“Really?” He raised a brow. “If you truly believe that, then you must be living a very sheltered life, my dear. The guilty need to be punished for hurting the good. If you were in my land, you’d see how badly it has deteriorated because of this exact thing. I am trying to bring it back to where it should be, a safe place to live.”
“Your land?” she asked. “Where is that?”
Stone let out a deep breath and answered at the same time as Aithrod.
“Taelgonoth.”
The girl cocked her pretty little head, appearing quite confused.
“I am not familiar with Taelgonoth. Is your home far from here?” she asked them.
“I suppose it depends on how you travel,” Stone said with a chuckle, thinking about the way they’d just got here from the other side of the mountain in mere minutes.
“We came through a portal,” explained Aithrod. “We’re not exactly sure about time.”
“A portal?” she asked. Her eyes darted around and she held a finger to her lips. “Shhh. Don’t even say that word around here. I was warned not to.”
“You were?” asked Stone in confusion. “Why?”
Stone didn’t miss the fact her eyes darted down to the pouch hanging at her side. She was looking to that crystal sphere in the velvet bag again. Portals also seemed to interest her, although she didn’t seem willing to speak about them aloud for some odd reason. Something also told him that she was another of these magical beings who lived in this odd land called Mura.
“I believe they brought the injured to the solar,” Persimmon told Alaina. “I will join you.”
“Nay, it’ll be fine.” Alaina looked over at the men and dog. “Persimmon, will you please do me a favor and see to our guests? I promised them food and drink.”
“She is a guest here as well, my Queen.” A girl with strawberry-blonde hair hurried out of the kitchen with several servants following her. They held rags and bowls of hot water.
“Lira, this is Stone and Aithrod. And Fang,” Persimmon introduced them.
“Hello,” said the girl named Lira with a nod. She smiled, but worry darkened her face. “I can help your men.”
“Nay, it’s fine,” said Persimmon. “I don’t mind doing it. Besides, it would be beneficial for you to stay with the wounded. I will find the kitchen on my own and get these men something to eat and drink.”
“Thank you, sister.” Lira hurried off with the others to help the injured.
“She’s your sister?” asked Stone, noticing that the girl who just left them had pointy ears and Persimmon didn’t. Plus, one had light hair and the other was stark black.
“Yes, Lira is my sister, but I just found that out. This way,” she told them, leading them to the kitchen.
“You didn’t know you had a sister?” Stone thought this sounded odd. Especially since they were both in their twenties already.
“Nay,” she told Stone. “My father never mentioned it to me. She is my half-sister, actually. We both share the same father. I came here to Mura to find him since my mother just died. Sadly, my father doesn’t seem to want me.”
“That’s horrible,” said Stone, reaching down to pet his dog on the head as they walked. “I’m sorry to say that your father seems like quite a—”
“Quite a what, you big oaf?”
Stone stopped when the elf they’d seen in the caves suddenly appeared standing in front of him. Stone almost crashed right into him. Elric had his hands on his hips again, and as he’d already learned, that wasn’t a good thing. The dog growled lowly at seeing the elf, and Aithrod groaned.
“What are you doing here?” asked Stone. “I thought you abandoned us.”
“Stone, this is my father, Elric.” Persimmon held out a hand to introduce them. “And, yes, Father, why are you here?”
“Talk about not being wanted, I feel as if none of you want me here. Therefore, I’ll just leave.” Elric made a haughty face.
“Nay, wait!” Stone held up a halting hand to stop him. “I want to talk to you.”
“If it’s about—” Elric stopped and glanced over to his daughter before saying more. “If it’s about anything we’ve already discussed, forget it. You’re not getting anything from me.”
“Father, what are you talking about?” asked Persimmon.
“Nothing,” said Elric, picking invisible lint from his tunic.
“By nothing, he means the gemstones he found in the Quamm Caves. Gems that were stolen from our king on Taelgonoth.” Stone glared at the little man.
“I didn’t steal anything, and I won’t stand here being accused of crimes I didn’t commit.” Elric’s chin lifted up into the air. “I told you before, I found them.”
“Father, do they mean stones like the one you were using as part of your bid in your card game when I arrived?” asked Persimmon.
“You did what?” Stone was aghast at hearing this. How could anyone take such a risk with such a valuable item?
“You’re not helping matters, daughter,” grumbled the little man. “And you wonder why I favor Lira over you. I have things to do. I need to go.” In a blur, the elf was gone.
Stone looked up to see the wetness of Persimmon’s eyes. Her father had been harsh with her. It hurt him to see anyone treat this kind woman so badly.
“Don’t let him upset you with his crass words.” Stone stepped forward and took her by the arm. “Let’s find some food and ale. Then we can all sit down and talk. I’d like to hear all about you, Persimmon Burroughs. You seem like such a fascinating young woman.”
“I don’t think my father would agree with you on that.” Her words sounded as if they held shame.
