Chapter 3

Stone Nightstalker dismounted his horse and cautiously got down on his knees, still gripping his crossbow, ready to use it at the spur of a moment. He was always aware of every noise and motion around him. It was his ability to be so observant that landed him the job of the king's bounty hunter in the first place. He spotted something on the ground in the dark. Something that could possibly lead him right to the man he was tracking. His dog, Fang, sniffed the area around them, and trailed off in a different direction.

"Did you find something?" asked his good friend, Aithrod in a low voice. He dismounted his steed and wrapped the reins around a branch of a tree. Aithrod was a loner, same as Stone. Neither one of them had family left anymore on Taelgonoth. The past few years had been hard.

It was a dark night with only a crescent moon gracing the sky. Clouds passed over the scant light, leaving the normal man blind to his surroundings. Darkness never bothered Stone. He had the night sight of an animal, able to see in light or dark, it didn't matter. He liked the skill. It was a true asset in his profession. His father before him used to have excellent eyesight as well.

"I did find something," Stone answered, slowly removing one leather gauntlet and using two fingers to pick up a small stone. There were footprints in the soft dirt right beside it. Bringing the rock up to his face, he shifted it back and forth, blowing off the dust. Sure enough, a faint glimmer of green emerged from the stone.

"What is it?" Aithrod, with his eyes glancing back and forth, hurried over and hunkered down next to Stone. Aithrod was a good friend. Actually, Stone's only friend. Stone and Aithrod had grown up together, their fathers being friends as well. Aithrod joined Stone a few years ago to do bounty hunting for King Helix Kapion of Taelgonoth after the deaths of their families from a plague.

Aithrod held a tall staff that was Stone's. It was his weapon of choice. Stone was a fighter, not a murderer. He liked to bring back the fugitives alive, unarmed and unharmed. King Kapion saw to their punishments. Or their executions. Aithrod was there only as Stone's helper but had learned from Stone many of his tracking ways. Plus, the man was the only person Stone really trusted.

The king, among others, had told Stone that he was the best bounty hunter, not only this side of the Marion Marshes or in the Brackens Forest, but in all the land of Taelgonoth. He was a nightstalker, as his family surname implied. That is, he hunted usually by night because that is what he preferred. It gave him an advantage since that is when most thieves and bandits came out. Stalking bandits, thieves, and even strange creatures at times, Stone's work never ended.

Not here.

Not in a land filled with treachery and deceit.

Taelgonoth wasn't always a filthy, backstabbing, demoralizing place to live. But since the recent plague, everyone and everything changed for the worse. People panicked. Riots and looting were a common thing, since everyone always seemed to want more.

The days when goodness outweighed the bad were gone. Stone's late father had once helped the king by keeping order in Taelgonoth. His father, Stewart Nightstalker, as well as Stone and Stone's late brothers had been a strong team when they worked together. With them working together to conquer the bad, Taelgonoth had been a fair and just place to live. But not anymore. There were so many murders and robberies as of late that there was no resting for Stone and Aithrod. Even the king had turned deceitful lately. Still, he was the only hope of bringing the land back to what it once was before all the troubling times.

Stone's work pleased King Helix. So much so that he told Stone after this mission, Stone would be betrothed to his daughter, Annabelle. Since Stone no longer had a family and was twenty-eight and unmarried, he figured this would be a good move for him. He'd settle down and have children and teach them his trade. He barely knew the girl, but as soon as he returned successful from this mission, that would all change. He'd be married, and live at the castle with the nobles. The king might even possibly give him a permanent position at court. It would never replace the family he'd lost, of course, but it would give him somewhere to be settled and to call home.

"I found one of the king's stolen gems as well as the footprints of our thief." Stone glanced down to study the evidence of where the thief walked. "It looks like there are two of them. I don't see hoofprints so they must be on foot. And I know these prints."

"What do you mean?" asked Aithrod.

"I recognize the odd soles of the man's shoes. It is Rancor Ruse we are tracking. I'm sure of it."

Rancor was one of the biggest thieves in Taelgonoth. And also Stone's biggest enemy.

"Rancor. It figures," said Aithrod. "Well, at least they're on foot so it will slow them down and enable us to catch them faster."

This wouldn't be the first time they hunted down this crook. Stone had managed twice before to bring Rancor back to the king. But somehow the man always seemed to escape before he could be imprisoned.

Stone glanced upward next, scoping out the horizon. "They are probably hiding with the gemstones in one of these caves." He inspected the footprints more closely. He opened his pouch and dropped the gem into it, and then replaced his glove.

"Well, there are plenty of caves in Taelgonoth. Which one should we search first?" asked Aithrod.

Stone surveyed the footprints that led to the closest cave.

"Rancor is a weasel and a thief. He has stolen money from everyone through the years. However, this time he's gone for royal jewels." Stone secured the reins of his horse loosely to a tree. Then he started in the direction of the footprints. "He can't really be planning on staying in Taelgonoth. He must plan to leave here. But, oddly, he's not heading for the water and a boat."

"How can you be sure he wants to leave?" asked Aithrod.

"He'd never be able to sell the jewels. Not when everyone knows they belong to the king. Plus, he knows I'll find him sooner or later. Nay, he's leaving. I'm sure of it."

"But where would he go?" Aithrod was right behind him.

"Come, Fang," Stone called his huge white hound. The animal looked more like a wolf than a dog. Fang came running over to him, skidding to a halt at Stone's side.

"A mysterious hooded man has been seen lurking around town the past few days," reported Aithrod. "The townsfolk fear for their children and their belongings. He goes from house to house, taking what he wants. What he needs. His face is always covered. He's also said to have an accomplice."

"Yes," agreed Stone. "The second set of footprints. Have you heard if Rancor has killed or hurt anyone?"

"Not that I know of," answered Stone's friend.

"What are the reports of what he's stolen from the commoners?"

"Mostly food and clothes." Aithrod shrugged. "I wonder why he hasn't stolen horses."

"Because he knows he won't be able to use them or take them wherever he is planning to go."

"You might be right. He's planning on leaving Taelgonoth with the king's riches and selling them perhaps across the sea. Still, he could have used horses to get there. This makes no sense at all. If he is trying to escape Taelgonoth, then why head for the caves?"

"Rancor is up to something. Something different than what he usually does," said Stone. "We need to find him and his counterpart and bring them to justice as quickly as possible. With each day that passes and the king's gems missing, the people are going to start losing faith in their sovereign. King Helix will lose all respect. Or what little is left of it. Attackers might even try taking over the castle if word gets out that his security is weak and lacking."

They approached the cave and Stone led the way inside. Fang pitter-pattered past him, sniffing around in the night. It was dark and damp as caves usually are. It was also strange that the footprints just suddenly stopped right inside the entrance. And where they stopped was a dry and scorched area on the cave floor.

"This is odd." Stone hunkered down to inspect the scorch marks while Fang sniffed around scratching at the cave floor. When Stone leaned in closer, he felt a blast of heat hit his face. The air in front of him quickly changed from cool to dangerously hot. He jumped up in surprise.

"Something's happening," Aithrod called out. "I don't understand what it is but I am starting to see something appear." Aithrod rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Stone saw it, too, and stumbled backwards. Colors of blue, pink and orange appeared inside the cave, creating a circular motion that kept expanding. The light formed an egglike shape that grew taller and wider until it was large enough to encompass a person. It was accompanied by a strange sound like metal scraping against metal. An acrid stench of something burning filled the air. It caused a shiver to run up his spine. Stone had never experienced anything like this before. He had no idea what it could possibly be. As the sound grew louder, he and Aithrod had no choice but to cover their ears.

"I could be wrong, but I think it's a portal opening up," Stone shouted, not able to believe his eyes. Fang stood next to him, barking furiously at the unseen foe.

"A what?" asked Aithrod, cringing from the sound, his hands still over his ears.

"Be on your guard. I'm not sure what might come through." With his crossbow over his shoulder, Stone grabbed his fighting staff from his friend. Aithrod yanked a dagger from his waist belt, holding it out in front of him for protection. Fang's head lowered. With a deep growl, the dog showed its teeth.

"I don't see anyone coming through," yelled Aithrod.

Stone squinted his eyes, thinking he saw rocks or a cave on the other side. For a mere second he even thought that he saw movement, but he couldn't be sure. "Neither do I," Stone answered. "But I think I know where our thief has disappeared to. Follow me."

"Wait! What are you doing, Stone? You're not really going to step through that thing, are you?" Aithrod shook his head. "You're crazy. We have no idea what might happen or even to where it leads."

"Stay if you'd like, but I'm going through. Come on, Fang," he commanded his hound. Stone first reached out with his staff, seeing the end of it disappear into the swirling portal. Then he carefully stepped forward, and walked through the opening with his dog following on his heels.

Immediately, a swishing noise filled Stone's ears. He was sucked forward through the portal, being thrown from side to side. It was as if a huge breeze toyed with him like a leaf in the wind. His knees buckled and he felt his body being tossed around like a doll. He hit the ground hard. Rolling and dropping his staff, it clunked against the stone floor before it rolled just out of his reach. Fang landed next to him yelping, his feet still running in midair.

"Aaaaaah," he heard Aithrod scream from behind him, still inside the portal. Stone quickly rolled out of the way just as his good friend hit the ground next to him. Fang reached down and licked Aithrod's face.

"Thanks," grumbled Aithrod. "But that doesn't help much, Fang. It was a hard landing." Aithrod gently pushed the dog away and rubbed his shoulder.

Then, there was that sucking sound again. Just as fast as the portal opened, it snapped shut and disappeared from sight.

"Damn! It's gone," gasped Aithrod. "And now, we're stuck here. Wherever here is." He looked around the dark cave.

"It'll open again. Somehow. I hope." Stone got to his knees.

"Where are we?" Aithrod lie on his back, staring up at Stone.

"I'm not quite sure." Stone took a moment to look around, brushing off his clothes at the same time. Spying his staff on the floor of this cave-like structure, he walked over and bent down to pick it up. But when he did, a sharp pricking feeling stabbed him on the backside. He grabbed the staff, whirling around, thinking it was the dog.

"Stop that, Fang!" Instead of his hound, he saw a group of small, strange beings no taller than his knees. They peered up at him, seeming leery of Stone's arrival. These cave-dwellers were human-like, but much, much smaller. The lot of them seemed to be a mixture of both men and women. They all wore tall, colorful pointed hats. "What the hell," he grumbled, getting another poke on the backside, and spinning around to discover that they were surrounded on all sides by these little people. The men all had long white beards. The women wore long gowns and were round and busty. Fang sniffed the air, half wagging his tail, not sure if they were friendly and wanted to play or if they were a threat. Then the dog stopped and hunkered down and let out a slight growl.

"Stone, what's going on?" Aithrod jumped up, holding out the tip of his dagger. "Back! Back, I say," he spoke to the small beings who were closing in on them.

"They're armed. Sort of," said Stone, noticing that each of them held on to what looked like a rake, a hoe, or a shovel. Some even held sharp pick axes and pitchforks. Now he knew what they'd pricked him with, and he didn't like it in the least.

The small ones spoke in grunts to each other, and their communication was very fast. It sounded like gibberish to him. Stone tried hard but couldn't make out actual words. Then they started moving forward with their weapons drawn, closing in on both the men and the dog.

"I get a bad feeling about this." Aithrod waved his dagger back and forth.

"I don't think they'll really harm us," said Stone. "After all, they're so small. I mean how could they be an actual threat to someone our size? Hello there," said Stone, bending over and reaching out for a shake. "Ow!" he shouted when one of the creatures brought the sharp end of his hoe down across the back of his hand, actually drawing blood. Half a dozen of them jumped onto Stone's back next. He whirled around in circles throwing them off with the force.

The little peoples' grunting became louder and louder. Then even more of them appeared, filling the cave area completely. He had never seen anything like it in his life.

"Got any ideas how to escape them?" asked Aithrod as their situation worsened.

"Not a one," Stone answered with a shake of his head. "I'm afraid this is beyond my bounty hunting abilities. And for the life of me, I don't know what the hell they are, or for that matter where we are." He gripped his staff tightly as he and Aithrod continued to back away. "Get ready to fight," said Stone, not wanting to hurt these creatures, but not knowing what they were capable of doing. "I suddenly get the feeling that mayhap we shouldn't have stepped through the portal after all."

"May I please see your gazing sphere, Persimmon?" Medea, the other woman who was a witch, held out her hand as everyone sat around the outdoor fire chatting. The meal had been a fine one consisting of strange meats, vegetables and fruits that Persimmon had never had before. One of the best things she'd tasted was called Roakan. She was told that the deer-like animal had been hunted in the elven lands of Glint. It was all delicious to her. And what made the meal even better was that everyone was so friendly. Thankfully, she had been accepted by these people here on Mura. Everyone, that is, but her father.

Elric had gone out of his way to purposely avoid her and to not even speak to her since she'd gotten here. Persimmon didn't understand his actions. It really upset her. After all, she was his daughter, just as Lira was. So why did he treat the elven queen much better than he did her? It was getting dark now as the sun set on the horizon. She was told that the children of the Blackseed brothers would need to be put to bed for the night soon.

"I'm sorry, Medea, but I don't let anyone touch my gazing sphere." Persimmon was protective over the orb for more reasons than one. "My mother always told me not to let others' touch our tools. I guess it is because of the risk of their energy entering the object."

"Is that a bad thing?" asked Medea.

"Yes. No," she corrected herself not wanting to offend Medea. "I mean, I think it could be a distraction if nothing else, I suppose. Anyway, the orb only responds to my touch." The last thing Persimmon wanted to do was to show Medea how it worked, because, she honestly didn't know. She'd let them believe she saw visions in it, but that was the furthest thing from the truth. She was extremely tired of not having the ability to scry. It was draining and made her feel like a failure. After all, if her mother had been a prophetess, she should be able to do it, too.

Persimmon had yet to see anything at all in the orb. Still, things just had to change soon Her mother had used this same orb to scry, and had so much success, people sought her out from near and far to scry for them.

"Oh, I see." Medea looked extremely disappointed by her response, even though she was too polite to say so.

Persimmon felt bad now. The witch girl had been excited about seeing the orb. She also seemed to want to be Persimmon's friend. That would be nice. Persimmon never had any true friends. Since they were both witches, that should create a bond.

"I'll tell you what," said Persimmon. "I will let you look at the orb if you'd like. Without touching it, of course." She brought the orb out of her pouch, setting it in front of Medea atop the table.

"Thank you. Oh, my. It's splendid." Medea's eyes lit up in excitement. "Now show me how you make it work. Please," she begged. "I promise I won't touch it. I'll just watch as you scry."

"I…I can't do that," said Persimmon with her hand still on the orb. She was put in an awkward situation and wasn't sure how to handle it. She couldn't let on that she didn't have the magical skills to actually use the orb.

"Oh, is that forbidden, too? Letting anyone watch you scry?" asked Medea with a sigh. "This is much different from my witchcraft. I can see that now."

"Nay, that's not it at all. I mean, I don't think it is forbidden." Persimmon didn't know what to say. Still, she needed to say something. If not, she was sure that Medea wouldn't stop until she was satisfied by getting an answer. "I can't explain how to use it because I don't understand exactly how it works. It just does." Persimmon's gaze flashed over to her father sitting at the other end of the table. Elric scowled at her. Then he got off the stump and in a flash he disappeared. "Why doesn't he like me?" she said aloud.

"Who?" Medea turned around to look, but the elf was already gone.

"Elric. My father," said Persimmon. "He acts as if I'm poison. He doesn't want to be near me or even talk with me at all. I don't understand what I ever did to make him act that way."

"Oh, that." Medea laughed. "Don't take it personally, Persimmon. Elric is quite odd if you haven't noticed. None of us can quite figure him out so we've stopped trying."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"His own daughter, your sister, Lira, banished him from her castle in Glint years ago. That's why he's lived by himself up at the top of a cliff, so I'm told. He is extremely eccentric and not the best at being sociable."

"She banished him from the castle? That is odd. You're right." Persimmon released a deep breath and forced a smile. "There are so many things I need to learn about this land. I also have so much I want to ask my father. Through the years as I was growing up, I never had the chance."

"Why not?" asked Medea. "Was it because he was here in Mura instead of by you in Lornoon?"

"Well, that is part of the reason."

"I'm so sorry, sister." Lira overheard them, hurrying over and sitting down on the bench next to Persimmon, putting her hand over hers. "My father isn't the easiest person to get along with. Just ask my husband, Zann, and his brothers if you don't believe me."

"Lira is right," agreed Medea. "Elric hasn't always been kind to them, but our husbands have learned to tolerate the little man. Even when he continues to constantly call them big oafs."

"But Zann married you," said Persimmon, not quite understanding. "He knew Elric would be his father by marriage and yet he still went through with the wedding?"

Lira giggled. "It wasn't really his choice."

"What do you mean?"

"We were tricked into getting married. By my father. Our father," Lira explained.

"Tricked into marriage? Why? I don't understand. Do you mean you didn't want to marry Zann?"

"Don't get me wrong," Lira said, holding up her hand. "Zann and I fell in love eventually and now we couldn't be happier together. So, you see, it all worked out in the end."

"I don't really see, but I suppose I shouldn't try to understand," answered Persimmon, starting to know what they meant about ignoring Elric's odd actions. Mayhap she was getting much too upset by something that she couldn't control.

"Sweetheart, I think our little princess needs you," Zann called out, rocking their one-year-old baby, Leandra, who wouldn't stop crying.

"Excuse me, Persimmon, but I need to go to my daughter." Lira got up to leave. "When you are ready to sleep, come into the castle and we'll find you a room."

"We really should leave now, too, Medea." Rhys walked up holding the hand of their daughter, Lily. He held their son, Lucio, in the crook of his other arm. The little boy was already sleeping against his chest.

"Leave so soon?" asked Medea. "But I haven't had time yet to talk about witch things with Persimmon. I'm excited to have her here in Mura."

"You will have plenty of time for chatting later," said Rhys with a shake of his head, motioning to his wife to go.

"Goodbye, Persimmon. We're glad to meet you." The fae, Talia, had her daughter, Cricket, in her arms. Her husband, Darium, held their sleeping son, Thistle. "The children need their rest or they'll be cranky come morning."

"Don't all of you live here at Evandorm Castle?" Persimmon wanted to know.

"Nay, of course, not," said Rhys. "Medea and I have our own castle nearby."

"It's called Kasculbough Castle," explained Medea, getting up and taking Lily-Rae's hand. "Mayhap you can come stay with us on the morrow? Then we'll have more time to visit and get to know each other better."

"Perhaps I will. Yes, that would be nice, thank you," answered Persimmon, picking up her crystal orb. When she did, for a quick second she thought she saw a flash from the corner of her eye, coming from the ball. It happened so fast that she couldn't be sure. "That's odd," she commented out loud.

"What's odd?" asked Medea, straining her neck to see the gazing ball.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Persimmon thought she must have imagined it since she wanted so desperately to see visions in the ball the way her mother always had. She quickly tucked the magical orb back into her pouch.

"Nay, tell me. It's all right. What did you see?" Medea pressed her to answer.

"It was just a flash of swirling colors. I'm sure it didn't mean a thing." She wasn't sure why she'd just admitted that aloud. Perhaps it was because she needed someone to talk to and was tired of being alone.

"Swirling colors?" asked Talia. "Darium, that almost sounds like?—"

"Nay, it's nothing. Let's go," Darium stopped her in mid-sentence.

"Uh, oh," said Rhys. "I hope it's not what I think it is."

"It's not," said Darium in a firm voice. "Just ignore it. All of you."

"It's not what?" Persimmon stood up and stifled a yawn.

"The men are afraid it's another portal that you've glimpsed," explained Lira.

"A what?" she asked, thinking this sounded odd indeed.

"Did I hear someone say portal?" Zann walked over with the crying baby in his arms. Their older daughter, Valindra ran over to her mother's side.

"I'm scared, Mother," cried Valindra. "I don't like portals. They frighten me." She looked around with wide eyes and clung to her mother's gown.

"What's going on?" asked Persimmon, realizing the word portal seemed to put everyone on edge.

No one answered. Persimmon felt very uncomfortable so decided to change the subject. "Darium and Talia, perhaps I can come stay at your castle too, since I'd like to see where all of my new family lives."

"I'm sorry, but we don't have a castle," answered Talia. "Just a cottage in the woods in the Goeften Forest."

"It's a fine cottage, but small," said Darium. "It wouldn't be comfortable for you to stay with us. It is already tight with the two children. Why don't you just stay with my brothers since they have more room. Let's go, wife." Darium seemed embarrassed or put out in some manner because he didn't have a castle like his brothers. He hurriedly ushered his family to the waiting horse and wagon.

"I'm sorry if I said something wrong." Persimmon felt genuinely bad.

"Oh, don't worry, you didn't," answered Medea. "Darium will get over it. Eventually."

"Mother, I want to go home," whined little Lily.

"I agree. Take my hand, Lily," said Rhys. "Lucio and I will go home with you."

"Nay, wait. I'll come, too. See you on the morrow, Persimmon." Medea grabbed Lily's other hand, connecting her whole family in one line. Then, in a flash, they all just disappeared.

"Oh!" exclaimed Persimmon, not used to seeing this. "How do they do that?"

"You'll get used to their transporting ability in time," Lira told her. "The rest of us walk or take horses to get where we want to go. However, they don't need to do so. It's very convenient and quick to just dissipate and reappear somewhere else."

"Then, not everyone on Mura can do that?"

"Nay, of course not. Only the witches," said Zann. "By witches, I mean Medea and her daughter, Lily."

"But I saw Rhys and Lucio disappear, too. Are they also witches?" asked Persimmon.

"No, they are mortals," explained Lira. "But Medea and Lily can take others with them when they transport. "Sister, would you like me to show you to your room now? It is getting late."

"Yes, please," said Persimmon.

"Where are your bags? Your things?"

"I don't have any," she told her, not wanting to explain why."

"All right then." Lira turned to lead the way.

Persimmon felt as if she were being watched from behind. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw her father in the shadows. Then in a blur of color, he was gone, not unlike the transporting that Medea and her daughter could do.

"Everyone comes and goes so quickly here on Mura," commented Persimmon as they headed to the castle.

"There is a lot happening here. You won't be able to learn about everyone and everything in one night," Lira told her. "We are glad you decided to live here now, because there are a lot of people to meet and a lot to experience."

"I'm sure there is." Persimmon looked down at her pouch, still feeling like a failure and now a liar, too. "I can't wait for someone to explain more to me about these portals," she said, not wanting to think about the gazing orb and what had happened.

She saw their daughter cringe when she said it.

"It's best not to mention them around the children or my husband and his brothers," whispered Lira. "Excuse us now." Lira, took the baby from Zann, letting Valindra pull her away as they headed into the castle.

After they left, Zann spoke to her. "She's right, you know."

"What do you mean?" asked Persimmon.

"Don't even mention portals again," Zann warned her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand. Why is everyone acting so odd about this?"

"It's been over a year now since any portals opened on Mura, and we want to keep it that way. Every time one opens, it means trouble for all involved. Not only trouble, but people end up dying."

"Oh, nay! They do? So it's happened a lot then?"

"Not a lot, but too much. And it is better that it doesn't happen again."

"Do you think that was a portal I saw in my gazing orb?" she asked Zann.

"Nay!" Zann didn't seem to want to even entertain the idea that it possibly could have been.

"My mother always told me that the gazing crystal is never wrong." Since this was the first time she actually saw anything inside the orb, Persimmon felt excited and wanted to see more than just a flash. Still, she didn't feel as if she could talk to anyone about it. Especially since she wasn't convinced that it hadn't just been her imagination and that she hadn't scried at all.

"It's never wrong, you say?" Zann raised a brow. "If that is so, then throw the damned orb into the Lake of Souls so you don't ever see such things again. And whatever you do, be sure not to even mention what you saw again. Never, and I repeat never, mention the word portal again."