Shutting spell

The shutting spell is a spell the Shadow Lord placed across the Barrier Mountains, which borders the monster-filled Dead Plain. Anyone can enter through the shutting spell into the Shadowlands, but once in the Shadowlands, no one can pass through the shield back to Deltora. The Shadow Lord can sense when anyone crosses the shutting spell and enters its domain.

The Shadowlands
When Lief, Barda, Jasmine and Emlis entered the Shadowlands, they quickly learn about the shutting spell. Lief hit the shutting spell as he was trying to make his way up the mountains. After Lief had recovered the companions observed a lizard entering the Shadowlands from the mountains. When it tried to go back it could not get past the shutting spell. This confirmed Lief and Barda's suspicion that the spell only blocks entities from getting out the Shadowlands.