She slipped the first stone into her pocket and pulled another out of the bag. The next one she picked up seemed to do nothing either so she put it back and tried three more. Still, no portal appeared. “I don’t understand it,” said Persimmon. “None of these gems are doing anything.”
“Don’t be so sure about that.” Lira nodded and Persimmon turned around to find a huge pile of food and several barrels of what looked like wine behind her. The gnomes spotted it and were all over it, climbing to the top of the stack.
“Well, at least we know we won’t go hungry or thirsty.”
“Fast, try a few more,” urged Lira.
“I will.” She picked up another one and it glowed pink. “How pretty,” said Persimmon, getting lost in the colors of the stone.
“Persimmon? Where are you?” Lira looked around the cave.
“I’m standing right next to you,” said Persimmon.
“Where? I can’t see you.”
“Oh, I must be invisible.” Persimmon giggled, having fun with these new powers. She threw the stone into her pocket and plucked another from the bag.
“Can you see me now?” she asked Lira.
“Oh! You frightened me.” Lira held her hand up to her face, peeking out from between her fingers.
“Why? It’s just me.” When Persimmon looked down at her hand, she had long talons and scaled skin. “Oh, I don’t like this one at all.” She dumped it into her pocket with the others.
“Hurry, they’re coming,” said Elric, zipping by in a blur. Persimmon turned to see King Sethor dismounting his horse just outside the mouth of the cave. He, Rancor, Filip, and at least a dozen of his guards drew their weapons, looking around as they entered the mouth of the cave. The rest of his army stayed out there.
“Hurry, Persimmon. They are headed this way,” cried Lira.
They’d tried so many stones now, but none of them was the right one. Persimmon was starting to worry.
“I only have the one stone left to try. This must be it.” She scooped up the last stone, feeling the heat against her palm. Since Elric was still distracting some of the gnomes, and the rest of the cave-dwellers were focused on the food and wine, Sethor and his men were able to sneak into the cave unnoticed.
“Over there!” shouted Rancor, spotting Persimmon and Lira and pointing them out.
“Get them,” commanded Sethor.
“You’d better make that last stone work quickly, or we’re going to be in a very bad situation,” Lira warned her.
“I will. This has to be it.” Persimmon rubbed the stone, but no portal appeared. “It didn’t work.”
“Oh, yes it did, but not in the way we thought. Look,” said Lira.
Persimmon turned around to see a large ugly beast that reminded her of a bear with the head of an eagle. It growled and charged toward Sethor. The king and his men fought it while the gnomes scurried around in a frenzy, surprised to see so many inside their cave.
Elric stopped the dog right in front of them. “Persimmon, I can’t hold these gnomes off forever. What are you doing? Why haven’t you got that portal opened yet?” he asked.
“I’ve tried all the gemstones, Father, but none of them worked,” said Persimmon. “I don’t understand it.”
“I do,” said Elric with a sigh. “The stone that opens and closes the portal must be the one that the thief Rancor still has.”
“It figures. What are we going to do?” asked Lira.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get it.” Elric got off the dog and zipped away, heading toward Sethor and the others. It wasn’t but a minute before he returned, holding out the last stone to her.
“You are amazing, even for a grouchy little elf,” said Persimmon, taking the gem from him. Sure enough, as soon as she touched it, those same swirling colors of blue, pink and orange appeared. They made a circle and grew larger and larger. Then she saw an opening appear, and bright lights coming from within.
“I did it!” cried Persimmon. “I opened the portal. This is so exciting.”
She heard a fight going on behind her. Turning to look, she saw Sethor pulling his blade out of the beast that now lay dead. The Blackseed brothers appeared at the mouth of the cave, fighting off the three guards that had entered with Sethor. The rest of his men were outside of the cave, afraid to come in.
“Now!” she heard Stone shout. Stone and Aithrod shot out from behind a rock, managing to surprise Rancor and Filip. “Grab them and head to the portal, quickly, Aithrod. There is no time to lose.”
It was a struggle, but since they’d managed to surprise and unarm the Taelgonoth thieves, Stone and Aithrod had no trouble dragging them to the portal. Fang barked and nipped at the heels of the thieves. They were just about to step through the portal when the gnomes started to attack again.
“Dammit, I’ll take care of them.” Elric jumped atop Fang and started riding around the cave again.
“Quickly, let’s go.” Stone looked over his shoulder. “Fang, where are you?”
“Elric has him. They’re trying to distract the gnomes,” Persimmon told him.
“Take good care of Fang, sweetheart. And of yourself as well,” said Stone, holding Rancor’s arms behind him. “Be sure to close the portal as soon as I get through.”
Aithrod entered the portal first with Filip. Stone still held on to Rancor. “I love you, Persimmon and will never forget you.”
Tears filled her eyes as Stone took a step through the portal holding Rancor, and disappeared from sight.
“Close the portal. Quickly,” shouted Lira. “They’re coming!”
She was about to do so when King Sethor pushed past her, diving into the portal, followed by at least six or seven of his men.
