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Chapter Six

C inaed:

T he neolithic stones loomed against the pre-dawn sky, their weathered surfaces painted in shades of violet and deep blue. I was struck by how old the place felt, which shouldn’t have surprised me given they were put there five thousand years ago. Still, even for a phoenix, this place was ancient.

Bart was the first into the circle, followed closely by his brother Leo.

They were a pair. The serious older brother who suppressed his playful side to tackle the world’s problems, and the more carefree younger one who tried to hide the exceptional mind behind humor.

Even Roderick couldn’t explain why they chose to conceal parts of themselves.

“This is astounding,” Bart said, his purple stone glowing as he traced detection spells through the air. “An extraordinary amount of magic has been cast inside this stone circle. The echoes still reside in the stones.”

“Careful,” Leo said as we moved closer. “He’s half a step from geeking out on us.”

I probably should’ve laughed, but I was focused on what Bart had discovered. Placing my hand on one of the megaliths, the stone pulsed under my palm, thrumming with dormant power. “They don’t just remember, they’re preserving something.”

Cael joined his mate, placing a hand over Bart’s. He’d shifted to his elven form to enhance his earth magic. “There are spells woven into the stones. They’re old and powerful, but entwined closely with the Earth.”

“Someone is watching us.” Gundhram moved closer to me and Leo.

Father had contacted someone he said might be helpful, but I forgot to tell the others. “It is probably my father’s friend.”

“I’d nae presume to call myself his friend,” a voice said from below the hill. “But I am here because Prince Malachy asked me to come.”

The phoenix who walked up the hill was older than any I’d seen before. Far older than my grandfather. He carried his age like a well-loved cloak.

“I am Aonghas.” His amber eyes fixed on me. “Yer father thought I might know somethin about this place, young Prince FionnLaoch. I know many things, so it might be best to ask me what you want to know.”

“ D o you know who placed the magic in these stones?” Bart asked.

“Nae, laddie.” He rested his hand on the side of a towering stone. “They were old before I was born.”

It was hard to determine the level of Aonghas’s willingness to provide information. He said he’d come to help, but it was clear he’d only give us information if we asked the right questions. “What were they used for?”

“That’s a popular question.” The expression on Aonghas’ weathered features shifted.

“I’m not sure who built them or why, but druids still roamed these isles when I was a child.

They used the Ring of Brodgar to banish demons.

They also used the Stones of Stenness, but it’s much smaller and not as powerful. ”

In coming here, we all half expected Aonghas’s answer, but hearing the words was still shocking. “Are you sure?” I asked.

“I’d nae hae said it if I weren’t.” He removed his hand from the stone and moved toward the center.

“The rings are older than written history, but I’ve watched over them for close to twenty-eight centuries.

Before Katarina and Adelais created the Great Ward, these stones and others around the world kept us safe.

And if demons managed to come for us, the druids used these circles to send them back. ”

“Excuse me?” Leo said, pulling his wool peacoat tighter around his body. “You said it was a popular question. Has someone else asked about it recently?”

“Aye.” Aonghas spat toward an open space. “Trio of mages came asking questions, here and at Stenness. The locals sent them to me, but I turned them away. Didn’t like their aura.”

My fear was visible on everyone else’s face. “Can you describe them?”

“I ain’t much good with words, but I can show you.” He pointed to me.

I knew what he was offering and it spoke of his trust in my father. This wasn’t just viewing his memories, it was experiencing them. Whatever Aonghas was feeling, I’d feel as if I were him. “You honor me.”

“It don’t take a genius to know them three had something to do with King Ailpein’s disappearance.” He held out his hand. “You bein his kin, I want to help you find him.”

Fortunately, Aonghas wouldn’t see my thoughts because I wasn’t as committed to finding my grandfather as he expected. “I need to show what I see to my friends. I won’t share more than their faces, but I need your permission first.”

“Your Highness is polite to ask, but do whatever you need to find our king.”

The four mages had their stones out, but I locked my gaze on Bart. I’d felt his mind when he spoke to Rod, and it would be easiest to link with him. “If I share with you, can you show the others?”

“Yes.”

I waited to take Aonghas’s hand until Bart extended a link. The old phoenix’s thoughts pushed into my mind. Three mages, two men and a woman, stood in front of Aonghas. The man at the back sneered when Aonghas asked who they were, why they were asking, and did they have the king’s permission.

Aonghas’s defiance felt like it was mine as I watched the three struggle to remain calm. When the woman put her hand into her coat pocket, Aonghas tensed for a fight. The man in front raised a finger and she stopped.

“We’re meeting with the king tomorrow,” he said . “We’ll ask him for permission.”

“See that you do before ye come back.”

When the three turned and left, I broke the link.

I’d done everything I could to stick to just what we needed, but I couldn’t block Aonghas’s discomfort of having me in his thoughts.

“Thank you.” I squeezed the hand I still held and then released it.

“I appreciate you allowing us to intrude on your privacy.”

“Find the king and we’ll be square, young prince.”

I wondered what he’d say if he knew how bitter and petty Grandfather had become. “We’re doing our best.”

The others in my group had moved to the far side of the circle and were huddled together in obvious conversation. When I reached them, Bart beckoned me over. “I’m guessing you recognized some of those visitors,” I said.

“All three,” Otto said. “The woman is Victoria Ashworth, deputy ambassador to the European Union. I’ll alert the Ministry.”

“The man in front was Thomas Reid,” Leo said. “Assistant deputy inquisitor general in our London office.”

“The mage in back was Thorton Beckinbaugh,” Cael said. “He’s a self-proclaimed expert in creative magic who was removed as a teacher at Utrecht High School for using magic to discipline a student. He’s a real whack job.”

The brothers were quiet, and their stones were glowing, so I assumed they were reporting the names of the traitors. I waited for them to finish before raising the question of what to do next.

“Now we know why the Ocular Society said Bart, Otto, and Leo needed to be in Scotland,” Cael said. “Unfortunately, those three probably are in hiding now.”

I understood his frustration. We were one step behind them at every turn. “Catching one of them would be helpful in finding my grandfather.”

“I wouldn’t count on them giving us useful information,” Otto said. “Blackstone has put a kill spell in the stones of other agents in case they get captured.”

My head throbbed from the intensity of sharing Aonghas’ memories, but I was also angry. These mages came into our home and took our king. The new information, however, meant our answers would be found elsewhere. “What do we do next?”

I scanned the group, but everyone had turned toward Bart. He had his stone out and was oblivious to the attention. Purple light from his gem scoured the snowy ground. He stopped moving his stone and remained stationary over a single point. “Cael? Can you come here?”

Bart only asked for his mate, but we all converged on him. Cael put his hand over Bart’s and they closed their eyes. I’d spent most of my life speaking to my family mentally, so I knew they were talking. Finally, Cael pulled his hand away.

“You’re right,” he said.

“Right about what?” Leo asked.

“Sorry,” Bart said, putting his stone away.

“There’s a lot going on here. There are burial mounds inside the circle and inside those are some powerful magical items. Which is truly fascinating and confirms our suspicions that our ancestors used other items besides gemstones to work their magic.

If we could excavate the area, the wealth of information?—”

“That’s enough, Bart,” Cael said, touching his mate’s chest. “As interested as everyone is in this academic discussion, Cinaed’s question needs an answer.”

“He asked a question?”

Cael rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. “He asked what we should do next.”

“We should go visit Percy and Gio,” Otto said. “Maybe their library has some details on what these circles were used for.”

“I could ask Syrax if there’s any information in our library,” Gund said. “Leo and I can go help him look.”

Finding an answer to the circles was important, but Leo and Gund leaving felt wrong.

We’d never picked a leader for our group, but as the prince, I had some claim to the role while we were here.

“You should send Syrax a message and let others look,” I said.

“Whatever we’re supposed to do as a group isn’t finished.

At least it doesn’t feel that way to me. We all need to go see Percy and Gio.”

“Agreed,” Thal said. “Let me tell my uncles the seven of us are coming.”

I almost cursed myself for being stupid. Had I agreed with Gund, I could’ve flown back with them and seen Rod. Unfortunately, our mission wasn’t finished. We needed a solution or else we might never complete our bond.

My gut told me we wouldn’t find it in Transylvania, but it was the right place to start.