Page 66 of Bewitched

“I suppose you’re right,” answered Rapunzel. “That might be why the dragon is staying so close to the sea in the caves. We’ll need to lure it into some kind of enclosure. Mayhap we can do that with a polished shield. Or lots of them. The shinier the better.”

Rhys put his hand to his chin in thought. “I think I know where we can get everything we need to pull this off. I can get the shields from the armory at Kasculbough Castle.”

“Well, a lot of good that will do us, if we don’t have a place to hold the beast,” remarked Darium.

“I think I can solve that problem too,” added Rhys. “We can use the oubliette—the large pit in the courtyard where the King throws his prisoners. If we capture the dragon in it, mayhap we can hold it there until we figure out how to fly it back to the portal. What do you think, Rapunzel?”

“That could work,” she told him with a thoughtful nod. “Once the dragon goes into the pit attracted by its image on the shiny shields, I can use my magic to do the rest. I’ll construct enchanted bars over the top of the pit that will hold it. Or at least for a while. Dragons are very strong. If angered, they can become vicious and destructive.”

“Rhys, do you think you can get King Osric to trust you enough to believe that you are doing this for him since he ordered you to capture the dragon?” asked Darium.

“I don’t know,” said Rhys in thought. “Since Medea is there now, he might not want my help. I really need to know the situation of what is going on before I can answer that. However, either way, I think I can sneak in and convince some of the soldiers to work with me. There are a lot of them who pay fealty to Osric, but would rather not.”

“That sounds risky,” said Talia.

“Medea is worth the risk,” answered Rhys. “Mayhap I can sneak up to the tower and try to convince Medea to help as well.”

“Nay, Rhys, that won’t work and I’d advise you not to try to talk to Medea right now.” Rapunzel seemed sad and upset. “My sister’s emotions are going crazy, probably since she just had a baby. Right now she pretty much hates you.”

“Hates me?” This disturbed Rhys more than anything. “Nay, that can’t be. Medea and I are attracted to each other. I’m sure by now she’s figured out the truth as to how I feel about her. We have a child together.”

Rapunzel let out a sigh. “Rhys, I’m sorry, but since King Osric convinced her that you were the one who suggested killing her, she wants nothing to do with you.”

“The bastard,” growled Rhys, feeling his own anger growing now. “He most likely said that to save his own neck. I still can’t believe Medea took him at his word. Why would she believe him over me?”

“It is odd,” agreed Darium. “Especially since it seemed the two of you were hitting it off together.”

“I’ll just have to change her mind about me, and help her see the light,” said Rhys.

“I’m afraid that might not be so easy.” Rapunzel seemed as if she knew something else but was purposely not telling Rhys.

“What is it, Rapunzel?” Rhys asked. “Please, I need to know everything.”

“I suppose you have the right to know,” she answered. “Rhys, I hate to tell you this, but my sister has made an agreement with King Osric that I don’t think you’re going to like.”

“An agreement?” asked Rhys, surprised and curious at the same time that Medea would do this. “What kind of agreement? Has she vowed to kill me now?”

“I don’t know about that, but I do know that she has agreed to marry the King. They are going to seize the other two castles and rule all of Mura together with their army of magical soldiers that they’re going to make.”

“She’s going to marry Osric? And have his babies?” This wasn’t at all what Rhys wanted to hear. He slowly sank down atop Darium’s bed. “Nay.” He shook his head slowly, staring off into nothingness. “It can’t be. She can’t marry him. I won’t let it happen.”

“What about the part of seizing the other two castles and ruling all of Mura?” asked Zann. “Rhys, did you even hear that part at all?”

“It’s not true. It can’t be,” mumbled Rhys.

“I assure you, it’s true,” Rapunzel confirmed the fact.

“She can’t do it,” Rhys muttered, not wanting to believe any of this. “She doesn’t really want this.”

“Brother, she’s a powerful witch filled with evil right now,” Darium reminded him. “She can do whatever she wants. And since I’ve seen the results of evil entities lately, I can confirm that there will be nothing you can do to change her mind.”

“Nay. I won’t stand for this,” Rhys said stubbornly, jumping to his feet and starting to pace again. “Medea is not like that. I’ve seen a different side to her. She would never do those things on her own. Someone is influencing her.”

“You’ve only seen the good side of my sister, while the darkness in her lay dormant,” explained Rapunzel. “I have to agree with Zann and Darium. I don’t think there is anything you or anyone can do to stop her, now that she’s made her decision. As a matter of fact, Rhys, I don’t think she’ll ever agree to even talk to you, let alone give you the opportunity to get close enough to her to try.”

“She’s right,” said Darium. “If the King is against you now, you won’t be able to step foot into the courtyard again either.”

“Then I’ll find another way to contact her, but I refuse to give up.” Rhys would not let it go.