Free Deltora Quest #2: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda

throat. He saw Jasmine glance at him, startled, and turn to look behind her.
    The stone was moving noiselessly from its place. Beneath it was a deep space glowing with warm light. Something was moving there!
    Lief caught a single glimpse of a red-tufted head, and peering black button eyes. And then, with one, quick movement of a long-fingered, blue-grey hand, the stone was thrust completely aside. In moments, dozens ofRalads were clambering out into the open and rushing towards Manus.
    Gaping in amazement, Lief turned and saw that exactly the same thing was happening at the other three corners of the square. Stones were sliding open and Ralad people were popping out of the holes beneath like corn from a hot pan.
    There were dozens of them … hundreds! Adults and children of all ages. All of them were clapping, laughing, rushing to greet Manus, who had sprung up, dropping the flute, his face alight with joy.

    Hours later, bathed, filled with good food, and resting on soft couches of bracken fern and blankets, Lief, Barda, and Jasmine looked with wonder at what the Ralads had made in a few short years.
    The cavern was huge. Lanterns filled it with soft light. There was a stream of water at one side, running into a deep, clear pool. Fresh, sweet air blew softly through pipes that ran through the chimneys of the houses above and opened to the sky. On the ground were cottages, storehouses, and a meeting hall. There were even streets and a central square like the one above their heads.
    “What labor it must have been, to hollow out this cavern and make a hidden village here,” Lief murmured. “It is like the secret tunnel their ancestors dug under the palace in Del. But so much larger!”
    Barda nodded sleepily. “I told you the Ralads were tireless workers and clever builders,” he said. “And I told you they would never abandon Raladin. But even I did not suspect this!”
    “And, plainly, Thaegan and the Grey Guards do not suspect it either,” yawned Jasmine, who was lying back with her eyes closed. “The Guards camp above this very spot, with no idea that the Ralads are below.”
    “ We had no idea, until they showed themselves,” said Lief. “And they only did that because they heard the sound of the flute.”
    Jasmine laughed. She looked more peaceful than Lief had ever seen her. “It is good. The Shadow Lord must be very angry because the Ralads have slipped through his fingers. The more time the Guards take searching for them, the less time they will have to trouble us.”
    Lief watched Manus, who, surrounded by his friends, was still describing his adventures and the dangers he had faced since last seeing them. He was scribbling on a wall of the cavern with some sort of chalk, rubbing marks out almost as soon as he had written them.
    “Do you think Manus will still lead us to the Lake of Tears?” he asked.
    “He will,” Barda murmured. “But not for a few days, I suspect. And that is good. It will force us to rest, and it is rest that we need, more than anything.” Hestretched lazily. “I am going to sleep,” he announced. “It is still day, but who can tell down here?”
    Lief nodded, but Jasmine made no reply. She was already asleep.
    Soon afterwards, Manus turned away from the wall and went with his friends to the square in the middle of the cavern. All the Ralads seemed to be going there. Lazily, Lief wondered what they were doing, but in moments he understood.
    Soft music filled the air — the sound of hundreds of flutes singing together of thankfulness, happiness, friends, and peace. The Ralads were celebrating the return of one they thought was lost. And Manus was among them, pouring into his own flute his heart’s joy.
    Lief lay still and let the music wash over him in waves of sweetness. He felt his eyelids drooping and did not fight it. He knew that Barda was right. For the first time in days they could sleep peacefully, knowing they were safe from harm and surprise. They should take all