The Shadowlands (15 page)
Authors: Emily Rodda
But Jasmine’s smile as she met his eyes was very real. A great peace descended on Lief’s heart.
Then Marilen turned around. ‘By the by, Lief,’ she called. ‘It seems that everyone believed I had come to
Del to be your bride. Did you know?’
Lief’s astounded expression was her answer. She laughed, and went on her way.
Lief swung round to Jasmine and Barda. ‘Had you heard this tale?’ he demanded.
Barda remained expressionless, preserving wise silence. Jasmine’s cheeks were burning again, but she shrugged. ‘Palace gossip,’ she said carelessly. ‘But you are far too young to marry. I always said so.’
Lief was speechless.
Barda caught sight of Tira wandering towards the stairs, looking lost. He muttered something and strode off towards her.
‘Of course,’ Jasmine went on, beginning to smile as she and Lief walked slowly after him. ‘Marilen would have been an ideal choice as a king’s bride. Well read, beautiful, polite, elegant, at home in palaces…’
‘When the time comes,’ Lief said, determinedly drowning her out, ‘I will follow Adin’s example, and marry for love.’ He glanced at her. ‘If the woman I love will have me, of course.’
‘She probably will,’ said Jasmine. ‘When the time comes.’ She slipped her hand into his.
A tumult of shouting and cheering began behind them. A great crowd was surging up the road from the city to join the crowd already thronging the lawn. The people on the stairs were laughing and beckoning. The bells were still ringing. Lief’s heart swelled with joy.
And now, he thought. Now, at last, we can begin.
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First published in 2002.
This edition published in 2011.
Text and graphics copyright © Emily Rodda, 2002.
Graphics by Bob Ryan.
Cover illustrations copyright © Scholastic Australia, 2002.
Cover illustrations by Marc McBride.
Collectors’ Edition cover design by Nicole Leary.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, unless specifically permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 as amended.
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Rodda, Emily, 1948-.
The shadowlands.
For children aged 9 and above.
ISBN 978-1-74169-956-2.
1. Fantasy fiction. I. Title. (Series : Deltora quest 2 ; 3).
A823.3
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eISBN: 978-1-921-98966-7