Deltora's Protector
Chapter 13 – The Joining of the Tribes
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.
The seven Great Gems of Deltora have been returned to the Belt of Deltora. Aiden knows who the Heir is, but he doesn't understand why the Belt doesn't shine. Maybe reuniting the Tribes of Deltora will help?
His adventures continue...
Aiden awoke after night had fallen, but even with the darkness of the night Aiden could tell that the mist was back. He lurched to his feet, regretted it as the ground beneath him shifted, and sank instead to his knees.
"About time you woke up," a soft voice hissed. Aiden looked to the ground and grinned as he spotted his Pinwheel Viper friend.
"Sion, how long have you been down here?"
"The bird flew me and the furry thing down here once the mist disappeared. It's back now, but it is a good mist that doesn't harm us. The other three humans you went with are talking with more humans. They are worried about you, as am I. You don't look good by human standards."
"It's good to see you as well Sion," Aiden muttered and helped the snake curled around his neck. "I believe it's time that I show them I am still living."
Sion grumbled at his blasé attitude, but agreed with his decision. Aiden walked slowly so that he wouldn't embarrass himself by collapsing to the ground again, and thought over what it meant now that the Belt was completed. By all rights it should have glowed and pushed the Shadow Lord back to the Shadowlands, but it hadn't. Aiden stared at his bracelet, it was complete for the first time in nearly seventeen years, but there was something wrong with it. When he studied it he could sense that there was a block on his magic, that there was still a way to go before it was completed. He would need to look at the Belt to get a better idea on what was happening.
Aiden walked through the mist until he spotted his friends standing on the road with the man who was the Guardian, and two dark haired beings. They appeared to be waiting for something or someone, so Aiden also waited before revealing himself. However, once he saw that it was Doom and Dain walking towards them out of the mist there was nothing that could stop him from running towards the two. Doom caught him as he stumbled and frowned as he got a good look at his appearance.
"How is it that it's been a week since I last saw you, and you look like death warmed over?" Doom asked. Aiden grinned and shook his wrist, displaying all seven coloured Gems. Doom's face broke into a smile as he grabbed it, and he pushed Aiden back toward where Lief, Barda, Jasmine, the dark haired beings, and the former Guardian were watching with wide eyes.
"So, what is your real name?" Doom asked the former Guardian once they stopped walking. The man bowed his head in sorrow before looking up.
"My name is Fardeep, I am sorry for misleading you."
"If you don't mind me saying so, Doom, that's not how I expected you to act," Lief stated. "I anticipated that you would try to attack him."
"And I probably would have if I hadn't already regained my darkened memories."
"Is there a reason that you refused to tell us that you had been here before?" Jasmine asked. "Why did you not say that you believed the Guardian to be King Endon?"
Dain gasped in shock, but all Doom did was look down at Aiden curiously. Aiden shrugged as his legs started to shake. He still wasn't recovered from the earlier battle, and was moments away from sinking to the ground.
"Even I have some fine feelings," Doom answered Jasmine. "When I left this accursed valley I swore that never from my lips would my people learn what their King had become. They had suffered enough. Far better, I thought at the time, to let them believe he was dead. But then my memories returned and I told one person, who probably didn't tell you for a good reason."
Aiden grabbed onto Doom's wrist desperately even as everyone looked at him.
I didn't tell them because the Diamond couldn't be won through tricks or violence. I saw telling them as cheating, and would have brought ill-will down on us all.
Doom repeated the statement, and Lief was the only one who understood straight away. He thought over the game, and grinned.
"You were telling us that answer anyway, weren't you? You found the clue, and gave us the answer to the third letter."
Aiden nodded and finally gave in by sinking to the ground. Alarm spread across everyone's faces, but Aiden waved them off, still holding onto Doom's wrist.
Tell them that I'm just tired, he requested. And I'm sorry about Neridah. I didn't want her dead; I just wanted her to stop. The Diamond was the last one and she was going to escape with it.
Doom repeated what Aiden wanted, before lifting him from the ground, frowning as he did so.
"You haven't been eating, again," he observed. Aiden shrugged even as he relaxed on Doom's shoulder. They were led further into the valley where a feast had been prepared, and Aiden learnt the name of the two others: Zeean and Peel of the Torans, who had been banished from Tora when they broke their vow to Adin's bloodline. As they walked Aiden moved his hand so that it was resting on Doom's neck, so that they could talk without the others listening in.
Think your answers to me, Aiden began. I don't want the others to know about this just yet.
Know about what? Doom thought.
Lief is wearing the completed Belt of Deltora, but it does not shine like I've heard in the stories, Aiden explained. And my bracelet isn't complete. Sure, all the Gems are there, but there is something that still needs to be done. Do you have any ideas?
Not a one, Doom admitted thoughtfully. I have to admit though, that I have never thought about it before. Give me a minute to think about it. I assume that since it hasn't shone you don't want Lief to know that he's the Heir?
He's not ready to accept that yet, Aiden stated. I need to look at the Belt, properly, maybe it can tell me something…
I'll follow your lead in this Aiden, Doom promised. I will do anything to free Deltora from the Shadow Lord.
A collection of tables had been set up a little further into the mist, and once Aiden was set down Doom put a moderately full plate of food in front of him. By this Aiden knew that arguing was pointless, so he just started to eat and listened to the conversation around him.
"Doom," Lief stated suddenly. "How did recovering your memories let you know that Fardeep wasn't Endon?"
"That's right," Jasmine exclaimed. "Do you have all your memories back?"
"You have them back and didn't tell anyone?" Dain asked, slightly hurt. "Did you tell Aiden?"
"My memories are my own, Dain," Doom scolded. "Who I tell is my business. But yes, because I have my memories I know that Fardeep wasn't Endon, couldn't have been."
"How?" Lief asked.
"Endon was my friend, before I was taken to the Shadowlands. I haven't seen him since the night the Belt was destroyed, but I know that he is still alive and well. I have recently received word that he still lives in hiding with Sharn."
"You knew Endon?" Barda asked in shock. "Does that mean that you know who the Heir is?"
Doom hesitated and quickly exchanged glances with Aiden. Aiden shook his head slightly, and stared at Lief. Everyone at the table had seen the exchange and wondered about it for different reasons.
"I have my suspicions," Doom finally revealed. "But nothing concrete. Ever since my memories started to return I've been looking for Endon's son, but he is well hidden. If my memories weren't back I would never have guessed it. It was a brilliant plan."
"So Endon had a son?" Lief asked. "Do you remember your name before you were Doom?"
"I do, but for the purpose of secrecy, I will remain as Doom for now."
Aiden could see Lief thinking through the new information that he had been given. He wondered what conclusions he was coming up with, but when he sensed Doom's eyes on him he looked up. Doom indicated the still half full plate with an unspoken order to eat. He did as instructed, not that he wanted to, and as soon as he had finished he felt like he would burst. The others on the table had finished long before him, but they waited seeming to sense that if they moved Aiden wouldn't eat anything else.
Once everything was finished, however, they moved to an open area and formed a circle. Dain was sent to fetch Steven, much to Aiden's delight, and the peddler joined them. There was a brief moment of panic when Nevets made an appearance, most having never met Nevets before or only having met him when he was violent, but all the larger brother did was pull Aiden up into a hug and sit down with him on his lap. Introductions were given again, but Nevets didn't seem interested in anyone else except for the boy in his lap.
"So, before anything is discussed, may I assume that your quest has been successful?" Steven asked. Lief looked at him uncertainly, but Aiden waved his wrist around with a broad grin. Steven gently took his hand and counted the Gems, before turning to Lief and congratulating him.
"How much did you know of our quest?" Lief asked.
"Aiden's bracelet informed us all on his sixteenth birthday that you had gained the Topaz."
"Your birthday is one day after mine!" Lief observed. "I wouldn't have guessed that you were sixteen. You look younger."
Aiden scrunched up his face in distaste; he hated the fact that he still looked younger than his actual age, and blamed that on his aunt and uncle more than anyone.
"Anyway," Steven continued having noticed how uncomfortable Aiden was with the attention on his age. "Aiden was very interested in meeting you so he went off alone. That was the last that I saw him, though he went back to the orchard several times. I kept up-to-date with the quest by asking our mother, and keeping an ear out from news of certain travelers."
"Where do rumors say that we are?" Barda asked curiously.
"Last I heard you were heading towards the Maze of the Beast."
"So we have some time yet," Lief mused. Steven nodded in confirmation before focusing all his attention on Lief.
"May I see the Belt?" he asked. "I have told Aiden about it so many times, but where he has probably seen it, both in reality and those visions of his, I have never seen it."
Lief removed the Belt from his waist and everyone leant forward in amazement. It was a thing of beauty, and Aiden was able to acknowledge that even though it wasn't completed. He tilted his head to the side as he studied it, his own bracelet pulsed in time with the heat from the Belt, and it wasn't until Zeean asked to see the bracelet did Aiden pull his sleeve up again to show it off.
"This bracelet was made from the same material as the Belt," she concluded softly. "But the Gems, they look like they come from the Great Gems."
"What do you mean?" Lief asked. "Each of these Gems are smooth."
"I cannot tell you how I know, but what I said is true," Zeean promised. "Our legends tell us that after he had completed his quest, Adin created a bracelet for his companion, giving him the power of the land and the title of Protector. The Protector put many different spells and enchantments on the bracelet, but we know not what they are."
Aiden thought that was pretty cool and he had already figured that the bracelet's power was directly linked to the state of the Belt. He wondered how the Protector had felt when the Kings of Deltora stopped wearing the Belt and its magic began to wither away. He supposed that was why the last Protector had hidden the bracelet in the City of the Rats, to wait for a time when Deltora would be united once more.
That's it, Aiden thought. He slid of Nevets lap and sat in front of Lief, holding out his hands for the Belt. Lief hesitated, but still placed the Belt in Aiden's hands. Aiden closed his eyes and sent his own magic into the Belt, questioning it as to why it was not yet complete. Images flashed through his mind's eye as the Belt began to glow, and when he opened his eyes again he knew part of what they had to do. He returned the Belt to Lief with a nod of his head and scurried over to Doom so that the man could speak for him.
"Aiden says that while the Belt has each Gem, it isn't complete until the Tribes of Deltora are also united. The magic of the Belt is linked to the land, so it needs the support of the Tribes, the blessing of the land, and the bloodline of Adin."
"We should be able to find a representative of each Tribe," Peel said. "The blessing of the land though, how does one get that?"
"The Protector must approve of the Heir," Steven stated. "That should also be possible depending on who the Heir is."
"You know who the Protector is?" Barda asked in shock. "Deltora hasn't had a Protector for hundreds of years now."
"Will uniting the Tribes reveal the Heir?" Lief asked. He looked at Aiden curiously, but Aiden shook his head in warning. If the others hadn't figured out that he was the Protector from the information already given, than he would keep a secret for a little while longer. "It seems that we can't worry about who the Protector is until we find the Heir. We won't succeed without him."
"What are the Tribes of Deltora?" Jasmine asked.
"There are seven, one for each Gem," Zeean explained. "We people of Tora were one of the seven. Our Talisman is the Amethyst."
"I am of the Mere," Fardeep admitted. "My Talisman is the Lapis Lazuli."
"Nevets and I are of the Plains people," Steven stated. "The Opal is our Talisman."
"The Ralads' Talisman is the Ruby," Doom continued. "Let's see, the Del Tribe has the Topaz, the Jalis had the Diamond and the Dread Gnomes had the Emerald."
"Does anyone know a Jalis?" Lief asked. "Manus of the Ralads, and Gla-Thon of the Dread Gnomes could represent their Tribes, but I don't know of any Jalis."
"The Jalis were wiped out," Dain explained. "Every last one of them. The Shadow Lord didn't want them to raise an army against him. I don't know of any who still live."
"I do," Doom admitted. Then he smiled. "He would certainly liven up the proceedings. A man most of you would know as Glock."
Aiden laughed at the horror that appeared on Lief, Barda and Jasmine's faces. He went back over to Nevets and sat back on his lap. The usually violent man wrapped his arms around him and all that could be seen of the boy was his head. Details of how to get a message to each of the absent Tribes began, and a final meeting place of Withick Mire was decided upon. They all walked to the path so that they could leave immediately.
"Alright, as you three are the most noticeable, you will be going with Steven in the back of his caravan," Doom explained, pointing to Lief, Barda and Jasmine. "Fardeep, Zeean and Dain, you will come with me overland. Aiden…"
He trailed off as he spotted Aiden on top of Steven's caravan. It wasn't just catching up with his "brothers" that encouraged Aiden to use the main road; it was also because he knew that he had to go with Lief. Doom nodded with a smile before turning to a few other Torans. Peel, and two younger Torans, would be playing the part of decoys for Lief, Barda and Jasmine, to draw the Shadow Lord's attention west. Kree had already flown off carrying a golden arrow tip to Dread Mountain, and Steven had already sent off a swarm of bees to Raladin.
"Aiden!" Doom called. Aiden slid off the wagon roof and stood in front of Doom. The man led him away from everyone and knelt down so that they couldn't be heard.
"Steven and Nevets are strong enough to protect those three, but I want you to be extra careful. I have a really bad feeling about what we're about to do."
I will be careful, Aiden promised. But you must also be careful. When will you speak with Jasmine?
"Currently Lief is under the belief that I am Endon," Doom admitted with a smile. "It's safer at the moment if they continue to believe that, and that I have been looking for my son. It will draw attention away from Lief, though the fact that not one of them has figured out he's the Heir puzzles me. The Belt has only reacted to him and to you."
He's spent his whole life believing that his father is naught but a blacksmith who was betrayed by Endon. He needs to hear it from his father that Endon and his heir have been living right under the Shadow Lord's nose for sixteen years.
"Good luck Aiden," Doom whispered. "We need you to free this land as well."
Aiden darted back to the caravan, waving as he did so. The trio were already in the caravan, so Aiden leapt onto the roof and pulled out his flute. Now that he was on top of a mobile store he was free to play as much music as he wanted to attract customers. As they departed all that could be heard were Aiden's music and Steven's lyrics. The trio would be sick of it in no time.
"Once there was an Ol-io,
Jolly-wolly Ol-io,
Once there was an Ol-io,
Fearsome as could be!"
I said to that Ol-io,
Jolly-wolly Ol-io,
I said to that Ol-io,
You don't bother me!"
Colly-wobble Ol-io,
Jolly-wobble Ol-io,
Colly-wobble Ol-io,
You don't bother me!"
Steven kept them traveling throughout most of the night, stopping a few hours before dawn so that he could rest. Aiden slept on the roof of the caravan all night, and when he woke he noticed that someone had dropped a blanket over his body so that he wouldn't get cold. Lief, Barda and Jasmine were stretched out on the ground, dead to the world, and Steven was propped up against a tree. There were still an hour before sunrise, but Aiden was unwilling to sleep.
"You should still be sleeping Aiden," Sion hissed from where he was keeping watch at the end of the caravan. "The other humans are still sleeping."
"I am confused about the Belt," Aiden admitted. He told Sion all his concerns, identifying Lief as the future King of Deltora, and the snake took in the information silently. Sion agreed that uniting the Tribes was important, but other than that he didn't know what was wrong.
"Aiden, what are you doing up?" Steven asked. Aiden looked down at his brother with a smile, accepting the bowl of food being held up to him. Steven shook his head in amusement and started to pack up their campsite so they could travel again. Lief, Barda and Jasmine reluctantly piled into the caravan again after the sun had risen, and Aiden returned to playing flute. He was only able to keep up his tune for a short while however, and curled up to sleep once more with the sun blanketing him.
"What happened to Aiden that made him so exhausted?" Steven asked once he was sure Aiden was sleeping. The trio in the caravan exchanged glances.
"He used some kind of magic to defeat the Guardian in the valley," Lief explained. "He passed out afterwards for several hours."
"Ah, Aiden," Steven lamented. "Why must you always put others before yourself?"
"What do you mean?" Jasmine asked.
"You haven't noticed?" Steven asked. "Aiden has very little self-worth. He is under the belief that his life means very little in comparison to another's life. He jumps into danger because he believes that he can protect those around him."
"But he can," Jasmine stated. "Aiden is a very capable fighter, and when he really means it, I don't believe that any one of us would be able to defeat him."
"Aiden hates fighting," Lief added. "But you're right, both of you. Aiden is very capable, but also very reluctant."
"He has a 'saving people thing', I believe he called it," Steven continued. "I think that his relatives instilled in him that he would never amount to anything. Nothing that we say or do will change that belief in him. It's quite frustrating actually."
"That might explain why he didn't fight back when he was in Del," Lief mused thoughtfully. "By fighting back, he could have angered the Grey Guards and they in turn would have been tougher on the other prisoners."
"When I was a palace guard," Barda began. "We had a term for people like Aiden. It is 'a bleeding heart'. A person who feels the pain of others around them, and does their best to take away that pain."
"That's Aiden," Steven agreed. "A protector of life."
"Protector…" Lief mused. "I thought about it before, especially with the looks everyone keeps sending his way, but is Aiden Deltora's Protector?"
"Any person who wears that bracelet has the title of Protector," Steven explained. "When you find the Heir, and when it comes down to it, Aiden will be the one who decides whether or not the Heir is worthy of being King."
"What if he refuses?" Jasmine asked. "We would have done all this for nothing then!"
"It wouldn't be for nothing," Steven denied. "You three have done more for this country than any King, aside from Adin, ever has. The Tribes will be united again, hope exists with the people, and the enemy is feeling fear. It wasn't for nothing."
"Well, I hope that Aiden supports the Heir," Barda muttered.
"Oh, he will," Steven whispered. "He will…
"Once there was an Ol-io,
Jolly-wolly Ol-io,
Once there was an Ol-io,
Fearsome as could be!"
I said to that Ol-io,
Jolly-wolly Ol-io,
I said to that Ol-io,
You don't bother me!"
Days later Aiden was just about completely recovered, and the three in the caravan were going stir crazy. Aiden estimated that there would probably arrive in Withick Mire that night. At that moment in time he was sitting on Mellow, the horse's back and reading The Belt of Deltora that Lief had let him borrow. There was a lot of detailed information in it, but the one section that needed more detail was the one they needed most.
Each gem has its own magic, but together the seven make a spell that is far more powerful than the sum of its parts. Only the Belt of Deltora, complete as it was first fashioned by Adin and worn by Adin's true heir, has the power to defeat the Enemy.
It told the reader exactly what they needed to know, but gave no information about how to make it work. It was very frustrating, and Aiden wished for a moment that Hermione was next to him as she would be able to figure out what they needed. With a sigh he went back and read it again.
"Be prepared for flight or fight.
Ol-io, Ol-io!
Gripper field lies to the right,
Ahead are Guard-ios."
Aiden looked up and cursed as he spotted the pod of Grey Guards. On the left side of the road was a cliff face, sheer and steep, impossible to escape up. On the right side of the road was a gripper field, and Aiden knew that unless they wanted to become plant food they would be unable to escape that way either. With the road being as narrow as it was, it was also impossible to turn the caravan around. That left fighting.
"Aiden, get back over here," Steven ordered as he pulled the caravan to a halt behind the line of caravans that were being inspected. Aiden leapt from Mellow's back and scurried to the back of the caravan where Lief, Barda and Jasmine were climbing out.
"I will distract them, try and get away."
"We can fight," Jasmine insisted.
"No, you are too close to the end of your quest to get killed now and besides, Doom would have my head if I let anything happen to you."
Aiden grabbed Lief's hand and started to pull him under the caravan. Barda and Jasmine followed him, but all four knew that it was only a matter of time until they were caught. Lief pulled the cloak over the four of them, and Aiden shivered as he felt the magic come alive. He hadn't asked Lief where he had gotten his cloak after all that, and now he was curious. He turned slightly so that he could ask him telepathically.
"My mother made it for me," Lief whispered. "Why?"
It's full of magic, wanted to know how you had gotten it.
Barda cautioned them to be silent, so Lief didn't reply. Aiden strained his eyes and followed Steven's progress. It appeared that the man's plan was to sell some of his Queen Bee Cider to the Guards. Aiden knew that they couldn't stay there, even now the Guards were talking about different forms of entertainment they could create, and one had even started to move towards Mellow.
"Let's push it into the gripper field!"
An answer of positive cries echoed from the numerous Guards, and one cry of denial from Steven. Aiden slipped from the protective cloak before the others could stop him and shimmied up to the roof of the caravan. Before anyone realised that he was there he leapt forward and plunged his dagger into the Grey Guard's neck. He dropped like a stone as Aiden rolled free, pulling his dagger from the Guard's neck as he did so. Battle cries sprung up, and Aiden and Steven joined the battle wholeheartedly.
Lief, Barda and Jasmine joined them moments later, and then Nevets leapt free to fight as well. Aiden had only ever seen Nevets fight once before, but he hadn't been close enough at the time to truly appreciate it. Now however, Nevets was throwing Guard after Guard into the gripper fields, their screams sending chills down Aiden's neck as they were eaten alive. Both Steven and Aiden were safe from Nevets' rage, but the other three weren't. Before they could blink Nevets threw Barda into the gripper field, where Aiden chased him, using his magic to float over the deadly plants. Barda's pained screams died off as Aiden reached him, but the man was still able to help a little as Aiden tried to pull him out.
Steven restrained his brother, and Lief pulled out the Belt. Nevets recognised the opal, the Great Gem of his people, and calmed down. But he didn't disappear back into Steven's body. He instead ran out into the gripper fields after Aiden and helped him to pull Barda free of the plants. Once Barda was free and balancing on Aiden's back did Nevets disappear to heal. Aiden struggled to get back to the road, but once he was within arm distance, Steven, Lief and Jasmine helped him get Barda flat. They were unable to linger, so they piled into the caravan again with Steven leading them away with all haste. Aiden reluctantly jumped into the caravan and like he had done with Gla-Thon he sent all his healing energy into Barda. Before the eyes of Lief and Jasmine, Barda's wounds began to close and stop bleeding. Aiden collapsed against Lief and quickly informed them that while he had healed the wounds, Barda had still lost a lot of blood and would need a lot of rest before he was back at full strength.
When he was sure that the two understood, he crawled from the caravan and went to sit with Steven. Steven took one look at his exhausted form and wrapped and around him, making sure that he wouldn't fall from the caravan if he passed out.
Hours later, shortly after the sun had set, a familiar but horrible smell reached Aiden's nose. He opened his eyes, not aware that he had closed them, and grinned as the familiar trash heap of Withick Mire came into view. Lief and Jasmine expressed their disgust, as did everyone who appeared in this place, but they got out of the caravan to walk the rest of the way. Steven carried Barda, who was still unconscious, and Aiden walked with Lief and Jasmine on either side of him, supporting him.
A ragged scavenger approached them, leaning heavily on a stick. He offered them shelter, and Aiden giggled as he recognised Doom. The scavenger looked at him with a wink, before leading to way towards the Resistance stronghold. Mellow followed them on her own, having been to the trash mound before.
Once inside the Resistance stronghold Doom removed his disguise and helped move Barda into one of the rooms. Steven went out again to hide Mellow and the caravan, and Aiden led his friends to another room that had long ago been designated the "meeting room." Many crates were scattered around and Aiden sat on one of them gratefully.
"Aiden! You are alive! We were expecting you yesterday!"
Aiden blinked and then smiled as he recognised Jinks. The cowardly acrobat must have journeyed with Glock to get to Withick Mire, no doubt wanting a change of scenery.
"And you brought the escapees with you!" Jinks continued. "Where is dear old Barda the Bear? We did not get to speak when we last met."
"He's recovering in another room," Lief explained. "We had a bit of trouble with the gripper fields."
"And if he is still alive Aiden must have saved his life," Jinks stated with a nod. "No wonder you look exhausted, again."
"Why do you say that?" Jasmine asked.
"Aiden is always trying to help people, even at the cost of his own health," Jinks explained as he leapt up to sit next to Aiden. "I have heard many things about him in the Resistance, and one of those things is that he is a miracle healer."
"He is certainly strong," Jasmine agreed hesitantly. Aiden grinned at her before lying back on the crate. The next few days would have the rest of the Tribes gather, and then the Heir would be revealed. He had decided…Lief would be revealed as the Heir.
Several days later the representatives of the seven tribes had gathered in Withick Mire. Barda had recovered most of his strength, though the blood loss was annoying him. Aiden waved away his thanks and merely warned him that his strength was still needed in the upcoming battle. Manus was relieved that Aiden was alright, and had many messages from his village requesting that he visit again now that they could speak to him. His companion, Nanion of D'Or had been happy to see Aiden as well. Nanion was the true form of Soldeen, and Aiden took the time to thank him for not eating him when he had the chance…much to the amusement of all who were listening.
Gla-Thon had been the most excited upon seeing him, however, as she had launched herself at him with a laugh.
"Well I never imagined that I would see you here Aiden," she stated. "Your message in regards to those travelers was much appreciated. I couldn't tell if they were for real or not! They were moments away from being turned into fly food."
Aiden grinned at the image before turning to Gla-Thon's companion. The flying marsupial, who introduced herself as Ailsa of the Kin, was another ally of the Dread Gnomes, and loyal to Lief for helping them return home. Aiden felt warm at the thought of all the allies Lief had made on his journey. He truly was a natural leader and the rightful King.
The ceremony took place the day after everyone had arrived. The bulk of the Resistance who were in Withick Mire were sitting in on the ceremony, wanting to know who the Heir was, but Doom stood to the back with Aiden beside him. Each representative rested their hand on the Belt and identified themselves by name and Tribe.
"I, Zeean of Tora, am here."
"And I, Gla-Thon of the Dread Gnomes."
"Fardeep, of the Mere."
"Steven, of the Plains."
"Manus, for the Ralad people."
"I am Glock, last of the Jalis."
"Lief, of Del."
Aiden wondered if he should have also been up there, putting magic into the ceremony as the Protector, but Doom had held him back. Instead he watched from a distance as the magic of the Belt increased. Zeean continued the ceremony.
"Together we, representatives of the seven tribes, renew our ancient vow to unite under the power of the Belt of Deltora, and swear loyalty to Adin's rightful heir."
"We swear," the seven repeated. Aiden gasped as the magic in the room increased, and grasped his head to dull the pounding. Doom looked at him in concern, but Aiden waved him off. He knew what he had to do.
He walked forward through the crowd of witnesses, drawing everyone's attention to him, and he pointed at Lief as he came to a stop. The magic from the Belt became visible to everyone in the room as it shot up and wrapped around Lief in a warm cocoon of light. There were gasps from everyone as the Belt identified the rightful Heir of Adin. Lief was staring at Aiden in shock, confusion and fear, but all Aiden did was bow his head.
"But how?" Lief asked.
"Was it not the greatest plan?" Doom asked from the back of the room. "Jarred and Endon were best friends, but it was important that Endon's son be raised as one of the people. So the real Jarred and Anna left Del, heading towards Tora, whilst Endon and Sharn took on the names Jarred and Anna, and raised their son as a blacksmith. Who would have guessed it? But remember, Adin was a blacksmith before he was a King."
"What happened to the real Jarred and Anna then?" asked Barda.
"The people of Tora refused us sanctuary," Doom continued, smiling as realization appeared on many faces. "So instead Anna and I went east. We made our home, in the Forest of Silence."
"But that means…" Jasmine started. "You're my…"
"When Aiden helped me to regain my memories, the first thing that I did was return to the Forest to find you, my beautiful daughter," Doom confessed. "But you had already joined Lief and Barda, and despite how much I still wanted to protect you, what you were doing would save us all. So I took a step back."
Aiden rolled his eyes and pulled back the magic of the Belt. The lack of light returned everyone's attention to the front of the room, to where Lief hadn't moved. Aiden walked further forward so that he was standing in the circle, and then glanced down at the Belt. His eye brows furrowed in confusion as he noticed that the Ruby was pale pink and the Emerald was dull. Lief followed his gaze and gasped.
"Danger approaches!"
The roof above them caved in and everyone leapt out of the way. A giant red monster stood in the middle of the room, and an opal vision flashed through Aiden's mind and he leapt at Lief protectively. As quickly as he could, he cast a protective shield over his body.
I will find you, my King, he promised. Lief nodded as he heard the message.
And then the monster was behind him and he was flying through the air. Aiden looked up in time to see that Lief was being held in the monster's hand, but it was the monster who was screaming in pain. The shield that Aiden had cast was similar to the one that protected him from evil. The monster couldn't bear to touch him. Unfortunately, the spell wasn't strong enough to burn the monster to ash, it just caused him pain. The monster leapt through the hole in the roof and started to run towards Del, Lief's cries for help echoing after him.
"Lief!" Barda and Jasmine called in despair. Aiden climbed out of the rubble around him and shook off the dust. He walked over to the where the Belt had fallen and slipped it over his shoulder like a sash. He may have imagined it, but he could feel that the Belt was sad that Lief was gone. He stared at it for a long moment before looking up at those around him. His eyes were once again glowing green, but instead of freezing everyone in their boots, he gave them hope and determination.
The final battle for Deltora was about to begin.
Next up in Deltora's Protector:
Chapter 14 – The Fate of the Shadows