Page 32 of Charmed

“Wait. Not yet. I need to know what the witch saw first.” Sethor looked back and forth between them.

“The girl is lying,” said Rancor’s friend, Filip.

“Mayhap you’re right. And I don’t like to be fooled.” Sethor raised his sword again.

“By killing Stone you’ll be placing a death sentence on your own head from his king,” Persimmon spat out, not really seeing a thing in the orb, but saying this to keep Stone from being murdered.

“How do I know you’re not lying just to save his hide?” asked the king. “Mayhap by letting him live, it’ll bring about my demise instead.”

“I only know what I see,” said Persimmon. “The gazing ball never lies. However, it is up to you to determine what it means.”

“Are you willing to risk it?” asked Stone. “After all, Persimmon does have some admirable powers.”

“Yes. You are more powerful than I expected,” said the king in surprise, slowly sheathing his sword. “That can be used to my advantage. Take them both to the dungeon, after all.”

“What are you doing, King Sethor? You cannot really believe them.” Rancor tried to discourage the king from letting them live.

“Persimmon. Do something,” whispered Stone.

She knew she had to do something quickly to settle the king’s mind and to make him believe what she said she saw was true.

“I see that Rancor is about to trip and fall,” said Persimmon, rubbing the crystal ball, but not really seeing a thing within it. But to make them think what she said was the truth, she used her power of moving things with her mind. She took a deep breath and focused on Rancor.

“That is nonsense. She’s a fake.” Rancor took a step toward the king, and when he did Persimmon used her mind to push him down.

“Ooomph!” Her powers worked. Rancor doubled over and hit the ground.

“There is the proof you need, sire. The girl obviously can see the future,” said Stone, giving her a quick nod of his head to thank her for what she did.

The king’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “Put them in the dungeon. And Rancor, if I hear another word about this from you or your friend, I’ll take my sword to both of you instead.” He turned to go while the guards escorted Stone and Persimmon to the dungeon.

“What now?” Stone whispered to her.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered back. “I have an idea.” Persimmon took another deep breath and released it, only praying to herself that what she had in mind would really work.