by Mary Swift
“What are you going to do about it?”
“You can stay out here until you’re ready to apologize, to me, to your mother, and most importantly to Killian.”
Finnegan crossed his arms. It was nearly dark and the air was chilly. “I’m not sorry.”
“Then you can stay out here for the night.” Devin went inside the house.
Finnegan kicked a flowering shrub. There was no way he was apologizing for anything. Hitting Killian felt great; he wished he had done it sooner. He sat outside for several hours. The night air grew damp and cold; he began to consider going inside even though he didn’t want to grovel to Devin and Killian. If only Killian had never come into his life, everything would be different. He was the cause of all of his problems. If only there was some way to get rid of him. Finnegan sat and fumed for another hour when he suddenly realized there was a way to remove his little brother from his life for good.
Chapter 4
Peace finally came. The war that had raged on for nearly a decade ended with all circles retreating behind their walls. No one gained anything and each circle had lost countless young enchanters. Instead of controlling two weak circles Firesea was exactly where they had started.
Maeve was as disgusted as every other enchanter in Firesea by the peace treaty Devin wrote. But then something happened, the treaty had an unexpected clause that changed everything. Devin’s bratty little stepson Finnegan had cast his spell without permission. He named his brother Killian as a gift to Wildbush in the treaty. A spell, even one cast by a twelve year old, had to be obeyed. Devin and Leah were forced to give up their child and send him to Wildbush. He was put on a wagon along with a gold platter and a bolt of red fabric and sent away.
Devin and Leah were devastated over losing their son. They wanted to follow him to Wildbush but the Master Enchanter refused to let them go, no one left Firesea without his permission. Finnegan’s spell said that Killian was to be a peace offering, he had to go alone, what would happen to him after that no one knew. Maeve hoped that he had a miserable life. He deserved it for coming into the world and ruining hers.
For casting his spell without permission Finnegan was exiled from the circle. The protectors rode him out to the end of Firesea’s land and left him there. It didn’t matter that he was still a child; he had violated the Founders’ Code, exile was mandatory. Spells were not to be cast until the age of eighteen.
Maeve was thrilled. Not only was Finnegan an annoying little twit whose presence she couldn’t stand, but his mother Leah had lost both of her sons. It served her right for sleeping with Maeve’s fiancé. Maeve was now married to Morris Henderson, the dullest and ugliest enchanter in Firesea. He was a nothing, a nobody who would take her nowhere in life. She was going to languish and wither before her time. The anguish of the Cramer family was the only thing that made her life bearable.
Chapter 5
Wildbush was the only circle Killian Cramer had ever known but he knew he didn’t belong there, he was reminded of it every day. He didn’t know what circle he was really from, no one would tell him and the only thing he had brought from that other place was his name. He knew nothing about himself except that he was an unwanted nuisance that had ruined everyone’s lives by simply being alive.
Killian lived with Henry Collins. He had been some kind of diplomat earlier in his life. He had dropped hints that he had acquired Killian in his travels, but he would never say from where. It didn’t make sense to Killian why Henry would have taken him in when it was obvious that he couldn’t stand him.
Henry had three children. There were two older boys, Brett and Jacob, and a daughter named Talia. They were surly, insolent and violent. Their mother had died giving birth to Talia and their father was either unable or unwilling to control them. The three siblings got along well with each other; they directed all of their anger and hatred towards Killian.
They found any excuse they could to punch, shove or kick him. They laughed at everything he said or did. While the children had their lessons, ones that Killian wasn’t allowed to attend, he would get his only moments of peace. He often snuck books out of Henry’s library and curled up in the hidden corners of the house that he had discovered over the years.
Not everyone was cruel. Henry employed a cook who would let Killian help her with her tasks. He liked being busy and useful. He longed to learn, but no one cared enough to teach him anything. Sometimes the cook would bring him old books that she had used to educate her son with twenty years before. Killian had to keep them hidden in the kitchen so Henry wouldn’t find out.
As the years passed Killian grew more and more withdrawn. He became painfully shy. He hated being the center of attention. Even having someone look at him while he was speaking made him uncomfortable. He was afraid he would say something stupid which according to Henry and his children was all the time.
His looks were starting to attract attention too, he didn’t look like anyone else in Wildbush. He was tall and lean. He had the most horrible green eyes that caused people to comment on how unusual they were. His hair was dark brown. He had been growing it long for years, it came halfway down his back. Although he usually wore it in a ponytail it was convenient to hide behind when it was loose. No cared how he wore it and no one was going to pay to get it cut anyway.
Shortly before what was considered his sixteen birthday, no one knew the real date, Killian was summoned to Henry’s study. The only reason he was ever called in there was if he was in trouble. Killian took a deep breath as he opened the door. His heart sank. Talia was sitting in a chair in front of her father’s desk.
“Come in Killian.” Henry said waving his hand. “Have a seat.”
Killian slid into a chair next to Talia. She grinned saucily at him.
Henry cleared his throat. “Killian, as you know the traditional marriage age for enchanters is sixteen. Of course we don’t know your exact birthdate, but we can assume that you are close enough to sixteen. The engagement is typically arranged by the parents of the enchanters. In your case, as you were unwanted, I have taken the liberty of arranging your marriage for you.”
Killian’s heart started beating fast.
“You’ll be glad to know that I have agreed to allow you to marry Talia.”
“What?” Killian cried. That was the last thing he wanted. Talia hated him and he felt the same way about her.
“That’s right, you’re mine now.” Talia said giggling. She tossed her dark hair over her shoulders and smirked.
“You should feel privileged that I’m allowing you to have her.” Henry said. “I’ve had many offers; Talia is one of the most beautiful girls in the circle.”
Killian supposed that was true. She was beautiful on the outside with her dark hair, deep brown eyes and alabaster skin. That was just the surface, underneath she was ugly. Killian couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life with her. “I, I-” He didn’t know what to say. Henry was head of the council, he had to be obeyed.
Talia leaned forward. “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to marry me?”
Killian opened his mouth but nothing came out.
Talia hit him on the back of the head. “I asked you a question, answer me!”
Henry stood up and shoved his walking stick into Killian’s chest. “Answer her you ungrateful boy! I allow my daughter to marry a boy nobody wanted, a nothing of the lowest kind and you act as though you were being punished.” He hit Killian on the side of the head with the stick. “This is why no one wanted you.”
Killian merely nodded. If he talked back or tried to defend himself things would get much worse. Brett and Jacob had beaten him into unconsciousness on more than one occasion for trying to fight back.
“You’ll be married in a week.” Henry said. “I expect you to take care of my daughter.”
“Yes sir.”
“You may go now.” Henry informed them.
Killian and Talia stood up and left the study. As soon as they were in the hallway she g
rabbed his ponytail. “Pretty soon you’ll be all mine.”
Brett came strolling by. “Did you get the good news Killian?”
“Yes.” he mumbled.
“What’s that?” Brett asked. He shoved Killian against the wall. He and Talia laughed as they walked away.
Killian slid to the floor and put his head in his hands. He wondered what it was about him that made his circle cast him out. He wished he belonged somewhere. He wished someone wanted him around. He was such an insignificant nothing he didn’t understand why Henry wanted him to marry his daughter. It didn’t make any sense.
A wedding. He would be the center of attention. People would stare at him. He felt sick just thinking about it. He couldn’t even begin to envision what came after that, marriage to Talia. It was nothing short of a nightmare.
Chapter 6
Maeve had been living among the mortals for many years. After being married to her nobody of a husband in Firesea she decided that she would find a way to get to Wildbush to see what had become of the person who had ruined her life, Killian Cramer.
It took some time to accomplish her goal. First she became pregnant. After giving birth to a son a few days after her eighteenth birthday the Firesea council told her that her spell would convert seawater into drinking water. Each spell was supposed to be for the betterment of the circle. Maeve had no interest in casting a spell like that. She preferred something that would get her exiled from the circle.
A spell for controlling mortals was perfect. It wasn’t uncommon in Firesea; any mortal that happened to wander onto their lands was captured and made a slave. Obedience spells were useful for getting the mortals to do what they wanted. Within an hour of casting the spell Maeve was rounded up and brought to the edge of the circle by a group of scantily clad protectors. She was dumped off a horse and onto the ground with orders to never return.
She didn’t care about the protectors’ orders. She was never going to see her husband and son again and that was fine with her. She didn’t care about them. The last two years had been unsatisfying. Devin and Leah were overcome from the loss of their children, but that wasn’t enough for Maeve. Killian needed to suffer, it was necessary in order for her to feel better.
When she arrived in Wildbush she settled in the mortal part of town. Unlike Firesea, which was closed to mortals, Wildbush enchanters lived side by side with them. The enchanters’ houses were built in their traditional circle enclosed by a wooden wall, but the gate in the wall was frequently left open.
Maeve opened a cafe. She hired a brood of mortals to make pastries and sandwiches and brew hot beverages. It was a good business and she was soon making money. A couple of years later she married a mortal man. He was a widower with a young daughter. She didn’t care much for either of them but it made the mortals accept her as one of their own which was what she wanted.
She wanted to stay in Wildbush so she could be near Killian. He had been taken in by Henry Collins and his family. Henry was a blustery blowhard whose only claim to fame was that he had killed Seamus Murphy. His walking stick had some kind of unusual spell on it.
But Henry’s spell and his past deeds didn’t interest Maeve much. She only cared about the way he treated Killian which was badly. Henry had three vile children who tormented the boy constantly. As they years passed Killian became increasingly shy and withdrawn. When he did come into town he barely said a word or even looked out from behind the wall of his long brown hair.
Despite his silent disposition Killian constantly attracted attention from the enchanters and mortals. He was tall and slender, under the mop of hair he wasn’t bad looking and he had his mother’s striking green eyes. They had been Leah’s only interesting feature. Although green eyes were common in Firesea they were not in Wildbush. Maeve often heard the mortal teenage girls talking about him in the cafe.
There was something else about Killian. It was the reason that Henry had wanted him to marry his daughter. Maeve still remembered the evaluation of Killian when he was a year old. He had shown exceptional promise which meant that in a lesser circle like Wildbush he would be the most powerful enchanter. Henry obviously wanted to keep as much control over the boy and his potential as possible.
Shortly after Killian turned sixteen he and Talia were married. Enchanters and mortals often gossiped about the couple. It was no secret that they couldn’t stand each other. Their fights were legendary. One time Talia injured Killian so badly he had to be taken to the mortal doctor in town because none of the circle’s healing spells could help him.
Eleven months after the marriage Talia gave birth to a daughter they named Lucy. Maeve was surprised they were able to stop fighting long enough to have sex. But they were teenagers and producing offspring was expected. Some people thought that having a child would settle Talia down; instead it had the opposite effect. She was angrier than ever. She frequently left Killian to care for the child on his own. This made the enchanters and the mortals in Wildbush sympathetic towards him which Maeve didn’t like.
Shortly after Lucy was born Maeve got rid of her husband. He distracted her from her obsession with Killian. She allowed her stepdaughter Allison to stick around. She was a useful girl who did whatever Maeve asked thanks to the obedience spell. Maeve wasn’t sure what would happen once Killian cast his spell. She might need someone like Allison to do unpleasant tasks. The Wildbush council would tell Killian what his spell would be, but if he ever figured out how powerful he really was there could be trouble.
Chapter 7
It was a week before what was considered Killian’s eighteenth birthday. He was ordered to appear before the Wildbush council to be told what his spell would be. He couldn’t imagine what they would come up with. He didn’t seem to be good at anything except taking care of Lucy.
If it weren’t for his daughter he didn’t think he would even be alive. If Talia killed him then she would have to look after Lucy and she wouldn’t want that, and Killian wouldn’t take his own life now that he was a father. He couldn’t leave Lucy to be abused by her mother. It was up to him to protect her. He brought Lucy to the meeting. She squirmed to get down as he went inside the council hall.
“What are you bringing that child in here for?” Henry grumbled. He never seemed happy to see his granddaughter.
“I’ll take her.” Granny Jenkins offered. Granny was the oldest enchanter in the circle. She was three hundred and four years old. She stood up and put her arms out. Lucy squealed with delight as Granny took her. At the old woman’s feet was Colonel Fitzwilliam, he was a marmalade cat that had been enchanted to spy on the mortals. He regularly wandered around Wildbush, reporting back to Granny every night on what he saw and heard.
“Have a seat Killian.” Henry told him. “And get your hair out of your eyes.”
Killian took a rubber band from his pocket and pulled his hair back. He sat at the council table.
“We’re here to decide your spell Killian.” Henry told him.
“I know.” He didn’t know what else to say.
The newest council member, Logan Hartsell, cleared his throat. “Do you know what a multiple spell is?”
“No.”
“I thought you might not.” Logan looked at Henry. “He should know this stuff. Didn’t you educate him?”
Logan was two years older than Killian. For years Killian had believed that Talia would marry him. She seemed to like spending time with him and he was confident and good looking just like her. But Logan’s sixteenth birthday came and went and a marriage wasn’t arranged, it was an unusual occurrence but not unheard of.
“A multiple spell is a spell that can be used to create different results.” Henry began. “Logan’s spell is a singular spell. His eyes are enchanted so that he can see through walls. The spell serves one particular purpose; a multiple spell can allow you to do many things.”
“Oh.” Killian found it interesting but he didn’t know what it had to do with him.
“We want you to cast a
multiple spell.” Logan said. He picked up a fountain pen from the table. “You’ll cast it on this.”
“I don’t know how to do that.” Killian had seen the castings in the circle center but he was sure he couldn’t do it himself, he wasn’t that smart.
“We’ll show you.” Henry said. The other members nodded in agreement. “We want whatever you write with the pen to come true.”
“That can really be a spell?”
Logan nodded. “Yes, someone like you can do it.”
“Daddy!” Lucy suddenly shouted. She reached her arms towards him. Granny handed him his daughter. She sat on his lap and played with the buttons on his jacket.
Killian suddenly became aware of something Logan had said. “What do you mean someone like me can do it?”
“You should tell him.” Granny said.
Henry glared at her.
“It’s because I’m different isn’t it? Because I’m from another circle.”
Logan ignored Henry’s disapproving expression. “Yes. You’re not like us. We can’t cast a multiple spell, we’re not powerful enough, but you are.”
“We need you to cast the spell for the good of the circle.” Henry said. “You owe us that much.”
Killian now understood why Henry had wanted him to marry Talia. He wanted to control him. He had probably planned this for years. Killian looked at the pen. “So anything I write would come true?”
“We would tell you what to write.” Henry said.
“What if I wrote something that you didn’t authorize?”
“You can’t do that!” Henry shouted.
Lucy covered her ears, she didn’t like yelling. “But what if I did? Would it come true?”
“It would.” Logan confirmed. “But you wouldn’t be able to undo another enchanter’s spell, no one can do that. And no one could undo one of yours, but you could modify your own spells that you created with the pen. Do you see how it’s a multiple? It’s really quite amazing.”