Page 63 of Charmed

“Nay! I don’t open my door unless I know who it is.”

“Too bad you can’t scry or you’d know,” said Stone with a chuckle, picking up the small tea cup, trying to balance it on the saucer in his other hand.

“Father, I’ve never seen you act like this before. You are usually so fearless. Now, stop it.” Lira opened the door.

“I was told Stone was here?” Aithrod stood in the doorway, breathing heavily from having climbed the path of the mountain leading to Elric’s door. Fang was with him. The dog saw Stone and barked happily, knocking down Elric as he bounded into the room to be with his master. Fang jumped on Stone and Stone dropped the tea cup, sending it shattering to the floor.

“Get that monster out of here!” Elric pointed to the door, while he lie prone on the floor.

“Get down, boy.” Stone petted the dog and it calmed right down. “What is it, Aithrod?”

“King Sethor and his army are on the move,” Aithrod reported. “They are already nearing the Quamm Caves.”

“They’re not getting my gemstones,” said Elric, standing up, brushing off the bag attached to his waist.

“Father, we need you,” said Persimmon, hurrying to the door. “Can you tell us when the portal will appear again?”

“I don’t know,” said Elric with a shrug. “Portals are funny things. It’s hard to control them.” He zipped over to the table, clearing the tea cups, and in a blur had the broken cup from the floor cleaned up as well.

Fang’s head shot back and forth and he whimpered, not able to keep an eye on the man’s quick movements.

“Yes, he’s right,” said Lira. “We’ve only seen three portals here on Mura so far, but each of them has caused us many problems and heartaches.”

“Who would know how to open the portal?” Stone asked Elric. “We need to access it before Sethor gets to the caves. We have to warn King Helix that they’re coming before it’s too late.”

“King Kapion isn’t going to like this,” said Aithrod. “It could be the end for him.”

“He’s a thief. He deserves to die.” Elric crossed his arms over his chest yet again.

“Then do you deserve to die, too?” asked Stone. “Because as I see it, you are nothing but a thief as well.”

“I don’t know how to open the portal, but I think I might be able to direct you to someone who can do it,” Elric told them.

“Who?” asked Stone.

“Before I tell you, I want to know something. Are you going to give me those two stones back and also help me get the last stone from that thief, Rancor or not?”

“I have my orders from our king,” said Stone.

“Stone, please.” Persimmon put her hand on his arm. “Now that we know the truth about the stones, you’re not really going to give them back to your king, are you? You heard my father. Only the Chosen One can use them.”

“Those gemstones are worth a lot of money,” said Aithrod. “Stone, what’s going on here?”

“The gemstones, I found out, were stolen by our king from Elric,” Stone explained. “Elric took them from the gods of Mura first. I guess only the Chosen One by the gods can use them.”

“Chosen One? Who is that?” asked Aithrod.

“The Chosen One is the same person who can open that portal,” Elric explained. “It is you, Persimmon.”