Page 60 of Bewitched

“I guess it’s just in her blood, since Hecuba was so good at it,” stated Rapunzel.

“Kind of like me, Brother,” said Zann. “No one taught me to shift, it just kind of happened on its own.”

“I suppose,” said Rhys in thought. Everything about Medea was mysterious. Mayhap that is why he’d taken a liking to her. He liked things out of the ordinary. “Do you really think she’s hurt?” Rhys’ heart softened toward Medea now. No matter how dark she became, he knew there was goodness inside her, because he had seen it. There was light magic as well, and he wanted more than anything to help her find it. He also would never want anything to happen to her.

“Rhys, I think I should transport and go ahead of you and try to find her,” suggested Rapunzel.

“Did someone teach you to do that, or did it just happen on its own?” asked Zann curiously.

“Well, I have some powers, but I’ve just discovered them lately,” explained Rapunzel. “I wasn’t really taught to do it, but have watched my father transport many times. I guess it just came naturally. However, I’m not sure how far away it will work. I might have to just keep transporting up ahead a little at a time until I can make it all the way back to Kasculbough.”

“Then go,” said Rhys. “Medea might need you.”

“What about the dragon?” asked Darium. “We can’t just forget about it. What if it goes back to attack the fae folk?”

“I don’t think it will,” said Rapunzel. “My guess is that it went back to the caves and will return to the castle in the morning. Marco’s dragon can be lazy at times.”

“Doesn’t that dragon have a name?” asked Zann.

“It does, but it is kept secret. Only Marco knows it,” Rapunzel explained. “This way, no one can claim power over it by saying its name.”

“Oh, kind of like the fae,” said Darium. “Talia didn’t even want to tell me her name when I first met her, because of that reason.”

“What about food?” asked Zann. “Isn’t that thing going to be hungry by now?”

“It only eats once every few days, and he was fed right before Medea took him,” Rapunzel explained. “If the dragon does want to feed, it’ll look for cattle or sheep first.”

“First?” asked Zann. “Well, what if the dragon can’t find a cow or a sheep to munch on? Then what will he eat? Us?”

“I can’t answer that,” said Rapunzel. “I’m not sure. I suppose it’s possible it will try to eat people, but I hope we’ll find it and get it home before that happens.”

“Hopefully, it likes the taste of gnomes,” mumbled Zann. “There were plenty of those inside the cave. However, they were so small that I hardly think they will fill the dragon’s belly.”

“Rapunzel, if you can find Medea, tell her... tell her I’m sorry. About everything,” said Rhys.

“I can tell her, but when the darkness gets ahold of her, she won’t listen to anyone.”

“Then I hope you can get to her before the darkness takes total control. I honestly care for Medea. I don’t want her to be evil. I want her to be happy and good.”

“Don’t we all,” said Rapunzel with a sigh, waving her arm and disappearing.

“I’ll never get used to that,” said Darium, jerking and blinking when Rapunzel rapidly disappeared.

“Well, you’d better try,” said Rhys.

“What does that mean?” asked Darium.

“I mean that Zann and I got used to giggling fae for you.” Rhys looked over at him and grinned.

“Yeah. So?” Darium continued. “I fail to see how this has anything to do with Medea.”

“It does, Brother, because I am not going to let her go.”

“Rhys, you’re talking nonsense,” said Zann. “She belongs on the other side of the portal, not in Mura. She needs to go back. You said so yourself.”

“I’ve changed my mind,” said Rhys. “Medea seems so happy here and I believe she should stay on Mura if she wants to.”

“Brother?” Darium rode up next to him. “I know that look. What are you planning to do?”