“Rhys? What is going on?” asked Medea, seeing the unconscious bodies in the back of the wagon. It caused a stir, bringing servants and others who lived there to wander out to see what was happening.
“Medea, I need you to get Talia and bring her back. Quickly.”
“All right, but tell me more.”
“These people have been robbed and attacked on the road,” Persimmon interrupted. “They are near dead and need someone who can try to heal them.”
“What about your mother, Rhys?” asked his wife.
“I think she’s coming now.” Lira pointed to the sky.
Persimmon looked up to see black clouds. The wind picked up and she saw the air spiraling in the distance. Then, to her surprise, she noticed people and even a dog flying through the sky. Since Persimmon knew the Elemental of the Air, she realized what Alaina was capable of doing. Still, she was in awe each time she witnessed it.
“I will be right back.” Medea disappeared into thin air, doing her little transporting thing.
“Let’s get the injured inside,” suggested Rhys, dismounting his horse.
“I’ll take care of the woman,” offered Persimmon, but by the time she could get off the bench seat of the wagon, Rhys had the man in one arm and the woman in his other arm and was hurrying toward the castle. The onlookers started to crowd around.
“I’ll fetch some rags and water.” Lira was off at a run. Persimmon was about to follow her when she heard shouting from above her.
“Watch out!” someone screamed.
She looked up to see a man falling fast—right toward her.
“Nay!” She raised her hands to block her head, not wanting to get hurt. That’s when she felt the impact of him as his body crashed into hers. Both of them fell to the ground and she heard a clattering sound like wood hitting stone from behind them.
“Ooomph!” The air was knocked from her lungs as the man landed directly on top of her. Both of them lay spread out in the courtyard in a very compromising position.
The servants and nobles all gathered around curiously as Alaina landed gently without even making a sound. Another man fell to the cobbled stones after that, and a dog landed atop him.
“I’m sorry,” said the man on top of Persimmon, hurrying to get to his feet. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
“I’m all right.”
“I’m not used to this way of traveling and don’t know how to land.” He reached for her hand to help her get up off the ground.
“I didn’t expect to get hit by a man falling from the sky today.” Persimmon, being pulled to a standing position, looked up to see one of the most handsome men she’d ever laid eyes on in her life. A rugged man with shoulder-length ebony hair perused her with steely gray eyes that held the intensity of a hawk. He stood tall, towering over her. His wide shoulders tapered down to a trim waist. He was dressed in traveling clothes, and also wore a cloak. Flung over one of his shoulders was a crossbow, which made her wonder if perhaps he was a hunter. However, he had a sword at his side, too, making her believe he was more of a fighting man. A smattering of peppered stubble covered his sculpted jaw. He looked sincerely sorry, as well as terribly tired.
“It’s all right,” she said flashing him a smile. “No harm done. I hope,” she added, her hands searching out her pouch to check on her gazing orb. If it was smashed, she would be so upset. This was all she had left to remember her mother. “Oh, good. It’s all right.” She breathed a sigh of relief, pulling out the orb and holding it in two hands up to her chest. When she did, she suddenly she saw a flash of a vision in her mind again. This time it was the man who stood in front of her right now. And he was kissing her. “Oh, my!”
“What is that?” He looked at her curiously, the side of his mouth curving up into a half-smile.
“It’s…it’s nothing.” Feeling a blush of embarrassment rise to her cheeks, hoping he wasn’t able to read her mind, she quickly slipped the glass ball back into her pouch.
“Wow, was that an exciting yet terrifying ride. I never want to do it again.” The other man walked over to them, brushing off his clothes. A dog followed him over. “Oh, who is this?”
“I’m Persimmon Burroughs,” she introduced herself. “Who are you two?”
“I’m Aithrod Gabbencort and—”
The man’s friend cut him off. “I am Stone Nightstalker and this is my dog, Fang. Nice to meet you. Although, I wish our meeting could have been a bit more…subtle shall we say?”
“Persimmon, where is my son?” asked Alaina. “Murk told me there are injured people who need my help.”
“They are in the keep, my Queen,” Persimmon told her. “Let me take you to them.” She glanced back at the handsome man, wanting one more look before she walked away. “Would you care to join us inside the castle?”
“Is there food and drink in there?” he asked instead of answering her directly.
“I’m sure there is. After all, this is a castle. I am sure they’ll have the richest food and the most bountiful drinks fit for a king.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Stone bent down and picked up a long staff that must have fallen with him from the sky.
Persimmon watched him, surprised she hadn’t even noticed the staff. Now, she realized what made the noise she had heard when he fell from the sky.
“Are you a hunter?” she asked, as he, his friend, and the dog followed her to the keep.
“In a way I guess I am a hunter,” Stone answered.
“He’s a bounty hunter,” Aithrod told her, correcting any idea of him she had in her head.
“You are?” She stopped and looked him up and down. “So, you hunt men, not animals.” The idea disgusted her and she didn’t quite know what to think.
Stone could tell by the look on the girl’s face that she wasn’t pleased at hearing about his profession. There was an accusing look in her bright blue eyes that suddenly made him feel as if he had done something wrong. Her endearing smile disappeared fast. Now her full pink lips turned down into a half-frown.
“I bring in criminals so justice can be served,” he tried to explain to her. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“I don’t feel as if anyone deserves to be put behind bars or executed.”
