Disclaimer: Deltora Quest and all affiliated indicia are the sole property of Emily Rodda.

Hello all! How are we? I decided I wanted a second big project, like Days of Darkness, to keep me occupied. Don't worry, I'm still working on Days of Darkness, but it was my first fic, so isn't all too great. Now, with a bit more wisdom, I am attempting a second epic, and praying that it won't end up being too painful. Hope you enjoy!

This story begins after the return from Hira, before anyone is married or even engaged. I've split it into five parts, which can be treated as five books for the 'series'. The parts each have six chapters in them, so at the end of every sixth chapter, there will be a minor conclusion of some sort, if you know what I mean.

THE FOUR TALISMANS

Part 1: The Cave of the Wennbar

Chapter 1: Discontent

Lief gazed at the crowd flocking around the three dragons. The young children ran up with wonder, a few adults joined them, but most kept their distance, offering nervous smiles from their places by the base of the hill. He glanced at Barda, a weary, yet relieved expression on the older man's face. Lief looked over his shoulder, to where two young children were demanding Jasmine's attention. A warm smile radiated from her face as she laughed with them. As though she felt Lief's eyes on her, she turned to him, and smiled. All will be well now, her smile seemed to say.

Lief offered a small smile in return, and quickly turned his head back to focus in front of himself, and frowned. All will be well now. Why did he have trouble accepting those words? Deltora was free from the Shadow Lord, his last traces removed. All the Deltorans who had been in the Shadowlands were returned home long ago, and it seemed as though everyone was happy. Everyone except Lief. In the end, it had all happened so fast. Lief tried to convince himself that was the reason why he felt discontent.

"King Lief! King Lief!" Lief felt a small hand tugging at his sleeve. Confused, he looked down. One of the small children who had been playing with Jasmine was grinning up at him.

"Yes?" He asked, surprised at how tired he sounded.

"My name is Darius," the young boy grinned. Gesturing behind him to the girl who was dragging Jasmine towards him and Lief, he continued. "And she is my sister, Merriel."

Jasmine was now next to Lief, Darius and Merriel standing in front of the, grinning. Jasmine smiled apologetically and shrugged her shoulders.

"We were wondering," Merriel piped up, in a small voice. "When you were going to marry Lady Jasmine."

Lief felt his face burn, and turned to see Jasmine's reaction. She was laughing.

"Lief and I are not going to marry," Jasmine told the two siblings. "We are just good friends, is that not right, Lief?"

Lief felt his face drop, and quickly struggled to return a smile to it. "It is very true, Jasmine," he murmured, and then smiled down at the children. He bowed quickly, and left to find Sharn. He did not get far before the villagers, still carefully avoiding the dragons, rushed up to thank and congratulate him.

Every so often, Lief would glance over his shoulder to where Jasmine stood, and she was always talking to some new person. Once Darius and Merriel had left her, Shoban, son of the Del's baker, approached her and was talking animatedly whilst Jasmine smiled. Lief felt a twang of jealousy, and quickly returned his attention to the latest grateful Deltoran. When that person had moved on, Lief chanced another look over his shoulder, and saw Jasmine now talking to a young fisherman by the name of Jonn. Lief felt another surge of jealousy, but this time a chest pain accompanied it. I must not be faring too well, he thought. Perhaps I should retire for the night.

Lief sought out Sharn, and told her that he was returning to the forge to sleep. Sharn nodded quickly, and assured him she would sort out things here. Hazarding one more look in Jasmine's direction, Lief felt his heart sink. She was still talking to Jonn.

☼ ☼ ☼

Lief rose late the next morning. He had slept well during the night, but his dreams were unsettling. He felt the dread sense that all was not as it should be. I am just being paranoid, he thought. There is nothing hindering the land by way of the Shadow Lord, yet I cannot believe it to be so simple.

In need of a good feed, Lief trudged up the road to the palace, where he intended to eat breakfast. As soon as he entered the entrance hall, he wished he had not. Barda and Lindal stood there – Lindal's hands in Barda's. Hoping they had not yet noticed him, he slunk through the room, back pressed against the wall. As soon as he had made it to the corridor, he let out a breath he did not realise he had been holding. They had been too absorbed in each other to notice him. He continued down the corridor until he had made it to the kitchens.

It appeared he had been expected, as his place was set out, as always, at the head of the table, food waiting to be eaten.

"Good morning, Lief," Sharn smiled at her son. "You should have come earlier. Barda, Jasmine and Lindal have already left."

"It is alright – I passed them on my way."

"Oh, did you?" Sharn raised another spoonful of her soup to her lips.

"Yes, they appeared to be in good spirits," Lief grimaced as he suddenly realised the meaning behind Jasmine's rush. She was probably going to visit Jonn.

Soon the kitchen emptied out, and Lief was the sole diner. He was eating terribly slowly, but he did not feel entirely hungry. The thought that something was terribly wrong continue to nag at his mind.

Bodies, littering the street. Lief walked it, lonely. He passed the bodies of the ones he loved – Sharn, Barda, Doom...Jasmine...

Lief heard a cry of anguish. His own. His eyes sprung open, and he found he was still in the palace kitchen. His breathing was heavy, and a sweat had broken out on his forehead.

"Lief?" Barda was at the door, Lindal peering over his shoulder at Lief. "What is the problem?"

"No problem," Lief offered a half smile. "I must not have slept for long enough, and my nightmares still linger."

"Maybe you should return to the forge for more sleep," Lindal replied, trying to be helpful.

Lief was a little taken aback. In the past, Lindal would have teased him. But now – especially at this moment – she appeared to be more inclined to be tender. Possibly a reflection of her feelings, Lief thought. Then he smiled.

"I might do just that," he said, getting to his feet. "I will leave you and Barda in peace." He smiled knowingly at them before walking past them, through the door. He headed up the great marble staircase, towards the second floor, where his old bedchamber was. Perhaps all he needed was more sleep, then the nagging feeling would leave him.

☼ ☼ ☼

Barda sat with Lindal in the kitchen. Neither was talking. All they needed was each other's company, and they were content. Barda reached for Lindal's hand again, and she smiled at him. Usually, they would be teasing each other, laughing, but now, both were just relieved the other was still alive and that they could spend some time together. They stayed this way, silent, sitting side-by-side, for a long time, before anyone came looking for them.

"Barda, Lindal," Jasmine smiled, taking a seat opposite them. "I am not interrupting, am I?"

"Of course not," Barda straightened up hastily, as Lindal laughed.

"Are you in search of a meal?" she asked.

"No, just came in search of company," Jasmine smiled.

"It would do some good if you went and woke Lief. He has been sleeping like a bub for hours, and it is high time he got up."

Jasmine smiled at Barda's request, and bowed her head slightly before leaving the kitchen again.

☼ ☼ ☼

Lief was walking, trudging down the street. Barda was in front of him, Jasmine a fair bit back. Sharn by his side. He heard an anguished cry from a house not far off. Another one, he thought. Another death. No one knew what was causing these deaths; no one knew how to cure them. That was what Barda had told him. Lief could see the man in front of him, lines of grief etched on his face. Now the procession entered the palace. Barda cried out. It was as they feared. Lindal lay, lifeless, on the entrance hall floor...

"Lief!"

Lief opened his bleary eyes. Jasmine was standing next to his bed, gently shaking him.

"Lief, I said it is time to get up! Barda says you have been sleeping for hours."

"I am getting up, Jasmine," he answered sleepily. He stood, and swayed on the spot. After he settled, he flashed Jasmine a small smile, and gestured for her to lead the way.

Okay. Pointless chapter. No story. No cliff-hanger. Really short. Quite short. Unfortunately, I don't possess the superior talent of Emily Rodda to put a massive cliff-hanger into the first chapter, LoL, so this is just how it will have to be. I promise the next chapter will be better; I just forgot how hard it was to actually start a new story, LoL. I hope you enjoyed it! Please review if you have the time!

:D Susie :D