Long ago, the blacksmith Adin fashioned a belt of seven strong stones, one from each of Deltora's seven tribes. He resisted the Shadow Lord's effort to overthrow the realm by using the belt's extraordinary power. Adin was proclaimed King of Deltora, but he never forgot that his adversary had stayed unbeaten. Centuries later, the Shadow Lord's memory has faded and nearly been forgotten, and the people of Deltora regard their monarchy as aloof and heartless. To their chagrin, the Shadow Lord strikes again, shattering the Belt of Deltora and dispersing the seven jewels over the land. Jarred, a close friend of the young king Endon, supports him and his wife in fleeing the castle when the Shadow Lord seizes control.