Through the Fairy Ring

Chapter Twenty-Two

Arden and I dismounted the Suntaria he'd left at the Fairy Ring near his home and walked up to the leafy wall of the labyrinth. At Arden's whistle, a rope ladder rolled out of a hole in the foliage. He grasped the ladder's side, holding it still. Because I'd had a nice nap, I wasn't feeling the lateness of the night. Arden, though, had dark circles under his eyes.

"How long have you been up?" I extinguished another blue light orb and reached to grab one of the rungs.

"Since I awoke."

I gave him a withering look he probably couldn't see. "Really?"

"Everyday."

"All right then. I won't try to show you warmth and concern." I climbed up the ladder, and once I passed through the foliage onto the platform behind it, Arden ascended. He led me across one of the four diagonal, torch-lit catwalks which extended from the corners of the labyrinth to Arden's home in the center. Although I couldn't easily see them, I was aware of the cottages, stables, fields and outbuildings below the catwalks. On the outside of the walls no one would dream a tiny, working village was safely hidden inside.

We'd gone about halfway across the catwalk when a tortured moan came from below us. The dark hid the details, but I could make out a large figure in the fields of the main grounds. I lit an orb and dropped it. The creature who attacked us earlier in the day straddled a woolly animal that resembled a llama, its mouth fastened on the neck. The llama flailed and bleated. The creature bit down harder, and the llama's neck bones snapped with terrible crack. Its head fell limp on the ground.

"No!" I stomped my feet on the catwalk and clapped my hands to drive the creature away, but then stopped. It was too late for the poor llama, but maybe if the creature's hunger was met, it wouldn't hurt anything—or anyone—else before Arden's security could find it.

Arden's face mirrored my grim thoughts. "Hurry. Get to the house." He sped across the rest of the catwalk. I jogged behind him and tried to not fall off the swaying pathway. At the spire of the house Arden shoved the door open. The guard inside jumped to his feet.

"Sir! What..."

Arden latched the door. "We need a search party. Come with me." He brushed past the guard, who motioned for me to pass, and then took up the rear.

We went down the two flights of stairs to the bottom floor, ending up in the foyer.

"Where's Jax?" Arden asked the man stationed at the front door.

"I'm here." Jax appeared in the kitchen's doorway. "What's wrong?"

"The creature I told you about is here, in the main field. We need to get some men together before it finishes eating the ovidal it killed and goes looking for more."

A determined frown creased Jax's forehead, and he looked at me. "Are you joining us?"

"No! I mean, I don't think so. I'm not, am I?" I addressed the last question to Arden. "If you want me to, I will."

"I want you to stay here." Arden motioned to the two guards in the room with us. "Come on."

He strode into the kitchen, Jax at his side, the guards taking up the rear. The bang of the door let me know they'd left the building. I knew right where I was going next—up to check on Meara and Garron.

Outside the door to the kid's room I hesitated, taking a moment to prepare myself. I tapped lightly on the wood and then realized I was being silly. It was very early morning, and the kids were held in a coma-state. I wasn't going to interrupt anyone doing anything. I twisted the doorknob and stepped inside.