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

the rest they could while they had the chance.

    They passed three more days in Raladin. In that time they learned much about the Ralads and their life.
    They learned, for example, that the little people did not stay below ground all the time. When it was safe, they spent their days outside. They tended the food gardens hidden nearby. They checked and repaired the pipes that brought air to the cavern and the alarms that alerted them when people approached the village. Theytaught the children to build and mend, and simply enjoyed the sunlight.
    One thing they never did in the open was to play their music. They could not risk being heard. They played only underground, stopping immediately if the alarms warned them of intruders. It was a miracle that Manus had found the flute by the fountain. It had been lost and forgotten years ago, while the Ralads were still digging their hiding place in secret. It had lain in its place ever since, as if waiting for him.
    On their fourth morning, the companions knew that it was time to leave. They were much stronger, well fed and well rested. Jasmine’s wound had almost healed. Their clothes were clean and dry, and the Ralads had given each of them a bag of supplies.
    They climbed to the surface with heavy hearts. They had no further reason to stay, but none of them wanted to go. This time of safety and peace had made the task ahead of them seem even more grim and terrifying.
    Now, at last, they told the Ralads where they planned to go. Manus had told them to keep this secret for as long as they could, and now they found out why.
    The people were horrified. They clustered around the travelers, refusing to let them pass, clutching Manus with all their strength. Then they began scribbling on the ground so fast that even Barda could not understand what they had written.
    “We know the Lake of Tears is bewitched and forbidden,” Lief told them. “We know we will face danger there. But we have faced danger before.”
    The people shook their heads in despair at their foolishness. Again they began scribbling on the ground — many, many signs of wickedness and death, with one sign larger than any other and repeated many times.
    “What does that mean? What is it they especially fear?” whispered Lief to Manus.
    Manus grimaced and wrote a single, clear word in the dust.

J asmine frowned. “What is Soldeen?” she asked. But Manus could not, or would not, explain.
    “Whatever this Soldeen is, we must face it,” growled Barda. “As we must face Thaegan, if she pursues us.”
    The Ralads drew together at the mention of Thaegan’s name. Their faces were very grave. Plainly, they thought the travelers did not understand their peril, and that meant that Manus was doomed to die with them, for he was determined to be their guide.
    “Do not fear,” Lief said grimly. “We have weapons. If Thaegan tries her tricks on us, we will kill her!”
    The people shook their heads and scribbled again. Barda bent, frowning over the lines.
    “They say she cannot be killed,” he said at last, reluctantly. “The only way to kill a witch is to draw blood. And Thaegan’s whole body is armored bymagic. Many have tried to pierce it. All have failed, and died.”
    Lief glanced at Jasmine. Her eyes were fixed on Kree, who was flying high above them, stretching his wings.
    Lief bit his lip and looked back at the Ralads. “Then we will hide from her,” he told them. “We will hide, we will creep, we will do everything we can to avoid her notice. But we must go to the Lake of Tears. We must.”
    The tallest of the Ralads, a woman called Simone, stepped forward and scrawled on the ground.

    “We cannot tell you why,” said Barda. “But please believe that we do not go into danger out of reckless foolishness. We are pledged to a quest that is for the good of Deltora and all its people.”
    Simone looked at him keenly, then slowly nodded. And after that the Ralads stood aside and let the travelers walk down the