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

School Board counts on me, you know.”
    The glacier ground on, uncaring. “Leave, yes. But you will not return. With your connections, I am sure you can find a job at one of the schools there. They are always looking for good janitorial staff. You will need a cover, anyway. Here is what you must do when you find them.”
    As Stephen listened to the King's plan, part of his brain was screaming in denial. Once finished, he tried again. “But the Board meetings...” His eyes involuntarily flitted to his computer monitor as the windows changed. He watched as his email opened, and a message popped up.
    “The school Board has accepted your resignation,” the voice said. “I trust you can get your things packed up tonight.”
    Stephan barely registered it, still staring at his computer. He edged a bit back from it, looked around with wild eyes, and bowed to the phone. “Of course, my king. Tonight. I shall start immediately. It will take some time, clearing out my computer files, copying email, it will take a good amount of time. I can do tonight, but perhaps next week would be more prudent?”
    There was no response. He looked at the phone but it had hung up by itself. He crumpled into his chair, and spent ten bone-chilling minutes looking through his computer files, sent email, archived folders, and secret hidden folders to which only he had access. There was nothing. They had all been wiped, as if they didn't exist. He opened his file cabinet. His files were gone. The pile of administrative memos he was saving to sign had vanished while he was looking through the computer. Stephan looked around again, and shivered uncontrollably. It was as if he had never been here, had never lived!
    His eyes landed on the wall. He jumped up, grabbed his framed credentials off the wall and peered at them closely. Intact! All of this nasty work was for a good cause, just like his education. He hugged the two frames, grabbed whatever else could fit in his pockets and ran out. The bright sunshine was blinding. He was starting his car when he remembered he forgot to lock the office door. The thought did not affect his slamming his foot on the gas to speed out of the parking lot.

Chapter 11
    Ring of Fire
    “Stupid rock.” Haylwen kicked at the stone that had tripped her. It didn't budge, and she hurt her toe. She limped for a few steps, but limping was more bothersome, so she quickly gave up on it. The trail was too narrow and too rocky. She almost tripped again. She didn't try to kick that rock, but glared at it for a moment. It would have to do.
    She had been trudging for a while, and the top was only marginally closer. It had looked like an easy, short walk from where she started. The granola bar was long gone and she was saving the last of her water for when she got to the top, or decided to go home. After getting a few scratches from a few of the sharp bushes along the path, she was starting to entertain thoughts of quitting. Stupid bushes and stupid rocks, nothing else up here . She knew her frustration was mostly a cover for lack of sleep and anxiety over meeting Rivenwake again, not that it helped her be less angry. While she thought about turning around, she knew she never would.
    A crow, or maybe a raven, it seemed rather big, had been following her up the hill for a while now. Every once in a while, it would make a sound that reminded her a little of laughing, like an old person’s chuckle. It had gotten closer and closer since she threw it a little piece of granola bar at it. She supposed the bird could just be asking for more granola bar.
    After a bit more hiking, the trail mixed in some short trees, gnarled, and stunted. Scrub oak, that’s what they were called . They gave the trail some shade, but had Haylwen think someone was watching her, hiding behind the trees. She picked up the pace and time flew. She came out of a stretch of trail that had made a little tunnel going between two larger scrub oaks. There was a flat area