**Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry again about not updating as I promised… -_-' No excuses this time, just me being lazy… Drat! I keep forgetting to put the disclaimer thing… I don't own Deltora Quest or any of the original characters. Read On!**
Somewhere nearing the outskirts of the Shifting Sands, Jasmine trudged along behind Frederick's wagon. His mood had gotten sour from all the traveling, heat, and discomfort caused by the assignment that the Shadowlord had bestowed upon him. The responsibility was too great for the old man, but he was afraid of the consequences that could follow if he didn't succeed.
He had seen the little moment between Joshua and Jasmine, and he wasn't happy. He had not only forbidden Joshua from looking at her and talking to or about her, but he had chained Jasmine behind the wagon and forced her to walk at the pace of the horse that led them through the desert.
Of course, Jasmine didn't seem as though anything had happened between her and Joshua and she intended to keep her distance from him as long as they were traveling together.
Frederick thought back to a few days ago, trying to remember what Jasmine had said about the King… But what was it? Ah yes, she said that she was in a "relationship" with King Lief. Ha! As if a girl like that could ever make someone love her. But then again… He looked at Joshua; it is possible that it's true… If it was, he was probably looking for her at this very moment.
It was then that he chose to contact another one of his partners, Romilda, the Witch of the Forests.
Pulling out a small shard of glass he chanted, "Powers ultra quaero vobis auxilium! Sed hoc vitrum Romilda et profectum eius indicate mihi! Powers from beyond, I seek your help! Connect this glass with Romilda and show me of her progress!"
As he chanted over and over again, the shard began to shimmer and shine. It began to glow black and red and from it, emerged the ugly face of Romilda.
"What do you want Frederick? Can't you see I'm in the middle of my patrol?" yelled Romilda impatiently. She wanted to at least boil the human she had come across before this old man poked his nose into her business.
"Romilda. I order you to tell me of your progress. Have you caught anyone? And I need you to lure the King of Deltora to your path and hold him there until I come for him, is that clear?" whispered Frederick. Instantly seeing that she was hiding something, he hissed, "show me the inside of your home straightaway. I must see for myself that you are not hiding something."
Knowing that she couldn't get out of this, she confessed, "Ok, ok! I caught a human today who goes by the name of Twig. He claims to have come from Del, but I doubt that he is who he says he is. Describe to me what this King looks like."
Frederick smirked. He knew that he had exactly what he needed, "He is blonde and has blue eyes. He wears a magic cloak and the Belt Of Deltora although it is likely that it is not in his possession at the moment if he is a half-decent king. What does this prisoner of yours have in common with him?"
"He, he fits the description perfectly! Although I have not focused on such a small detail, I am almost certain that the Belt is on his waist! Oh I have caught the King! Just think about how the Shadowlord will praise me! I am sure that he-" she was cut off by Frederick, who was getting very frustrated with the witch.
"I have changed my mind. How fast can you get the boy to my exact location?" demanded Frederick, he was not going to let this opportunity slip by him. This was exactly what his Master wanted! And now he could make it easier for him, he would become a hero!
"Well, I need to know where you are to begin with. My magic can only go so far. It can take anywhere from a few hours, to a few months," said Romilda nervously. She had never had a need to use her magic to transport from one place to another, let alone with another person! She wasn't sure that she could even do it! She broke into a cold sweat at the thought of her punishment.
"I am reaching the edge of the Southeast border of the Shifting Sands. I will soon make it to No-Man's-Land. Hurry up and get him here before I leave the desert."
"I will try my hardest, but I will not promise anything. Good-bye." Romilda slid her fingers over the surface of her shard of glass, blurring the image of Frederick and began walking back to her cottage and a very flustered Lief.