Emily Rodda - Deltora Quest #7 - The Valley of the Lost

“We are going to the Valley of the Lost,” he said clearly.

Barda and Jasmine turned to him, astonished that he should speak so freely. Dain looked curious. But Doom nodded, his face darkening.

“I thought it might be so,” he said. “And I warn you with all my heart to turn your faces from the plan. The Valley is not for such as you.”

“What do you know of it?” growled Barda.

Doom looked over to where Neridah sat looking out over the waters of the lake, and lowered his voice.

“It is an evil place. A place of misery and lost souls. I know of many who have entered it, seeking the great jewel that is its Guardian’s prize.”

Lief glanced quickly at Barda and Jasmine. Both looked startled and watchful. He wet his lips.

“A great jewel?” he asked carefully.

Doom looked at him with something like scorn. “Do not insult me by trying to pretend. I know it is your goal. A diamond, it is said, larger and more powerful than any ever seen. Beautiful. Pure. Priceless.”

He shook his head. “It is no secret in these parts. Its fame has lured many before you into the Guardian’s clutches. All entered the valley in hope. All came to wish bitterly that they had never seen it.”

Lief felt a chill of fear, but straightened his shoulders. Barda stood like a rock, his hand on his sword. But Jasmine tossed back her hair and lifted her chin. “Still, we must go,” she said.

Doom reached forward and gripped her shoulders. “You must not!” he hissed between clenched teeth. “Listen to me! Your quest is already lost. If you persist, you will be lost also. And for what? For a dream! For nothing!”

Jasmine shook herself free and drew back so that she, Lief, and Barda were standing shoulder to shoulder. Doom stared at them for a moment, then raised his hands and dropped them again, in surrender.

“I have done my best,” he muttered. “I can do no more. But it is a waste. Already you have a following. Together we might have roused the people. We might have stood united against the Shadow Lord. We might have saved Deltora.”

“For now, we must go our separate ways, it is true,” said Barda. “But when the time is right, we will join the fight together.”

“When the time is right …” Doom turned away. “I fear that time will never come for you, my friends. Not now.”

Grim-faced, he slung his pack on his shoulder and jerked his head to Dain. “Tell Neridah we are leaving,” he ordered. “I have already wasted too much time here, and Steven will not wait.”

With a backward glance at Lief, Barda, and Jasmine, Dain trudged unsteadily to the water’s edge.

“You know more than you are telling, Doom!” exclaimed Jasmine. “If you can help us, you should do so!”

Doom shook his head. “You have refused the only help I can give you,” he muttered. “You have no right to ask more.”

He frowned down at her from his great height. She looked up at him, her green eyes snapping with anger. Then, quite suddenly, he gave a short laugh.

“There is one thing I can do for you,” he said. He pulled a dark woollen cap from his pocket, and tossed it to her. “You and the bird are what make your party recognizable. Cover your hair with this. You are already dressed as a boy, and a ragged boy at that. Your hair is all that gives you away.”

Jasmine glared, as if uncertain whether to accept the gift or not, but finally her sense overcame her pride. She twisted up her hair and bundled on the cap, pulling it down around her ears. Instantly she was transformed. It was as though a scowling young boy stood before them.

Kree squawked. Plainly, he did not like the change. But Doom nodded. “That is better,” he said.

He turned as Dain approached, and frowned again as he saw that the boy was alone. “Why is Neridah not with you?” he snapped.

“She — she will not come,” Dain stammered. “She says she has decided to travel on, to her home.”

Doom snorted angrily. “So that is why she insisted on coming with me! I am sure she never intended to return. Life in the stronghold does not suit her. It is too hard, too dangerous, and there is no money to spare for the luxuries a spoiled athlete has grown used to.”

“But — is she not afraid the Grey Guards will track her down?” asked Lief.

“No doubt she thinks that she will be able to persuade you to escort her at least part of the way. And she is convinced that once she reaches home, she will be safe,” Doom shook his head. “She is a fool! Another fool who will not take heed of warnings.”

Without another word he turned and began striding away towards the hills. Dain hesitated for a moment, then murmured a hurried farewell, and went after him.

As Doom had predicted, Neridah did her best to persuade the companions to let her accompany them. At last she broke down and cried in Barda’s arms, wailing that she had left the Resistance only because Doom had broken her heart.

“I love him,” she sobbed. “But he is cruel, and cares nothing for me. I cannot stay where I see him every day. I cannot!”

Barda patted her shoulder awkwardly. But Jasmine regarded her with cold surprise and Lief — Lief knew enough of Neridah’s deceiving ways to wonder how real her tears were.

At last, at Barda’s urging, they agreed to let her travel with them for a day or two. “But after that, we must separate, Neridah,” Barda warned her gently. “Our goal is a dread and dangerous place.”

“The Valley of the Lost,” Neridah whispered. “I know. I heard its name, when you were speaking with Doom. You are so brave — braver by far than Doom realizes.”

Again, Lief wondered about her. She had shown no sign that she had heard what they were talking about with Doom. She had sat quite still, staring out at the lake as if lost in thought. And all the time she had been listening. She had heard the name of the Valley of the Lost. What else had she heard?

She is sly, he thought. We must be careful of her.

In the end, Neridah travelled with them for nearly a week. She protested strongly about travelling by night, and was a sulky and complaining companion. But though they passed many roads that led in the direction of her home, she refused to take them. Whenever Lief, Barda, and Jasmine tried to part with her, she cried and ran after them. She clung to them like honey, and at last she lost even Barda’s sympathy.

“I have begun to think that she is not being truthful with us,” he whispered one day, as Neridah sulked in her sleeping blanket. “She said she wished to go home. Why does she not do so?”

“I do not know,” Lief whispered back. “But we must do something about her quickly. I do not trust her, and I do not want her with us when we reach the Valley of the Lost. According to the map, and our reckoning, it is not far from here.”

“She will not willingly let us go on without her, that is certain,” Jasmine said grimly. “So we have two choices. One, hit her on the head, and run. Or, two, wait until we are sure that she is asleep, then creep away.”

She seemed a little disappointed when Lief and Barda chose the second course.

A few hours later they carried out the plan, sneaking away from the camping place like thieves. They walked fast all day, trying to keep under cover, and at sunset reached a range of steep, thickly wooded hills.

“The valley is within this range, I am sure of it,” said Barda.