Free Dance of the Stones by Andrea Spalding

stardust.
    Myrddin stamped his foot. “Oh, for my staff! I cannot abide this feeling of helplessness.”
    â€œFaith, Myrddin. We will all regain our tools and the Lady will rise again. Traa dy liooar, remember?”
    â€œYes, yes. Traa dy liooar . . . we hope!” echoed Myrddin in a voice of deep foreboding.
    *   *   *
    â€œSo!” Adam said as Owen finally woke.
    â€œSo, what?” Owen yawned sleepily.
    â€œSo, did Ava come?”
    â€œAnd how.” Owen’s face lit up. He stretched out his arms and looked at them in wonder. “She turned me into a hawk and we flew into the past.” He rolled out of bed. “Come on. Let’s wake the girls and I’ll tell you about it.”
    Adam thumped his pillow and followed, slamming the door in fury. He couldn’t believe Ava had chosen Owen over him. It wasn’t fair.
    *   *   *
    It was still well before breakfast time when the boys converged on the girls’ bedroom and Owen recounted his night’s adventure.
    Adam listened but fidgeted as frustration built inside him. This adventure was supposed to be his.
    â€œThe boar sounds awful,” said Chantel, shuddering, her eyes as big as saucers. “Were you scared?”
    â€œSort of.” Owen wrinkled his nose. “The way they killed it was gross. I thought I’d throw up when the kids started chucking its head around.”
    â€œSo Ava said we are supposed to get things and reenact some kind of ritual?” asked Adam.
    Owen nodded.
    â€œWell if that means cutting the throat of a boar, count me out!” Adam’s voice was full of disgust.
    Chantel went white. She shook her head furiously. “No . . . no, that’s not right . . . Equus and the others . . . they wouldn’t . . . ” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œShut up, Adam. You’re scaring Chantel,” Holly said.
    Owen patted Chantel’s arm. “Of course we won’t have to kill anything. That was thousands of years ago.” He turned back to Adam. “Ava was just showing me what happened when the Circle was completed. We don’t have to kill animals. I think we just need to gather some of the things they used in the ceremony.”
    â€œI don’t get it,” said Adam. “How will that help? If Ava’s circlet is buried somewhere in the center of the Circle, in another circle that’s disappeared, we still don’t know where to dig.”
    Owen looked worried. “I know.” He gestured beyond the end of the garden. “Nothing out there looks like the place I saw in my dream. Stones are missing. The village is in the middle. A road is cutting across. There’s no forest.” He spread his hands helplessly. “I don’t recognize anything.”
    â€œHold on,” said Holly. “We’re dealing with magic. We might not have to know where it’s buried. You said something about . . . gathering elements of magic . . . and . . . and using them to release the circlet.”
    Owen nodded excitedly. “You’re right. Ava said. ‘This will release my circlet.’ So maybe we don’t have to dig. Maybe, if we use the right magic, the circlet appears on its own.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “Do you think the mistletoe is an element?”
    â€œI can get you that!” Holly said. She jabbed Owen’s ribs.
    â€œYou laughed when I told you the Mother Tree had offered me mistletoe. Go on, eat your words!”
    Owen grinned. “Watch it, Clever Clogs, or your hat won’t fit.”
    â€œWhat about the fire?” asked Chantel hesitantly. “That seemed important too.”
    â€œEasy!” said Adam sarcastically. “We’ll light a big bonfire in the Circle and invite the whole village.” He smirked at Owen. “I suppose you’re going to dance round it?”
    â€œâ€˜The time is near for the Circle Dance,’”