The fairies hovered around the edge of the clearing, flitting between the trees and tittering about something or other as they watched us. To keep them from catching on to our side of the game, I started telling this grand story of epic heroism, pretending to be speaking to the magicked humans who were still mostly under the influence of the bell.

  I could feel the fairies watching me as I walked, pulling the focus away from Maguire. As I drew closer to the side of the circle they started to gather near, finally deciding to make themselves known.

  “Oh, hello there!” I exclaimed in exaggerated surprise. “Whoever are you?”

  “We are who we are,” they chittered in response, “who are you?”

  “Well, I am who I am and my name is my own,” I responded carefully.

  This got them laughing, though I got the vague sense that some of them were a little miffed at not getting my name. I felt a little miffed at how stupid they expected me to be, but I figured it’d be best to use that to my advantage.

  “Do you want to play a game?” a fairy asked.

  “What game are you playing?”

  “Oh, it’s the best game ever. We play it every year and it is great fun. It's a game of changing and shifting and twisting, a game where we find the things that cannot be found and hunt down the things that are different. It goes by many names and happens in many places and above all, it has a price that must be paid in order to play and you can’t get out of paying even if you don’t know you are playing.”

  “And what sort of price do you have to pay?”

  “You pay with your name, of course. Everyone has to play the fool at least once, otherwise the game wouldn’t be any fun.”

  “And how exactly is the game played?”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “You can only know the rules when you pay the price. It’s really fun so if you give us your name, you can play with us.”

  I pretended to ponder the offer, fiddling with the ring on my finger to create a small, glittering display to buy myself a second to glance at Maguire. There were too many eyes, though, and a few of the fairies caught the look.

  “Your friend can join too, if he gives us his name,” they said, turning their attention to Maguire. “What’s your name?”

  Their words carried a level of weight to them that, combined with the sudden shifting of their attention, nearly forced the words from Maguires mouth before he could catch himself.

  “My name is…” he paused, fighting the impulse to finish the sentence the way they wanted him too, “not something I feel like sharing, and I am not in the mood for games.”

  I let out a slow breath, thankful he defaulted to responding with a full sentence instead of just handing over his name. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar shadow darting between the trees. The basket containing the stones sat on one of the tables near the edge of the circle. I gestured for Maguire to join me, and he did.

  “This game doesn't happen every day,” the fairies said. “Are you sure you don't want to play?”

  Their playful glamor was starting to drop and their numbers dwindled as those at the edges grew bored. I just needed to get the stones away from the family before the fairies caught on, and the easiest way to do so would be to break the circle.

  I didn't really want to do that, but as I mentally shuffled through my options, I could see no other way. I kept fiddling with my ring.

  “I am afraid we must refrain, this is a day where we must abstain. I do hope you enjoy your game all the same,” I said, looping my arm through Maguire's. He went along as I strolled forward with purpose, stepping directly on the circle, removing a small portion of it.

  Several things happened at once.

  The fairies lunged forward, eager to ensnare us in their game.

  The shadow darted out, a feline form leaping over the circle to grab the basket containing the stones before disappearing back into the trees.

  I held up my hand, displaying my ring to distract the fairies nearest to me before they could crash into my face.

  “You will find no one here who wants to play your game, and I suggest you leave before the other humans catch on to your presence here. I don't think you want that kind of attention,” I said firmly, removing my foot from the circle, restoring its protection. A few of the fairies hissed in frustration, but they knew I had them beat. I wouldn't be living this down anytime soon, but it could have been much worse.

  We hadn't been caught up in their game, and that counted as a win in my book.