Im Straight Up A Rat

We know that in the time before the rise of Adin, trade and marriage between the Seven Tribes was uncommon, but not unheard of. And with the people of Del being the great traders and explorers they are, it makes sense that most of the inter-tribe couples and kids would be part-Del, and a number of those would end up settling down in Topaz territory and have kids of their own with other Del folk.

From Opal the Dreamer we know that Adin has a Plains ancestor at least, so what if somewhere along the line there were also descendants of the other tribes who ended up in Del and had kids, and their kids had kids, and those kids had kids, and eventually there was enough mixed-folk in Del for a child to be born with the blood of all Seven Tribes in their veins, and that’s why Adin felt so strongly drawn to each of the Seven Gems and was compelled to unite the tribes of Deltora? He was the land’s people combined at last, in single form.

This would also mean that the reason Adin’s heirs are the only ones able to wield the Belt’s powers, isn’t because they’re descendants of Adin, per se, but because they’re the only known family in Deltora with the blood of all the Seven Tribes in their veins. After all, “blood is blood, no matter how thinly it is spread over the ages”.

But why doesn’t the Belt work for others, when surely the tribes have blended enough since the time of Adin that there should be plenty of citizens in Deltora with mixed-blood? Well, in order to wield the Belt, the wearer not only has to be a descendant of all Seven Tribes, they also have to have the faith and trust of the people. Royalty are inherently seen as powerful and in charge, and as a result, those of Adin’s bloodline would have the backing of the citizens by default (as you will recall the only reason the Shadow Lord was able to invade Deltora was because he broke the trust the people had in their rulers). This would also explain why Marilen is Lief’s heir instead of Bede, despite the later being more closely related by blood; she simply has far more of a reputation and a higher standing in the eyes of the people than he does.

I was just gonna leave it at 'oh this bitch' but the possibilities here.

Dain had to apply for the job fair and square

They bonked the last person on the head

 Brb, crying

But seriously, two things about this quote:

First- all through the series, Lief has been chastised for letting his heart rule his head. And he has always worried that this trait makes him a bad king. In series 2, Lief says ‘I am the king, but I am still Lief’ to explain why he will go to the Shadowlands. It is a decision he later chides himself for- he has failed in his duty to Deltora because he made the decision ‘Lief’ would make, not the one a real ‘king’ would have

Essentially, Lief has come to believe that to be ‘Lief’ is to do things a king should not do. He believes that to be a good ruler he must never show his true personality- think of Dragon’s Nest, when he says he must ‘act like a king’ and cannot be himself. And here, Doom reassures him that he is truly a good king- not in spite of being Lief, but because he is Lief

Secondly, remember how much Doom sacrificed so that Lief could live. Remember how much of that sacrifice was based on an unknown- an unborn child, and the hope, the dream, that this child would grow up to be a good and kind monarch, and would know ‘the ways of his world, and its people’ 

So this is not just Doom complimenting Lief… it is really him saying that Lief is everything he could have hoped for when he gave up his home and his life. That the sacrifice he and Anna made was worth it

The king was dead, Lief’s friends said. And a good thing, too, Lief thought savagely, as again he hurried for home.

'Because,’ called a new voice, 'you are too great a prize for the Wenn alone. They have brought you as an offering for their god. The Wennbar likes fresh meat. It will come when the sun goes down.’

There was a rustle from the tree above. And, as lightly as butterfly, a wild-haired girl landed on the ground right beside Lief’s head.

ah hi yes I have officially gone off the rocker and let my impulsivity and nostalgia consume me