Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, books, etc., in any of the "Deltora Quest" series, they are the sole property of Emily Rodda. Of course, the gist of the story is mine.
A/N: I'm writing this message 18/2/05 – A part in my story about Barda and the puzzle box is completely and utterly wrong. It was only a puzzle. What I wrote was before the fourth book was published, and it is on the assumption that Lief had made a prediction of the future. When Barda said something like, "I will solve this puzzle if it is the last thing I do!" Lief felt a shudder. I thought this may have meant something, but it didn't.
DAYS OF DARKNESS
Chapter One: Temper
All was well in Del – again. The moon was still up on this chilly, bleak morning. It was but two days until full moon, and therefore until the next town meeting.
Lief stood on the grand entrance steps to the castle, over-looking the town of Del. Peace had settled once again.
But for how long? Lief pondered. We have defeated the Shadow Lord so many times, but he just keeps coming back. Whose to say that the defeat of the four Sisters did actually cut him off from Deltora once and for all?
Lief had been disturbed by these thoughts for many weeks now, in fact, ever since he, Jasmine and Barda had returned from destroying the fourth and final Sister, the Sister of the South. They all bore scars from their journey: Barda had had a near death experience with that accursed puzzle box of his. Lief was still not entirely certain what had happened between Barda and the horror within, but he knew it was one thing that would remain a mystery to him forever.
Jasmine still bore the scar on her neck obtained when Laughing Jack had threatened her life. But what puzzled Lief was that, ever since they had returned, Jasmine had been very downcast; she refused to speak to anyone: not to Lief, not to Sharn, and not even her own father Doom. Lief felt hurt that Jasmine should shun him so. He was not ignorant – he knew this was exactly how Jasmine had felt all those weeks he had avoided speaking to her, but he had reasons, and he knew Jasmine did too, but what were they?
A cold wind blew, and Lief winced at the now constant pain in his right arm. When fighting the guardian of the Sister of the South, he had been sliced right down his arm from shoulder to wrist, and no amount of magic could completely heal it.
A sudden thought occurred to him, and it was that Jasmine had been all but killed by the guardian, maybe she was isolating herself from people because she felt ashamed that she had been so weak, such an easy target.
But she is not, thought Lief. Jasmine is the bravest person I have ever met, and does that not make her the strongest? It is not her fault that she is so tiny, nor that, Lief suspected this was the real reason the Sister had had such a strong effect on Jasmine, nor that she is the most mentally scarred. No one else has been through what she has.
He felt a stab of pain in his heart when he realised all of the bad things that had happened to Jasmine in her life. Her parents had been taken away from her when she was a child of the tender age of seven. Her mother had died in the Shadowlands. A person she had believed to be her friend turned out to be an Ol, and someone she had thought to have been flesh and blood turned out to been an illusion. Also, she had to bear the terrible burden of knowing that Laughing Jack's horses were indeed their own, yet she did not tell her companions, she did not wish for them to be as upset as she was herself.
Lief knew he was very lucky to have someone like her for a friend. He felt the now common knot in his stomach, yet he was still unsure of what caused it. Jasmine was very kind and compassionate and self-sacrificing. And everyone who met her could not help but like her.
"I wish I could have the same effect on people," Lief said aloud.
"Have what effect on people?"
Lief jumped as Jasmine appeared at his side. He felt his heart racing; she was talking to him again!
"It's nothing, Jasmine," Lief assured her.
"No, Lief," Jasmine said coldly. "For weeks now, you have been acting just as you did when you were doing all your secretive business concerning your heir. You have thoughts that you will share with no one – not Barda, not Sharn, not Doom – not even me."
Lief was about to interrupt – he was feeling very agitated now for some reason – but Jasmine held up her hand to silence him.
"Lief, we all know that you have many worries weighing down on you; tell us about them, let us share your burdens. We are more than willing to help you carry them."
"What would you know?" Lief all but shouted, feeling furious with himself just as much as with Jasmine.
Am I that weak, he fiercely thought to himself. Can everyone see that I can't cope? Why do they all think I am incompetent?
But to Jasmine, he said, "I am more than able to cope with what burdens being a king adds onto my already heavy load! And so what if I do not share all my thoughts with you? You doubtless have thoughts of your own too! Or are you as open a book as you appear? I have no doubt that there is no depth to you, Jasmine! You are one of the most shallow-skinned people I have ever met!"
Jasmine was looking at Lief, obviously hurt. Her green eyes were wide with shock, and she seemed close to tears. After all, she had merely commented to Lief how distracted he seemed of late, and offered her help with his troubles. It pained Lief greatly to see Jasmine like this, but he seemed unable to stop, now that he was on a roll.
"And furthermore, who are you to complain of me isolating myself? When was the last time you spoke to anyone? As soon as we got back you just went off into hiding, and refused to speak. In fact, now that I think about it, lots of these issues seem to trace back to you! As far as I can tell, everything is your fault!"
Lief regretted the words as soon as they had left his mouth.
Jasmine, now in tears, met Lief's gaze determinedly.
"If that's the way you feel, Lief," she said with a quavering voice. "Then maybe I should leave – back to the forests, were I wasn't ruining everyone's lives."
And with that she left, burying her face in her hands. Lief felt immensely guilty. What had come over him? All the feelings he had experienced over the past few weeks had been bottling up inside him, and now exploded. He doubled over in pain, that, he realised, was the enormousness of how guilty he felt.
He did not follow after Jasmine, though. He reasoned that she would not leave until the next morning, and that it would be wise to give them both some time to calm down.
Lief thought that surely Jasmine would have recovered by mid-morning, so when he next saw her, he would apologise.
But Jasmine did not turn up for breakfast or lunch. And Lief began to worry very much when she had not as yet turned up when tea was well under-way.
"Has anyone seen Jasmine today?" Lief asked nervously.
Everyone's answer was the same:
"No, your Majesty."
"Sorry King Lief, but no."
"I did not notice her absence," said Doom sourly. Jasmine had not talked to him since her return, but he was not worried – he merely thought that she was angry with him for some reason or other. Nothing out of the usual.
"Maybe you should check the forge?" Barda suggested, trying to be helpful.
"Barda," Lief began exasperatedly, "I live there! The only time I have been away from there was for meals! I think I would have noticed her! Are you really that foolish?"
Barda looked hurt and confused. He muttered an apology, and left the table.
Lief felt as though he was going to burst into tears. Great day I'm having! he thought sarcastically, First Jasmine and now Barda!
He went to find Barda; he did not want to lose him as well as Jasmine.
He caught up to Barda, tapped him on the shoulder.
"I am sorry Barda, I didn't mean that. I don't realise how I got this way, I just feel so different, and I don't know what has gotten into me of late, it's just-"
"That's okay, Lief," Barda interrupted. "I understand. There are a lot of pressures associated with being King. I know you won't admit to it, but there are."
"I know," Lief began, "but it's just that I-"
At that moment a piercing scream rang down the halls of the palace.
So, what did you think? It wasn't that good…please R&R anyway!