Deltora's Protector

Chapter 10 – Del and Fallow

Previously on Deltora's Protector:

Harry Potter was tortured for months in a prison known as the Island. During his stay he lost his voice and as such can no longer speak. A rescue attempt was made and while Harry managed to get out, it wasn't in England he returned to. He was washed ashore the western shore of Deltora and taken care of by Verity, the spirit girl of Bone Point Lighthouse. Shortly afterwards he met Steven, Nevets and Queen Bee. He was renamed Aiden and spent a few months recovering at Queen Bee's orchard. One day he snuck away to the City of the Rats and became the owner of a fine bracelet. Aiden joined Steven on his rounds and during his adventures became friends with the Ralads, a Dread Gnome, the Resistance and became an enemy of the Shadow Lord. He witnessed the rebirth of the village of D'Or and discovered that his blood protection from his mother is still active. He was a part of the Resistance's investigation to learn what became of the finalists in the Rithmere Games, and now he is in Del having completed his animagus transformation.

His adventures continue...

The first place Aiden came to was a blacksmith forge, but it wasn't warm or welcoming like he imagined forges to be. It was cold, dark and empty. The forge gate was swinging irregularly, the bang as it swung close echoed over the silent yard and road. On the gate was a symbol that Aiden had been shown a few times by Doom, the symbol of the Shadow Lord. It was a red hand burned onto the wood surrounded by a red ring. It made Aiden feel sick. The red looked like blood.

He leapt the fence and made his way to the front door, this was where his opal wanted him to be. There was something inside. Sion tightened around his neck, the small snake knowing that the place they were in was dangerous. He wanted them to go somewhere else, but Aiden told him that they wouldn't be able to leave until he saw what he needed to.

Night had fallen, and the full moon outside blared into the house. The curtains were wide open. The people who had lived here hadn't had the opportunity to shut them before they had been taken. Books and papers were scattered across the floor, drawers had been removed from their cupboards, clothes had been ripped from their hangers, and sheets torn from the beds. Someone had been looking for something, and Aiden couldn't tell if they had found it or not.

In a sudden burst of awareness Aiden knew that he wasn't alone. He spun around, searching for the other presence but not seeing anyone. He ripped off his glove and used the bracelet as a light, forcing the shadows back and revealing a faint outline in the doorway. It disappeared quickly, heading out the door, but Aiden had no idea who, or what, it had been. He followed it and stood in the doorway as the specter froze at the gate before fading away entirely. Aiden quickly hid the bracelet as he didn't need it anymore and returned inside. He wondered who had died in the forge that their ghost would linger.

As he was tired Aiden decided that he would crawl under one of the beds to rest, and as soon as he had recovered his strength he would take a look around outside to see if he could learn anything new. Sion curled up near the front door, promising the boy that he would stand guard. Aiden agreed and slept until the sun rose.

Aiden had heard many stories about Del, both from Steven and Nevets, and from the Resistance. But despite the stories, nothing could have prepared him for the sense of hopelessness that surrounded the city. It appeared that the only place in Del that didn't bask in despair was the palace in the distance. Clearly the Shadow Lord wanted the palace for his own use, and didn't care about the people in the city surrounding it.

With Sion around his neck, Aiden made sure that not only was his red bandana covering his hair, but his hood was also pulled up to cast his face in shadow. Looking around at the people around him, he wasn't that much out of place. The children he passed had a half-starved appearance, and the adults walked with their shoulders hunched. Many stores were closed, the brand of the Shadow Lord burned into the door. It was a depressing sight to behold.

Aiden made his way closer to the palace, avoiding the Grey Guards as he did so. It wasn't until he had a clear view of the gates that he wasn't fast enough to avoid the Grey Guard who had snuck up on him. He struggled as he was easily lifted from the ground, and the cold sound of laughter informed him of who had captured him.

"Lookie what I got boys! It's a maggot snooping around where he shouldn't!"

"Stop bragging and throw him in the dungeons."

Aiden glared and continued to struggle as he was lead to the dungeons. Sounds of other prisoners groaning and crying reached his ears, and the smell of decay wafted through the air. He tried to kick the Guard holding him, but it didn't do anything and all it achieved was that he was literally thrown into a cell that already had a prisoner. Apparently the cells were filling up faster than they could execute people, and there were people who were being held for leverage. Aiden bounced as he landed, letting out a small yelp as his head collided with the floor. He sat up and held his head, waiting for the throbbing to subside. He was glad that he still had his bag and cloak, and once he could he took them off and put them to the side so that they wouldn't be taken from him.

"What did you do to warrant an arrest?" the man in the cell asked. Aiden looked at him, noted his slumped and defeated shoulders, the raw skin around his wrists, and the dark circles under his eyes. He shrugged and stood up to look for a way out. Sion was still around his neck, and the snake was hissing unpleasant insults about Grey Guards and humans in general that Aiden chose not to respond to.

"Will you not speak to me child?" the man asked again. Aiden spun slightly and with a smile pulled down his shirt so that his scar could be seen. The man nodded with an understanding smile, a little horrified, and gestured to the floor next to him.

"I've already looked for a way out, unfortunately unless you were small and could fly, the only way out is the door."

Aiden looked up at the window and figured that in his phoenix form he could escape. He looked back to the man before sitting next to him and bringing his knees up to his chest. The floor was dusty enough so he sketched out a question.

"I'm Jarred of the Forge," the man stated in response to the question. Aiden stared at him with wide eyes, unless there was another man named Jarred who also happened to own a blacksmith forge, he had already met this man…but he knew him as Doom. He took a closer look at the man, and while there were some similarities with between this man and Doom, he could tell they were completely different people.

Liar, Jarred is currently with the Resistance. Who are you really?

"I am no liar," the man, Jarred, declared. "My wife Anna and I own the blacksmith forge."

Aiden was confused. Jarred and Anna had lived in the Forest of Silence, they had a daughter named Jasmine. This man was not Jarred, so for what purpose would he take the name of another man…unless it was to hide. He removed the words from the ground and sketched another sentence.

Who were you before you were Jarred?

"Who are you?" Jarred asked. "These questions, you're with the Shadow Lord aren't you?"

With his last sentence his shot up from the ground and glared angrily at Aiden. Aiden glared back and shook his head in denial. He stood as well, hiding the words as he did so by scuffing his foot through them. Sion was protesting the rapid movement, but Aiden ignored him and gently put him on the ground out of the way in case something happened. He wished he could speak, but he also knew that nothing he could say at this moment would change Jarred's mind.

The two stood glaring at each other for several minutes, neither moving, until the door burst open and four Grey Guards entered. Aiden instantly ignored Jarred and focused on the more apparent threat. The two were studied, but then the Guard at the front pointed at Aiden.

"That one," he ordered. "He looks tender."

Aiden gulped and before he could stop himself he took a step backwards. The Guards laughed at him, two darting forward and grabbing Aiden's arms. The boy struggled, and from the corner of his eye he noticed that Jarred looked uncertain. It seemed the man was now unsure of where Aiden's allegiance lay.

Kicking and struggling, Aiden was dragged from the cell to another room that reminded him of the Island, no matter how hard he tried to ignore the coincidence. He didn't think that these Guards had the creativity of the Death Eaters, but he was also unwilling to find out. His struggles however, only served to amuse the Guards as they strapped him down and three left him, leaving the fourth behind.

Not a sound passed Aiden's lips as the next hour passed in agony.

Aiden wasn't completely aware when he was returned to his cell. All he really understood was that one moment he was being dragged, then he was airborne, and only when he was still did he realise that he was in someone's arms. Green eyes opened partially to stare at Jarred, and he was distantly surprised to note that there was no suspicion in the man's gaze. He struggled to sit up, but all Jarred did was alter his position so that he was once again sitting and Aiden was lying flat with his head on Jarred's leg.

"The Shadow Lord is a cruel master," Jarred muttered. "But I don't think that he would go this far to maintain the cover of a spy."

Aiden shook his head with another moan. He had to let the man know he wasn't in league with the Shadow Lord, he never wanted to be associated with a monster as unforgiving as him. Jarred rested a hand on his head to prevent him moving.

"I know, I know, don't move just yet. Your injuries could get worse."

Aiden actually smiled at that. Whilst it had hurt, the Death Eaters had been worse and he knew that he would be fine after a little rest. Nevertheless he lay still and kept his eyes on Jarred. Soft hissing reached his ears and he cast out his arm for the snake to return to his favourite perch. Jarred jumped almost violently as the small black snake became visible for the first time.

"You should have let me bite them," the snake scolded.

"The other Guards would have taken it out on all the other prisoners. Couldn't let that happen."

"You really are a strange human," Sion hissed. He wound around Aiden's neck, completely ignoring Jarred, and for all intents and purposes went to sleep. Jarred shifted uncomfortably at the close proximity of the snake, but otherwise relaxed once he realised that Sion wasn't about to do anything.

"A snake, huh?" Jarred asked. "Of all the pets in Deltora you had to pick a snake?"

Aiden smiled again, a more genuine smile and closed his eyes. Jarred was also silent for a while, but then he started to talk. He began with Aiden's last question and explained that he had owned the blacksmith forge for close to seventeen years. He and Anna had a son, who had celebrated his sixteenth birthday with them before running away to live the life of danger and adventure. He didn't give Aiden his son's name, but Aiden had a hunch as to who he was anyway. The stories of his son growing up were particularly humorous. Jarred also explained that he had lived in the palace when he was a boy, he and King Endon had been best friends growing up. He told fantastic stories of all the misadventures he and the then Prince Endon had gotten up to, and Aiden drifted into a semi-conscious state with images of two boys pulling pranks in a glittering palace running through his mind.

It wasn't until several hours later, long after Jarred had stopped talking, that Aiden felt something change. The same presence from the forge was now in the cell, and when he turned his head Aiden could see the ghostly outline of a boy. He didn't need his bracelet to locate him; there was a stronger connection this time around. The Ghost Boy, who Aiden really hoped wasn't dead, rushed forward towards Jarred and tried to grab his arm. Aiden could feel his distress, and he moved slightly so that he could continue to watch. Jarred's head lifted from where he was dozing.

"Dreaming," he murmured. Aiden's brow furrowed. It was clear that Jarred couldn't see the Ghost Boy, but on some level he could sense his presence. Jarred looked down at Aiden and smiled, asking how he was feeling. Aiden gave him a thumbs up and sat up, groaning at the sudden shift of his muscles. The two of them suddenly looked towards the door as the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed towards them. A man, tall and thin with a long blood red robe strode in, flanked by two Grey Guards holding flaming torches. Jarred froze and stared at the man with wide eyes, ignoring the two Guards. Aiden however, ignored the man and watched the Guards. They placed their torches in wall brackets before grabbing Aiden's arms and pulling him away from Jarred before the man recognised what was going on.

"Jarred, Boy," the robed man greeted the two of them.

"Prandine!" Jarred breathed. "What do you need with him? He's just a child!"

"I'm not Prandine," the man jeered. "The one called Prandine fell to his death from the tower of this very palace over sixteen years ago, on the day the Master claimed his kingdom. Prandine was careless – or unlucky. Perhaps you know something about that?"

"I know nothing, now release the boy!"

"We shall see," The-One-Who-Was-Not-Prandine said, ignoring Jarred's demands about Aiden. "But where one dies, there is always another to take his place. The Master likes this face and form. He chose to repeat it in me. My name is Fallow."

"Where is my wife? And why do you restrain the boy, he can't fight back!"

"I shall consider both requests, if you answer my questions."

"What questions? Why are we here? We haven't done anything wrong."

Fallow looked to the Guards, and at Aiden hanging between them. He sneered before focusing on Jarred again. From inside his robe he pulled out a pale blue book. The Belt of Deltora, read the front cover.

"This book was found in your house, Jarred," Fallow stated. "How did it come there?"

"I do not remember." Aiden sighed at the answer, he wasn't the best liar in the world, in fact he was probably one of the worst, but he himself could spot a lie anywhere. No one could lie to him.

"Perhaps I can help you," Fallow continued. "It is known to us. It came from the palace library."

"As a young man I lived in the palace. I may have taken it away with me when I left. It was many years ago, I do not know."

Fallow tapped the book with his bony fingers. A cruel smile adorned his face, and his eyes darted between Jarred and Aiden and back again.

"The Master thinks you have deceived us, Jarred. He thinks that you kept in contact with your foolish young friend, King Endon, and at the last helped him, his idiot bride, and their unborn brat to escape."

Aiden felt a few puzzle pieces fit into place in his head. As best friends, Jarred would have helped Endon escape, but Jarred had lived in the Forest of Silence before being taken to the Shadowlands. So that meant that the man sitting in the cell with Aiden, he wasn't Jarred, he was-

"Endon was fool enough to believe me a traitor," 'Jarred' replied. "Endon would never have turned to me for help, nor would I have given it to him."

"So we thought. But now we are not so sure. Strange things have been occurring in the kingdom, blacksmith. Things my Master does not like."

Aiden saw a flash of hope bloom in Jarred's eyes before he could squash it. A glance at Fallow showed that he had seen the hope as well, his eyes went cold and the smirk disappeared from his features.

"Certain allies, valued by the Master, have been viciously killed. Certain – goods – also valued by the Master have been stolen. We suspect that King Endon is still alive. We suspect that he is making some last, useless effort to reclaim his kingdom. What do you know about that?"

"Nothing," Jarred spat. "Like everyone else in Del, I believe that Endon is dead. That is what we were told."

Aiden knew that feeling. As far as he was concerned, Harry Potter died on the Island. Fallow's eyes narrowed, before leaning in close so that his foul breath penetrated Jarred's senses.

"Indeed. Tell me, where is your son?"

Jarred's nose wrinkled as the smell reached him, before sadness descended on his features. Aiden waited patiently, his arms going numb. Sion was still sleeping around his neck, and he hoped that the snake remained so for a little longer.

"Lief left our home months ago. The blacksmith's trade bored him. He preferred running wild with his friends in the city. We do not know where he is. Why do you ask about him? He broke his mother's heart, and mine."

Aiden started as he finally learnt the name of Jarred's son. He also saw how the Ghost Boy shifted uncomfortably, and gathered that Ghost Boy was actually Lief. There was another, fainter presence that he hadn't noticed earlier, that was further back in the cell. It was larger and had less personal connection to this place, so Aiden figured that it could be Barda.

"It is said that a boy of about your son's age is one of the four criminals who are roving the land, trying to overturn the Master's plans," Fallow continued slowly, watching Jarred's face closely. "With him are a girl and a grown man. A black bird flies with them. The fourth, we have already caught."

"Why are you telling me this?" Jarred asked, having noticed Fallow's quick glance at Aiden. He was most certainly curious about the identity of the people Lief was travelling with, but didn't want to give too much away.

"This boy, could be your son. You are crippled, and may have sent him on some useless quest in your place. The man – could be Endon."

Jarred laughed, and it sounded completely natural. Even Aiden cracked a smile having already figured out what was happening. Fallow's thin lips set in a hard line and the anger in his eyes was burning. Aiden knew what the man was going to do moments before he did, but from his current position he could do nothing to avoid the blow. Fallow kicked his leg up and it struck Aiden's jaw, not breaking it but causing Aiden's head to bounce backwards and then collide with the floor as the Grey Guards released him. Aiden groaned and noticed that Jarred had stopped laughing.

"Take good care Jarred," Fallow sneered. "Do not try my patience too far. Your life is in my hands. And not only yours. I've already caught one enemy of the Master, your son's fate will be the same as his."

Aiden opened his eyes, having not been aware that he had closed them, and spotted Fallow walking to the door after giving a meaningful glance at Aiden, the Guards following him. Fallow looked back, first to Jarred and then to Aiden.

"I will be back. Think over what I have said. The next time I come to see you, I will come expecting answers. If you have done what we suspect, mere pain will not make you tell the truth. But perhaps the pain of one you love will be more persuasive. Boy, you will be collected tomorrow and sent to the Shadowlands. The Master is very eager to meet you."

As Fallow left, locking to door behind him, Aiden crawled over to where Jarred was sitting. The presence that may have been Barda disappeared, but Lief was still present. An opal vision flashed through his mind and once he was close enough he reached out and grasped Lief's ghostly leg, using his magic to bring his body into view.

"Lief!" Jarred cried. "Please tell me you're not dead!"

"Father! Please don't despair!" Lief answered, elated at being able to be heard. "I'm not dead, I'm on my way to Dread Mountain! We're going as fast as we can!"

"How are you here?"

"I've been here for a while, watching Fallow interrogate you."

"Why didn't I see you before?"

"I don't – wait, Aiden! You're doing this?" Lief asked, his attention focused further down to where Aiden was still grasping his ankle. Aiden nodded, panting slightly from the amount of magic he was using to maintain the connection. If he were completely healthy, and not dizzy from being kicked in the head, he might have been able to make the connection last longer, but already his strength was fading.

"Aiden," Jarred murmured thoughtfully before turning back to Lief. "Lief, I am fighting here, as best as I can. I need you and Barda to continue what you're doing. Your mother's and my prayers are with you."

"We will do our best," Lief promised. "Aiden, thank you."

Tell Gla-Thon that I said hello, Aiden sent telepathically, smiling as Lief's eyes widened as his voice echoed through his mind. I'll be out of here soon. There is no way that I'm going to allow myself to be taken to the Shadowlands.

Lief nodded, and then Aiden let go, slumping further into the ground as he relaxed. Jarred helped him to roll over so that he was facing the roof, before pulling him up and hugging him. Aiden only had the strength to rest his hand on the other man's arm as Jarred thanked him tearfully.

"Who are you Aiden?" Jarred asked after several long moments. Aiden tightened his grip and spoke to him telepathically, like he usually did with Doom, and had just done with Lief.

Just a boy who's trying to do that right thing.

"Telepathy?"

Only way I can talk. A monster took my voice from me and I still have a way to go to get it back.

"You know my son?"

Of course, I've known him far longer than he's known me. It was only fitting that I dreamt of Deltora's Heir before he began his journey.

"What?"

Don't insult me, Your Majesty. I told you earlier that I knew Jarred of the Forge. He leads the Resistance against the Shadow Lord, but he lived in the Forest of Silence with his wife Anna and daughter Jasmine.

"The Forest of Silence? But he was supposed to have gone west," Jarred had paled as Aiden's voice echoed in his mind. He hoped that he hadn't been as obvious with Fallow, their deception had worked for sixteen years, and it just needed to last until Lief had succeeded.

He's slowly regaining his memories after his stay in the Shadowlands. But now that I know more of the story, I promise you that I will protect your son, the Prince, as best as I can. He already has four Gems, and is about to get the fifth.

"Protector?"

Some have called me that, Aiden admitted. But I much prefer Aiden. Now I must go, I cannot be here when they come back.

"How will you escape?"

You told me when I arrived that unless I was small and could fly, the only way out was the door. However, I have the ability to become a bird and fly through that window. I must go and make a difference.

"I know that we will win," Jarred – Endon – breathed in relief. "With the Heir and Protector, we can't lose."

Aiden smiled and gently pushed the man away. With a groan he rolled over so that he was on all fours, and from there he stood, swaying slightly as the blood in his veins drained from his head to his feet. As quickly as he could he slung his bag onto his back and dropped the cloak around his shoulders. With a blink he transformed into his phoenix form, shocking Sion in consciousness, and flew away. Jarred watched with wide eyes as Aiden, in bird form, easily slipped through the bars, he couldn't wait until Fallow returned for Aiden.

Aiden flew north-west from the palace, thinking about what he needed to do. First on the agenda, head to the Resistance Headquarters, and then find Lief. Now more than ever it was important that Lief lived to continue his quest. The fate of Deltora was resting on his shoulders, and he alone could bring Deltora into a new day and age. He just needed the chance.

Next up in Deltora's Protector:

Chapter 11 – Escape to the Resistance!