Disclaimer: I don't own the Deltora Quest I'm just a really big fan!!
Author's note: Ok, if I type too much in here I'll forget what I was going to write and…yeah. So enjoy and please review!!!
The Underground of Hope
- Black Fury
2 – Arguments
Jasmine stormed out of the palace doors for probably the third time that day. Why wouldn't Lief listen to her? Why must he insist that he is right? Why must he be so stubborn?
She crossed the lush green grass of the palace gardens and jumped quickly up the fine oak tree that stood in the gardens middle.
It had been a silly argument, yes, but Lief just didn't understand. He was too absorbed in the creation of the eighth volume of the Deltora Annals to listen.
This book was to contain the adventures and information they had gathered in there adventures. It was to be written by Lief, Barda and herself. But Jasmine would have no part in. As she had told Lief, time and time again. To recount their journeys and precious information into a large well known book which would be read by many people would be stupid, if not dangerous. Jasmine clenched her fists as she remembered the convocation.
'Danger? How can it be dangerous to write what we have done in a book? You should be proud, Jasmine.' Lief had inquired.
'Don't you see? Anyone could pick that book up and read it!' She hissed, 'A follower of the Shadow Lord could just grab that book easy as you please! Discovering exactly how we saved Deltora and rescued the slaves! They could study such a book and learn their faults! Learn how they could beat us!'
'You shouldn't worry so much Jasmine,' Lief frowned, 'The Shadow Lord is no more and his followers dead, you saw it Jasmine, you were there!'
'I saw nothing of the sort! The Keras' took us back to their land before we could make sure! How can you say the Shadow Lord is dead? We were plunged into water!' She snapped.
Lief stood up, angrily.
'The music of the Pirran Pipe defeated him! He dared not attack while I or Emlis played! He knew he would be destroyed! And his followers were writhing in pain and dieing, even before we disappeared!'
She sighed.
'I'm just saying that it's possible that he is alive and well and plotting against, so I just don't think we should get our hopes up.'
'What more do you want? His head on a platter? Of course we can't see him die! You ask too much Jasmine! It's almost as if you want him to rise again!' Lief had shouted.
Jasmine, had stared at Lief with her cold green eyes before she'd turned and left.
She tightened her grip around the tree branch as Filli poked his he out of Jasmines collar. She unconsciously stroked his head, deep in thought. She didn't know why she couldn't just sink into the bliss that all was well. She didn't know why she believed the Shadow Lord was alive; she had no proof…but then as she had said there was no proof that said that he was died either. She just had a gut feeling that all was not as well as it seemed.
It's almost as if you want him to rise again
Those words stuck in her mind and would not be drifted aside. Maybe she deep down did want him to come back. The palace was such a boring place, without a little something to worry about, something not petty like the annals that is.
She sighed and tried to put it behind her but she could not. Her anger had left her now but her thoughts still swam through her head. The Pirran Pipe and the Belt had both kept the Shadow Lord at bay…
With a pang she remembered the adventures that belt had coursed.
Lief had the belt, with the gems, if he was ever angry or annoyed he could touch one of the gems and be soothed. It had accrued to Jasmine that Lief simply did not want to believe that the Shadow Lord was alive, but that just didn't seem like Lief at all. Lief would have thought it over and searched for the possible truth in her words. So Lief must believe that all was well.
The sunlight shone across her arm, warming her. She closed her eyes trying to relax, think clearly, trying to not think anymore of the Shadow Lord. An image of the Belt of Deltora, floated across her mind, dreamily she took in the colours of the gems, each holding a great power and meaning…She snapped out of her thoughts immediately. Why had it not crossed her mind before? It was there, plain as day yet no book had even revealed it.
How had the gems come to be?
Of course, Jasmine thought, they came from the seven tribes, but how did these tribes get their hands on such power? How was it that the jewels were found and where was it that they were? If the power of seven of these gems could send the Shadow Lord back to his land then, if more did exist, what could ten or so do?
Lief bent over the books and paper, which lay before him. The library wasn't as quiet as normal. Josef was shelving books, muttering and talking to him self, Ranesh and Marilen were sitting at a table not too far away from him and giggling and laughing. How could he think?
His eyes were sore from staring at papers and parchments and his hand tired from writing out drafts for volume eight of the Deltora Annals and the knowledge that Jasmine had stormed off angry at him was nagging at his mind. His thoughts were not giving him peace.
He leant back in his chair and touched the belt, his fingers brushing the golden Topaz. His mind sharpened and focused upon a single thought. Where had Jasmine gone? She was not likely to leave the palace grounds but she had fooled him before. He did not think he should go and find her, but he did relish the idea of stretching his legs. He stood slowly, his bones aching from staying in the same position for some time. He stretched a bit then turned to leave.
'Finished so soon Lief?' A voice from behind sounded.
Lief turned back around and saw it was Marilen.
'No, unfortunately not. I'm just having a break.' Lief answered.
'Ok, go find Jasmine then.' Marilen smiled.
'I wasn't planning to.' Lief sighed and left before she could continue, he did not feel like talking to her at the moment.
He nodded stiffly to the two's guards and passed though quickly. Maybe he'd find something to eat or drink. He's throat was quite parched and his stomach grumbled.
His pace quickened as he moved down the stairs. He slowed again as he saw a friendly face.
'Back so soon, Drahen?' Lief smiled, staring at the boy only two years his elder. The boys face peered around from some books he was carrying and smiled.
'Yes, my mother was not as sick as she made out to be,' Drahen smiled, 'I guess she enjoys the attention, anyway, Lief! How are you? Is volume eight coming along?'
Drahen was the new library assistant for Josef, ever since the Shadow Lord had been defeated. He replaced Ranesh's jobs most of the time, as Ranesh had become to…busy.
'I'm fine, I guess. But the book isn't. We may have covered in draft the quest for this belt but the quest for the pipe has been barely begun.' Lief sighed.
Drahen nodded, understanding.
'Well, as much as I'd like to chat, Josef will get impatient if I don't get these to him. See you some other time then.' He smiled and began to walk passed Lief.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed some blood stained bandages wrapped on his arm.
'Drahen, you're hurt!' He exclaimed.
Drahen noticeably winced as he was reminded, almost as if remembering the pain it had given him.
'The dark lord might no longer exist, but thieves and pirates still do,' He continued gruffly, 'I had a rather nasty run in with one on my way back from Rithmere.'
'Do want some help there then?' Lief inquired, never feeling less helpful in his live.
But Drahen must have seen it in his eyes for he smiled.
'I think I will manage, you run along and find something to do.' He stated.
Lief nodded then as he turned to go down the stairs, a question struck his mind.
'You haven't seen Jasmine have you?' He inquired.
'Ah, so it is the young lady you seek,' Drahen's smile returned, 'She is the wild haired girl with the black bird is she not?'
Lief nodded quickly.
'I think I might have seen her at the front of the palace - up an oak tree if I'm correct.' He raised his eyebrow, as though thinking it an odd place to be.
'Thank you Drahen, I shall not waste your time further.' Lief quickly reached the bottom and turned towards the kitchens. He didn't plan to find Jasmine, merely know where she had got to.
The kitchens were very quiet as only, Sharn, the new cook and Lief and sat at the table eating fresh pastries, which had, quite frankly burnt their tongues not allowing them to speak. Yet Lief welcomed some peace and quiet, it did not come regularly anymore. Not the, world is attacking me peace but the peace that let him rest.
This new addition to the annals had coursed nothing but arguments between Jasmine and himself, but he believed that without the information that the annals gave them in the past they would have never known of the pipe and the Pipers. He figured that maybe in years to come the information he planed to write in the book might help someone at some point.
Suddenly the door to the kitchen burst open, making all three of them jump. A tall figure stood in the door frame and took a step forward. It was Barda.
'I'm not that scary, you know.' He said gruffly and pulled out a chair to sit down.
The three of them stared at him trying to smile. He gave them a funny look.
'What's with the silent treatment and strained expressions?' He frowned.
Sharn pointed at the pastries and then at her mouth.
'Tha paytrees arr ot.'
Barda shook his head and sighed. The new cook, Amertiz, sprang up and began to fumble around the kitchen, pouring water. She drank deeply, than handed some glasses to Sharn and Lief.
The cold water soothed Lief's, otherwise, burning throat.
'So, now you are talking to me again, how is the new book coming.' Barda grumbled.
'Why, must everyone ask?' Lief sighed, finding his voice, 'I've just reached the part about searching for the pipe…the bit where we see that dragon…'
'I don't think you should continue,' Came Jasmine's voice as she entered the room, 'Doran the Dragonlover, went to great pains to keep their secret a secret. I doubt they will won't such information in such a great book.'
'I wasn't going to say the part where we went underground, just the rest.' Lief said, frowning slightly.
'I must agree with Jasmine here, Lief,' Barda stepped in, 'I think we should at least ask them for permission.'
Lief sighed, not wanting another argument. He turned to Jasmine again.
'Will you agree if we get there permission?' He inquired.
Jasmine tossed her head.
'Of course.' She answered.
At least we can agree on something, Lief thought.
'Good, then we can begin our journey tomorrow.' Barda nodded.
'Perhaps you will but I have no wish to accompany you.' Jasmine tilted her proud chin.
'Why not?' Lief sat, stunned.
'I do not relish going back there and either does Kree,' The black bird on her shoulder cawed softly, 'I do not enjoy floundering in water and Kree doesn't appreciate getting speared through the wing.'
'That won't happen again, they now know Kree is safe.' Lief sighed.
'Yet I still can't swim, a rather large problem when it comes to islands, is it not?' Jasmine raised her head.
Lief nodded, realizing the sense in her words.
And the when you are out of the library and far away, Jasmine thought, I can begin, research of my own.
'Then can you please look after the belt while we are going? I don't see myself needing it down there and it is heavier than you think. It will be easier to swim without it.' Lief stated.
'Why not give it to your precious cousin to mind?' Jasmine added.
'I'm not going to die down there! They know who we are. I just may as well leave it with someone I trust, since you aren't going with us.' Lief smiled.
She relaxed slightly; it felt good to know Lief still trusted her.
'Very well then,' She said with dignity, 'If you can find no one better.'
Indeed I can not, Lief thought, a smile growing on his face.
Black Fury: Well how was that? Please review. I'm planning on making this rather long, like the books so I'm sorry if my chapter's are rather short, I don't have enough brain power to write more. So, please review! Chapter three with be up, very soon! Thank you for taking the time to read my chapter!!!