The glow of Morrigan's staff cast deep shadows across her face as she towered over Finn at the Academy's entrance. She had intercepted him the moment he had returned from the forest, her cloak billowing though neither wind nor breeze stirred the air.

  "Explain yourself, Madden," she demanded, her voice like steel on stone. "The procession is sacred. My orders were clear. Yet you chose to pursue Blackthorn into the forest on Samhain Eve of all nights?"

  Finn stood, head bowed, the Far Darrig's gift heavy in his pocket. He was exhausted from running through the woods for what had felt like hours, but Morrigan's fury was a storm he couldn't escape.

  "I...I thought I could help him," Finn stammered, the words sounding feeble even to his own ears. "He was following something that wasn't his brother - "

  "You've been at the Grove for a mere month," Morrigan cut him off, her staff striking the ground for emphasis. "You don't have the faintest idea what stalks these woods tonight. No idea of the dangers beyond our boundaries when the veil thins."

  She leaned closer, her eyes glowing. "Do you imagine yourself special, Finn Madden? Above the rules that keep everyone else safe?"

  "No, Warden. I'm sorry, I just—"

  "You just risked your life and potentially Blackthorn's as well." Her voice dropped to a whisper that was louder than any scream. "Three years ago, we lost Lachlan Blackthorn to the forest on Samhain. Would you have us add your name to that list? Or perhaps you'd prefer Bran join his brother?"

  Guilt twisted in Finn's guts. She'd club me to mash with that staff if she could. Great idea running after that gobshite.

  "Where is Blackthorn now?" Morrigan demanded.

  "He went another way when we reached the Academy," Finn replied. "He was upset."

  Morrigan straightened. "Twenty demerits, Madden. And you'll assist Professor Hutchins in the greenhouses and orchards every morning for the next month before your regular classes." She tapped her staff once more against the stone. "Also, you are restricted to Academy grounds until Winter Solstice. No excursions, supervised or otherwise."

  He had no choice but to nod in acceptance. He'd known there would be consequences, and in all honesty, playing around with Hutchins' plants didn't seem too bad a deal. In fact, Morrigan's words had stung more than any punishment could have.

  "As for tonight," Morrigan continued, "you will return to your chamber and remain there until dawn. The Samhain festivities are no longer open to you." She studied him for a long moment. "You have potential, but without discipline, your gifts will destroy you before they save anyone else."

  With a final swirl of green and gold, she turned and strode away, leaving Finn alone.

  The Academy corridors were quiet as Finn made his way back to the dormitories. Most students were in Dagda hall, enjoying the Samhain Eve feast or preparing for the midnight ceremonies. Twice, he almost ran into a wall rounding a corner, distracted by the questions swirling through his mind. The Cauldron in his dreams, Rowan Madden's name on the parchment, the strange reaction of the Need-fire to his Aether signature, and now the fairy's pendant that somehow resonated with his very being - all fragments without a frame to hold them. Just weeks ago, the most exciting things in his life had been Liam catching a cold and dreaming of exploring the world with Ollie. Now this. It felt like living a fever dream, but more confusing, more surreal.

  "You've had quite an evening, young Madden," came a voice from around the corner. Finn's heart skipped a beat, then calmed when Professor Myrddin stepped into view.

  "Professor," Finn said, his hand moving instinctively to his pocket. "I was hoping to find you, actually."

  "And I you," Myrddin replied, glancing around the corridor. "I've heard about your... adventure. The Warden has quite the gift for colorful language when sufficiently provoked."

  Finn winced. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

  "Few ever do," Myrddin said, adjusting his wooden-framed glasses. "Yet trouble seems drawn to certain individuals regardless of their intentions." He studied Finn, as if perusing a paragraph in one of his books. "You encountered something - someone - in the forest. The Aether around you is...disturbed."

  Finn hesitated, then nodded. "A fairy. Looked more like a Leprechaun. He called himself the Far Darrig."

  Myrddin's eyebrows rose. "The Red Man? On Samhain Eve?" He seemed to be speaking more to himself than to Finn. "The old powers stir indeed." His focus returned to Finn. "What did he ask of you?"

  "He challenged us - Bran and myself - to a game. A test rather."

  "And, did you pass?"

  "Yes."

  Myrddin nodded slowly. "The Fair Folk rarely test mortals without purpose, and they never give without taking." His gaze sharpened. "Did he offer you anything?"

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The pendant pulsed against his leg. Had it just started, or had it been pulsing all along? Finn couldn't explain his reluctance to share its existence - not with Myrddin, not with anyone - but instinct told him to keep it hidden. He might take it if I show him.

  "Just safe passage back to the Academy," Finn said, the lie bitter on his tongue.

  A shrewd smile hushed across Myrddin's face. "We should speak further, but not tonight. The walls have eyes and ears, especially during Samhain." He glanced down the dimly lit corridors, where lanterns cast dancing shadows across the walls and ceiling. "Tomorrow morning, before breakfast. Meet me in the Archives." With that remark, he stepped past Finn, his slate-grey cloak melting into the shadows.

  Finn found Sophie and Kai waiting in their chamber. The hearth fire crackled, recently stoked, casting dancing shadows across the walls.

  "There you are!" Sophie cried out, her braided hair now adorned with dried flowers and berries for the festival. "We searched the entire Academy after returning from the procession. Morrigan looked like she'd unleash a storm wraith or two!"

  Kai sat cross-legged on his bed, a leather-bound journal open on his lap. "Did she find you? "We saw her rush out of the Grand Hall about an hour ago."

  "Yeah, she found me," Finn sighed. "Twenty demerits and greenhouse duty for a month. Plus I'm banned from any excursions until Winter Solstice."

  Sophie grimaced. "That's harsh. But fair, I guess? Considering it's Samhain..."

  "What happened out there?" Kai asked as he closed his journal. "There are at least ten different rumors going around, one involving a giant spider."

  Finn slipped out of his boots, dropped his cloak, and collapsed onto his bed. "I followed Bran," he started, taking a deep breath. "He saw something during the procession, thought it was his brother, and went after it."

  Sophie sat down at the foot of Finn's bed. "Bran's been obsessed with finding his brother. I guess it was only a matter of time before something exploited that." She tilted her head and fixed Finn with a curious look. "But why did you follow him? You two aren't exactly friends."

  Finn stared into the hearth, searching for the right words. "I don't know. Impulse, I reckon?... I guess because I know what it's like to chase after something that's not real. To want answers so badly you'd follow them anywhere." And maybe a little bit of proving that I'm not weak.

  Finn went on to describe the confrontation with Bran, the appearance of the Far Darrig, and the challenge they'd faced. Again, he felt an inexplicable reluctance to mention the pendant - a small voice in his head telling him not to speak about it, to not show it, a voice he felt he could easily quiet but that he nonetheless chose to obey.

  "Sounds like the Far Darrig tested you both," Kai said, kneading his fingers. "That has to mean something. The fae don't often take interest in our affairs. Reminds me of the Tengu that live in the mountains and forests of Japan. You know what those are?" He reached for a book under his desk, opened it, and browsed through a few pages before holding it up and pointing at an illustration of a red-faced creature with a Pinocchio-like nose.

  "Bird-like spirits, incredibly proud and powerful, and masters of wind and storm. Some of them are said to be thousands of years old. They've watched over Japan's mountains and forests for centuries and are said to have prevented disasters tied to mining and logging. They appear to workers and challenge them, promising them revelation if they win or...well, the Tengu are known for rather harsh lessons."

  "Okay, but what does that have to do with the Far Darrig other than scaring the living hell out of people with obscure challenges?" Sophie asked.

  "Ancient spirits don't waste their time on trivial matters," Kai replied. "If the Far Darrig took interest in you, it might suggest you're going to be involved in something that affects more than just yourself." He glanced at Finn.

  "Fair enough, but that still doesn't tell me anything about me," Finn said. Exhaustion and hunger were slowly tipping into frustration. "Or the Cauldron from my dreams. Or the color of my Aether. Or about someone with my surname on a piece of parchment in my Ancestor lantern. I mean, what is all of this about?"

  Sophie and Kai exchanged glances.

  "Well, we've been trying to piece things together too," Sophie said. "About you and that Cauldron you keep dreaming about." She looked to Kai, who nodded encouragingly. "And we think it's quite possible that your Cauldron may not just be any old artifact—but the Cauldron of Rebirth, one of the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann, brought from the four cities of the North when the Celtic gods came to Eire."