north in great speed.
"It's like he's in haste," Barda muttered. "Maybe delivering a message to the Shadow Lord."
"Whatever he's delivering, it looks like the Shadow Lord is planning to attack us again," said Lief. His heart was heavy. For if the Shadow Lord attacks Deltora, he has to be here to defend it.
Jasmine seemed to be reading his mind. "So, you're going to leave us to defend Deltora," she said softly. Lief turned to look at her, but her head was looking away from him.
"We shall see," said Lief, "We would decide what to do when we've arrived at the borders."
"The Ak-Baba is out of sight now," Barda said. He threw the cloak off him and stood up. "I don't like this plain. It's like the savage land of the City of the Rats, but this one's worse. I feel like 100 eyes are watching my back. We could be easily seen from the sky!"
Lief took the cloak of Jasmine and offered his hand. Jasmine look at it, then turned away. "I know how to get up," she snapped.
Lief stared in skepticism. Why, he only offered his hand, that's all.
The music was filling Lief's mind stronger now. Maybe it was because the Pipe was finally complete now? Or is it because the Pipe is nearing it's home-place, the current Shadowlands. The former Pirra.
"So how are we going to deal with the belt?" Jasmine asked dryly. She was still angry with Lief for being very secretive.
Lief paused. He hasn't thought of this before. Because if he leaves the belt here, Deltora would be in danger while he's in the Shadowlands. But if he stopped here and not enter the Shadowlands, what would his people in there think of him? An unworthy king? History would definitely repeat itself. And not just that. Barda and Jasmine would end up dead even before they take their 2nd step on Shadow grounds.
Suddenly, while he was pondering this, a great black bird dimmed the sky.
"Run for cover!" Barda cried, "It's an Ak-Baba!"
They looked around for any hiding place, but could only see plain ahead.
"Lief, your cloak!" Jasmine yelled. "It may cover us well. An Ak-Baba couldn't see well in broad daylight!"
Lief untied his cloak that has covered them up well on more than 1 occasion. Barda and Jasmine quickly threw the cloak around them and all 3 huddled together, hoping against hopes that the Ak-Baba wouldn't see them.
And Jasmine was right. The Ak-Baba just flew on ahead towards north in great speed.
"It's like he's in haste," Barda muttered. "Maybe delivering a message to the Shadow Lord."
"Whatever he's delivering, it looks like the Shadow Lord is planning to attack us again," said Lief. His heart was heavy. For if the Shadow Lord attacks Deltora, he has to be here to defend it.
Jasmine seemed to be reading his mind. "So, you're going to leave us to defend Deltora," she said softly. Lief turned to look at her, but her head was looking away from him.
"We shall see," said Lief, "We would decide what to do when we've arrived at the borders."
"The Ak-Baba is out of sight now," Barda said. He threw the cloak off him and stood up. "I don't like this plain. It's like the savage land of the City of the Rats, but this one's worse. I feel like 100 eyes are watching my back. We could be easily seen from the sky!"
Lief took the cloak of Jasmine and offered his hand. Jasmine look at it, then turned away. "I know how to get up," she snapped.
Lief stared in skepticism. Why, he only offered his hand, that's all.