Page 20 of Charmed

“They are in the keep, my Queen,” Persimmon told her. “Let me take you to them.” She glanced back at the handsome man, wanting one more look before she walked away. “Would you care to join us inside the castle?”

“Is there food and drink in there?” he asked instead of answering her directly.

“I’m sure there is. After all, this is a castle. I am sure they’ll have the richest food and the most bountiful drinks fit for a king.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Stone bent down and picked up a long staff that must have fallen with him from the sky.

Persimmon watched him, surprised she hadn’t even noticed the staff. Now, she realized what made the noise she had heard when he fell from the sky.

“Are you a hunter?” she asked, as he, his friend, and the dog followed her to the keep.

“In a way I guess I am a hunter,” Stone answered.

“He’s a bounty hunter,” Aithrod told her, correcting any idea of him she had in her head.

“You are?” She stopped and looked him up and down. “So, you hunt men, not animals.” The idea disgusted her and she didn’t quite know what to think.

Stone could tell by the look on the girl’s face that she wasn’t pleased at hearing about his profession. There was an accusing look in her bright blue eyes that suddenly made him feel as if he had done something wrong. Her endearing smile disappeared fast. Now her full pink lips turned down into a half-frown.

“I bring in criminals so justice can be served,” he tried to explain to her. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“I don’t feel as if anyone deserves to be put behind bars or executed.”

“Really?” He raised a brow. “If you truly believe that, then you must be living a very sheltered life, my dear. The guilty need to be punished for hurting the good. If you were in my land, you’d see how badly it has deteriorated because of this exact thing. I am trying to bring it back to where it should be, a safe place to live.”

“Your land?” she asked. “Where is that?”

Stone let out a deep breath and answered at the same time as Aithrod.

“Taelgonoth.”

The girl cocked her pretty little head, appearing quite confused.

“I am not familiar with Taelgonoth. Is your home far from here?” she asked them.

“I suppose it depends on how you travel,” Stone said with a chuckle, thinking about the way they’d just got here from the other side of the mountain in mere minutes.

“We came through a portal,” explained Aithrod. “We’re not exactly sure about time.”

“A portal?” she asked. Her eyes darted around and she held a finger to her lips. “Shhh. Don’t even say that word around here. I was warned not to.”

“You were?” asked Stone in confusion. “Why?”

Stone didn’t miss the fact her eyes darted down to the pouch hanging at her side. She was looking to that crystal sphere in the velvet bag again. Portals also seemed to interest her, although she didn’t seem willing to speak about them aloud for some odd reason. Something also told him that she was another of these magical beings who lived in this odd land called Mura.

“I believe they brought the injured to the solar,” Persimmon told Alaina. “I will join you.”

“Nay, it’ll be fine.” Alaina looked over at the men and dog. “Persimmon, will you please do me a favor and see to our guests? I promised them food and drink.”

“She is a guest here as well, my Queen.” A girl with strawberry-blonde hair hurried out of the kitchen with several servants following her. They held rags and bowls of hot water.

“Lira, this is Stone and Aithrod. And Fang,” Persimmon introduced them.

“Hello,” said the girl named Lira with a nod. She smiled, but worry darkened her face. “I can help your men.”

“Nay, it’s fine,” said Persimmon. “I don’t mind doing it. Besides, it would be beneficial for you to stay with the wounded. I will find the kitchen on my own and get these men something to eat and drink.”

“Thank you, sister.” Lira hurried off with the others to help the injured.