Deltora's Protector

Chapter 11 – To The Resistance!

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, completed his animagus transformation, and now he has escaped from Del Palace knowing the identity of Adin's Heir.

His adventures continue...

The closest Resistance Base was at Withick Mire, and that was only a few minutes flying distance away. However, as Aiden didn't want to freak anyone out, he transformed back into his human form and walked the rest of the way. He was pretty sure that he had broken or bruised some of his ribs, and changing form hadn't helped his body's healing abilities in the slightest. In fact, by the time he had reached the entrance he was struggling to breathe and just wanted to lie down and sleep until he was healed. He couldn't do that in the open though, so he persevered. Pushing aside the covering of the door, he made it a handful of steps through before collapsing.

Hands reached down and rolled him over, and Aiden couldn't help but moan as his injuries protested the movement. A gasp came from above him so Aiden opened his eyes to see who was either helping him or robbing him.

"It's Aiden," the man whispered. His partner cursed and lifted Aiden from the ground in one fluid movement, causing Aiden to groan again and allowed his head to fall back weakly.

"We need to get a message to Doom as soon as we can," the first man stated as they walked further into the base.

"It would be better for all of us if we at least tried to heal these injuries before sending word," the second man refused. "When were you attacked Aiden?"

Aiden almost glared at the man carrying him, even if he wasn't feeling so pathetic he wouldn't have been able to answer without a pen and paper. The first man apparently thought so as well as he had smacked his partner across the back of his head.

"Aiden's mute, you idiot. How the hell is he going to tell you that without something to write with? We'll send out feelers and get the information that way. I'll start on that and you see if you can get one of the others to pull out the medical supplies."

The first man left and Aiden twisted his head to watch him go back the way they'd come from. The other man put Aiden down on a bed of some description and helped him to take off his cloak, jacket and shirt. He cursed again upon seeing the injuries, and gently touched the ribs that Aiden suspected were broken, pulling away when he felt Aiden wince.

"You know, aside from the fact that you're beat up pretty bad," the man said conversationally. "You look almost exactly the same as when Doom first brought you here all those lovely months ago. Although, you're lighter than you should be. I mean, I heard Doom telling you to eat when you were here, but you're still underweight. There's certainly more food to the north, and don't you live in an orchard? There's definitely enough food in those places. With more meat on your bones, it would be harder to break them, you know?"

Aiden nodded, but otherwise he didn't move as the man bandaged up his ribs and other cuts. People moved around him as he rested, but someone was kind enough to get him an ice pack for his aching jaw. There would be a spectacular bruise there, but there was nothing to do about it except wait for it to heal on its own.

The man tending him identified himself as Chris, and Aiden had vague recollections of the man from his previous visit. The other man was Joey, and Joey was apparently the biggest worrywart Chris had ever met. He also thought too much and didn't know how to have fun. Aiden merely smirked at the explanation and closed his eyes. He would rest and only after he was rested would he make his way west to where Lief, Barda and Jasmine were. He had promised the former King that he would look after his heir, and now that he knew more of the history, he also understood exactly why the opal kept showing him visions of Lief.

For the next two days he slept, only waking briefly to drink whatever vile herbal drink they were forcing down his throat, before drifting off again. As he slept, visions of Lief, Barda and Jasmine on their quest played out in his mind. He saw them standing before a giant toad sitting on a pile of gold; travelling on a ferry; being questioned by Doom in a Resistance Base somewhere; walking through a never ending labyrinth; and finally a vision of the Belt of Deltora, completed, and shining from around Lief's waist. The last vision was also the only one that Aiden saw himself in. Words were uttered during the vision and Aiden committed them to memory, knowing that they were important. But once the vision was over Aiden forced himself to wake and remain conscious, much to the relief of Chris.

"About time you woke up," he said as he came to give Aiden something to eat. "For a moment there we thought that you weren't going to wake. A messenger left yesterday to find Doom. He went towards the far west stronghold as that was where Doom was reported to be going. How did the Rithmere Games go?"

Aiden grabbed the charcoal and paper that Chris had in his hands and wrote out a brief description of their adventures in Rithmere, ending with the statement that he had been on his way home when he was captured by Grey Guards and taken to Del. This correlated with what Chris had discovered. A rumor was spreading about how the Shadow Lord's most dangerous enemy had been captured and would be on his way to the Shadowlands as soon as transport could be arranged. This was followed by the rumor that someone had escaped from the dungeons of the Del Palace, much to the fury of the guards. Their violent screams could be heard from the city.

After hearing that, Aiden decided that he would leave as soon as he could and travel on his own. As he was still weak from his injuries, he decided that he would walk on foot until his ribs healed as he didn't want to aggravate them too much. Chris didn't like the idea, but Aiden was adamant and wouldn't take no for an answer.

In the end he was given food, water and some new clothes and he set out along Deltora Way. He knew that many weeks would pass until he reached the Resistance Base south of Dread Mountain, but it was his intention to travel for a few days and then fly the rest of the way. Maybe he would stop and visit Bee, reassure her that he was still alive, especially with the rumors flying around.

For the first three days of walking, he spent more time hiding in the bushes or in the trees hiding from the Grey Guards that were passing by looking for him. Sion kept up a near constant monologue about whatever was on his mind, mostly about whatever human had annoyed him recently, or of a human who irritated him in the past. However, two days after he started on his trek away from Del, Lief had acquired the fifth Gem, the emerald. On his own, Aiden was able to suppress the glow of his bracelet, but his elated smile wouldn't dim for the rest of the day. With five Gems returned, there were only two more to be recovered.

After those three days though he made good time and by week's end the orchard was in sight. Before he could enter the orchard however, he was forced to hide as another patrol of the Grey Guards appeared from behind him, making their way towards the orchard. So he waited.

With them out of sight he jumped the fence and slid from tree shadow to tree shadow, greeting the bees as he passed by them. He left Sion in a patch of sun where he could relax in safety, before quickly darting into the house without being seen. From his room he was able to eavesdrop on the Guards and discovered that they were discussing the three nuisances of the Shadow Lord: Lief, Barda and Jasmine. There were reports of them in the north, but from what he could gather the Shadow Lord was not aware of the fact that the emerald had been reclaimed.

The Grey Guards left without noticing Aiden, but as soon as they were gone Aiden jumped up to surprise Bee. She was elated at his appearance and just about smothered him in her excitement. She them set a feast out in front of him, and a pad or paper with a piece of charcoal next to it. Aiden ate his food with one hand, and with the other wrote out all the news he had for Bee, including his imprisonment.

Naturally, the woman was horrified at his capture, and insisted on checking over his injuries herself. Before he went to bed Bee promised that she would get him an ice pack as the bruise on his face was turning yellow. It still looked painful but Aiden had forgotten about it until Bee reached out to touch it. She fussed as he had expected, but Aiden still felt relief when he was able to go to bed.

Aiden stayed with Bee for another two days, and in those two days he revealed his ability to transform into a phoenix so that Bee would know he could easily escape from any situation. She had reacted poorly, but with all the stories about Ols that were circulating Deltora, it was expected. She calmed down after a few hours and eventually requested to see Aiden's other form again, cooing over the soft feathers and sighing as Aiden chirped a happy melody. Aiden was happy that she didn't accuse him of being in league with the Shadow Lord, and that she also allowed him to leave on his own.

On the third morning Aiden and Sion flew away from the orchard. He wondered if the messenger had reached the Resistance Base yet, and what Doom's reaction had been. To conserve his strength, and appease Sion who still hated flying, Aiden would combine walking and flying, gathering information along the way. By doing that it took him eight days to reach the far western Resistance Base. Five days on his journey and the next Gem was returned to the Belt, the amethyst, which meant that there was only one more Gem to find. When Aiden arrived at the Resistance Base he learnt that Doom had gone off with Neridah south four days previously.

"He left to follow Dain," Jinks the acrobat explained. Jinks had been the one to teach Aiden a few songs when he first arrived, and whilst the man was a coward he told great stories of the palace.

"Yeah, Dain and those other three," another Resistance member added. "Doom wasn't too happy with them, seeing as he was more interested in going east to find you. But when they escaped with Dain he went after them, and Neridah wanted to go as well."

"Be careful when you follow them brat!" Jinks ordered. "There are more Ols than ever out here!"

Aiden waved his understanding and ran off again so that he could change without anyone else seeing him. With a melodic cry he flew south, following the same path that he and Doom had taken before the Belt had even left Del. After a few hours he became a human again and tree jumped. After the sun went down he curled up in a tree and slept with Sion standing guard, only to do the exact same thing the next day.

The third day Aiden spent the morning tree hoping and stumbled upon Doom and Neridah, without them noticing. So as to not alarm them, Aiden pulled out his flute and played a short tune that he knew Doom would recognise. The man stopped walking abruptly, with Neridah asking him what was wrong. Doom ignored her and spun around, eyes scanning the trees suspiciously.

"Aiden, get down here now! Stop mucking around!"

Aiden giggled and dropped down to land directly in front the man with a smile. Doom studied him for a moment without moving, and Aiden let the smile fall off his face and arms drop to his side. As soon as he did that Doom pulled him into a hug with a sigh of relief, and Aiden relaxed, smile returning. Aiden tilted his head to the side and smiled at Neridah.

"I'm hearing interesting stories about you Aiden," Doom stated as they continued to walk. "A messenger informed us that you had been captured, and then escaped. He told me that you were still unconscious, how are you feeling?"

Aiden gave him a 'thumbs up' and a grin. Doom sighed at the familiar expression, knowing better than most how unwilling Aiden was to talk about his own health. He vowed to discuss it with the boy after they stopped when Neridah was asleep. In the meantime he pushed Aiden ahead of him so that he could watch out for him, and glared at Neridah to keep her silent. The girl gave a pout, but nonetheless she walked on silently.

As the sun set Aiden gratefully dropped to the ground, leaning against a nearby tree. Most of the journey had been pleasant, but after a while Neridah had started to complain. First they were going too fast, and then they were too slow, and then she was tired, and then she was hungry and thirsty, and then she was bored, and Aiden was so tempted to silence her permanently. He didn't, but he desperately wanted to.

Doom dropped down next to him, but Neridah curled up on the other side of the clearing out of earshot. With her was a small portion of food, but she wanted to eat on her own. Aiden and Doom had their own food, but they didn't light a fire in case they were spotted by a passing enemy. Neridah curled up under and blanket shortly afterwards her soft snores reached where they were sitting.

"Finally," Doom muttered. "That woman is so annoying. I still don't know what made her want to come, or why I said yes."

Aiden relaxed against the tree and removed his glove. Before he rested it against Doom's skin the man grasped it and counted the six coloured Gems and one black Gem. He grinned at the sight before he allowed Aiden to initiate a telepathic link.

"So tell me, why were you captured?"

I forgot to duck. It was my intention to study the palace; my opal was sending me visions of it.

"Learn anything interesting?"

I met Jarred of the Forge.

"Jarred? But that can't be…"

Have you regained any more memories of your past? Before you and Anna moved to the Forest of Silence I mean.

"Flashes only, why?"

Apparently, Jarred of the Forge grew up in Del Palace. He and Endon were best friends, but something happened that forced Jarred to leave palace. When the palace was attacked Jarred helped Endon escape, but they went as far as the forge and then separated.

"Yes, I remember now…it would have been too dangerous for Endon and Sharn to leave Del, they needed to survive. So Anna and I went west, but they were killing all couples who had children with them, so instead we went east to the Forest of Silence. You say you met Jarred? Endon?"

Yep. He was the one he fixed the Belt, but he was injured and wasn't able to collect the Gems himself. So he sent his son.

"The boy? No way! Adin's Heir is just walking around Deltora and no one knows about him?"

We do, and now that I know his identity I can help protect him.

"Aside from the obvious, why do you need to protect him?"

Don't know. But ever since I arrived in Deltora I've been dreaming about him, and now that I know why, I know that my fate is tied with his.

"Your fates are combined?" Doom mused. "The only fate that is tied with Adin's Heir is the fate of the Protector. That must mean…"

Endon called me a Protector as well, and Sion has told me about how the only one who can speak his language is the Protector. This bracelet has a close connection to the Belt, every time that Lief puts another Gem onto the Belt I know about it, and whenever I'm near a Gem my bracelet gets hot. All along we've been connected.

"You must keep that silent about that. It is said that the Protector is just as important to the future of Deltora as the Heir is. But that also means that the Guardian of the Diamond is torturing those who play his sick game…"

What game? When did you meet the Diamond Guardian?

"After I returned from the Shadowlands I figured that I would gather the Gems of Deltora so that when the Heir appeared the Gems would be ready for him or her. But the gaining the Diamond was not worth the pain that the knowledge caused. For until you returned my memories to me I truly believed that King Endon had joined the Shadow Lord. I despaired and began the Resistance. I vowed that I would tell no one about Endon's fate as it would be kinder if everyone believed him dead, but now my hope has returned."

I'll keep that in mind when I join them.

"You will join them?"

No reason not to. They're nearly finished anyway.

Doom nodded his agreement, and Aiden removed his hand and put his glove back on. He burrowed under his cloak and checked on Sion's location, noting that the snake was circling the campsite on watch. Doom ordered him to sleep, mentioning that Neridah would have second watch and he would have the last watch. Aiden nodded and closed his eyes, he only distantly felt Sion returning to him and curling up on his body for heat.

Hours later a scream broke the silence and Aiden shot up with his dagger held up defensively. He couldn't see anything alarming, until Neridah rushed at him with her own dagger aimed at him. Scuttling backwards, he was grateful when Doom stepped between them and restrained Neridah. The woman was babbling indecipherably, and Aiden stood as far from her as he could. He wondered if she had had a nightmare and didn't recognise her surroundings.

"There's a snake! It's going to kill him!" Neridah screamed. Aiden looked at the snake on his shoulder, and then back at Neridah in confusion. It then hit him that the woman had never seen Sion, and didn't know that Aiden was completely safe from him.

"Sion is Aiden's protector!" Doom snapped. "Stop screeching woman!"

"It should be killed before it kills us all!"

Aiden focused the energy in his bracelet and knocked Neridah unconscious. She slumped in Doom's arms, to his shock, before he looked to Aiden in understanding. He didn't ask if it was necessary as he had been moments away from knocking her out himself. She was dropped back to the ground and Doom turned his attention once more to Aiden, asking if both he and Sion were unharmed. Aiden was shaken, and Sion wanted to bite Neridah, but otherwise both were fine. However, Aiden told Doom that he wasn't going to be anywhere near Neridah for a while. The man agreed with his statement.

For the rest of the night Aiden kept watch, and in the morning he skipped ahead of the duo. Since Dain was with the trio, both Doom and Aiden assumed that they would be making their way to Tora, so that's where they were going to go as well.

An hour or so after lunch the trio arrived at the entrance to Tora. Walking towards them were four specters, one of them appeared to be struggling. Looking closer Aiden recognised that it was Dain struggling. Doom grunted behind him and waited until they were in speaking distance, not wanting to enter the tunnel. Aiden waited on his left, and Neridah stood on his right, but the two angled themselves so that they weren't looking at each other.

"So, Dain," Doom growled. "You are where you wanted to be. Are you satisfied?"

"You knew!" Dain burst out. "You knew all along what Tora was, Doom. You lied to me!"

"Of course," said Doom coolly. "For what else was keeping you strong but hope? Has seeing that your hope was in vain made you feel better, or worse?"

Aiden stared at Dain curiously. He seemed more than a little uncomfortable after being in the tunnels, but as no one else seemed suspicious he put aside his thoughts and focused instead on the others. Lief, Barda and Jasmine seemed unharmed, but there appeared to be a figurative weight of some kind resting on Lief's shoulders. Aiden couldn't understand what it would be as they had nearly succeeded in their quest.

"Ever since you came to the stronghold I have been seeking your parents, Dain," Doom continued. "I had hoped to be successful before you could find out they were not in Tora. But you could not wait."

"No, I could not!" cried Dain defiantly. "But that is not my fault. I did not know the truth of things. I am not a child, to be protected and fed with fairytales! I am not like Aiden! You drove me to what I did by deceiving me!"

Aiden quickly looked up at Doom. He was curious as to what Dain meant by referring to him, but Doom only smiled…well, a smile by Doom's standards anyway.

"Once you would not have spoken to your elders that way," Doom said. "Such a polite, obedient child you were, when I first met you."

"I am not a child!"

"No, it seems you are not. Perhaps…perhaps I was wrong," Doom admitted, even as Aiden laughed at the admittance. "It does not happen often. But it is possible. If I beg your pardon, will you come back to the stronghold with us? You are sorely missed."

Lief, Barda and Jasmine glanced at each other at the offer. It was clear that they wanted Dain to go back to the Resistance. Aiden left Doom's side and went to stand in front of Lief, grinning expectantly. The boy appeared unsure, but instead turned to Doom.

"We have learned, since seeing you last, that it is not wise to trust appearances, Doom," he said taking a step back from Aiden. "Before Dain decides what he wishes to do we would like you, Neridah and Aiden, to go into Tora."

Aiden looked to Doom, smile gone from his face. He remembered how hard it had been for the man last time they were in Tora, but with more of his memories returning it might not be as bad as then.

"You need not stay more than a moment," Lief continued having spotted the look between Doom and Aiden. "The Tora tunnel discovers evil far more quickly than your Testing Room."

"So – you have discovered Tora's secret!" Doom sneered. "Congratulations! But what if I refuse to agree to your request? What then?"

"If you refuse to go into Tora," Barda stated. "Then we must assume that you are Ols, and act accordingly."

Doom grabbed the back of Aiden's shirt and pulled him backwards before holding his sword in front of them. The only sound Aiden released was a yelp at the sudden movement, but otherwise he also pulled out his dagger in case things went bad.

"No!" Dain cried. "You must not fight! You are not enemies, but on the same side!"

"I am not sure of that!" Jasmine spat. "For if you really are the man Doom, you have treated us badly and we do not trust you. And if you are an Ol is Doom's shape, you are a danger to us all."

Aiden actually winced at the statement. He wondered what Doom had done this time to "protect" his daughter that she hadn't agreed with. Lief's statement about the Testing Room came back to him and he sighed as he guessed that Doom had locked the trio in the room for several days. He gently smacked Doom on the chest in disapproval.

"How can it harm you to prove to us that you are what you seem?" Lief asked, curious about Aiden's disapproval.

"We don't have to prove anything to you!" Neridah cried angrily. "Doom and I have been together since we left the Base!"

This time Aiden kicked her before Doom could swing him around where he couldn't reach her. Neridah yelped as his foot connected with her knee, and tried to leap at him, but Doom held them both away from the other. The man sighed in irritation before making up his mind and pushing Aiden towards the tunnel. Aiden stumbled but willingly ran ahead. He may not have liked the feel of the magic, but he didn't need to be in there for long. Doom and Neridah followed him, and once they got into the city they turned around and walked right back out again, each of them feeling a lot calmer.

Doom sat down against the city wall, drained. Aiden sat down next to him, but Neridah remained standing, looking at the two of them in confusion.

"When anger, hatred and bitterness have left a man who lives by little else, what is there left for him but emptiness?" Doom asked as he slung his arm across Aiden's shoulders. "That is why I do not enjoy visiting Tora. I have only done so twice before. Once was enough, but Aiden and I needed to hide from Grey Guards so once again I was forced to enter. Now I have gone in a third time, though it was more bearable this time, so for that I probably should thank you Aiden."

Aiden grinned.

"Who are you Doom?" Lief asked. Doom stared at the boy, mentally comparing him to his best friend from his childhood. Lief did look a little like Endon, but also had his mother's will and kind eyes. He smiled and decided that he would answer his future King.

"I am a man," he said. "For the longest time I had no name, my memories began in the Shadowlands. I was fighting a Vraal in the Shadow Arena. I was injured. Everything before that was darkness."

"But you escaped?" Lief prompted.

"I escaped the Shadow Arena," Doom went on. "They were not expecting that. They thought I was finished. I fled across the mountains, pursued and with no clear idea of anything save that Deltora was my home. On Dread Mountain I turned and faced my pursuers. I escaped once more, but it cost me dearly. I traveled on, more dead than alive. At last I was found, given shelter and healed by a good man."

"A man who lived in a place called Kinrest," Jasmine murmured. Doom looked at her, and smiled. He was sad as those memories played out in his mind, but it was also cathartic to talk about.

"So you have seen his grave, and know I took his name. He saved me, but I brought death to him. The Grey Guards who had not died on the Mountain pursued me to his cave. Doom was a man of peace. He had no chance against them. But thanks to him I was strong once more. I killed them all and scattered their bones."

"Has that changed now?" Jasmine asked. "Earlier you said: 'for the longest time'. Is that different now?"

"My memory is returning, thanks to Aiden here," Doom said with a smile. "It has brought me more sadness than I could imagine, but at the same time I have more hope than I remember having. I remember Jarred, and I remember my family, my wife and child who I have not seen in years."

"You have a family?" Jasmine asked curiously.

"Had, I had a family. The Grey Guards killed my wife and took my child from me."

"I'm sorry," Lief murmured.

"Who was Jarred?" Barda asked. Doom closed his eyes and his grip on Aiden tightened before he stood up, pulling the boy with him. Neridah was staring at Doom with wide eyes, one hand covering her mouth in shock.

"Doom, I knew you had been through so much," she breathed. "But I had no idea…"

Doom glared at her and she trailed off. He didn't want her sympathy, or her admiration. When she was silent he focused his eyes on the others. They shifted uncomfortably.

"You have taken advantage of me, I fear. I hope your curiosity is satisfied?"

"I did not pry into your affairs out of simple curiosity, Doom," Lief admitted in a low voice.

"No?" Doom asked. He turned to Dain. "I am due to meet Steven the peddler in a few days. He has new supplies for us. Will you come with me? Or do you choose to remain with your new friends?"

"There is no choice Doom," Barda stated quickly. "Dain must go with you. We have a hard long journey ahead of us."

Dain's skin flushed red and he spoke through stiff lips. "I do not want to be a burden to anyone. I will go with you, Doom, to meet Steven."

"Good," Doom said with a nod. "And where will you three be going, that your journey is going to be so hard?"

"The Valley of the Lost," Lief revealed after a moment. Aiden was surprised that he revealed their destination, and Doom was as well as there was several minutes of silence before he spoke again.

"It is a place of suffering and pain," he warned. "But I know that nothing I say will sway your mind. But I will say this, not everything there is as it seems. Dain, Neridah…let's go."

"But what about Aiden?" Dain asked as he started to walk after Doom's retreating form.

"Aiden's already discussed his intentions with me."

"By playing charades?" Neridah asked scornfully. "How else would you 'talk'?"

Aiden glared at the girl and lifted his arm so that Sion could slither down from his neck to hiss at the girl. Neridah screamed and ran off in front of Doom. He praised the snake before Sion returned to his neck, and looked to Doom.

"Be careful brat," Doom ordered. "Is there anything you want me to tell Steven for you?"

Aiden gave a wave and a smile, letting the man know that he just wanted to pass on the he was happy and said hello. Doom nodded and once again turned to leave, Dain trailing after him.

"Wait, you can't come with us either Aiden," Lief protested. "Our quest is hard and long! You should go with Doom as well!"

"Aiden knows everything about you!" Doom called just before walking out of earshot. "Your quest is no secret from him!"

"What?" echoed all three travelers. Aiden waved after Doom in farewell before turning to look at his new companions. He pulled off his right glove and bounded over so that he could touch Lief's forehead.

I've known about you long before you started your quest, he said telepathically. But I wasn't sure it was you until we ran into each other near Raladin.

"What are you doing? How can I hear you? How do you know?" Lief asked, stumbling backwards. Aiden's hand left his forehead so he couldn't speak to Lief anymore. Instead he smiled and leant down so that he could write in the dirt. Once he was done he stepped back so that the three could read it.

I have the ability to speak telepathically with someone as long as I have physical contact with them. I've spoken to you once before Lief, did you pass on my message to Gla-Thon? As for how I know about your quest, does the opal not give you visions of what it to come?

After reading his message, Lief's hands unconsciously went to where the Belt was hidden under his shirt. Three pairs of eyes turned to Aiden and he pulled the small opal out from under his shirt in explanation. He wasn't quite ready to show them his bracelet, he would reveal that after all seven Gems were returned to the Belt.

"Well then," Barda began. "It appears that we have much to talk about. We shall rest here for now, and continue on later."

"I agree," Jasmine added. "You have a lot of explaining to do Aiden."

"Yes," Lief muttered as he took off his glove. "Start talking."

Aiden grinned wider and sat on the ground. He took Lief's hand in his but waited until both Barda and Jasmine were also touching his hand. He had never spoken to more than one person at the same time before, but this was too important not to.

I guess I should start by saying that I have known about the Belt of Deltora and your quest since before your adventures in the Forest of Silence…

Next up in Deltora's Protector:

Chapter 12 – The Valley of the Lost