Page 13 of Bewitched

“Of course I do!” snapped the King. “But that beast is dangerous. If Sethor gets to it first, he’ll use it against me, as well as against Evandorm. He’ll use it to seize our lands and castles. I can’t have that.”

“Nay, of course not, my lord.”

“You’ll find that dragon, and bring it to me as quickly as possible,” he commanded.

“I’ll do my best, Sire.” Rhys felt conflicted, but he couldn’t ignore a command from his king. He nodded and turned around, only to be stopped by Osric.

“Oh, and Sir Rhys? Some of my men reported that they saw a woman or two atop the dragon when it came through the portal.”

“They did?” Rhys turned back toward the King, holding his breath.

“Aye. These women are probably dangerous, and can’t be trusted. If they were on a dragon, they must have magic.”

“What are you saying, My King?” Rhys was afraid of where this conversation was heading.

“I’m saying, you need to find these women and bring them to me, anon.”

“What will you do to them once I deliver them?” he asked, afraid he already knew the answer.

“If they can fly a dragon, they’ve got to be very powerful and will need to be stopped.”

“Mayhap so, my lord. However, you and King Grinwald stated you no longer have a ban on magic.”

“Well, I’ve changed my mind. If they came through the portal, they are dangerous and also our enemies. I cannot take a chance.”

“What does that mean?” asked Rhys, surprised that the King could say such a thing when he’d never even met the women.

“What do you think it means?” he growled. “I want you to bring me those women, because I have no choice but to take drastic measures. They will be executed at once.”

* * *

Medea was just about ready to go out and look for Rhys when the door to the cottage swung open and he and Zann entered once again. She had been doing her best to stay occupied, and also to avoid looking into the eyes of the fae woman, since she thought that might be how she was reading her mind. Of course, there were two faeries here, and that made her extremely nervous. She didn’t like being around even one.

“Rhys. Zann.” Darium, the one they called a Sin Eater, got up from his chair. “What did you find out?”

“It seems King Grinwald has seen the dragon and is bothered by it,” reported Zann.

“As well as King Osric,” added Rhys. “He wants me to hunt it down and bring it back to him.”

“He does?” asked Medea. “Whatever for?”

“He’s afraid it will be used against him.”

“So, what is he planning on doing with the dragon once he has it?” asked Rapunzel.

“He didn’t say.”

Medea could tell that Rhys was holding something back.

“All the Kings are going to want it,” Darium pointed out. “Either to use it against each other, or perhaps to kill it.”

“Kill it?” Rapunzel’s head snapped upward. “Nay! That is Marco’s dragon. We need to protect it.”

“I agree,” said Rhys. “That is why I suggest we go out and find it before they do.”

“And do what, when we find it?” asked Zann. “It’s not like we’re skilled in the art of capturing flying beasts that can singe us with their breath alone.”

“I’ll go out and look for it,” offered Medea. “After all, it was my fault it flew through the portal in the first place.”