Chapter 10: Beginning of the End

Doom

Doom stood silent in the doorway of his daughter's "room", the indoor forests that the Ralad men had created. She was studying a large, age-wizened map spread on the dirt before her, her face resting in her palms.

"Are you here for something, Doom?" she asked, her eyes not leaving the map.

Doom's scarred face twitched as he held back a smile.

"Aah… so you did notice me. I'd…taught you well, did I not?"

Jasmine said nothing, as her finger traced a certain route carefully, the paper rustling as she did so.

Doom stepped in, his boots making footprints in the damp dirt where he tread.

"Prepared for the journey ahead?"

Jasmine folded the map, and tucked it under her shirt.

"I am now." She said, standing. Gone was the formal attire the palace denizens were required to dress in. Black pants that made no noise when she moved, and a loose-fitting shirt that could hide most of her weapons covered her slim frame. She wore no shoes, her feet relishing in the feel of the soft black soil on the ground.

Doom looked her up and down. "Tell me how you intend to go about this mission."

Jasmine gave him a sideways look, wearied by the tone of his voice.

"This master…Jaykes. He is a rich businessman on the outskirts of Del. I can find him easily, with a horse to ride, and a few days travel." She said.

Doom nodded. "Then, what will you do?"

Jasmine stood tall.

"I sneak into his mansion or whatever he lives in. I find the servant-boy, steal him from the palace and bring him back here, to Del. I am sure he will give us the answers we seek as repayment for freeing him from his slavery – and what are you smiling about?"

Doom leaned against a tree trunk casually, his arms folded.

"Jasmine, you most likely could defeat all the guards-in-training at the Palace of Del..." He held up a hand to silence her noise of protest.

"…and perhaps a few of the Guards at the Palace as well. Your knowledge of surviving alone outsmarts all in the land of Del…"

He smiled wryly

"…perhaps even to equal mine. And your loyalty to the King…"

Jasmine's face became passive.

"…Is unrivaled. However, you know very little of the ways of the wealthy and the goings of city-folk."

Jasmine shrugged.

"Why should I have to know of the ways of the softened city-folk? I have no intention to live like one of those perfume-scented, money-wasting, labor-ignorant fools."

"True." Said Doom. "But if you intend to retrieve the slave-boy, you must understand a few things. First, there is no way for you to sneak into that mansion undetected."

Jasmine began to speak, but Doom cut her off.

"You are talented, Jasmine, but not talented enough. The guards of Del are improving, and I doubt even you could sneak in without detection. These people protect their King from the loyalty of their hearts." Doom's face darkened.

"But outside of Del, the grip of greed has a great hold upon the hearts of men. Those rich enough can attain a great deal of protection. Perhaps even to rival that of the Palace."

Jasmine's eyes narrowed.

"But this is the King. Would he not have the greatest security?"

"That is the mind-works of logic. The answer is no. Especially concerning this merchant, Jaykes. He is not merely a businessman, Jasmine."

Doom frowned.

"There are rumors that he had workings with the Shadowlord, Jasmine. But we cannot arrest him without proof. He is a dangerous man. I've heard he has workings in black magic, and evil sorcery. His guards may not be wielding swords and spears, but perhaps something much more…deadly."

Jasmine frowned.

"And Lief does not know of this, does he?"

Doom shrugged.

"He has less experience in eavesdropping and…acquiring…knowledge from informants." His sadistic smile was made Jasmine uneasy.

"But no. Not even he knows of the true danger of this master Jaykes. If he had, I highly doubt he would have sent you. You are too…valuable to him."

Jasmine avoided his gaze.

"But you think I can accomplish this mission nonetheless?" She asked

"With some training, yes." Doom replied. "Give me one week, and I can get you into that mansion. But…" His eyes were opaque, unreadable.

"Not without some…sacrifice, Jasmine."

"Sacrifice?" Jasmine repeated, her voice cautious.

"Trust me, Jasmine. As your…father…" The words sounded strange from his lips, alien, as if he was unsure how to pronounce them. His eyes clouded, and for a split second, the first signs of fatherly emotion passed his face. But the moment passed.

"…I do not like this plan any more than you will. But, the information to be acquired is of utmost importance, and the job cannot be done by as easily without you."

Jasmine nodded. "Then the sacrifice, however great, will be worth it. What is your plan?" She stepped forwards.

Doom smiled sadly.

"Brave words, but only because you do not understand what the sacrifice shall be."

Jasmine shrugged.

"I am sure I will have been through worse, as we have once faced the Shadowlord, have we not?"

Doom nodded.

"Know that Lief would most likely banish me as my punishment for even suggesting the very thought of this. He knows nothing as to what I am to ask you, Jasmine."

Jasmine nodded.

"Of course."

Doom looked at her carefully, then leaned down, whispering.

Jasmine's eyes widened, and a look of utmost horror crossed her face.

"Surely…there is another way?" She gasped.

Doom shook his head, his grim expression giving way to a hint of amusement.

Dain

Dain was back in his cell. It was as barren as before, except for a padded mattress, courtesy of King Lief. Dain sat on the edge of the mattress, staring at his hands, his brow furrowed in concentration.

For a moment, the fair skin on his hands rippled, becoming paler and paler, till it became a milky white. Then, Dain gasped, falling back on the mattress, and the paleness faded back to skin.

Dain laid there, panting, eyes screwed shut.

"I'm a doomed…" he whispered to himself.

"No shapeshifting…No way out, and no way to speak to my Master." His eyes flew wide open.

"That would mean…he is coming here."

"No, fool."

Dain leapt sat up, his head spinning as he did so. A small figure stood there, arms folded, leaning against the prison walls casually. In the dimly lit room, Dain could not see his face.

"The Shadowlord is much smarter than you, apparently. He cannot enter Deltora with the belt here. That is why we exist, Dain." The voice was wrong, unnatural. It was high, too young, that of a child. But the words the voice formed…were not from the innocence of a child.

The figure stepped out from the shadows, and Dain saw a small boy, with big, innocent blue eyes, and a small mop of straw-colored hair. But his smile, like his voice, was wrong, it was the smile of a crazed murderer, with not pity or human emotion.

"Hello, Dain." The boy said in his sweet voice. "I take it that you will not know who I am. Well, who I am now, that is. I used to be that useless accomplice of yours, Skaenir. But no more."

Dain stared at him, uncomprehending.

"Don't you remember, your partner in training? Skaenir, the Ol constantly falling second best to you, always jealous of your natural talent?" The boy smile became a leer.

"As you should know, Ols become more and more powerful with each time they are reformed. The Level one Ols are the base Ols, only able to transform to trifle creatures and are unable to maintain a different form for too long. The more they are recreated, used by a human sacrifice, and the destruction of an Ol, a new Ol is reborn, stronger than the last. You, Dain were one of the best, having been "recycled" forty-nine times. Skaenir was your brother in creation, so to speak. But after his last blunder, he has been reborn." The boy spread his arms, lifting his head, eyes turning red. His voice screeched in the voice of an Ol.

"I am Torem, and I have been recreated for the fiftieth time. Now I am the strongest servant to our Master." His head swiveled, the ends of his fingers smoking as he stared at Dain.

"Stronger, Dain, than even you, once the Master's most prized servant. But no more."

The smoke traveled up his arms, down his legs, engulfing his face; what the smoke touched, became grey and ethereal.

The boy's face disappeared, with only his eyes remaining, as red pinpoints in the mist. A hideous cackle sounded as he spoke.

"Dainny, Dainny." Said Skaenir's voice. "Even as an Ol you would be no match for me, but as a human, you are like dust at my feet." The smoke swooped down, covering the horrified Dain like a blanket.

Dain choked as his breath was abruptly cut off. Something white-hot was trickling down his throat, forcing itself up his nostrils, burning his ears. He screamed, but he couldn't tell if any noise was made.

"Dain, you foolish boy…" said the creature in his head. "All of Deltora will soon fall to our Master."

Grr… Not liking how Jasmine is turning out in my stories, she is turning more and more into a Mary-sue… How did Emily Rodda do it? Anyway, hope you guys enjoy, though it's not particularly exciting. More action coming up in my next chapter, so keep reading! Thanks so much for all the reviews, suggestions and encouragements I've received! Keep commenting~