Here is a great chapter to really boggles the mind and if you see signs like these 'hello' it means someone speaking in their mind
(No POV) Deltora palace
In the layer of the shadow lord there stood a giant statue of a right claw holding a pair of glowing red crystal eyes that is the shadow lord communicating from the Shadowlands. Standing in front of the statue is a tall thin man resembling a bird of prey who where's a red, yellow brown winged robe and where's a red hat with a red stone. He has boney fingers has a sour and scary appearance with long grey hair. The name of this man is fallow and he is the informant of the shadow lord.
Fallow informed the shadow lord about the topaz and shadow lord said, "what the Topaz was taken,Fallow". "I most humbly apologize, my Lord", fallow said "recover the gem at once and bring back those who stole from me back here, so that I may punish them mercilessly", said shadow lord then fallow bowed his head down and said,"my lord".
(No pov) rainy day
It has been three day days since the party travel from the forest of silence and they were standing under the front of a cottage that is next to a rapid water river. This location is at the edge of thaegen's territory everyone is under the front of the houses edge except for Cal and hater only baggey was between Lief and jasmine.
"Looks like the river is going to flood",Barda said then lightning flashed upsetting kree as he let out a caw sound "afraid of a little thunder what a big baby", Lief said. That angered kree and started pecking and biting Lief he said,"hey stop it ow" meanwhile filli popped out from Jasmine's shoulder and started rubbing up against her face while she scratched him on the side with her finger and went to sulking.
"Jasmine you're not still mad are you?" ,lief asked and she replied,"it's crazy to go through the land to the north we're pretty much begging to run into the sorceress thaegen by going this way" and Barda replied "yes that maybe true but this is the most direct route to the lake of tears".
Hearing this Jasmine replied,"but the lake is at the edge of thaegens lands, if we come from the south we wouldn't have to worry about till the very end". "We discussed this that way is far to long it will only increase a chance of this running into gray guards",Barda said and Lief chimed in,"i'm sorry, Jasmine, but I agree with Barda about this there will be danger no matter which path we take so I think the shortest route route is the best way to go".
"I don't believe it. We actually agree on something",Barda said "so it's two against one"Lief said in snarky tone "it looks like Lief doesn't know how to count", jasmine said as kree landed on her lifted up right arm"that makes it three against two" Lief countered," kree and filli aren't humans they can't vote on this" and jasmine got up and said,"thaegen is ten times more powerful know then before the shadow lord has only made her stronger now she's just full of vanity and wickedness if we keep going down this path, the quest will be over before we get to the lake".
"But we don't have a choice"Lief argued and Barda spoke,"look we're certain that one of the gems we seek is hidden at the lake of tears" and jasmine closed her eyes and said a pout. Lief the grumbled and Barda said to him,"Jasmine has lived on her own for a very long time now it would seem she's not a cut stuff to making decisions that involved others" and he replied "ya ya I get all that but it doesn't mean she has to be so stubborn" and kree started pulling his hair and cawed while Lief said,"hey stop it" barda then laughed and said,"apparently kree takes offense to that comment.
Then it just occurred to Lief and he said," wait a minute where is Cal he was here when the rain started and now he's gone only baggy is left on the window". "It's strange he wouldn't leave us, especially since he said he owes me debt"Barda said then jasmine look at baggie and she saw a neatly folding note on top of baggie. Jasmine then said"hey what's that on top of baggies" she grabbed the note and unfolded it so every one could see it and Barda read"friends if you need me just pat gently baggie on top of her three times". Lief spoke "what does that even mean?" and Jasmine replied "just take one of your hands and start gently patting the top of baggie" she then patted gently on baggie three times.
(No POV) (during the time they go Cals message)
The location is a void fading from white to black slowly with multicolored orbs floating around one of them an orange orb connected with a purple orb we see cal inside with hatter on top of his head covereing Cals eyes with his goggle eyes. These two were working in the orb that had a spellbinding circle in the center, and a forging hammer on one side on the other side were tools,grindstone and smelter.
Cal was using the spellbinding circle and hammer to turn the pieces of gorls armor and sword and transformed them into a gold metal belt with a dial on the right side. Next he headed over to a purple orb went inside it and there was an alchemy lab. In the purple orb he was combining and ingredients with the samples of whin and wenbar creating potions it was quite easy with the telekinesis ability he got from gorl what he would use them for will surprise anyone. When he was finished he heard three pats and said,"well, Hatter this is really convenient now it'll take my little creation for a test drive" hatter mumbled in agreement and cal took the belt and wrapped it around his waist till he hear both ends make a clicking noise signaling they're connected.
Then cal sat on a medium size wooden boat out side of the orb and headed for the spot that said exit.
(no pov)(just when jasmine patted baggie gently)
As soon as Jasmine patted baggie gently three times Lief was getting a bit impatient and said, "well that was a waste. Nothing even happened". Then to every one's surprise baggie started to shake then opened her face flap and out popped hatter and cal while he wore the solid gold belt. Everyone was surprised and cal broke the silence by saying "did I miss something".
Lief was flabbergast "what how did you do that!?" and cal replied "I have a lot of space and time in baggie I worked on this gold armor metal belt don't worry this is light as a feather". Jasmine then said "cal we need you as the deciding vote tell lief and barda their both crazy"then lief stepped in "no tell jasmine we have to go this way".
So cal decided and said,"look I'm neither with any of you nor against,besides I still owe Barda for saving me"
(Day time) after the storm a rainbow
The entire party was walking and stretching the limbs from staying still to long."What a view it sure is peaceful"Barda said, and jasmine replied"the animals who live here don't think it's peaceful"
While walking they see a giant mass that is the color brown in front of a bridge"what is that" Lief spoke "I don't know, but whatever it is it seems to be blockingthe bridge"Barda said and then it rose up revealing itself as a giant.
The giant is 9 foot tall tan skin long brow hair reaching his back wears red brackets with a light purple loincloth and a strange metal cuff around his right ankle only the right side of his face was showing.As jasmine and Lief grabbed their weapons wow, Cal said"Kazam battle staff" baggy gave him a staff Barda then said,"Lief wait,by the look of him I don't think this giant wants to attack us".
All of a sudden the giant lifts his sword slashed it down just as Lief and Barda split the last second."Are you sure about that" Lief said Barda then clashed his sword with the giant"what sort of giant is he" Lief spoke and jasmine replied "he may be one of thaegen's". The giant then spoke,"you are wrong I may have been forced to guard this vile bridge by the sorceress thaegen but I am the property of no one" and then slashes his sword down on the ground as they dodge out of the way.
"What do you mean" Lief asked and giant said,"it was many years ago I tried to deceive the witch to save a friend from being cursed this angered thaegen so she bound me to this piece of earth" while kree was squawking to jasmine and she understood him.
Giant then hit his sword on barda's sword to knock him down and Lief shouted his name."I am doomed to guard this bridge until truth and lies are one" lief back talked"how can truth and lies ever be one what you're saying doesn't make any sense" Jasmine stepped in "excuse me sir I can see your a reasonable giant were enemies of thaegen to please let us pass" Lief shouted jasmines name and the giant puts his sword blade end in the ground.
The giant said,"very well I will tell you a riddle to test your intelligence if you answer correctly I'll allow you to cross over the bridge" Lief said,"and if if we answer incorrectly" he replied "I will eliminate you" and Barda said,"you mean you'll try to" and Cal added"we won't go down without a fight".
"Here is the riddle you must answer" giant said as he snapped his fingers from right hand and suddenly five hand held sticks appeared out of nowhere "change five to three with out removing any sticks"giant said and Lief complained"that's impossible their no way you can end up with three sticks without taking two of the five away" Barda said "the boy is right"
The giant then snapped his fingers and hourglass appeared out of know where "the question has been asked, it must be answered before all the sand has fallen"giant spoke "there's not much time do you know the answer Barda" he said" im afraid not Lief" his conclusion. Jasmine looked down at sticks and said "change five to three without removing any sticks I know the answer" this surprised Lief "you said without removing any sticks but you said we couldn't move them" and she align them in the shape of number three "here is your three" giant raged point his sword to her and said"that was very good you may pass".
Just when Lief was about to follow Jasmine the giant lifted his sword in front of him saying "hold it you stay there only those who solve my riddle are allowed to cross the bridge" and Barda said "jasmine go on ahead will meet on the other side" she then walked "you seem to be quite a confident man therefore you will answer the next riddle" giant said then five wooden cracker size wood pieces fell out of nowhere "arrange these five pieces in order"then the hourglass appeared again "there's an order I don't even know what these characters mean I've never seen them before perhaps there some sort of code" then Lief looked at the hourglass and talked"uh Barda" then he placed his hand on his head and Barda said,"ugh I can't figure it out there's no other way I'll just have to fight him" as Barda lifted his sword he saw its reflection in the water puddle then his own reflection and said"that's it there are two sides the reflection end of my sword in the puddle, gave me a hint to the riddle" he picks up the piece"mirror images"and tosses them in the air sliceing them while saying"one the halves are symmetric put together to look like bizarre characters and five" in order of sliceing the tiles they count numbers one, two, three, four and five. Giant then rages turning his right side of face only to show his left side and said"you are correct you to may now pass" and that's what Barda did.
The giant then said "now here is the third question" lief then said smugly "Barda and jasmine could solve your little riddles so I don't see why I should have any problems" and the giant looked at him and said" you will not be solving this riddle it will be your friend behind you" lief then looked shocked and said"how come Cal gets the next riddle he hasn't said anything" and giant replied "exactly he has not said anything at all and he has not attacked meaning he is smart" Cal stepped in speaking "Lief quit complaining we don't need to make him angrier,very well giant I'm ready for the riddle".
"I see you are ready this riddle will be told to you here it is what beast starts with four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening" the hour glass appeared to count down. Cal was having a hard time figuring this riddle out, he placed his hands on the ground with his staff behind him then got back up and said"this is tuff maybe I should fight him" while he said that he took his staff decreased its length so he could lean on it he looked at it then the answer came to him.
Cal said to the giant," I have figured your riddle. The answer is man". Every one was astound cal the said,"here's how you see man walks on four legs in the morning represents the infant stage crawling on four legs,two legs in the afternoon represents adult and the evening is when man is old and his cane act as his third leg I had figured it out when I leaned on my staff". The giant then roared and grunted and said,"you are correct you may now cross the bridge".
Giant then said,"now you get the question I will sing you a song and you must tell me how many living creatures are in the song I sing to you it's long so listen very carefully". The song begins"sorceress thaegen gulps her favorite food in her cave with all her brood and the names of her children are hot,tot,Jin,jod,fee,fly,zan,zod,pik,snik,lun,lod and of course the dreaded ichabod,each child holds a slimy toad on each toes squirms two fat grubs,on each grubs rides two fleas brave here's my riddle and so beware answer this riddle now if you dare how many things are living in thaegen's cave" and the the hourglass began "now answer". "You can do it Lief" Barda said "if you sing the song to yourself, it'll help you remember" Jasmine spoke and cal chimed "think really hard".
Lief began sing the song to himself and spoke"I figured out the answer if thirteen children each have a slimey toad then there are 13 toads,if on each toad squirms 2 fat grubs then there are 26 grubs and if on each grub ride 2 fleas brave that means there are 52 fleas if I add all these together it equals 104 you see my mother used to make me do arithmetic every single afternoon coming up with the answer to your riddle as a piece of cake it's 104". Giant hummed Lief said,"oh wait I forgot to add sorceress thaegen to that my answer is 105" and cal shouted" lief no I told you to think hard" giant then spoke "wrong answer" Lief countered"what do you mean all my calculations are correct?" and the giant said"they are correct but you forgot to add sorceress thaegen's favorite food that shegulped down one raven whole and alive" Jasmine and cal grunted at this. "So the answer is 106" giant said.
"What are you talking about you never said anything about there being a live raven in sorceress thaegen's cave"Lief shouted. "Come the first line of the song says gulped her favorite food"gaint said "that was jus a trick" jasmines shouted "it's not fair"replied Barda kree and filli also agreed but cal said,"well technically the song had a hidden message in the first line".
The giant slashed his sword down and Lief jumped out of the way. "Carful Lief" shouted Barda 'i've got to protect the belt at all cost I'll throw it to Barda as soon as I get the chance if only I could distract the Giants ' lief thought. While he grabbed the belt the topaz shined and all of them said,"Lief look out" he blocked the giants sword and said"you're a trickster and a deceiver" then giant said to Lief "don't blame me because you're a fool, and was unable to solve my riddle".
"Now I can see why thaegen decided to put a curse on a mean, giant like you, you deserve it"Lief said."What" giant replied "you enjoy it when other people fail no wonder you're doomed to guard this bridge until truth and lies are one" Lief replied. "I am neither a liar nor a trickster as you say my suffering was not justly earned it was pure spite thaegen took my freedom and cursed me to this bridge"giant said. On the bridge cal thought'of course why didn't I figure it out sooner' giant the spoke"but you said something very interesting just now since you're so concerned with truth and lies I will allow you to play one more game, in this game you will decide the method of your own demise you may say one thing and one thing only, if you decide to tell me something that is true, I will crush you with my bare hands, if what you say is false, I will than be obliged to use my sword."
Lief said,"so you're gonna win either way" and the giant replied"that is correct will you tell me the truth or will you tell me a lie" Barda spoke "this is not good", jasmine said,"we can't just stand around and watch him be defeated like this" cal then chimed "but what can we even do".
He grabbed the side of the belt and the topaz shined "what should I do please lend me your strength belt of deltora" Lief said. "My answer is you will use your sword" Lief said to the giant "well didn't you hear my answer? Is it true or false?" Lief continued to speak. "Why isn't he saying anything?"jasmine replied Barda said" great answer Lief the giant said that if he told to tell the truth he would crush Lief with his bear hands,so if Lief said you will use your sword is true the giant would crush Lief thus making what Lief said false". Jasmine spoke," oh and then the giant said he would have to use his sword if Lief lied that was a good answer because what Lief said is false then the giant would have to use his sword but that would make what Lief said true so he would have to crush Lief with his bare hands so that means he wouldn't do what he said way to go Lief I think you got him beat". Cal said, "Lief freed the giant truth, and lies are one".
Suddenly the giant screamed and glowed purple and started to transform into a giant brow bird with an orange beak while his ankle bracket broke. Giant who is now a bird flew up into the sky " he was actually a bird"Lief said "until the truth turns into a lie and a lie turns into the truth I can't believe it you actually broke sorceress thaegen's curse" Jasmine said. "You gave me back my life someday I will repay this debt to you" bird said lief then replied"your free again" as the bird flew away.
Kree then cawed "kree seems more afraid then ever before" Jasmine said and kree cawed again. "The giant explained that sorceress taeghan's favorite food was a raven live and whole that's why your afraid of her isn't kree" lief said jasmine explained" kree's entire family was taken by that evil sorceress".
(Flashback scene)
We see a giant spider web with a lot of ravens stuck in it and below, it was a baby raven in the nest on a tree branch cawing.Jasmine then said"kree was just a baby he hadn't even flown out of the nest yet". On the next scene we see baby kree in jasmines hands on the ground floor"so in a way he's like me cause I was very young when the gray guards took my mother and father too."
(back to current present)
Jasmine said, "kree and I have been living together for a long time" and then he cawed. Suddenly out of the blue Jasmine said,"but I think it's time for us to go our separate ways" kree was saddened. "I can't stand the thought I'm leading you towards danger so I want you to go home".
Everyone was surprised cal only half surprised Lief than said,"wait Jasmine are you sure?" then kree shook his head sideways. "If I survive I promise I'll come back for you but if I don't at least you'll be safe no go go" she lifted her left arm where kree was perched but he refused to fly. Jasmine then closed her eyes walked and said" well I think we should get going" and later kree is seen flying in circles.
Our hero's are seen walking in a forest Barda the sat on a log and said," why don't we just rest" and Jasmine said"ya". Lief walked up to Jasmine and said" Jasmine I'm sorry" this surprised Jasmine and Cal "you had really good reasons not wanting to go through thaegen's territory I didn't realize they were that personal". Jasmine spoke,"thaegan seems to hate every living creature that is beautiful,happy and lives freely in this world". Two birds perched on a nearby branch chirped Jasmine said," you hear those two birds well that's what they're talking about they're saying around the land around the lake of tears there was once a town called Dore the name means the town of gold","beautiful flowers bloomed full of life and tall trees were found throughout the town there was a magnificent tower The people here were happy, but now there's nothing left of the town all because of thaegan and her children."
Lief said "thaegan is evil she destroys everything wait Cal why do you despise thaegan?". Cal replied "she did horrible things to me and my family when I tell you everything I'm afraid of what you'll think of me afterwards". Then jasmine heard the trees moaning and wind brushed around them "the trees became frightened suddenly I think Grey guards are heading towards us" jasmine said,then barda got up and said,"what" jasmine replied "we dont have time to run quick follow me will climb up the tree". They all climbed up the tree and lief said"we can hide under the cloak like before" and the did exactly that then the cloak and them turned invisible.
Gray guards showed up approximately seven they are tall about the same height as barda but beat him by a foot. They look human with hairless skin and flat eyes wear black suit, metal helmet with detachable face, guard, and a gray shirt cloak over them. The grey guards weapon's are armed with clubs,trident staff,daggers,swords and slings used to hurl blisters. In their group was a blue skined person with a small tussle of red hair wereing green,yellow and orange clothing that covered him from shoulder to knees has blacke eyes was tied with rope around the his wrists connected to the tree our travelers were hiding on.
Barda whispered "it seems the guards are escorting a prisoner he a ralid" lief whisper said, " whats a raldin?", "the ralids are a race of builders they were loved by adin and all the kings and queens of deltora's early times there buildings were famous for their strength and design", barda said.
Lief whispered, "I think I've heard of them before they're the one who built the palace of Del arent they". As the grey guards reached into a small bag of food bars one of them tossed a food bar at the ralids head and they all laughed "how cruel" ,jasmine said.
(Night time)
All the gray guards including their prisoner had fallen asleep and lief then whispered "we have to go and save the ralid" and Barda whispered, " no lief our only objective in this quest is to find the seven gems of deltora we mustn't be distracted by anything else". "But i can't just leave him" lief protested and jasmine replied,"there's nothing we can do for know".
"If you wont help him ill do it myself",Lief said and jumped down dispelling the illusion."Wait", jasmine shout whispered and barda replied,"well here we go again I have to go where the belt goes" unannounced to all of them Cal said in his mind,'that kid obsession and with helping people is going to get us in more trouble than he knows'.
Jasmine said,"wait a sec" and reaches in her bag pulls an acorn and drops it on the ground getting the ralids attention looking up he sees five more fall down and saw lief as he made the quiet sign with his had the ralid nodded meaning he understood lief jumped down next to him and said,"there's no need to be afraid I'm a friend" then the ralid hummed and nodded he the drew a letter M in the ground with his right foot getting lief and barda curious after he wiped the ground with his foot.
They had untied the ralid and barda spoke "lets go" then he and lief quiet rand with the ralid man piggy backing on bardas back. A gray guard woke up looked around and said,"the scrag isnt here!" and another wakeing up said" where'd he go" and they saw there prisoner escaping with two individuals and another said, "over there ".
Then one of the Gray guards fired a blister which exploded all on the log while they were running lief shouted"there's a whole patrol of gray guards chasing us". Meanwhile jasmine and cal were jump running from branch to branch on the trees and leif said"they're firing blisters at us". But Barta and Leif couldn't stop running with the gray guard still chasing them.
Hi everyone, sorry this took so long to publish but Rome wasn't built in a day. Next chapter is big reveal in the main character
