I don't own Deltora Quest, BUT I do own Jeeordina and her crew and
anything else that isn't in the previous book that I cant be bothered
mentioning.
Chapter 7-the message
Leif collapsed on the sand. The plains took longer to cross than he had anticipated. He looked around him. The ocean was crashing onto the golden sand, there were a few rocks around and also a few bare trees. Kree settled on a branch and preened his jet-black feathers. Leif got up and began to search for any clue of Jasmine. He trudged up the shore, letting the cool water wash over his boots. He turned his face to the horizon, when something caught his eye. A boat! He ran towards it, Filli chattering in his ear excitedly. The vessel was long and slender, with intricate patterns on its side. Leif could see no paddles around so he suspected it had been washed up on the beach. But it didn't seem like a wreck. He looked inside. There was not much inside. Only a length of rope, a few rocks and a piece of paper rolled up like a scroll. Leif grabbed the paper in curiosity. He unrolled it and gasped in shock as he read the words
Step into this boat king Leif, Or someone you love will come to grief. By magic this boat will leave the sand, I have the power in my hand. If you trust me, only then, Will you see Jasmine ever again.
Leif read the note over and over again, the words passing through his head. He knew he must get into the boat, but he couldn't help feeling afraid. It could very easily be a trap. However, that didn't matter. It was obvious Jasmine was with whoever wrote this message. Therefore, he swallowed and stepped into the slender shape of the boat. Filli whimpered, for he did not trust this boat. Leif barely sat down when the boat began to edge its way towards the waves. The waves were rough close to the shore, but as the boat glided further away it began to get smooth. Leif gazed down into the water; playful little creatures were chasing the boat as it cut through the water. They resembled seahorses, but had long hair and paws with tiny claws on the end. They had small fins instead of arms and their small fat tails helped them keep their balance. Leif laughed as he watched them head butt the boat playfully with their bare little skulls. They tried to keep up with the boat, but their tiny little fins couldn't propel them fast enough, so they stopped and began to swim in circles. Leif smiled as he watched them jump into the air and dive back down, splashing water all over others nearby. Leif thought to himself sadly "if only my people could be that happy and carefree. But while the Shadowlord still lives, there is no way that will be." He thought of the carnival that he left just yesterday; it seemed so much longer than that. Leif looked back, but the creatures were now out of sight. He looked up to the sky to see Kree's black body against the blue sky. He hadn't thought Kree would come, as he was sure it was a long journey to where they were headed. But then again, neither Kree nor Filli would ever go without finding Jasmine. Either would he.
Jasmine's head was spinning, she felt dizzy and suffocated. Although she could breathe Jasmine felt as if she would die. She could not see, smell or hear anything, al her senses were blocked. If anything happened Jasmine would not be able to rely on her senses to get her out of trouble. But they had always been one of Jasmine's best defences. She could hear and smell things before anyone else and her eyesight was sharp as a bird's. But she had a feeling that her captors wouldn't let her be harmed. They needed her, to draw Leif to them. They knew he would be a formidable opponent if he were angry enough. They knew that if Jasmine were injured in any way at all, Leif would be enraged. Jasmine closed her eyes and hoped with all her might that Leif would come, and that no harm would come to him on his way.
Chapter 7-the message
Leif collapsed on the sand. The plains took longer to cross than he had anticipated. He looked around him. The ocean was crashing onto the golden sand, there were a few rocks around and also a few bare trees. Kree settled on a branch and preened his jet-black feathers. Leif got up and began to search for any clue of Jasmine. He trudged up the shore, letting the cool water wash over his boots. He turned his face to the horizon, when something caught his eye. A boat! He ran towards it, Filli chattering in his ear excitedly. The vessel was long and slender, with intricate patterns on its side. Leif could see no paddles around so he suspected it had been washed up on the beach. But it didn't seem like a wreck. He looked inside. There was not much inside. Only a length of rope, a few rocks and a piece of paper rolled up like a scroll. Leif grabbed the paper in curiosity. He unrolled it and gasped in shock as he read the words
Step into this boat king Leif, Or someone you love will come to grief. By magic this boat will leave the sand, I have the power in my hand. If you trust me, only then, Will you see Jasmine ever again.
Leif read the note over and over again, the words passing through his head. He knew he must get into the boat, but he couldn't help feeling afraid. It could very easily be a trap. However, that didn't matter. It was obvious Jasmine was with whoever wrote this message. Therefore, he swallowed and stepped into the slender shape of the boat. Filli whimpered, for he did not trust this boat. Leif barely sat down when the boat began to edge its way towards the waves. The waves were rough close to the shore, but as the boat glided further away it began to get smooth. Leif gazed down into the water; playful little creatures were chasing the boat as it cut through the water. They resembled seahorses, but had long hair and paws with tiny claws on the end. They had small fins instead of arms and their small fat tails helped them keep their balance. Leif laughed as he watched them head butt the boat playfully with their bare little skulls. They tried to keep up with the boat, but their tiny little fins couldn't propel them fast enough, so they stopped and began to swim in circles. Leif smiled as he watched them jump into the air and dive back down, splashing water all over others nearby. Leif thought to himself sadly "if only my people could be that happy and carefree. But while the Shadowlord still lives, there is no way that will be." He thought of the carnival that he left just yesterday; it seemed so much longer than that. Leif looked back, but the creatures were now out of sight. He looked up to the sky to see Kree's black body against the blue sky. He hadn't thought Kree would come, as he was sure it was a long journey to where they were headed. But then again, neither Kree nor Filli would ever go without finding Jasmine. Either would he.
Jasmine's head was spinning, she felt dizzy and suffocated. Although she could breathe Jasmine felt as if she would die. She could not see, smell or hear anything, al her senses were blocked. If anything happened Jasmine would not be able to rely on her senses to get her out of trouble. But they had always been one of Jasmine's best defences. She could hear and smell things before anyone else and her eyesight was sharp as a bird's. But she had a feeling that her captors wouldn't let her be harmed. They needed her, to draw Leif to them. They knew he would be a formidable opponent if he were angry enough. They knew that if Jasmine were injured in any way at all, Leif would be enraged. Jasmine closed her eyes and hoped with all her might that Leif would come, and that no harm would come to him on his way.