One is Come (Five in Circle) by C. H. MacLean

a feeling you’ll go,” he said.
    “Huh?” Haylwen’s control slipped a little. “How do you know I will be able to get away? How do you even know I want to meet your friend?”
    He looked at her, and their eyes locked for a moment. The anger melted, and Haylwen felt like she was floating. “Because I know you, that’s why,” he whispered.
    Later, playing the scene again in her mind, Haylwen thought that answer made absolutely no sense. At the time, she just nodded. Just after Rivenwake smiled in response, she heard her brother’s voice behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she saw him on the top of the ravine.
    “Hayl? Oh my god, what are you doing? I thought I was crazy, hearing your voice, but no, it’s you who’s crazy. Did you fall? Are you Ok? Who are you talking to?” he asked.
    Haylwen turned to point at Rivenwake, to see only a green frog barely covered in the shallow water. Cadarn peered down the slope, and seeing the frog, shook his head. “You’ve really lost it now. Good thing I decided to take this shortcut home. Come on, you’re a mess. I’ll help you back up, and you can tell me what happened.”
    He slid down to her, took her backpack, and helped her up the steep slope. He shook his head at her, but Haylwen didn’t notice. She looked past him to catch a glimpse of the frog, still sitting there, and could have sworn it winked at her. She never saw the sad expression settle on its face before it slid into the water and disappeared.

Chapter 10
    Resignation
    “Stephan!” The voice thundered, despite not being louder than conversational. Stephan found himself on his knees again, praying for himself. It was Sunday, after all. He was in his office, shades drawn and only one dim light on, catching up on his work. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, and only after being on his knees for several pounding heartbeats did Mr. Johansen realize it was just the speaker phone. Ignore the fact that it didn’t ring, and he didn’t pick it up. It was just the phone.
    “Yes, my liege!” he replied automatically, his thoughts racing. What have I done? I haven’t done anything! Was I supposed to? Maybe I was going to be commended for working on Sunday?
    “Report on the Rightad boy,” the voice inquired casually.
    Mr. Johansen swallowed so strongly his feathered hair swooped around his eyes. He carefully smoothed it back into place. “All orders executed, sir. His teachers have all been instructed, with severe censure if they so much as...”
    He was cut off. “And how is he doing, with this special attention?” The voice was a glacier, cold and undeniable.
    “Uh, he, um, there have been no complaints.” Ice and fire exploded in his guts, and a cold sweat trickled out down Stephan’s spine.
    “And the girl, she has successfully reintegrated after her suspension?” The voice paused, but just long enough for Stephan to realize it had been stringing him along the whole time. “But you haven’t checked, have you?”
    Stephan’s mouth was too dry to do more than start to stammer. Excuses, even legitimate ones that had him working again on Sunday, would only make things worse.
    “The fact is that they have moved.” The last word was an iceberg dropped into Stephan’s bay. “Capricious, but what did I expect. You will go and find them, and not let them out of your sight until I tell you.”
    Stephan felt a moment of relief, then utter panic. “Find them? Of course, I will make immediate inquiries, discretely, of course...”
    “You will go personally and immediately. They should be easy to find. The girl has a powerful magic item on her.”
    Who would give that horrible child such an item? What item? It must be tremendous if He wants to get his hands on it! But to leave! Despite the risks, and knowing the outcome, Stephan still tried to deflect the glacier. He stood. “Certainly! I can take a short leave, find them and report, and not get too far behind on my important work here. The