The Endless Circle - Chapter 1: The Torc

The clearing was silent and still, the forest resting in the balmy heat of summer. The stones also rested, reclining like old men sleeping though the long afternoon; some had fallen on their sides in the grass and were half-covered by mossy blankets, while others leaned drunkenly, about to fall but never falling. All of them were chipped and worn down by the ravages of time and the elements, their rugged scars the only evidence of their antiquity.

They were arranged in two wide circles, the outer circle twelve feet tall and the inner circle half as high, twenty pillars hewn from grey marbled rock. In the middle, alone, a black stone lay, six feet long and three feet high, shining dully in the dappled shade. No-one knew who had quarried the stones and brought them here; it had been done so long ago that not even the trees remembered the hands that had wielded the tools, or the arms that had hauled on the ropes, or the sweat that had dripped from the brows of the men who consecrated the ground.

Trees grew for miles around, and brambles hemmed the clearing in on all sides. But the plants knew better than to take root on the holy ground itself. Animals did not come there. Birds did not fly over head. The place was quiet and still, with the stillness of the grave.
The brambles rustled, breaking the sacred silence. A moment later a small voice cursed under its breath. More rustling, then a boy’s head appeared at ground level and looked both ways before breaking into a grin.

“We’re here!” he whispered over his shoulder.

The Endless Circle: Prologue

"A light appeared around a corner,
wavering and flickering uncertainly."

The cellar was dark, damp, and endless. Its brickwork arches and passageways extended in a twisting maze for what seemed like miles in all directions. Somewhere in the distance water dripped, and the sound echoed hollowly through rooms filled with forgotten artefacts slowly gathering dust. Only those who knew where they were going ventured down there, and because such people were few and far between the place was usually deserted.

The darkness and silence did not scare the boy. He had been coming here for as long as he could remember, down to his sanctuary, far from the noise and bustle of the crowded halls above. It was peaceful here, peace being a rare commodity where he was from. He liked to come and just sit in some abandoned store-room, imagining himself to be somewhere else, somewhere far away where no-one knew him and no-one could reach him.

But not today. Today he was not alone. Today he was scared.

The Endless Circle: Introduction

'The Endless Circle' is the first in a series of fantasy/adventure books for readers aged 12+. It follows two brothers, Banac and Balor, whose father is kidnapped after they rescue a mysterious stranger from the hands of a sinister cult.

As they pursue their father's captors they discover more about his secret past, and find themselves caught up in events far greater than they ever could have imagined.

I am currently working on the final draft of this book, and will be posting it up chapter-by-chapter as I go.

I hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Vilu Nilenad, the home of great stories for all ages from eight years upwards. These stories are ones I have been working on for some time, and all are works-in-progress — but they have given a few people enjoyment so far, and my wish is that many more will enjoy them!

Follow the various different stories by clicking on the links at the top of the page. I will be posting more threads as time goes by.

You can receive updates via all the usual channels. Add yourself to keep up-to-date with developments.

And, most importantly, enjoy!