“I can contact Alaina and ask for her help as well,” added Medea.
“Nay. Persimmon, I want you and the rest of the women to stay here where you’re safe. Aithrod and I can do this alone. I don’t want anyone from Mura getting hurt on my account. This is my mission and I will see it through to the end, no matter what the outcome.”
“Well, what about you two? And Fang?” asked Persimmon, reaching down to pet the dog. “We don’t want any harm to befall any of you either.”
“That’s right,” said Medea. “Please, let us help.”
Stone looked at Aithrod, not knowing what to do.
“I say, let them try,” said Aithrod with a shrug.
“Medea does have some awesome powers,” Rhys told him.
“And I haven’t been able to use them lately, since I’ve been so busy just being a mother,” said Medea.
“Nay. I will never forgive myself if anything happens to the women. Aithrod and I only will go. If we can get back through the portal and warn our king, no one but King Sethor and his army will be at risk.” Stone knew the magical help of the women could come in handy, but the protector part of him wouldn’t allow it. He didn’t want women at risk, and he certainly didn’t want little children to grow up without their mother if something would happen to them. “The question is, how do we even know if the portal is going to open again.”
“Or where it will appear,” added Rhys.
“And what about the gnomes? Don’t forget about those pesky gnomes.” Aithrod faked a shiver. “They are nasty and it’s not going to be easy to get past them.”
“Right. The gnomes,” said Storm, sighing and shaking his head. “Why can’t anything ever be easy?”
“Stone, you said my father was in the cave and helped you fight off the gnomes last time, right?” asked Persimmon.
“Aye. Why?”
“Mayhap he’ll help again. Or, at least, he might know when and where the portal will reappear. I mean, he is a sage. He should know something.”
Rhys let out a groan and Medea shot him a stern look.
“I don’t even know where to find Elric,” said Stone.
“That’s easy.” Medea stepped forward. “I can take you to his home atop the cliffs of Glint.”
“Glint,” repeated Stone, trying to remember what he’d heard this name before.
“Glint is the home of the elven queendom,” Rhys explained. “If you are going there, you’d better take Lira with you.”
“I’ll get her at once.” With a swish of her hand through the air, Medea transported, disappearing.
“I’m coming with you,” said Gregor. “I want to help make those thieves who killed my parents pay for what they have done.”
“I’m coming, too,” said Rhys. “As a king of Mura, it is my job to protect all of you, and I will not let you change my mind.”
“Then, I shall not even try,” answered Stone. “All right. Let’s get ready and hope for the best. But this mission will be with the men only, and that is my final decision.” Stone turned to make his way back to load his horse.
“Stone, wait.” Persimmon ran after him. “Please, let me help too.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t let you risk your life,” said Stone, stopping in his tracks and turning to take her hands in his. “Please, stay here. If you come along, I’ll just be distracted, trying to look out for your safety.”
“But I have powers that can help you.”
“Can you look into your gazing orb and tell me when and where the portal will appear again?” he asked.
“Well, no.” She shook her head and looked down at the ground. “Not yet, anyway.”
“Then there is no reason for you to come with us. Stay here inside the castle walls where you will be safe.” He continued to walk.
“Stone Nightstalker, you are acting recklessly. You need the help of magic and you know it. The more, the better. You will never be able to collect Rancor and Filip as well as hold off an entire army by yourself.”
“I won’t be alone.” He fastened a bag of food to the horse as he spoke. “I’ll have Aithrod and Fang with me. Fang barked as if he agreed. “And Rhys and Gregor will be there as well.”
“What about the women?” she asked. “The ones with the true powers?”
He slowly looked back at her and ran his hand lovingly against her cheek. “Persimmon, if anything ever happened to you I could never forgive myself. You need to understand this.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me. Now let me come along and help.”
“You can accompany me to see your father, but after that, I proceed without you. Do you understand?”
“I understand that you are being foolish, Stone. Or perhaps proud. Either way, you are going to have to accept the help of women if you want to succeed.”
“We’ll see,” he said, still not willing to let her or the other women risk their lives on his mission. “We’ll see.”
“Hold on tight.” Persimmon grabbed one of Medea’s hands, while Stone took the other, getting ready to transport.
