Lief scratched his parched throat. They had been travelling for five days, water was going quickly in the heavy heat. Kree was flying ahead, looking for any sign of water. "Why are we doing this again?" Jasmine asked Barda, who was obviously annoyed. "Sharn needs that flower." Barda grumbled. "That's the seventh time you've asked me." Jasmine ignored him and kept walking. Lief glanced at Barda. He was right. His mother did need that flower, and the only way they could get to it was by foot. Suddenly, Kree's distant terrified squawks made everyone very alert. Lief drew his sword and held his breath. Then, just as quickly as they were heard, the squawks stopped. Jasmine's eyes widened as she opened her mouth to yell to Kree. Barda clasped a hand over her mouth quickly to avoid alerting what ever was out there. Jasmine struggled, but couldn't get out of Barda's grasp. A loud shout was heard, and a net fell on Lief. Then a bigger one fell on Barda. Suddenly all was black.
The aroma of a feast wafted into Lief's nose and caused him to stir. He was in a small bed in a hut. As reflex, his hands flew around his waist to check that the belt was still there. He exhaled in relief when he felt the leather under his fingers. Lief frowned. Barda and Jasmine were nowhere within Lief's vision. He quietly slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the door, only to find them sleeping in front of the bed on the ground. Barda was already awake. "Best not wake Jasmine," He hushed when he saw Lief. "She needs the rest." Lief nodded and gestured for Barda to follow him. Barda gave him a quizzical look, but stood up silently and followed him anyway. Lief popped his head around the door. They weren't in the desert anymore, but on a grassy plain next to a large mountain. Huge Valkeries seemed to be gathered around an odd-shaped table, feasting on squirrel. "We might be next..." Lief breathed to Barda. Jasmine groaned loudly and turned over in her sleep. Lief's eyes widened at the noise. Jasmine! He thought angrily. The Valkeries turned, glaring at Lief and Barda with their narrow, emotionless black eyes. Barda quickly slipped back in the tent, but Lief stared back at them. "Hello." He said, choosing his words carefully, as if he said the wrong thing, they might attack. "I am Lief of Del, with my friends Barda of Del and Jasmine of The Forest." They stared blankly at him. "And we need to reach that mountain." He pointed to the mountain behind them, but they did not turn, they kept their gaze fixed on Lief's belt. Lief made a grab for the belt. What would they possibly want with my belt? Slowly, he reached for the emerald. It had paled a quite dull colour.
The Emerald, talisman and treasure of the Dread Gnomes, dulls in the presence of evil, and when a vow is broken. It is a remedy for sores and ulcers, and is an antidote to poison. It symbolizes Honor.
It is surely a dull colour, but not in the presence of the Valkeries... Lief frowned. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
