The Enchantments: Book 2 - The Key of Gandar

Chapter 18: The Circle of Stones

Brock, Fin, and Challoch walked upon the main street of the small village on their way to the lacrosse field. Fin had never seen the game and was dying to watch the action from the sidelines when a small rusty pickup came up along side them.

"Hey, Challoch!" Yelled a grubby looking kid from the back bed of the pickup. "Saw your so called team practicing the other day. What'd ya say you give up now and we won't embarrass you bad."

The three of them looked at the kid in the back of the truck with a nothing short of contempt. "Get the heck out of here Gruday, nobody wants your kind around here" Challoch hissed.

"Did you say my kind? You idiot, you only wish you were my kind." Gruday shot back.

"If your kind stinks and plays with dolls then I'm not interested." The three of them laughed.

Gruday jumped off the back of the truck and walked menacingly towards Challoch. "You have a lot of nerve insulting us like that." He snapped.

"We're not insulting everyone associated with you... just you!" Challoch thrust a finger at Gruday pushing him back.

Gruday snapped, he rushed at Challoch with fists a flying and a rather large chip on his shoulder. But just before he reached him Brock positioned his self just in front. "You don't want to do that." He said calmly.

"Get out of the way, this doesn't concern you!" Gruday stood face to face with him.

"If it deals with my friend and their tribe, well let's just say I'm making it my business." Brock sneered.

Gruday had seen enough, he curled his fist and hit Brock just below the chin sending his head snapping back. Brock had no sooner flinched than he was back staring at Gruday with fire in his eyes. "You had your shot, now it's my turn." He growled.

A few of the other boys watching from the truck jumped out quickly and grabbed Gruday, dragging him back into the vehicle before Brock had a chance to grab the arrogant youth. "We'll see you on the lacrosse field there Challoch!" He then took a good look at Brock. "Better luck next time!" The truck skidded away down the road with the laughter of the boys disappearing as they drove on.

Brock rubbed his chin and stared at the truck skidding down the road. "Challoch, does Gruday know that I'm on the team now?"

Gruday followed the truck angrily with his eyes then looked at Brock, "No"

Brock stepped forward, a smile slowly appearing on his face. "Good, I think Gruday is going to get the surprise of his life when I get through with him."

Late evening brought a soft breeze from the mountains to the west, filling the air with the light scent of jasmine. The sounds of crickets wafted gently from all directions as a sleepy Simeneon sat on the bottom step of the cabin she was sharing with Heidi. With her eyes closed and taking in deep breaths, Simeneon listened intensely for anything out of the ordinary.

She tilted her head slightly to the right catching the sounds of the village as people prepared themselves for that night's slumber. As she turned to listen to the left a soft eerie sound crossed the field that led to the burial ground to the north. A sort of feeble cry seemed to resonate deeply in her sensitive ears.

Something echoed in her, there was something wrong. It wasn't the sound indirectly but a nervous sensation that echoed throughout her entire body. She stood and stared towards the cemetery, she didn't want to believe it but the longer she stood there the more she realized the sound had come from the hallowed grounds.