Ilse Of Illusion Part 1

DELTORA QUEST 2.

The Isle of Illusion.

Emily Rodda.

The story so far a.

Lief, Barda and Jasmine have learned that the Shadowlands was in ancient times the magical land of Pirra, a beautiful country protected by the fabled Pirran Pipe.

When the Pipe was divided into three parts by the warring Pirran tribes of Plume, Auron and Keras, the Shadow Lord invaded Pirra and the tribes were forced to flee to separate islands in a secret sea below Deltora. The companions are sure that the magic of the Pirran Pipe is the only thing that can help them free the Deltoran slaves in the Shadowlands.

On the island of Plume, they gained the first part of the Pipe. Now they are moving on through the underground sea, seeking the island of Auron.

1 - The Rainbow Sea.

Lief and Barda were silent as they paddled the frail boat through the world below the world. Jasmine sat in the front of the boat with Filli on her shoulder. Her eyes were fixed on Kree, who was flying ahead. In her hand was the tiny map that was their only guide to their next goala"the island of Auron.

Above their heads the soaring roof of the great cavern s.h.i.+mmered with opal light. The rippling water surrounding them was like liquid rainbows.

aTo think that this wonder exists below Deltora!a Barda murmured, finding his voice at last. aI still cannot quite believe it.a aNor I,a said Lief. aThe caverns of the Plumesa"the gold, and the scarleta"were beautiful enough. But this place aa Jasmine moved restlessly. aBeauty is all very well,a she muttered. aBut we do not know where we are!a She held up the battered map. aRanesh said he would trust Doran the Dragonloveras maps with his life. But there are no landmarks drawn here. Just four islands, a dotted line which could mean anything, and a few cavern walls.a Lief stared at the map, remembering the excitement with which he had traced it in the palace library in Del.

Little had he dreamed then that the Pirran Islands were not in the open sea, but hidden beneath Deltora itself. Little had he dreamed that a short journey to the Os-Mine Hills in pursuit of Jasmine was to lead him into this far longer and more dangerous quest.

With a pang, he thought of home. His long absence must be causing great anxiety. Not for most of the people, who believed their king was still safe in Tora. But for those few who knew he was not.

Doom. His mother. The old librarian, Josef. Josefas a.s.sistant, Ranesh. And the girl Marilen.

Most of all, Marilen. What must she be feeling now? Frightened? Lonely? Bitterly regretting that she had ever agreed to leave Tora?

Doom had promised her father that she would be closely guarded. But spies, traitors and a.s.sa.s.sins were everywhere, as Lief himself knew only too well.

Into his mind came the memory of the first attempts on his life. Both were in the great entrance hall. First, a frenzied, babbling woman had tried to strike him down with a knife. When her attack had failed, she had turned the knife upon herself and died without giving any reason for what she had done.

Not long afterwards, a man who could only walk with the aid of crutchesa"a man called Moss, a trusted palace guard before the time of the Shadow Lord, Barda saida"had seized Lief by the throat as Lief bent over the blanket where he lay.

The choking grip was like iron. It had taken three guards to break it. And then, as Moss was being taken away, someone in the jostling crowd had stabbed him in the back. That person had never been found.

After that, Lief had kept away from crowds. But he had learned that nowhere in the palace was truly safe. Even his own bed chamber.

And why? Why? Lief thought, as he had thought a thousand times before. Why would any Deltoran act as a servant of the Shadow Lord?

Impatiently, he pulled his mind back to the present. aDoran could not draw landmarks if none existed, Jasmine,a Barda was saying, lifting his paddle from the water and stretching his aching back.

aDo not wake Fury,a Jasmine warned.

Barda glanced quickly at the cage hanging from his belt. But Fury the fighting spider had not moved.

aIt is more important not to wake Flash.a Lief nodded at the second cage, resting in the bottom of the boat. aFlash was the loser in their last battle. He is the one who thirsts for revenge.a aWe are fortunate that the movement of the boat lulls them to sleep,a said Jasmine.

aIndeed, for nothing else does,a Barda growled. aIf only we could have left them behind! This boat is cramped enough without giving room to caged spiders.a aI do not blame the Plumes for refusing to keep them,a said Jasmine. aWho would want two beasts who think of nothing but fighting one another?a Filli snuffled agreement. The huge spiders made him nervous.

They fell silent once more, gazing around them.

Unbroken water met their eyes on every side. The cavern wall through which they had pa.s.sed to reach this glittering sea was lost in the hazy distance. There was no sign of another.

aAt least we know where we are in Deltora,a said Lief at last. aWhen we first went underground in the Os-Mine hills, the cavern walls and roof shone gold like the topaz, the Del tribeas talisman. But by the time we reached the island of Plume, the cavern walls were s.h.i.+ning red.a aSo we can guess that Plume lies below Deltoraas north-easta"the land of the Ralad people, whose talisman is the ruby,a said Barda.

Lief nodded. aAnd now we are in the territory of the opal. We must be moving west, beneath the Plains. And the island of Auron is near, I am sure of it.a He broke off as sweet, piping music filled his minda"the music of the Pirran Pipe, calling to him through time. The sound had come to him before, but it was more compelling now. Because now he possessed the mouthpiece of the Pipe itself.

The mouthpiece hung around his neck. It was m.u.f.fled in a red cloth bag and hidden beneath his clothes. Yet he could feel its power, as once he had felt the magic of the Belt of Deltora.

He could feel, too, its yearning to be joined once more with the other two parts of the Pipe, from which it had been separated so long ago.

aLief! Barda!a Lief jumped slightly as Jasmineas voice broke the spell of the music. He saw that she was holding out her arm to Kree, who was swooping towards her.

aKree sees land ahead!a Jasmine called excitedly. aLand!a Land a Land a Land a murmured the echoes.

Liefas heart beat faster as he and Barda plunged their paddles into the rainbow water and the boat began moving forward once more.

Far away, in the palace in Del, Josef the librarian sighed. The day was still young, but comparing the official library catalogue to the books actually on the shelves was a sad and tiring task.

Many books were missing. Some might have been put away on the wrong shelves. But most, Josef suspected, had been quietly removed and destroyed, because they contained things that the Shadow Lord had wanted Deltorans to forget.

At least I was able to save The Deltora Annals, Josef thought, glancing at the pale blue books standing in pride of place near the library work tables. So King Lief was able to read of the Pirran Pipe, the only thing which can help him save the prisoners in the Shadowlands. And he could see Doranas map, which will lead him to the three parts of the Pipe when he returns from the Os-Mine Hills.

When he returns a Josefas brow creased. Now he came to think about it, where was Lief? Surely he should have returned long ago.

The old librarianas stomach knotted with sudden fear. Why, Lief and the Belt of Deltora were the landas only defences against the Shadow Lord. What if a?

Ringing laughter disturbed the libraryas silence. Startled and angered, Josef shuffled forward, but stopped when he saw where the sound was coming from.

His apprentice, Ranesh, was bending over the table where sat Marilen, the young Toran visitor who had spent many hours in the library of late.

Marilen had several weighty books open in front of her, but she was looking up at Ranesh, her eyes dancing. As Josef watched, Ranesh murmured something, and the girl laughed again.

Josef hesitated, very troubled. He was not wise in the ways of the world, but he had been young once. Something about that laughter, and the look on Marilenas face, warned him that this situation was not as it should be.

Lief had asked Josef to make Marilen welcome in the library, but not to speak of her to others. Marilen was a very special guest, Lief had said, but her presence in the palace must be kept secreta"at least until his return from the Os-Mine Hills.

Josef had smiled discreetly. He had not been in the palace long, but already he had heard the rumours that Lief had gone to Tora to choose a bride. He had no doubt as to who this beautiful, high-born young lady called Marilen was.

Now this same young lady was laughing with Ranesh in a way that did not seem at all fitting. And Ranesh was surely leaning far too close to one who was the future queen of Deltora.

Josef felt panic rise within him. Nothing but harm could come of this. Harm for the girl who had been put in his care. And terrible harm to Ranesh, who Josef loved liked the son he had never had.

Bitterly Josef blamed himself for being so wrapped up in his work that he had failed to see what was happening under his very nose. He had paid no attention to how much time the two young people were spending together.

I must stop this at once, before it goes too far! he thought wildly. I must speak to Ranesh. Send him away, perhaps. Just for a time. Untila"

At that moment, Ranesh looked up and his eyes met Josefas. His teeth flashed in a seemingly casual grin. But Josef knew his apprentice too well to be deceived. Josef recognised the gleam in those dark eyes.

It was the gleam of defiance. Josef remembered it from the days of the Shadow Lordas rule, when Ranesh had often slipped back into their cellar home below the old pottery with bread, cheese or fruit under his jacket.

Josef, weak with hunger, had always eaten what he was given. But he had felt uneasy, nonetheless. He knew that Ranesh, once a homeless orphan surviving alone on the streets of Del, would not hesitate to steal to feed them both.

aDid we disturb you, Josef?a Ranesh called. aI am sorry. But Marilen and I have just discovered that we are both from the west. She is from Tora, I from Where Waters Meet. Is it not strange?a aI am going down to the kitchen for a warming drink, Ranesh,a Josef said stiffly. aPlease join me as soon as you can. I wish to talk to you abouta"about an important matter.a He turned abruptly and hobbled out of the library. Nodding to the guards, he started moving carefully down the stairs.

Josef had never felt less like a warming drink. His fears had made him far too warm already. But he knew that the kitchen would be a safe place to talk to Ranesh, for Marilen never ventured below the library floor. Her meals were all carried up to her bed chamber by Sharn, Liefas mother.

It is a lonely life for a young girl, Josef thought. No wonder she enjoys Raneshas company. And he must be flattered and pleased by the admiration of one so beautiful and high-born. But it will not do. No, it will not do.

Clinging tightly to the banisters, he began to move a little faster. Oh, let Lief be safe, and let him return soon, he thought desperately. Then there will be no need for me to send Ranesh away. Liefas return will solve everything!

2 - Warnings.

Little knowing the trouble that was brewing in Dela"more trouble than even Josef suspecteda"Lief was paddling as fast as he could towards the land ahead.

The island was s.h.i.+mmering in the distance. Bright pink and yellow weed grew thickly in the shallows that surrounded it. Several times Lief thought he glimpsed movement on the sh.o.r.e, but it was difficult to be sure.

aI can see small buildings, I think,a said Jasmine, squinting into the rainbow haze. aNot like the houses of the Plumes, though. Much simpler dwellings, shaped like cones. Of course, they could be rocks aa aIndeed they could, and probably are,a Barda growled. aIf the map is accurate, and our course has been straight, this land is not Auron, but the small island to its east. The one marked with a cross.a aWe should keep our wits about us, in any case,a said Jasmine. aRemember what Clef and Azan said.a Lief remembered only too well. The people of Plume had given their part of the Pirran Pipe gladly. But they had warned the companions that the people of Auron would not do the same with the Pipeas stem.

The Plumes had nothing but hatred for their ancient enemies. They wanted to attack Auron and take the second part of the Pipe by force. Their anger had flared when Lief disagreed.

The Plume leader, the Piper, Nols, had frowned. And the young Plumes, Clef and Azan in particular, had argued violently.

aThe people of Auron will use their magic against you without pity!a Clef cried. aTo enter their territory unprotected would be madness! They are as savage as the monsters they breed in their seas.a aThe Aurons breed monsters?a Barda exclaimed disbelievingly.

aIndeed! There are many old tales of it,a Clef insisted. aWe have long believed that The Fear, the beast you killed, was sent by the Aurons to prey upon us.a Azan nodded agreement. aAnd they will never give up their part of the Pirran Pipe. Never, while they live. What is more, they will take our part of the Pipe from you, and keep it for themselves!a aNo. It will be safe with us,a said Lief steadily.

aYour promises are useless,a cried Azan. aOnce the Aurons see you in one of our boats, they will slay you as viciously as they would slay three defenceless Plumes.a aWe are not defenceless!a Jasmine snapped. aAnd how do you know what the Aurons would do? The way between your sea and theirs has only now been opened after hundreds of years. Their feelings about you may have changed.a aWhy should they?a Clef asked shortly. aOur feelings about them have not changed.a The arguments had continued for days, but at last the companions had been allowed to leave alone. Plume was far behind them now. Their memories of their friendsa warnings had not faded, however. If anything, they had grown stronger.

Lost in his thoughts, Lief jumped as Jasmine jerked back with a hiss, reaching for her dagger.

aWhat is it?a Barda demanded urgently.

Jasmine pointed. Lief and Barda craned forward, and at last saw what her sharper eyes had seen before them.

A ragged shadow was surging towards them, just below the surface of the gleaming water.

Liefas heart hammered in his chest as he threw down his paddle and drew his sword. The thing streaking towards them was largea"large enough to upset the boat. It was closing in with amazing speed, changing shape as it came, great arms spreading a A small, sleek head broke the surface. Then there was another, and another. The next moment, all the companions were laughing with relief.

The shadow they had so feared was not a single beast at all, but a group of small, plump creatures with tiny eyes and long whiskers. The little animals frolicked around the boat, playfully b.u.t.ting one another and making tiny chittering sounds.

They were covered with smooth, silvery-grey fur and had fin-like paddles instead of arms and legs. They seemed to breathe air, but were as at home in the water as any fish.

aThe island ahead might be their breeding ground,a said Barda, picking up his paddle again. aAh, I long to stretch my legs. I am cramped to death in this boat.a He looked around. aAre my eyes playing tricks on me, or has the light dimmed a little?a he asked.

Jasmine lifted her head from her delighted study of the animals. aI had not noticed, but you are right!a she said, in tones of surprise. aIt is as if a cloud has pa.s.sed over the sun. But there are no clouds here.a aThe Plumes did warn us that their magic could not light the caverns all the way to Auron,a said Lief.

He felt a chill as the words left his lips. He had a.s.sumed that where the Plumesa magic failed, the Auronsa magic would take over.

But what if he had been wrong? What if the light failed altogether?

They moved forward once more. The little grey creatures accompanied them for a time, but as the boat neared land and finally crossed the broad band of pink and yellow weed, they dropped back. The next time Lief looked behind him, they had disappeared.

The island certainly did not look inviting. It was bare and bleak, its barren clay riddled with holes like a pock-marked face.

The gleaming mud of the narrow sh.o.r.e was rippled with ridges created by the tide. Beyond the sh.o.r.e, on slightly higher ground, were straggling groups of the lumpy, cone-shaped objects Jasmine had seen from afar. They seemed to be made of dried mud, but were surely not big enough to be dwellings.

There was no sign of life at all.

The movement I thought I saw must have been a trick of the light, Lief told himself.

And yet he felt danger. The silence, broken only by the soft lapping of water on mud, seemed heavy with menace.

Jasmine was also uneasy.

aI do not like this place,a she said in a low voice. aFilli and Kree do not like it either. I do not think we should land after all.a aI see nothing to fear,a Barda said irritably. He moved his cramped legs restlessly and the toe of his boot overturned Flashas cage. Flash woke, and at once began leaping and plunging, beating against the cage bars.

aNow see what you have done, Barda!a Jasmine scolded. aNow Fury will wake as well, and we will have no peace.a aFury had better not wake, or it will be the worse for her,a growled Barda. aI am a patient man, but my patience is being sorely tested at present.a Lief did not want to set foot on the island. But he wanted a quarrel even less. aLet us land, just for a few minutes,a he suggested. aWe need not stray far from the water.a Jasmine glowered at him. aMy injured arm is paining me,a Lief murmured, taking refuge in a small white lie. aI would be grateful if you could paddle in my place for a time, Jasmine. And it will be safer to change seats on dry land.a aWhy did you not say so before, Lief?a Jasmine demanded. aOf course we will land, then.a How tactful I am becoming, Lief said grimly to himself, as he and Barda began paddling once more. I am learning the ways of the palace all too well.

This thought made his mind fly again to home. How he longed to know what was happening there! Had Marilen had word from her father? Was she safe and well?

I cannot know these things! he told himself impatiently. It is useless to fret, and probably needless. As long as no-one knows Marilen is in the palace, or who she is, she will be safe.

He looked up, frowning, and caught Jasmineas eye. He made himself smile, but the grin must have looked forced, for she did not smile back.

Jasmine knows me too well, Lief thought. She senses that my mind is full of things she knows nothing about, and it annoys her. But this is one secret I cannot tella"to anyone.

Looking at Jasmineas closed face, an immense feeling of loneliness swept over him. He wished with all his heart that the easy companions.h.i.+p they had once shared would return. But he knew that while he had to guard his tongue and his thoughts, this could not be.

In time, I hope, Jasmine and Barda will know all, and surely then they will forgive me for my silence, he thought. Surely they will understand that it was not that I did not trust them. I would trust them both with my life!