Shadows of the Redwood

Back in the tree house later that night, Keelie didn’t have to fight to stay awake. The coffee they’d had at the Capulet Café had taken care of that. But then she’d studied the Compendium, and now she was yawning over her cup of tea. The elves could get rich selling sample chapters of the charm book as sleep aids. But Keelie had to stay awake, in order to bring Laurie up the sap when she returned. Scott had taken her for a long walk on the road that bordered the moonlit beach.

Grandmother was missing in action as well—probably carrying on with the rowdy players. It made Keelie twitch to think about it.

Keelie glanced up at the clock. It was 1:00 in the morning. She sat up, suddenly worried. Despite their active social lives, Laurie and Grandmother shouldn’t be out this late. She glanced over at Knot, who slept on his back with his paws up in the air. His tail twitched in his sleep, and he meowed angrily. Maybe he was dreaming about catching feithid daoine. Keelie closed the Compendium. She didn’t want to read about spells and charms, although the book really had some doozies. She wanted to sneak outside and be with Sean. The memory of his kisses trailing down her neck still lingered.

On the opposite side of the room, Risa lifted her eyes and scowled. She was reading a worn, leatherbound book. It looked like one of Elianard’s lore books.

Keelie glanced toward the door.

Risa closed her book. “Don’t even think about it.”

“What?”

“It’s written all over your face. You want to go down there and snuggle up to our favorite elf guy.”

“I thought you didn’t want him anymore?”

“I love Knot, but Sean and I were meant to be together. It’s an elf thing.” Her eyes rested on the cat’s sleeping form.

“Like I’m not an elf.”

Risa rolled her eyes. “You’re half elf. I’ll give you that. But you and Sean are too different, and it won’t last. When he’s tired of you, or you get old and ugly real fast because you’re half human, then I’ll be waiting.” Risa ran a hand over her chest to emphasize her point. “I’ll still be firm while you’ll be all saggy. Patience is an elven virtue that you obviously don’t have.”

Risa had given voice to one of Keelie’s worries: would she age faster than Sean? She wasn’t going to let Risa get the best of her.

“Who knows. Maybe I won’t age at all. Then what are you going to do? Dig in your garden and talk to your plants and collect cats?”

“Collect cats? There is only one cat I want, and we both know who it is.” Risa’s face became all aglow with adoration as her gaze fell upon Knot. “You took Sean from me, so I’ll take Knot from you.”

Knot yawned and stretched his paws, sinking his claws into Keelie’s thighs.

Risa sighed and her eyes misted over. “Isn’t he an amazing specimen of feline elegance? Angeliello, the famous elven sculptor, couldn’t have captured Knot’s grace and beauty in marble. I don’t think any artist would be able to do justice to Knot.”

Keelie wrinkled her nose at Risa’s obsession over Knot. “What did you put in that love potion?”

Risa eased back in her chair and arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because you need to find an antidote, and you need to find it real fast.”

Risa picked at the dress material on her knee. “There is no antidote. I’ve been searching for one.”

“What? You were going to give Sean a potion without an antidote? That’s cruel and stupid. Not to mention selfish.”

Risa lifted her head, her green eyes bright with tears. She rose and walked over to the fireplace. “I didn’t give it to him, so it all worked out in the end. I’m the one being punished. It is my heart that is breaking. My love for Knot will forever be unrequited and I will have to endure my days upon this earth alone, knowing he is with you.”

Knot sat up, twisted, and began washing his butt. Risa looked over and placed her fist in her mouth to stop her cry.

The doorknob turned. Keelie’s heart raced as Grandmother stepped in. She had bright rosy cheeks and her eyes were glowing a deep green. “Why are the jousters camped at the base of the tree?”

“Sean thought I needed extra protection. There was something following us in the woods earlier tonight.” Keelie spoke impatiently, anxious to find out if Grandmother had noticed anything off about the redwood elves.

“You should not be alone in these woods. We have already seen what great danger there is here.”

Keelie lowered her head and sighed. “I’m never alone in the woods.” She looked toward Knot.

Grandmother shook her head. “I’m glad Sean was with you.”

Keelie was glad of that, too. “You know, we saw Peascod walking with Tavyn.”

“There is no law governing walks in the woods,” Grandmother said. “But that is indeed a curious thing. Peascod is a player, not an elf. What was he doing in the forest?”

Risa wrinkled her nose. “Peascod never changes his costume.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Keelie parked her hands on her hips. “I’m trying to tell Grandmother something serious and you’re going on about fashion. It’s not like jesters have a lot of choice.”

“I mean, he never changes. Have you smelled him?”

Keelie shuddered, remembering her first job at the Wildewood Faire, when she’d worn a smelly purple dragon suit. Even thinking about it brought the stench back. “I could have gone the rest of my life not knowing that.”

Risa sat up. “Did you hear that? Knot needs me.” She went to the door and looked out. “I’ll be right back.”

Grandmother sighed, but the corners of her lips were raised in a little smile. “Keelie, you’ll soon have some help looking for Viran. Bloodroot has volunteered to help you.”

“Bloodroot the tree? Did they pin your wig on too tight?” Even his name sounded sinister. “I can do it with Knot and Sean.”

“But my dear, Bloodroot knows this forest as you do not.”

Kalix and Sariela glided into the room. Kalix lifted his haughty face. “Your grandmother is right. You need to listen to her.”

Sariela sat down in a chair by Keelie and stared pensively toward the doorway.

Grandmother was oblivious to Keelie’s bemusement. “He seems to have many interests and talents. It’s amazing what the Ancients can do.”

Kalix nodded. “Your grandmother is right. You will benefit from the benevolent wisdom of Bloodroot.”

Benevolent? More like malevolent. Was something wrong with Grandmother? Suddenly she seemed to trust the trees. Something wasn’t right. Keelie needed to talk to Dad.

The room suddenly shook strongly, causing the dishes to rattle in the cupboards. “Earthquake. Minor one,” Keelie said. There wasn’t much point standing in the doorway. They were in a tree, for Pete’s sake.

“I suppose they have more temblors than we do farther north,” Grandmother mused. The doorknob turned and Grandmother smiled as the door opened. “Ah, there you are. We were just talking about you.”

Tavyn stood in the open doorway. Keelie bit her lip. Tavyn came closer and Keelie backed away, staring. His skin had a reddish cast, as if he were sunburned, but too much sun didn’t explain why the whites of his eyes were deep green and there was a loamy scent about him, very much like the redwoods.

The answer hit her as he turned to her with a ravenous stare. Her hands clenched.

“Good evening, Keelie.” His voice sounded like scraping branches. Bloodroot looked out at her through the ranger’s eyes.





Keelie stared at the tree spirit–infested ranger. “This is wrong. You aren’t supposed to do this. Grandmother, tell him this is wrong.” She glared at Tavyn. Or was it Bloodroot? “How can you let him possess you like that?” It chilled Keelie to the core of her very soul.

Bloodroot stared at her through irises slitted like a cat’s. But it was the young elf ranger’s voice that now answered her. “It’s okay, Keelie. The Ancients want to help us.”

Keelie turned to Kalix. “You approve of this.”

He looked regal and self-assured—there was no question where his loyalties lay. “We live in harmony with the trees. If Bloodroot deems it necessary, then we are honored to do as he asks. Tavyn has been chosen to be a vessel, one who carries the spirit of the trees, so that they can walk among humans. If Norzan would see the wisdom of our ways, then he wouldn’t be having problems in the Northwoods.”

Turning to Grandmother for support, Keelie noticed that her face was pale with fatigue. She didn’t say anything, just sat there as if overwhelmed by what was happening.

Keelie looked at Sariela, but the elven woman seemed defeated. Her shoulders sagged. “My son has chosen his path with the Ancients.” Sariela bowed her head and stared down at the floor.

Keelie still couldn’t understand why Tavyn would allow Bloodroot to possess him. Or why Kalix approved of it. Trees as powerful as the Ancients could override an elf’s free will, even in the case of someone as strong as Grandmother. Keelie didn’t stand a chance, and it scared her to think of being taken over, as Bella Matera had done to the actors at the Globe.

Tavyn-Bloodroot regarded her with a critical eye, like a scientist studying his lab rats in anticipation of what their reaction will be to the next stimulus. He seemed to be contemplating his next move. Then he spoke, deep and hypnotic, his alien eyes sparked with confidence. “Come, Keelie. You know that we need you.”

Keelie’s heart banged against her ribs. She wanted to go to him. His voice was working on her, eroding her self-control. Keelie took a deep breath, then pulled on a thread of Earth magic. It gave her a moment to think, and she remembered the calm charm. She said the magic words and her shields snapped into place.

“I don’t trust you,” she said to Tavyn-Bloodroot. “The redwood elves follow you like some cult leader, doing as you say and not asking questions.”

She looked at Grandmother, expecting a reaction, but Grandmother was just staring at Bloodroot as if he were an interesting creature.

There was a flicker of anger in Bloodroot’s eyes. He must be used to having everyone do as he ordered, but he quickly plastered his charming smile on again, as if he were talking to an intelligent but naughty child. “In your human cultures, you have societies that do things differently from one another. The Dread Forest way does not follow the Redwood Forest way, nor should it. We simply are different, and that makes you uncomfortable. That is why your Grandmother thought it best to send Norzan back to his forest, when we could have healed him here,” he added.

“I agreed that it was best to send him back to the Northwoods,” Keelie said. “The home forest is the best place for an injured elf.”

Bloodroot nodded. “That is what you think, Keliel. But how do you know he wouldn’t have healed if he had stayed in the redwoods? You must open your mind to new things. Our way of life with our elves is symbiotic.”

“I am open-minded, but I question your concept of living in a symbiotic relationship.” She couldn’t help but stare at Tavyn, whose eyes seem to drink her in like a double latte of tree shepherd. She turned to her grandmother. “Does Dad know about this symbiotic lifestyle between the redwood elves and the trees?”

“I don’t know.” Grandmother stared blankly at Keelie. Something wasn’t right with her.

To Keelie’s relief, Sean came through the door. “I thought I saw someone walk in. Is everything okay?” He didn’t seem pleased to see Tavyn’s new look. Knot sat at Sean’s feet, his tail twitching angrily.

Tavyn-Bloodroot stared back at Sean, and the possessed ranger breathed in deeply. His voice, still a mingle of woodsy tones and human language, came out in a rough growl. “Elf. You are strong.” Bloodroot’s eyes turned black, glowing like onyx with flashes of green fir.

“Thanks for waiting for me, you two.” Risa’s whine warbled in from the walkway outside. “If that had been Keelie, you would’ve waited for her.” She came in, but stopped suddenly when she noticed Tavyn’s changed appearance. “I have a salve for that.”

Tavyn-Bloodroot’s lecherous gaze fell upon Risa. “I’ve been observing you.” He walked over to her and kissed her hand like they did in the old movies. He lifted his head and studied Risa like an artist. “You are a beauty.”

She seemed confused, yet flattered. She let him hold her hand a moment longer, then withdrew it from his grasp.

Keelie noticed that Tavyn’s nails were green. There was a lot of chlorophyll pumping through his body. Just a little made her sick. How was Tavyn staying alive? He must be drinking giant pots of coffee, the surefire cure for chlorophyll poisoning.

Tavyn-Bloodroot bowed to Risa, then to Keelie. “Until our next meeting, Lady Keliel. I hope you will expand your mind and consider all that I’ve said.”

“I don’t think I’ll change my mind,” she said, but she extended her hand to him and held his gaze as they shook.

He walked out the door, and moments later, Keelie felt a strong wave of green energy. Tavyn’s body was traveling the sap with Bloodroot on board, and Wena’s trunk vibrated as the Ancient’s spirit rode her sap.

Kalix bowed to his guests. “I must bid you good night. My lady wife is unwell, and I must see that she rests.” Kalix extended a hand toward Sariela, and she stood. She pushed past him and exited, leaving him to follow.

Keelie bowed her head to acknowledge his courtesy, because Grandmother’s mind was apparently somewhere else. Keelie was getting really worried.

Risa glided over to Sean and leaned against him, her hand on his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re here. That was strange, even for them.” Risa seemed to mean Keelie and her grandmother.

“Dad needs to know about this,” Keelie said.

Grandmother shrugged. “Yes, I suppose he does. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. I’m tired, and I need to be rested for rehearsal in the morning. I’d forgotten how much fun it is to recite Will’s words. He was such a wonderful poet.”

It bothered Keelie that Grandmother was putting the play ahead of the trees.

“You knew William Shakespeare?” Risa seemed in awe of Lady Keliatiel.

“Yes, I did.” She smoothed a few strands of gray hair back from her forehead. “If you will excuse me, I must retire so I’ll be ready for tomorrow. Lord Sean, you may see yourself out.”

Sean moved away from Risa, who frowned when he did, and walked over to Keelie’s side. He took her hand. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

“That’s really not necessary, Sean,” Grandmother said. “We are quite safe.”

“Maybe not, but I’ll feel better.” Sean kissed Keelie on the forehead.

“It’s going to be cold out there,” Keelie said. “I hate for you to spend a miserable night because of us.” Actually, she felt safer with him close by.

“I’m happy to help.” Sean turned to Risa. “Good night, Risa,” he said coolly. She glared at him. He saluted Knot. “Good night, Knot.” The cat blinked cordially.

Sean stepped outside. Despite the danger, Keelie wanted to follow him and snag another kiss. It was wonderful being this close to him, but she was worried. What if she did age faster than him? Would he eventually go to Risa? Of course, if that happened, she’d be beyond caring. She had to live for today.

“Keelie, you and I must speak tomorrow,” Grandmother said. “You’ll find me at the Globe.”

Well, good. Maybe they’d be able to discuss the strange situation here. Missing and injured tree shepherds, trees with delusions of world domination—what more could they have to discuss?

Grandmother glided to bed. She wasn’t simply tired, Keelie knew. There was more going on, and after what happened to Norzan, Keelie thought she was right to be worried. She needed to talk to Dad. He needed to know about Tavyn-Bloodroot.

Risa went to bed, but Keelie stayed up, wondering if Laurie was spending the night somewhere else and if she should be worried. Laurie was with Scott, and it wasn’t as if they were wandering around in the forest, even though they both had rose quartz charms.

She fixed herself a cup of tea, then went out to the bridge, dangling her feet over the edge and watching the fog-shrouded forest floor below. Nothing moved, although a small light glowed from one of the jouster’s tents.

Keelie tried contacting Dad telepathically, but a strange voice answered.

I’m here.

Who was that? It was definitely not Dad.

Where are you? she asked.

I’m in the forest.

It didn’t sound like Bloodroot’s strong voice and personality. In fact, it didn’t sound like a tree at all. Who are you?

I am part of them, now.

Dark green filled Keelie’s mind. She could feel her feet growing into roots sinking deep into the Earth, and her head elongated, her arms transforming into branches. Her trunk hardened, and bark protected her.

Keelie felt pleasure as ocean mist rolled in and dampened her roots. In the distance, she heard the echoes of a play being performed.

Gasping for air, Keelie awakened. Something hard had landed on her stomach. A loud purring brought her back to the moment. She opened her eyes. Knot was staring at her. Mist surrounded the tree house.

When had she gone to sleep? Her head ached as if she had an overdose of chlorophyll. Stumbling inside, she rubbed her cold hands together. Her nails were tinged green, the same color as the numbers on Laurie’s travel alarm clock, which was glowing 3:00 am.

Keelie really wanted to go to sleep. But wherever Laurie was, she had to find her. She needed to know that her friend was safe.

She walked to Grandmother’s door on tiptoe. Grandmother was asleep, looking kind of small under the covers. A big part of Lady Keliatiel was her personality.

Keelie crept outside, then traveled the sap to Wena’s base. Bromliel was standing guard, playing his Nintendo DS.

“Lady Keliel,” he said, surprised.

“Where’s Sean?”

Sean emerged from a nearby tent, dressed, but with his hair tousled from sleep. He looked adorable. His expression darkened when he noticed Keelie.

“What’s wrong?”

“Laurie never came home. I thought I’d go look for her on the festival grounds. She might be at a party.” Keelie tried to keep the worry out of her voice, but what was the point?

“I’ll come with you.” Sean nodded to Bromliel, who gave him the two-finger Boy Scout salute.

They walked toward the road, hearing the owls and night birds, and the crashing of small animals in the underbrush.

“Something is following us,” Sean said quietly.

Not again. Keelie stopped, but he grabbed her arm and kept her moving. “You don’t want to stop, Keelie. We’ll look around when we get to the road.”

The ferns moved to their left, and Keelie felt her heart thud against her ribs. “Did you bring a sword?”

“No. Nor a gun, nor a knife. Not even a spork,” Sean said grimly. “How fast can you run?”

“Kind of fast. There were always girls who were faster. But I don’t know about running through the woods at night. Isn’t that how the guy with the chain saw catches you?”

“No chain saws here. It’s probably just an animal.”

She hoped it wasn’t Peascod. She hadn’t heard the familiar dissonant jangle that preceded his arrival.

“Right. I’m ready when you are.”

Whatever was tailing them made a big clatter in the fallen branches of a small tree. Keelie took off at a sprint, with Sean right behind her. She dodged branches, jumped over small logs, and skirted big ferns. She tripped once, but Sean swept her up and carried her until they reached more level ground. Finally, they could see the road ahead. They put on a burst of speed, but whatever chased them was crashing through the underbrush, closer and closer. They hit the asphalt road just as the beast exploded from the ferns and small bushes. It rolled twice and then lay on its side, laughing.

“Coyote?” Keelie shrieked. Her fear ebbed to relief when she saw him.

“Fae prankster, you are dead.” It was an empty threat, because Sean was on his knees, breathless.

“Why were you two sneaking around in the forest?” Coyote sat up, still laughing.

“We’re going to look for Laurie,” Keelie said between gulps of air. “She never came home.”

“She’s in the dwarf’s RV with the human Scott,” Coyote said. “They got lost in the mist on the beach and ended up farther away than they expected. The dwarf went to pick them up, and then it was too late to go through the forest.”

“Well, she could have called me,” Keelie said, grumpy. “Of course, I don’t have a phone. So maybe she couldn’t have.”

A song drifted on the forest mist, and Keelie tried to hear it, but the melody was elusive. “What is that?”

Sean looked puzzled.

“Don’t you hear that music? Someone is singing.” It was a soprano voice, high and clear, and it sang of comfort and safety, as if every mother’s lullaby were rolled into one beautiful and perfect melody.

“I don’t hear it.”

Keelie waded through ferns, heading up the hill toward the voice.

“That way is the Grove of the Ancients,” Coyote noted. “I hear no song.”

“Keelie, stop. We need to go home.”

She heard Sean’s words, but it was more important to go to Mother. Mother needed her and she would make her proud.

Coyote’s voice sharpened. “Elf, grab her. Get her out of here.”

Keelie protested as a strong form knocked her to her knees. She cried out, “Mother!” And then her breath was gone and she was being carried away from the beautiful song. She started to cry.

Coyote followed them for a few steps. Then he stopped, ears pricked up, and turned and raced away.



At seven thirty the next morning Keelie was sipping her fifth cup of coffee, but her headache still had not subsided. Last night seemed like a bad dream. She remembered traveling back up the sap with Sean, and Grandmother and Sariela putting her in bed, but her dreams were haunted by the song. It was not Mom who sang, but some dark, fearful thing. She had not slept well, waking up time and again, only to fall asleep and have the same dream and the melody that haunted her heart.

At least she didn’t have to worry about Laurie, who’d been delivered bright and early by Sir Davey. Laurie was dressing for the festival, but first chance she had, Keelie planned to have a serious talk with her friend.

She sipped her coffee as Risa treated her cuts and scrapes with one of her salves, which actually made them feel better.

“She’s not going to fall in love with her coffee cup, is she?” Sir Davey asked. He was resting on the couch. After traveling the sap for the first time, he was still recovering.

Risa gave him a dirty look. “I need to go check on my herbs.”

“I needed to open Heartwood,” Keelie said. The shop would be a full-time project through Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, she desperately needed to reach Dad on Sir Davey’s iPhone. She didn’t dare say so aloud, however, with Kalix and Tavyn possibly within earshot.

“Well, I’m not looking forward to traveling the sap again,” Sir Davey said. “It’s unnatural for dwarves to fly. Just lower me on a rope.”

“It’ll be over in a second,” Keelie assured him.

When they were walking to the festival grounds, Keelie told him about the Tavyn-Bloodroot possession.

“Sounds like dark Under-the-Hill magic, if you ask me,” Sir Davey said gravely. He offered Keelie his iPhone and she eagerly dialed Dad’s number, but there was no reception.

Keelie had already tried her telepathic link with Dad, but her head pounded painfully with each effort. Knot stayed with them, and they glimpsed Coyote watching them through the trees.

The familiar routine of setting up for a day of business was comforting. Heartwood was the one normal thing in her life right now. She was plugging in the coffeemaker when Risa floated into Heartwood. “I’ve made five sales already,” Risa sang out cheerily.

Keelie stared at her.

Risa flinched. “What is wrong with you? You’re still green.”

“Tree shepherditis. The green lingers. Why are you so cheery?” The cheeriness made her teeth grate, but Keelie didn’t say so.

“I like working with the humans. I think of myself as an elven fairy godmother, here to brighten their day with my beauty and my knowledge of the Earth. Who knows? I may do what the tree shepherds can’t.” She skipped out to her cart, where Laurie was already looking over her wares. Laurie was wearing one of the gorgeous Francesca gowns that she’d bought at the Wildewood Faire, which still made Keelie jealous.

Keelie imagined Risa selling her products on the Home Shopping Network and cringed. She would probably be a hit, and romantic havoc would spread across the world.

Laurie finally came in, just as Keelie was pouring herself the first cup of coffee. She gaped. “Your skin is green!”

“Yeah, chlorophyll poisoning, like in the Wildewood,” Keelie muttered. “What happened to you and Scott? I was so worried and went looking for you. Then Coyote told me you were at Sir Davey’s.”

“I’m sorry, but there was no way to let you know,” Laurie said earnestly. “You know the phone problem. Still friends?”

“Of course.” They hugged, and Keelie was suddenly happy to just get to spend time with Laurie.

“So what’s new at Heartwood?” Laurie started investigating the shop.

Knot hopped onto the table. He strolled over to Keelie, and placed his paw on her hand. There was a tiny spark of fairy magic, like the ember in a fire beginning to flame. Keelie closed her eyes and focused. She could feel the fairy magic within her growing stronger, dispelling the green tree magic within and bringing balance.

Keelie opened her eyes and looked down at her nails—the green tinge was receding. “Thanks, Knot. I could have used you last night. I hope the Queen’s Alehouse was fun. Coyote would have had fun, too, but he was busy saving my life. Like a guardian does, you know?”

The paw on her hand suddenly sprang claws, pinning her to the counter.

“Okay. Point taken. Lots of sharp little points taken. I’m grateful.” The headache still lingered, but Keelie could deal. She’d just drink coffee all day. After Knot released her, she dug around in the first aid kit for little bandages to cover the punctures he’d left on the back of her hand.

“Wow. You’re getting better at this,” Laurie said.

Risa nodded. “Impressive.” Knot jumped to the floor and flipped the tip of his tail as he walked. The elf girl’s eyes radiated admiration. “He’s so wonderful.”

Laurie snorted. “He’s cute for a cat. Very fluffy. But really, isn’t this going a little too far?”

“You don’t understand the path of true love,” Risa said helplessly. “Knot is the beam of sunlight to my heart on a cold midwinter’s day. He is the first bloom of spring in the garden of my love. He is the wind that blows the sails of my destiny. He has only to meow, and I will be there to do his bidding.”

Keelie’s headache was getting worse. Knot strutted across the floor, tail high in the air. He turned his head and meowed.

“No, I’m not giving you a treat,” Keelie said.

“I’ll bake you catnip oatmeal cookies,” Risa promised. Knot’s lips turned up, then he sprang away.

“You really are a love slave,” Laurie said. “When is that charm going to fade?”

Risa sat down in one of Dad’s fancy crystal-wrapped chairs. “No charm, and I build my potions to last.”

“That’s what happens when you mess with someone’s love life,” Keelie said. “The karma fairy came to see her. That’s why she fell in love with a cat.”

Laurie looked confused. “Is there such a thing as a karma fairy?”

“No. I’m just using it as a metaphor,” Keelie said.

Risa’s face became pinched and she wriggled uncomfortably in her chair. “I don’t know. You never know with fairies.”

Laurie stared at Risa. “I don’t get why you would want to give a love potion to Sean, anyway. He’s with Keelie.”

“He’s supposed to be with me,” Risa snapped. “I was his betrothed.”

“Oh, he dumped you.” Laurie said.

“He didn’t dump me, as you so crudely put it.” Risa turned her head away. “We broke up because of someone else.”

“I understand,” Laurie said.

“What do you mean, you understand?” Keelie glared.

“She’s feeling rejected,” Laurie said to Keelie. “Put yourself in her position.”

Risa turned around. “I am not feeling rejected.”

“Quit trying to deny it. I see all the symptoms. Desperate for attention? Will get him back at any cost? I know, I’ve been there.” Laurie sounded sympathetic.

“You have?” Risa said, surprise in her voice.

Keelie had never thought about this situation from Risa’s perspective. She guessed it would’ve been embarrassing and it would’ve hurt to have your fiancé dump you for someone else. It’s just that Keelie didn’t want to see things from Risa’s perspective. She was getting what she deserved. She’d fallen in love with a cat. Not even a real cat.

“So it’s just going to be the two of us today?” Laurie changed the subject.

Keelie nodded. “I’m grateful for your help.”

“If you get bored selling furniture, you can come help me,” Risa offered. “I can give you a facial. Everyone will see how beautiful you are, and they’re going to want to buy my products.”

Laurie’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“You’re leaving me for a facial?” Keelie muttered.

“Beauty is important,” Risa said. “As I’m sure you’ll discover some day.”

Laurie grinned at Keelie. “Ouch.”

Risa leaned closer to the table and scooted her chair up. She gazed at Laurie. “You and this Scott, is this a new relationship? Tell me all about it. Do you feel about him as I do about Knot?”

Laurie shrugged. “I don’t know about this Knot thing, but I think Scott and I are interested in one another. We walked on the beach. We talked about elves, and we talked about Keelie, too. We’re bonding because of you,” Laurie said, aiming a big smile at her friend.

Keelie slammed her coffee cup down. “What do you mean, you talked about me?”

“You and your tree weirdness.” Laurie didn’t seem concerned by her friend’s anger.

“It was the same way in the Dread Forest,” Risa confided. “Trees walking around. Unicorns coming out of the roots of a tree, and then that little seedling growing into a huge tree. Don’t get me started on the Earth magic and the fairy stuff.”

Keelie had heard enough. If Laurie and Risa wanted to bond, fine. Keelie rose from her chair. “Okay ladies, you can move your conversation to the Green Goddess Cart. I have a business to run.” They left, unperturbed by Keelie shooing them away from her shop.

Moments later, Tavyn stopped by. His skin was a normal elf color. “We’ve found evidence of the Redwood Tree Shepherd,” he said.

“Where?”

“Deep in a grove of hemlock. Bloodroot is investigating with Bella Matera.”

Tavyn didn’t show any sign of ill effects from tree possession, but Keelie still treated him as if Bloodroot was listening. She didn’t trust him.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

The elf ranger smiled, his normal, handsome face friendly as if yesterday’s frightening encounter had never happened.

“Ask away,” he said.

“Do you often let Bloodroot take over your body?”

“Only when he needs to go out in the human world. He’s been doing research. Sometimes we go to Los Angeles or San Francisco. It’s an honor to be of service to him.”

Keelie couldn’t imagine Bloodroot in a large city, or what that would do to his elf host. It had taken Risa and Sean a whole day to recover from the trip to Los Angeles.

“Normally he wants to go to the library, but now that we have an Internet connection, he doesn’t go into the city anymore,” Tavyn added.

Keelie’s head reeled. How advanced were the Ancients if they could use the Internet? And how did Tavyn survive being possessed, anyway? He either had powerful magic protecting him, or he was a zombie elf.