“You used to work here?” asked Persimmon, sounding just as surprised to hear this.
“Doing what?” asked Stone.
“It doesn’t matter.” The elf glowered at him. “Now stay quiet and keep close to me. We have to move fast. I know of a secret door that we can use.”
“Thank you, Father.” Persimmon liked the fact that instead of abandoning her again, now her father was there when she needed him. She hoped this was the start of a special change that could possibly create a bond between them.
“Don’t thank me yet,” said the little man. “Because, I swear if either of you do something stupid enough to get caught escaping, I will leave you both behind without a second thought.”
“We won’t,” said Stone.
Persimmon knew the speed at which the elf could move. It would be easy for Elric to zip away and leave them both there to die and not have a second thought about it. She needed to be careful.
Sneaking through the dungeon, they stopped when they saw two guards sitting near the door at a table, playing cards.
“Damn, I’m going to have to distract them,” mumbled the elf.
“Allow me.” Persimmon looked toward the door and took a deep breath. “Get ready to run out of here.”
Using her powers, the door to the dungeon slammed open and a breeze blew the cards off the table to the floor.
“Damn it,” said one of the guards. “Get the cards, fast before Sethor finds out what we were doing.”
When they bent down to collect them, Persimmon used her skill to make Stone’s weapons that were on the table float over to them.
“Hey!” cried a guard, seeing what was happening.
“Take your weapons,” she told Stone. “Quickly.”
When the guards got up and drew their swords, she made their weapons fly out of their hands. Then she caused the wooden table to rise into the air and hit the men, knocking them down.
“Let’s go,” she told the others. The three of them quickly slipped out into the sunlight. Unfortunately, there were another couple of guards standing by a wagon filled with wine barrels, and they spotted them.
“Halt!” called one of the men.
“The prisoners are escaping,” shouted the other.
“Let’s go,” said Elric.
“Wait.” Persimmon squinted her eyes, looking toward the cart. Suddenly, it broke a wheel and the wine barrels rolled off the cart, hitting both of the guards. “Now, we go.” She was about to turn around when she saw the ghosts of the old couple standing next to the broken wagon.
Gregor is in the keep, said the man.
Our son is here. You need to go to him. Please, contact him for us, said the old woman.
“We need to go into the keep. That is where we’ll find Gregor,” she told Stone and her father.
“No way. The only place you’re going is out the secret door with us.” Stone dragged her along with them, not allowing her to go back into the castle.
They made it to the secret door quickly, but Elric couldn’t remember where to find the key.
“I know the hidden key is here somewhere.” Elric patted the wall that was covered with ivy, but he couldn’t find it.
“Can’t you just whip up a key out of midair?” asked Stone impatiently.
“I could, but I won’t,” said Elric stubbornly. “That wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Oh, never mind. I’ve got it.” Persimmon used her mind powers to open the secret door. Then the three of them slipped out quickly and she closed the door behind them.
“Hurry. Let’s get back to Kasculbough before they start to follow us now that they are alerted that we’ve escaped,” said Persimmon.
“I’ll meet you there,” said Elric.
“Nay, Father. We need you to find our way back. Please, don’t abandon us. We are not familiar with this land.”
“You’ll find it,” said Elric, sounding as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “Just head for the waterfall and keep walking. Keep your eyes open for the castle. It’s big. You can’t miss it.” Elric sped off in a blur, leaving Stone and Persimmon alone.
“I’m frightened,” she admitted, not knowing what would happen.
“I’ll protect you,” Stone promised. “There is nothing to be scared about.” He took her hand and they ran, trying to keep hidden in nature as they traveled.
Once Stone had voiced his promise to protect the girl, he realized how stupid it must sound to her. After all, even though Stone had his weapons again, he couldn’t fight off an entire army. Persimmon was the one with all the power, not him. They stopped to catch their breath at the waterfall, looking over their shoulders, but thankfully not seeing King Sethor or his army of soldiers following them yet.
“It won’t be long before they’re upon us,” said Persimmon, breathing heavy and sitting atop a large boulder to rest. “They will know we’re headed back to Kasculbough and will know which path we’ve taken.”
“We’ll make it. We’ll be fine, don’t worry.” Stone sat next to her. Together they looked at the gorgeous waterfall that fell from the top of the Picajord Mountains in a powerful stream down the rocks to the lake below. In the lake were floating lily pads and large ornate, brightly colored flowers that he had never seen before. Butterflies, dragonflies and those bees as large as birds all buzzed busily around the pond, dipping up and down into the flowers. Tall green evergreen trees and lots more lively, bright green shrubbery surrounded the entire area and led all the way up the tall mountain. He could just feel the life all around him, enhanced by the warmth of the bright sun. “This land of Mura is truly magical, and quite amazing,” he said aloud in awe.
“Yes, I agree. Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked, staring up at the falling water.
