Sister Of The South

7 - Old Friends

Not long afterwards, a strange meeting was held in the lady Sharn’s bed chamber. As Sharn herself lay lost in sleep, the Dread Gnome Gla-Thon, Steven of the Plains, Zeean of Tora, Manus of Raladin, Gers of the Jalis, Doom, Barda and Jasmine gathered around the bed of Lindal of Broome and listened as Lief told them everything.

Only Ranesh had failed to join them. He had flatly refused to leave Josef’s side. No entreaties could move him, and at last Barda had been forced to leave him where he was.

When Lief had finished speaking, there was a long silence. Everyone had believed in the Toran Plague so completely that it was hard for them to accept the truth. And all except Barda, Jasmine and Zeean found it even more difficult to accept that an evil presence prowled the palace.

At last Steven cleared his throat. ‘Are you saying that this guardian of the south is an Ol?’ he growled, his golden eyes flickering dangerously brown. ‘I thought the Belt had rid Deltora of those slimy, shape-changing creations of—’

‘The guardian is no Ol,’ Lief cut in quickly. ‘The guardian is a human with powerful gifts of sorcery. The two-faced beast, and the black slime I saw sliding away into the palace, are merely forms the guardian finds … convenient.’

There was another moment’s silence as his audience took this in.

‘If what you say is true, Lief,’ Gla-Thon murmured, ‘no food or drink in Del is safe.’

‘The guardian has been leaving the palace under cover of darkness, but I do not believe the Sister would be left unprotected for long,’ Lief said. ‘I think the homes closest to the palace are in the greatest danger.’

‘Certainly most of the deaths have occurred either in the palace itself, or nearby,’ Doom said, frowning thoughtfully. ‘It seemed only natural, when we thought of this curse as a plague brought to Del by Sharn. Palace workers who go to their homes each night usually live quite near.’

‘Then a circle must be drawn around the affected area, with the palace as its centre,’ said Lindal, pulling herself up on her pillows. ‘All food within the circle must be taken away. The people there must eat only food given back to them after it has been tested.’

‘Folk will not give up their private food stocks without a fight,’ muttered Gers.

‘I think I could persuade them,’ Steven said cheerfully. ‘They have grown to know me and my caravan over the past days. The children like my horse and Zerry entertains them with magic tricks.’

He grinned. ‘If I load the caravan with food that has already been tested, and offer to exchange it for their private stores, the people will agree in good spirits, I am sure.’

Lief felt a warm wave of relief that was almost joy. Now ten minds instead of one were working on the problems Del faced. And each one of the ten had something useful to offer.

‘I do not understand why, after months or years of remaining hidden, this enemy—this guardian of the south—would suddenly begin poisoning innocent people,’ Manus said suddenly.

‘It did not poison just anyone,’ Lief pointed out, taking care not to look at Doom. ‘It poisoned Mother, immediately on her arrival in Del. And then it poisoned all those who had come in contact with her, so that it seemed she was carrying a plague. Plague victims are always isolated from others. People who wish to talk to them are kept away.’

‘Are you saying that all this began to prevent Josef from seeing Sharn?’ Doom demanded.

Lief nodded uncomfortably. ‘I fear so. Josef had discovered something of great importance. He would have passed it on to Mother if he could. He trusted her completely.’

‘While I was not worthy of trust,’ Doom said sourly.

‘Josef was addle-headed,’ said Gla-Thon. ‘I have seen it often in Dread Mountain. Some old ones remain sharp as Boolong thorns till death. Others become filled with fancies. Josef was such a one. He took against you, Doom, because you were firm with him.’

Barda shrugged. ‘Addle-headed or not, Josef plainly had important knowledge in his keeping. And now he is dead, and his assistant, in whom he might have confided, is gravely ill.’

‘I doubt Josef would have told Paff anything,’ Doom muttered. ‘He disliked her.’

‘If Paff survives, she can tell us one way or the other,’ Gla-Thon said. ‘And she may well survive, in fact. She drank only half of the brew that Lief says poisoned her, and she has the strength of youth. If she has the aid of the great emerald as well…’

‘She will, as soon as we have finished here,’ Lief said. ‘And until she can speak, she must be closely guarded. No harm must befall her.’

Gla-Thon nodded. ‘I will see to it,’ she said, turning quickly to leave as if pleased to have something practical to do.

‘Wait, Gla-Thon!’ Lief called. ‘There is something else I must ask of you—and of your people.’

‘Name it,’ Gla-Thon said, her hand on the door knob.

Lief looked at her steadily. ‘I need every large emerald from the Dread Gnomes’ treasure cave. Every emerald, and every amethyst, too.’

Gla-Thon’s small eyes widened, and for a moment everyone in the room could see, flaring in those eyes, the Dread Gnomes’ natural suspicion, and love of treasure.

Then Gla-Thon blinked, and the greedy, suspicious light disappeared.

‘Certainly,’ she said calmly. ‘The emeralds to help those who have been poisoned. And the amethysts to test food.’

‘Indeed,’ said Lief, very grateful for her quick understanding. ‘There are some jewels here in the palace, but not enough. Naturally the Dread Mountain gems will be returned as soon as the crisis has passed.’

‘Naturally.’ Gla-Thon bowed slightly. From one of her pockets she pulled a small bag. She tipped the bag’s contents into the palm of her hand and held out a small pile of emeralds, gleaming like green fire.

‘I had hoped to purchase food to take home at the end of my stay,’ she said. ‘Things on Dread Mountain are improving, but the crops are still young. I soon realised my hope was foolish, but now I am glad I brought the gems with me. They will help us make a start.’

‘But surely only the gems in the Belt can—’ Lindal began.

‘Lesser gems are only shadows of the seven in the Belt of Deltora, but still they have some power, especially in large numbers,’ said Gla-Thon. ‘The Dread Gnomes have always known this. It is one of the reasons we value gems so highly.’

‘My plan is to gather all the sick into one place, and the emeralds with them,’ Lief said. ‘But the place cannot be the palace, which must be cleared of as many people as possible. I am not sure where else—’ He glanced at Doom uncertainly.

‘The great food store house near the square is almost empty,’ Doom said. ‘There is space there for hundreds of beds. Gers, perhaps, can begin the work while I fetch the palace jewels. I will join him as soon as I can.’

Gers grunted agreement.

‘Very well,’ said Gla-Thon. ‘I will see to the gems. I need only a bird to send the message, and the thing will be done.’

‘I will fetch a bird,’ Jasmine said, moving eagerly to join Gla-Thon at the door.

‘Fetch two,’ Lief called after her. ‘Zeean must write again to Marilen.’

‘Must I indeed?’ murmured Zeean. ‘And what am I to say?’

Lief glanced at her. She had lowered herself into a chair. Her hand was raised to the darkening bruise beneath her eye as if it pained her.

‘Your people must be told that the Toran Plague is a lie, and that soon everyone in Del will know it,’ he said.

Zeean nodded slowly. ‘And what else?’

Lief hesitated. He had planned to speak further to Zeean in private. Plainly, however, she had already guessed the second part of the message and was not going to permit him to keep any secrets.

Perhaps she is right, he thought. Everyone should understand what may be ahead.

‘Marilen must come to Del without delay,’ he said reluctantly. ‘She is the heir to the Belt of Deltora. When I face the Sister of the South Marilen must be here, standing in readiness to put on the Belt should I not survive.’

He paused. The room was utterly still. Zeean had closed her eyes. Everyone else was staring at him in shock.

‘Barda and Jasmine will be with me,’ Lief went on, without looking at either of his companions. ‘It will be their task to take the Belt from me and deliver it safely to Marilen, if they feel the time is right.’

‘You have faced three Sisters before this, and three guardians too, Lief,’ Barda said, almost angrily. ‘Why do you now—?’

‘This is the last Sister, and I fear it will be the most terrible, for all the rage of the Shadow Lord will be focused upon it,’ Lief broke in. ‘And—’

He looked down at his hands. And I have felt disaster ahead ever since I set foot in the palace, he thought. The feeling grows stronger with every step I take towards my goal.

‘And the topaz dragon is not merely exhausted, as the dragon of the amethyst was, but injured,’ he said aloud. ‘It will try with all its might to rid its land of the Shadow Lord’s evil. But the effort may destroy it, and without it, I too, am lost.’

Gla-Thon gave an agonised groan. ‘Then if you die, the fault will be mine, for it was I who shot the beast!’

‘No blame can be attached to you, gnome,’ growled Gers. ‘You thought you were saving Lief’s life. I would have done the same, in your place.’

‘And I,’ Lindal put in. ‘No-one from Broome, which is built on the ruins of Capra, could doubt the treachery of dragons. And so I have been telling all who ask me, ever since I came here.’

Lief did not argue. There was no time for a long discussion about the faith of dragons now.

‘All the more reason, then, for Barda to warn the guards that the topaz dragon is to be protected, not attacked,’ he said, instead.

‘They will not like that,’ growled Gers. ‘They think they saw the dragon savaging their king. It will be hard to persuade them differently.’

‘They will believe what they are told, and do as they are ordered!’ snapped Barda. ‘If they had responded to our calls for help in proper time, they would have seen the real attacker for themselves.’

He shook his head, scowling. ‘I thought I had left them in good hands with Corris, but it seems that discipline has grown very slack.’

‘Corris died on the first day of the plague,’ Doom said. ‘Dunn, his second in command, is in charge now.’

Barda grimaced, but whether this was in regret for Corris or disdain for Dunn, Lief could not tell.

‘I suggest we end this meeting now,’ Doom said abruptly. ‘There is much to be done, and little time to waste.’

There were murmurs of agreement, and soon only Lief, Zeean, Lindal and Manus remained in the room with the sleeping Sharn.

‘There are tasks for all but me, it seems,’ said Manus softly. ‘Is there nothing I can do?’

Lief put his arm around the Ralad man’s shoulders. His heart was heavy, but he kept his voice steady as he spoke.

‘You, Manus, have the most important task of all,’ he said. ‘You are a builder of Raladin. Your ancestors built this palace, stone by stone. If anyone can help me find where the Sister of the South is hidden, it will be you.’