Page 29 of Charmed

“Let’s hope you’re right,” said Persimmon, feeling her nerves shaking now.

They walked over the drawbridge, leading their horses and were stopped by two guards from the wall walk above.

“What do you want, Sin Eater?” called out one of the guards.

“I thought you gave up that nasty habit,” said the other with a chuckle. “No one called for your services, Blackseed. Go home.”

“I am not here to sin eat,” explained Darium. “I come with my friends to seek an audience with King Sethor.”

“He’s not expecting you,” said the one. “Go away. Send a missive instead.”

“Let us pass,” Stone commanded. “It is vitally important that we speak to your king. We have information he will want to hear.”

“Tell us your information,” said the one guard. “We will decide if he wants to hear it or not.”

“Men, let them in,” came a voice from behind the closed iron portcullis. “Raise the gate, anon.”

Persimmon saw a man appear with an entourage of soldiers in his wake. He was an older but tall man with graying hair and a hooked nose. He wore a crown on his head, and was dressed in a fur-lined cloak and kingly attire. An assortment of jeweled rings decorated most of his fingers.

“Is that King Sethor?” she whispered.

“I am guessing so,” Stone whispered back. “Whatever you do, don’t leave my side. And be sure not to speak before you are spoken to.”

“You are expecting trouble,” she mumbled, thinking of the vision she’d glimpsed in his eyes.

“Just explaining court etiquette to you, sweetheart,” he answered. “I don’t want you doing anything to sour this man’s disposition.”

“I understand.” She moved closer to Stone as they approached the gate. The men atop the wall walk worked the pulley and gears. With a loud creaking noise the heavy iron gate slowly lifted to allow them entrance.

“Leave all your animals outside my castle walls,” commanded the king, raising his hand as they started forward.

“Why?” Darium demanded to know.

“I’ve seen what that fae wife of yours can do, Blackseed, or are you forgetting,” sneered the king. “I won’t have animals attacking me again. Especially not that damned bird of yours.”

“My bird stays with me.”

“Then you both can stay outside my walls. So leave.”

“Nay, we can’t leave,” Persimmon told the king, rushing into the courtyard. She heard the rest of the men following after her. Panic filled her, thinking she wouldn’t have the chance to find the old couples’ son. She had seen how important this was to them. If they left now, she’d have to tell the dying couple that she’d failed. Persimmon didn’t want to fail. And she certainly didn’t want to let anyone down.

“What did you say?” growled the king.

“Dammit, I told you to stay by me, and not to speak,” Stone ground out, coming up behind her.

“I can’t leave before I find Gregor Lithum,” she told the king. “His parents have been attacked by thieves and are close to death. Is Gregor here?”

“Who are you?” snapped the king, not even acknowledging her question.

“I am Persimmon Burroughs from Lornoon,” she told him, followed by a curtsy. She looked at Stone from the corner of her eye, wanting him to know she was trying her hardest to follow court etiquette.

“Lornoon?” The king’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword. “You come from the land of magic. You are a witch, aren’t you?”

“Is that a bad thing?” she asked, her eyes flashing from the king to Stone and then over to Darium who had entered the courtyard but without his raven. If looks could kill, she’d be dead right now by all three of them.

“I don’t like this,” shouted the king. “This is a trick to take over my kingdom. Men, seize them and take them to the dungeon!”

“Go, Murk. Get help,” shouted Darium, pulling his sword from the scabbard on his back. Stone drew his sword as well. Aithrod held out the staff with two hands. Fang snarled and showed his teeth as the raven squawked from atop a turret and took off into the sky. The men stood with their backs to each other, their weapons at the ready. Stone reached out and pushed Persimmon to the middle of their circle.