“So that’s how you knew he was cheating at cards,” said Rhys with a knowing nod. “Excellent. Good work.”
Persimmon liked the fact these people were admiring her and congratulating her, but guilt ate away at her gut. She couldn’t back out of the lie now, but mayhap she could somehow smooth it over.
“Well, actually, no, that is not how I knew he was cheating.” Persimmon told them. “You see, I didn’t need to look into the crystal orb for that. I knew my father was cheating because my mother always told me that he couldn’t be trusted. People don’t ever change their ways, she said, and she was right as Elric has just proven.” It was true her mother said this to her once, and she felt good that she hadn’t just lied again. But when she saw the look on her father’s face, she realized it probably wasn’t a good idea to call him out like this in front of so many.
“I am not sure I agree with what you just said.” Rhys took his wife’s hand. “After all, Medea changed more since I first met her than you’d ever realize. She is living proof that even people with a darkness inside them can turn to the light.”
Before Persimmon could ask what he meant, Lira broke in.
“Who is your mother? And where is she?” Lira stretched her neck to look around the area. “Is she here with you? I would like to meet her.”
“Yes, Persimmon,” said Elric in his nasal-sounding voice. “Where is Luna? She didn’t come with you, did she?” Elric stretched his neck, too, trying to see over all the tall people encircling him.
Dread filled Persimmon, and sadness gripped its sharp claws into her heart. “Don’t worry, Father,” she answered, feeling a knot twisting in her stomach as she slid the orb back into the velvet pouch hanging from her waist belt. “Mother is not here so you won’t have to face her. Actually, the only reason I sought you out at all was to tell you that she has died.”
“Oh, no! I’m so sorry,” Lira said with a kind look. “My mother died not that long ago. I feel your pain.”
“You poor girl.” Alaina rushed over and put her arm around Persimmon’s shoulders to comfort her. “I knew she’d been ill, but I had no idea she has passed. I should have returned to Lornoon more often. Luna was a good woman. She will be missed by all.”
“She’s dead? Really?” asked the elf with little to no emotion at all in his voice. “What happened to her? Did she put a spell on the wrong person and it backfired?”
“Father!” scolded Lira. “That is highly inappropriate. Please, show a little care and compassion in this delicate situation.”
“Care and compassion? Hah! It seems to me that is what got Elric into this mess to begin with,” remarked Darium with a chuckle, getting a slap on the arm from his wife in return since they all knew he meant that Elric had gotten a woman pregnant.
“I admit, I might have had a fling with the witch from Lornoon, but that was a long time ago,” said Elric with a shrug of his shoulders. He acted as if it was of no importance to him, but Persimmon couldn’t help noticing the way he fidgeted. It did bother him deep down. She could tell it did.
“Father, you had a relationship with another woman while Mother was still alive?” Lira’s gaze quickly swept over to Persimmon before her father even had a chance to answer. “Wait a minute. How old are you, Persimmon?”
“I’m twenty-five,” Persimmon answered. “How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-four, and my brothers are younger. So, Father was married to your mother before he married mine then.” Lira turned toward Elric. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about it? And did Mother even know?”
“Why all the questions?” Elric raised his palms. “What’s done is done so what does it matter? Can we eat now?”
“Elric never married my mother,” Persimmon informed them, feeling the emptiness in her life more than ever now that she was speaking to others about her mother’s passing.
“Never married her?” asked Rhys.
“You had a child out of wedlock? How dishonorable,” mumbled Darium under his breath.
“Do you have siblings?” asked Lira, curiously. “I have twin brothers who live in Glint, at my former castle in the elven queendom. I’d like them to meet you.”
“I’d like that, too,” said Persimmon, feeling a little less lonely to hear she had half-brothers along with a half-sister. “And to answer your question, no, I don’t have siblings. I grew up being an only child.” Her attention went to her father next. “Or should I say my mother had only me. I don’t know anything about my father’s immoral escapades, besides what I just found out.”
Two young girls ran over. They held the hands of the other little children who couldn’t have been more than a year old. The older child clung to Lira’s arm. “Mother, who is that?” she asked in a small voice.
“This is your Aunt Persimmon,” said Lira. “Persimmon, this is my daughter, Valindra. She is five now.”
“And I’m Lily-Rae, and I’m three,” said the younger girl, jumping up and down. Her fast movement scared the chickens. The birds flapped their wings, managing to scatter the cards everywhere.
“Lily-Rae, settle down,” warned Rhys, picking up the little girl. “You are frightening the hens.”
Before Persimmon knew what happened, a chicken was magically in the girl’s arms and she was petting it.
“Put that back, honey,” said her mother, taking the bird and placing it back on the table. “Our daughter has the power of transporting,” Medea explained to Persimmon.
“Transporting herself, or anything else, that is,” added Rhys picking up one of the younger girls. “However, our daughter, Leandra hasn’t shown those powers yet.”
“Oh, you have two children,” said Persimmon. “How nice.”
“We all do,” Zann told her. “Valindra is our daughter, and Lucio is our son.” He nodded to the little boy who Lira picked up.
“And Talia and I have twins.” Darium picked up one child in each arm. “Meet our son, Thistle, and our daughter, Cricket.” The boy had dark hair and ebony eyes like his father, but the girl had light hair and green eyes, like most of the fae did.
“Such unusual names.” Persimmon had thought her name was unique until she heard these.
“They’re fae names,” explained Talia.
“I see.” That made Persimmon smile. She liked meeting her newfound family and finding out how unique each of them was. Persimmon’s mother had been born with the power to move objects at will. Sometimes she could even conjure things from the ethers. Persimmon hadn’t been born with these abilities. However, she developed the power to move things with her mind while she was growing up. “I’m happy to meet everyone. My new family, that is.”
“Well, sorry you can’t stay, Persimmon, but I’m sure you’ll want to get back to Lornoon for the funeral.” The elf left in a blur, moving so fast that no one saw where he went.
“Where did he go?” asked Persimmon, looking around.
Darium cleared his throat. “If you can’t find the irritating little man, just look for the nearest pazzleberry pie and it’s a good bet you’ll find him there.” Darium nodded to the food table. Sure enough, there was Elric standing on his tiptoes, holding up an entire pie to his mouth.
“Father, nay!” cried out Lira, to stop him. “That is for later. After the meal. And it is for everyone, not just you.”
