Authors: Jamie McHenry
“What do you want?” I said, glaring at Cael.
“I need to talk to you.”
I turned back toward the celebration. I could see Nia standing at the center of the circle. She stared at Thomas. Her lover was there, in front of her—in the flesh and present. He whispered something and she laughed. My heart collapsed and longed for Sean.
“Okay,” I said, turning around completely to face Cael. “I’ll listen.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me way from the crowd. “Come with me.”
I yanked my hand back, but followed him across the grass to the nearest trees. Behind me, cheers and yells filled the night air, and waving shadows from the fire seemed to shake the forest ahead, warning me to return to the ceremony. Still, I followed him. When we reached the trees, Cael chose a large rock and perched on top like a cat. I couldn’t see clearly and tried to focus on the shadows around us.
“Do you have any news?” I asked, whispering, even though we were out of earshot. “Is Sean safe?”
Cael pulled a knife from his belly sheath and twisted its point into the trunk of a small tree. “He’s safe,” he said, “but his captors are getting desperate. They want the scrolls.”
“How do you know?” I asked, defiantly. “Why are you the only one with information? The Elders have heard nothing.”
“The Elders are weak,” said Cael, digging the blade deeper. “Rance is risking a lot to keep me updated. While they ignore the truth, I’m trying to save my brother.”
I reached forward and poked Cael in the chest. “Then why did you refuse to help find him? You could have sent the search party to Morgan. You’re not trying to help—you’re not doing anything.”
Cael chuckled. “That hurt. You’re not allowed to cause pain, Rhiannon of the Fae.” His sarcasm twisted my name.
“Stop it!” I glared back at him. “You’re teasing me. Answer my question.”
Cael pulled the knife from the tree and examined its blade in the firelight. “I’ve been looking for the temple,” he finally said. “I need the scrolls.”
“You won’t find it.”
The spite inside me grew and gave me courage. Cael had taken a part of me the last time I saw him, and I felt determined to let him know. Behind me, another eruption of cheers carried across the meadow.
“Will you help me?” he asked. “If we’re going to save Sean, I’ll need you to tell me where the temple is.”
“Why are you doing this?” I yelled. “Go to the Elders. Tell them where Sean is.”
Cael leapt from his perch and swiped his blade in the air. He tossed it in the air and caught its handle with obvious skill. “I thought you cared about Sean. I thought you could help me.” He turned and walked away. “Without your help, he is going to die! I wasn’t willing to accept that, but obviously, you are.”
I was confused and angry. Nothing made sense. I watched him walk toward the nearest trail. Behind me, my best friend was enjoying the happiest moment of her life, and in front of me, I faced a horrible ally—one who could bring back my happiness and love, or destroy everything I believed. I turned back to look at the celebration at the Stones. The ceremony was over; cheers and waves covered the firelight. I had missed everything.
“Cael, wait.” I said, running after him. “Wait!”
He turned to face me. “I took a chance when I told you what I knew,” he said, wiping his face. “I can’t save Sean without your help.”
“What do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Help me get the scrolls.”
I shook my head. “You don’t understand. You’ll never find the temple, and I can’t tell you where it is. I’m bound by my word, just as you are bound by yours.”
“Then, how do I get them? How do I save Sean?” He rubbed the back of his neck as if seeking relief. “I didn’t think it would be this hard. This is a nightmare.”
I scoffed. “It’s a nightmare for you? How do you think I feel?” I said. “Sean is everything to me.”
He lowered his head. “I’m sorry that this happened. You shouldn’t have to suffer.” He kicked the grass. “It pains me to see you upset.”
“Then why did you kiss me?” I asked, boldly.
He looked at me, but I stared at him sternly, forcing him to shift his gaze to his feet. His weakness gave me courage.
“I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. He looked at me somberly. “At a weak moment, I needed a friend.”
He was being honest. As the kindness in me returned, I felt bad for Cael and wanted him to know it.
“Do you remember your mother?” I asked.
Cael nodded. “I have a few memories. Once she was chasing Sean around the clearing.” Cael pointed south. “I don’t remember which celebration it was.”
“And the others?” I asked. “What else do you remember?”
Cael shook his head and turned away. I could tell that he was fighting off tears.
“Cael?”
“That’s all I remember.”
I turned to look toward the Stone Towers, allowing him a moment of pride, and remembered a moment when I saw Maeia, Sean’s mother. She had been a beautiful faerie. Her dark curly hair and gorgeous eyes could mold a man into anything. I remembered her laughing and playing with both of her young boys. She had died when Sean was only seven, during the terrible winter that that took many of our villagers. That was when Nia’s mother had also passed. I had been too young to understand it completely, but remembered the sadness in my parent’s eyes. The memory of those dark days washed over me, and I suddenly knew that I could not lose Sean without trying everything in my power to get him back.
I took a deep breath. “I’ll get them,” I said, my voice quivering. “I’ll get the scrolls.”
Cael placed a hand on my shoulder. “Are you certain?”
I nodded and turned. “Yes. I’ll do anything to save Sean.”
Cael smiled and looked like he wanted to embrace me, but I stepped back and wiped my eyes. He glanced over my shoulder. “Your sister is coming,” he said, with a quiet voice, “and there is someone with her.”
I turned. Leila and Michael Dunn were walking casually toward us. Leila saw me and waved her arm.
“Rhiannon!” she said, calling out to me. “Father wants to leave.”
I turned back to Cael, panicked. There was more to discuss. “I know where they are, but I can’t take the scrolls,” I said. “I need a key to get to them.”
“Okay,” he said. “Where is the key?”
I turned back; Leila and Michael were almost at us. “It’s a crystal,” I said quickly. “Gaelle has it.”
“Will she give it to you?”
I shook my head. “No, she’s the guardian. It’s her duty to protect it.”
Cael glanced over my shoulder. “If I get you the key, will you get me the scrolls?”
“Rhiannon, hurry up.” Leila yelled to me. “We’re leaving.”
“I have to go,” I said, whispering to Cael.
He reached out and touched my arm. “Will you meet me tomorrow afternoon?” he said. His eyes pleaded with desperation. “We will work out the details, then. I’d like to visit you again.”
While I stared back at him, unsure how to answer, Leila pulled on my sleeve. “Could you hear me?” she asked.
My heart pounded in my ears and my face was hot like fire. “Yes, I heard you,” I said, turning to look. I couldn’t breathe. “I’ll only be a moment longer.”
“Wow,” said Leila, staring at Cael behind me. “Your cut was dreadful.”
As she reached a hand out to touch his face, I pulled her away.
“Rhiannon!” Leila wrestled free.
“That’s rude,” I said, reached back for her sleeve. “I thought we needed to leave.”
“We do,” said Leila, twisting and fighting my grip. “What’s going on? Why weren’t you by the stones?”
“Nothing is going on,” said Cael. He stepped back a few steps. “I was hoping that Rhiannon had word about my brother.”
“Oh.” Leila’s voice lowered. She turned to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay, Leila,” I said, relieved at Cael’s discretion. “Goodbye, Cael.” I waved in his direction, but he was already hidden by the darkness. I followed Leila to the north entrance of the meadow where Father and Mother stood waiting. I tried to act as if nothing had happened, but knew that from this moment on, nothing would ever be the same.
The Other Side of Goodness
My stomach twisted with malaise and anticipation while I worked the following morning. I had started early, and had loaded the troughs prior to the sun’s complete arrival to the day. The air was chilly, although not as cold as it had been. The season’s grip on our little village was weakening; I could feel it. I hummed soft songs and whistled in an attempt to keep my mind from thinking, but somehow, memories from the night before drifted inside.
I had missed Nia’s Promise Ceremony.
Curiosity tugged at my thoughts.
What was her asking gift? Did Thomas require anything?
During the rush to leave, I hadn’t seen either of them following the ceremony, and the thought of revealing the reason for my absence to my best friend was terrifying.
My mind repeated the meeting with Cael. Every word, every image flashed through my memories. I pulled at the sleeves of my work dress and shifted from the fit. It felt uncomfortable. The other side of goodness was an unfamiliar sensation. I didn’t feel guilty for promising to help Cael, for the alternative was unbearable, but something inside twisted my breath. I tried humming again, but my mouth went dry, leaving me alone with the horses and my thoughts.
“What’s going to happen?” I asked Maeia, as she ate heartily from the trough.
She didn’t look up. I brushed a dry leaf from her mane and rubbed one of her ears. She made a sound of acceptance and lifted her head. I didn’t know what to say, or what to do. My stomach continued its grasp on my peace. I patted her softly on the neck and went back to the house for a warm meal and some human company.
“Good morning,” said Mother, as I walked through the door. She stood near the fireplace with a black kettle in her hand. She watched me enter and lowered the pot onto the hook above the tiny flames.
“Is Father awake?” I asked, seeking mindless patter to distract my thinking.
“Of course, I am.” Father thundered into the room from the hall and placed a large hand on my shoulder. “What do you want?”
I smiled. “Nothing in particular. Did you enjoy the celebration?”
Unless drinking was involved, Father tried to avoid gatherings with the village; he had always said they were a waste of good light. I was hoping for an announced annoyance with the celebration.
My plan worked.
Father snorted and ranted an unhappy excuse for missing his peaceful evening. His grumbling dominated the room and carried us through the morning meal. Leila had tried to interrupt him on several occasions, with snippets about the Dunn boy and the cute things he did or said, but Father wasn’t listening. I smiled at the distraction, and my anxiety rose like thin trails of smoke into the rafters.
After the meal, Father marched Ethan outside, leaving the women alone to gossip in the kitchen.
“Did you notice Michael?” said Leila, looking as if her face was about to burst. “He was wearing a new tunic. He said his mother made it for him.”
“Yes, dear,” said Mother, diplomatically. She placed a stack of plates on the counter and turned to me. “Why did you miss the ceremony?”
My stomach resumed its grip. I dropped the forks in my hand; they clattered onto the floor. “Sorry,” I said, stooping down to collect them. “I was there, Mother.”
Leila glanced at me and then scrambled to the dining room, before disappearing down the hall. Mother watched her leave and turned to face me.
“You should have been in the front, watching and supporting your friend,” said Mother. She took the forks from my hand and placed them on the counter. “When we arrived, you weren’t there. I was worried.”
“I’m sorry, Mother,” I said, shaken by her sudden reprimand. The pain in my stomach wrenched into sharp stabs. “When the gathering began,” I continued, “I was shuffled to the back. There were so many people that I couldn’t get to the stones.” I took a deep breath and wiped sweat from my forehead with my apron.
Mother nodded. “Nia invited a lot of guests. It seemed like the entire village had come.”
“Yes, it did.” I smiled nervously.
Chores were pulling me toward the dining room table, but I didn’t dare step away, fearing another scolding.
“Did you visit with Nia?” Mother asked.
The room was getting warmer.
“Yes,” I answered, “for a moment. Everyone wanted her attention.” I fidgeted with my hands before courage found me an escape. “I wanted to visit her this afternoon.”
Mother hustled to the dining room table and grabbed the goblets, piling them in her arms. “Is that why you woke early?” she asked.
“Yes,” I lied, turning back toward the kitchen. I was afraid to allow Mother to see my face.
“It should be a pleasant day for a ride.” She placed the goblets onto the counter; their heavy metal clanked noisily as they struck the stone, making me jump. Mother put a hand on my shoulder. “Did Cael have any word from his father?” she asked.