The Circle

by Cindy Cipriano

  “Take my hand, Laurel,” said Calum. “And don’t let go.” They followed Finley as he pushed open double doors into a large and dimly lit room. A round and unattractive dwarf-like creature sat on a tall chair at the center of the room. His clothes were stained, brown, and old. The bronze skin of his belly drooped over his belt like mud sliding down a mountain. It was Brownshire, and on his left sat Daniel.

  Chapter Fourteen

  All or None

  Calum felt Laurel pulling him as she quickened her pace to get to Daniel. “Don’t,” he said, holding fast to her hand. “We have to do this the right way.”

  “Brownshire,” said Finley, “I found these two at the edge of the mound. This is Calum, from the Aessea clan.”

  “Welcome brother,” said Brownshire. His voice was rough, like sandpaper on gravel.

  Daniel stared at them. “LaurelAnn?” he asked in a choked voice.

  “Hush it.” Brownshire raised a thick hand to strike Daniel, who cringed. “And who is this duine daonna?”

  “Go ahead,” whispered Calum.

  “I’m Laurel. I’m here for my brother, Daniel,” she said firmly.

  “You must be tired, Calum,” said Brownshire, ignoring Laurel completely. “Basil, take this young brother to our best café for refreshment.” He waved to a man on his right who wore a grass green suit. The man was so thin his beard had more width than he did. Basil touched his hand to his forehead in a salute to Calum.

  “We need to deal with the duine daonna,” said Brownshire.

  “What do you mean, deal with?” asked Calum.

  “Well, she claims Daniel is her brother,” said Brownshire. “Before we release one of our own to her, we need to determine whether or not she’s telling the truth.”

  “From what I can see,” said Calum, “she’s more a part of your clan than Daniel. She wears one of your tokens, and he has none.”

  Brownshire leaned forward in his seat and stared at the Fairy Stone around Laurel’s neck. “That’s one of our old tokens. How did you get it?” he asked.

  “How does anyone get a token?” asked Calum. “She wears your token, so she must be accepted by you and treated like one of your clan.”

  “Do not presume you know more about Sidhe traditions than I, young brother,” Brownshire said in a warning tone. “I would tread lightly here if I were you.”

  “Do not presume me to be your brother,” said Calum.

  “You’d better watch your mouth,” said Brownshire. His left hand cut through the air, and Calum felt a sting on the right side of his face. His cheek throbbed with a rising welt.

  “Now sit down and show some manners,” commanded Brownshire.

  There was a loud scraping noise. Two massive chairs with lion’s heads carved into the end of each arm slid across the floor, stopping directly behind Calum and Laurel. Laurel sat down, but Calum made no move, staring defiantly into Brownshire’s droopy face.

  “I said sit!” Brownshire raised his hand and cut the air again. Calum felt a slash on his right thigh. He grabbed his leg, looking down where his jeans had been sliced open by an invisible knife. Calum held back a scream. Blood seeped from his leg, staining the edges of the tear in his jeans. Another wave of Brownshire’s hand knocked Calum into the seat behind him, the chair nearly tipping over from the force. The small lion’s heads on the chair came to life, roaring and flashing tiny sharp teeth. Calum glanced at Laurel, who looked pale and close to fainting.

  “Very good, Brownshire,” said Finley, trying to calm the situation. “Shall I escort them back to the edge of the mound? Their time here is limited.”

  “No,” said Brownshire. “We have plenty of time. Let them wait as our guests while we conduct our hearing.” He looked at Calum. “Oh, you’re bleeding. How’d that happen?” He waved his left hand and a bandage appeared on Calum’s leg. “I’m afraid you might feel a slight sting from the medicine.” He leaned forward, eagerly watching Calum for a reaction.

  Calum’s leg burned like fire. He grimaced from the pain, but refused to make a sound.

  “Oh, you’re no fun,” said Brownshire. He turned to Finley. “Take them to the guest house and wait with them until you are called.”

  Finley stood still as a statue.

  Calum whispered to Laurel, “It’s not really a guest house. It’s a holding cell and Finley has to use his token to get in.”

  “Do as you’re told,” growled Brownshire. He looked at Finley with raised eyebrows. Somehow his tiny brain understood Finley didn’t have his token. He tilted his head slightly like a dog listening to a whistle. “Where is your token?” He looked slowly from Finley to Laurel. Calum could see Brownshire working it out. “She has your token. You gave it to her, and in doing so, you have betrayed your clan.”

  “I have never betrayed my clan. For as you know, this is not my clan.” Finley glared at Brownshire.

  Brownshire’s face turned deep red, the veins in his neck standing out.

  Calum felt a static charge fill the air.

  “Fero tuti latum!” shouted Brownshire.

  There was a loud thunderclap, and time stood still. Time enough for Calum to look into Finley’s eyes and see his terror. Finley understood what was happening to him. Calum tried to get up, but the lion’s jaws snapped close to his chest. Calum didn’t feel their razor-sharp teeth as they cut through his shirt, grazing his skin. He was engulfed in horror as he watched Finley slowly vanish in yellow smoke. Calum felt sick. It was hard to breathe. What happened? Am I in a nightmare? How will I ever explain this to Finley’s mom? He’s really gone this time.

  “Finley!” screamed Daniel.

  Daniel’s cry brought Calum back to his senses. “Where is Finley?” he shouted.

  “Gone,” said Brownshire. “Sometimes these Additions are really more trouble than they’re worth.” He kicked Daniel, who fell to the ground. Laurel flinched, and the lions’ heads on her chair whipped around, growling. Brownshire turned to Basil and said coldly, “Take all three of them to the guest house.”

  The lions’ heads froze in place, allowing Calum and Laurel to stand up. Calum glanced at Laurel. She was petrified with fear.

  “We have to go,” he whispered to her. “Brownshire’s not Sidhe. He doesn’t respect our laws or he wouldn’t have cut me or struck Finley down like that. If we don’t move, he’ll hurt or kill you and Daniel.”

  Laurel, Daniel, and Calum followed Basil through a long passageway to a stone building behind the Public House. Tears stained Daniel’s cheeks as they approached the door to the building that looked more like a prison.

  Basil opened the door. “Please make yourselves comfortable,” he said sarcastically.

  As soon as the door closed, Laurel ran to Daniel. He hugged her tightly as they cried in each other’s arms. Calum thought they needed privacy. He waited for them in the kitchen, sitting at a rotted table. Thoughts of Finley swirled around Calum’s head as bitter tears flowed down his cheeks. His thoughts were interrupted when Laurel and Daniel joined him at the table. He quickly wiped his face.

  Laurel took Calum’s hand. “I’m so sorry about Finley.” Another sob escaped Daniel’s throat. Laurel took his hand as well. “I’m sorry, Daniel. I know Finley took good care of you. But you’re coming home now.”

  “How?” asked Daniel. “You don’t know them. They’re cruel. And smart.”

  “We’re smarter,” said Calum.

  They waited together at the table, none of them eager to speak. Laurel held each of their hands in hers as time dragged by. Supper time had come and gone when Calum felt hunger growing in his belly. He noticed a flat dish of red crackle on the counter and wondered if it had the same effect on Sidhe as it did on duine daonna. I’m not a duine daonna. I should be fine, he silently reasoned. He approached the counter. The crackle glittered like rubies in the sun. That looks delicious. He wanted to touch the crackle, to taste it. Calum reached out his hand and applied a light pressure with his finger. The red crackle split into bite-
sized pieces. That seemed like a fun thing to do, much like breaking plastic bubble wrap. He wanted to do it again.

  “Calum!” Laurel shrieked.

  Calum awoke from a dreamy state. He shook his head, clearing his mind. “That red crackle made me want to taste it. I thought I could, too, because I’m Sidhe. That was really stupid.”

  “It’s okay. We’re all hungry,” said Laurel.

  Calum realized they needed a distraction. “Daniel, what happened that day in the woods?” he asked.

  “I passed into the mound as soon as I stepped into their circle. I had no idea I had traveled to another world,” said Daniel. “Brownshire grabbed me by the back of my shirt and brought me to Public House. Torin was there. He conducted my hearing. It was simple. I came to their mound uninvited. In their line of thinking that made me fair game to be added to the clan.

  “I kept asking about you, Laurel, and Mom and Dad. I’ll never forget what Torin said: ‘If your parents cared about you at all, they never would have allowed you to wander into the woods without them.’ I’ve hated Torin ever since.” Daniel paused a few seconds, his hands shaking with anger.

  “When Finley came back that day, they thought he was choosing to live here. I was taken to his house as an Addition, a reward for Finley’s loyalty. He took care of me and taught me about the Sidhe. We used to stay up late at night planning our escape, but we promised not to leave the mound without the other. He never told me he gave you that token.” Daniel nodded at Laurel’s pendant.

  They heard a click and the front door of the house opened. It was Basil. “Come with me.”

  They followed Basil out of the house and back through the Public House. Calum’s stomach lurched when he saw the scar in the wood that had healed over Finley’s name was now completely gone. Smoothed over as if Finley had never been there at all. They continued walking through the mound. Calum realized they were going to the shed where he and Laurel had first entered Devil’s Peak. Brownshire waited beside the crystal Calum had tied to the gate post almost an hour earlier. The moon was large and low on the horizon. Its silver light cast distorted shadows on the wet ground.

  “I’ve made a decision,” said Brownshire.

  Or, maybe you’ve learned how to tell time, thought Calum.

  “When that dreadful ban on Additions was passed again, the visitor time limit was changed,” said Brownshire. “Calum, you may stay here for only one hour because you are Sidhe. I wonder why they did that.”

  “You know why.” Calum glared at Brownshire.

  “Oh yes,” Brownshire said in a dismissive manner. “Finley. Anyway, the visitor time limit does not extend to her,” he nodded at Laurel, “because she’s duine daonna. However, she may leave anytime she likes because she has our token. Alas, the token also allows her to come back anytime she would like. Although, I would strongly advise against it,” he said with a greasy grin. “There is no provision for Daniel, just an antiquated tradition, one our clan does not practice. And the good news is, in a few short weeks he won’t ever want to leave.”

  Laurel turned a deep shade of red. Anger came from her body in almost visible waves. She looked murderous, much the way Calum knew his grandfather would look when he learned about Finley.

  That’s it.

  Finley’s voice echoed in Calum’s head. Brownshire’s terrified of Uilleam.

  “In that case, I think we’ll take Daniel now,” said Calum.

  “Were you not listening, young brother?” asked Brownshire. “We have decided to keep Daniel here with us.”

  “Were you not listening?” asked Calum. “I told you I am not your brother. If we leave today without Daniel, Laurel will come back tomorrow with my grandfather. I believe you met him at Fairy Stone Park. His name is Uilleam Lindsey. He’ll be eager to see you again, especially after I tell him what you did to Finley.” Calum paused to allow the idea to sink into Brownshire’s head. “I think we should swap. You give us Daniel, and we’ll give you her token. But you need to decide fast.” Calum looked at his watch. “You have about a minute to make up your mind because in two minutes she’s leaving with me.” He took Laurel’s hand. “It’s always about choices. Make yours.”

  Now it was Brownshire who turned blood red. He glared at Calum. Brownshire and Basil spoke in quick low voices.

  “What are you doing?” hissed Daniel. “Take LaurelAnn and get out of here.”

  “Don’t worry,” whispered Calum. “She left one of her gloves in their circle. She can get out without the token. I’ll take you back with my ring.” He turned to Laurel. “After you give him the token, run through the gate. We’ll be right behind you.”

  “Okay,” said Laurel. Daniel looked unconvinced. Laurel gave him a quick hug. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t like this,” said Daniel.

  “It is agreed,” said Brownshire, interrupting Daniel’s protests. Laurel stared into Brownshire’s eyes. Showing no fear, she took the pendant from her neck. She hesitated, whispering to Calum, “There’s got to be another way. I want to come back here and help the Fairy Stone get rid of Brownshire and Torin.”

  “There is no other way. We’re running out of time,” said Calum. “Do it now.”

  At the last possible second, Laurel dropped the token into Brownshire’s stubby hand. It slipped through his fingers, and thudded to the ground.

  “Fool,” said Brownshire. “Did you really think we didn’t know about your glove? That has been taken care of.” He burst into cruel laughter. “All in all, it’s been a good day,” he said. “True, we lost Finley, but maybe we’ll get to keep Laurel.” He bent to pick up the token. “It’s really too bad you don’t know how to block thoughts, Calum. I know about your ring. Pity, it only allows for one co-traveler. As you said, it is always about choices. I wonder who you’ll choose to take home with you.”

  Calum felt his stomach drop and a sense of despair washed over him. What have I done? He looked at Laurel. She mouthed the words, “Take Daniel.”

  Then Calum noticed two things. Brownshire couldn’t lift the token from the ground. And they were no longer in Devil’s Peak.

  “Where are we?” asked Laurel. She held Daniel’s hand tightly.

  “We’re in the polder,” said Calum, looking around the woods. Dozens of bittersweet berries littered the ground. “But we should be in their circle.”

  Uilleam stood a few yards away.

  “Uilleam!” shouted Calum, running to him. “Finley was there,” he said, sobbing into his grandfather’s chest. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t bring him back, and now he’s gone forever. We shouldn’t have gone.”

  “Calm yourself, son.” Uilleam looked at Calum’s bloodied jeans and shirt, and a quiet anger swept over him. “Are you all right?” he asked calmly. “What’s happened to your leg, your chest?”

  “I’m okay,” said Calum. “But where’s Hagen?” he asked, looking around wildly.

  Hagen appeared at that moment. “I waited until the hour was up. I was just about to call Donnelly when I was pulled here.”

  “That was my doing,” said Uilleam. “And now that everyone is back, we’re going home. I’m not the only one who wants to hear about your trip to Devil’s Peak.”

  “It’s about time,” said Kenzie when they walked through the door. She sat between Gus and Salena in the Ranson kitchen. Her face was a mixture of fear and anger. “Calum, I sure hope you like your room because you won’t be seeing much else for the next few months.” She froze when her gaze found the blood on Calum’s jeans. “Oh, no! Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” said Calum. He hugged Kenzie, relieved to be home.

  Kenzie’s face softened. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  Calum nodded. “Mom, this is Laurel’s brother, Daniel.” Daniel smiled shyly.

  “We’re glad you’re here,” said Kenzie, smiling back at him.

  “Where’s Dad?” asked Hagen.

  “He heard the Hobayeth call while we were in Aessea,” Tullia sa
id cautiously. “He’s investigating their mound.”

  “No!” cried Hagen.

  “Donnelly will be all right,” Uilleam said impatiently. “But right now, we need Aine and Connor. Their grandson was at Devil’s Peak Mound.”

  Tullia collapsed onto a chair. “What?” she exclaimed. “Finley was there?”

  Calum tried to close his mind, but it was too late.

  “Torin wanted Hagen?” Tullia shrieked.

  “Tullia, calm down. Hagen is safe, please concentrate. Call your parents to you,” said Uilleam in a firm tone. “We’ll sort through this when they get here.”

  Tullia did as Uilleam asked and then turned to Hagen. “Go upstairs and tell Brytes and Will everyone is safe. But don’t mention Finley. And don’t tell them where your father has gone.”

  Hagen didn’t move. Torin wanted me?

  Calum didn’t have time to answer.

  “Go,” Tullia demanded.

  Hagen snapped out of his fog and left the room.

  “What is it?” Aine asked when she abruptly crossed the Ranson threshold. “I have never been summoned here before. What’s going on?”

  She was closely followed by Connor, worry etched in his every movement. Aine knelt to study her daughter’s face.

  “Finley was at Devil’s Peak Mound,” said Uilleam. Aine shot to her feet.

  Uilleam caught her by the arm. “He’s not there now. Let’s go into the family room. We need to hear Calum’s story.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Finley

  Calum followed the others into the family room where Kenzie had already conjured cups of steaming chamomile tea. He took one and sat on the couch beside Aine. Calum sipped the tea, trying to compose himself. He took a deep breath and said, “Finley was the first person we saw when we got there.” Aine patted Calum’s shoulder lightly. Hagen entered the room as Calum continued. “He brought us to their Public House where Brownshire was acting in Torin’s place.” Calum eyed Aine for a reaction, but saw none.