Page 6 of Bewitched

“I’ve never seen a dragon before,” said Zann. “Although we’ve heard a lot about them, I thought they were extinct.”

“Obviously not, or we wouldn’t have one.” Medea’s answer sounded sarcastic.

“It’s my husband’s dragon,” Rapunzel explained. “Marco is a Dragon Lord.”

“A Dragon Lord? Really?” Zann smiled and nodded, seeming more than impressed by this than anything else right now.

“Why are you here and where did you come from?” Rhys continued with his questions, needing answers.

“The sky opened and we came through some sort of portal,” said Medea with a shrug. Rhys wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw her roll her eyes, as if his question sounded stupid to her.

“I can see that,” said Rhys. “But how did you cause the portal to appear and disappear?”

“If we had the power to do that, do you think we’d still be standing here talking with you two fools?” snapped Medea, crossing her arms over her chest.

Rhys didn’t like the girl’s attitude in the least and was eager to send her back through the portal. However, before he could say anything about it, his brother spoke.

“So, are you two from Mura?” asked Zann, eyeing them up.

“Where?” Medea made a face and squinted her eyes.

“Mura,” Zann repeated. “The land you’re on right now.” He held out his arms and looked around. “I am guessing mayhap you live on the other side of the Picajord Mountains? Are you perhaps one of the fae from the Whispering Dale by any chance?”

“Fae?” asked Medea. “Don’t be silly. Of course we’re not.”

“The Picajord Mountains?” questioned Rapunzel. “We’ve never heard of them or the land of Mura.” Her eyes darted back and forth as she took in her surroundings.

“It doesn’t look much different from England,” said Medea, eyeing the landscape as well.

“England? Where is that?” asked Rhys.

Both girls exchanged glances.

“We can’t answer that, since we have no reference as to where we really are right now,” answered Rapunzel. “Is there somewhere we can go to freshen up and talk?”

“I guess so,” said Rhys. “But what about your dragon?”

“Oh, it’ll be back when it’s hungry,” said Medea.

“Hungry?” Zann looked up at the sky nervously. “What do dragons eat?”

“Well they eat... what do they eat, Sister?” asked Medea. “I’m not really sure.”

“That doesn’t matter right now.” Rapunzel glanced up at the sky as well. “We need a plan to get the dragon back as quickly as possible. My husband is going to be very angry about this. Not to mention, there is no telling what might happen with a dragon on the loose in a strange land.”

“Rhys, let’s take them home,” suggested Zann.

“Home?” Rhys looked up and shook his head. “I can’t take them to Kasculbough, and you’d better not take them to Evandorm. Our kings might have lifted the ban on magic, but let’s not throw it in their faces. After all, once they see the dragon, they’re most likely going to change their minds again.”

“Magic isn’t allowed on Mura?” asked Rapunzel in shock.

“Well, aye and nay,” said Zann. “We’re sort of in the middle of negotiations at the moment, I guess you could say.”

The sound of thundering hoofbeats took their attention. Rhys looked up to see some of King Sethor’s men headed their way.

“Damn. They’re soldiers from Macada Castle,” said Rhys in a low voice.

“Macada Castle? Where is that?” asked Medea.