Thank you all for the nice reviews! And sorry it took me so long to update, I've been helping my mom with a rummage sale.

Anyhow, here's chapter 3!

Chapter 3: Tragedy

As soon as Toran magic set Lief and Barda down, they started running for the forge. During their travels, Lief had explained to Barda what he had seen in his vision. Ever since he had turned sixteen, he and Barda had become friends. Even before he was born, Barda had defended his life. What he had believed to be dumb luck turned out to be Barda. He could only hope now that Barda would help to defend his child.

Seeming to read his mind, Barda said aloud, "I will do what I can to help you and Jasmine, Lief. Not because it's my duty, but because you're my friend."

Lief looked to his old friend. "Thank you," he said. He smiled. Barda could be hard at times, especially when they first met, but recently he had become even nicer. Lindal's doing for sure. He knew that they too were expecting a child, but it would be many more months. He had laughed at the idea of Barda or Lindal being a parent, but seeing them together had changed his mind. His own thoughts surprised him. It felt as if he had grown up overnight, so his mother Sharn said. It was true. One night, he was celebrating his birthday with friends, the next his life was saved for the first time by his future wife. Certainly not the last time, though. Through their adventures, they had each saved each other's lives more than once. Barda too.

Barda turned the corner leading to the forge, and stopped in his tracks, turning to Lief. Quickening his pace, he joined Barda, and saw Doom and Sharn at the forge gate, casting long shadows in the rising sun.

"Lief," Sharn uttered. She looked to Doom and came towards him. "I'm sorry, we came too late."

Lief ran inside, trying to hide the anger rising in him. He surveyed the scene. A chair was overturned in the corner, the empty water pitcher near the door. Blood was on the floor, and Jasmine's dagger was lodged in the wall. He yanked it out. He heard Barda come in after him and mutter a curse. Doom and Sharn followed him in.

"When we came, a group of men were leaving. They took off in a carriage, heading towards Broome, I'd say," Doom said quietly.

"They took her?" Lief said dumbly. He was struggling to contain his anger now. No, he thought, I can't let it overtake me. Then the Shadow Lord wins. I must stay strong for Jasmine's sake.

"I can get some horses Lief. We'll be after them and bring them down," Barda said. Lief simply nodded. He wasn't ready for words yet. Not until he had calmed down a bit.

"I'll go with," Doom volunteered. With that, he and Barda left, heading towards the palace stable. Zerry, the stable hand, would give them horses without question. They had saved his life, and would do anything to please Lief, remembering his treachery towards Deltora, even though he hadn't been able to understand at the time. And the fear of the lapis lazuli dragon, Fortuna, had also ensured his loyalty to Lief.

"Lief, Jasmine will be fine," his mother said quietly. He started, having forgotten her presence. "They won't dare to hurt her--"

"It isn't those men I'm worried about. I had a vision earlier. A Vraal attacked the carriage that Jasmine was in," Lief said in hushed tones.

"Maybe it was a different carriage--"

"No, did the one you see have four black horses leading it?" Lief watched as his mother nodded. "I'm sorry. I just feel so helpless. I mean, it's my fault she was taken--"

"Don't you dare think that!" Sharn exclaimed. "How could you think that?"

"The Shadow Lord is my enemy, and he has made it personal to me before, through Jasmine. Now I put her in danger once again by making her my wife."

"Lief, when I was wed to your father, I didn't think of danger at all. It wasn't until after the Shadow Lord came that I feared. Mainly for you," she said, taking her son's hand. "Jasmine has survived without you defending her for most of her life. Anna managed to protect her in the Forest of Fear, and she takes after her mother greatly. No harm will come to her or the baby."

Okay, please tell me what you think!