“Excuse me, Persimmon, but I need to go to my daughter.” Lira got up to leave. “When you are ready to sleep, come into the castle and we’ll find you a room.”
“We really should leave now, too, Medea.” Rhys walked up holding the hand of their daughter, Lily. He held their son, Lucio, in the crook of his other arm. The little boy was already sleeping against his chest.
“Leave so soon?” asked Medea. “But I haven’t had time yet to talk about witch things with Persimmon. I’m excited to have her here in Mura.”
“You will have plenty of time for chatting later,” said Rhys with a shake of his head, motioning to his wife to go.
“Goodbye, Persimmon. We’re glad to meet you.” The fae, Talia, had her daughter, Cricket, in her arms. Her husband, Darium, held their sleeping son, Thistle. “The children need their rest or they’ll be cranky come morning.”
“Don’t all of you live here at Evandorm Castle?” Persimmon wanted to know.
“Nay, of course, not,” said Rhys. “Medea and I have our own castle nearby.”
“It’s called Kasculbough Castle,” explained Medea, getting up and taking Lily-Rae’s hand. “Mayhap you can come stay with us on the morrow? Then we’ll have more time to visit and get to know each other better.”
“Perhaps I will. Yes, that would be nice, thank you,” answered Persimmon, picking up her crystal orb. When she did, for a quick second she thought she saw a flash from the corner of her eye, coming from the ball. It happened so fast that she couldn’t be sure. “That’s odd,” she commented out loud.
“What’s odd?” asked Medea, straining her neck to see the gazing ball.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Persimmon thought she must have imagined it since she wanted so desperately to see visions in the ball the way her mother always had. She quickly tucked the magical orb back into her pouch.
“Nay, tell me. It’s all right. What did you see?” Medea pressed her to answer.
“It was just a flash of swirling colors. I’m sure it didn’t mean a thing.” She wasn’t sure why she’d just admitted that aloud. Perhaps it was because she needed someone to talk to and was tired of being alone.
“Swirling colors?” asked Talia. “Darium, that almost sounds like—”
“Nay, it’s nothing. Let’s go,” Darium stopped her in mid-sentence.
“Uh, oh,” said Rhys. “I hope it’s not what I think it is.”
“It’s not,” said Darium in a firm voice. “Just ignore it. All of you.”
“It’s not what?” Persimmon stood up and stifled a yawn.
“The men are afraid it’s another portal that you’ve glimpsed,” explained Lira.
“A what?” she asked, thinking this sounded odd indeed.
“Did I hear someone say portal?” Zann walked over with the crying baby in his arms. Their older daughter, Valindra ran over to her mother’s side.
“I’m scared, Mother,” cried Valindra. “I don’t like portals. They frighten me.” She looked around with wide eyes and clung to her mother’s gown.
“What’s going on?” asked Persimmon, realizing the word portal seemed to put everyone on edge.
No one answered. Persimmon felt very uncomfortable so decided to change the subject. “Darium and Talia, perhaps I can come stay at your castle too, since I’d like to see where all of my new family lives.”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have a castle,” answered Talia. “Just a cottage in the woods in the Goeften Forest.”
“It’s a fine cottage, but small,” said Darium. “It wouldn’t be comfortable for you to stay with us. It is already tight with the two children. Why don’t you just stay with my brothers since they have more room. Let’s go, wife.” Darium seemed embarrassed or put out in some manner because he didn’t have a castle like his brothers. He hurriedly ushered his family to the waiting horse and wagon.
“I’m sorry if I said something wrong.” Persimmon felt genuinely bad.
“Oh, don’t worry, you didn’t,” answered Medea. “Darium will get over it. Eventually.”
“Mother, I want to go home,” whined little Lily.
“I agree. Take my hand, Lily,” said Rhys. “Lucio and I will go home with you.”
“Nay, wait. I’ll come, too. See you on the morrow, Persimmon.” Medea grabbed Lily’s other hand, connecting her whole family in one line. Then, in a flash, they all just disappeared.
“Oh!” exclaimed Persimmon, not used to seeing this. “How do they do that?”
“You’ll get used to their transporting ability in time,” Lira told her. “The rest of us walk or take horses to get where we want to go. However, they don’t need to do so. It’s very convenient and quick to just dissipate and reappear somewhere else.”
“Then, not everyone on Mura can do that?”
“Nay, of course not. Only the witches,” said Zann. “By witches, I mean Medea and her daughter, Lily.”
“But I saw Rhys and Lucio disappear, too. Are they also witches?” asked Persimmon.
“No, they are mortals,” explained Lira. “But Medea and Lily can take others with them when they transport. “Sister, would you like me to show you to your room now? It is getting late.”
“Yes, please,” said Persimmon.
“Where are your bags? Your things?”
“I don’t have any,” she told her, not wanting to explain why.”
