Shadows of the Redwood

Stopping to shop

Arriving Monday

Can’t w8t 2 C U

XOXO

Laurie

“She’ll be here Monday.” Reluctantly, Keelie gave the phone back to Sir Davey, who slipped it into a leather pouch.

Sir Davey nodded. “It’ll be good for you to have your friend with you. Your father called her mother, and the woman said Laurie had her permission. She’s driving a BMW, and that’s a perfectly safe automobile.”

“Laurie’s mom has always had a different view of the world.” Keelie was quoting something Mom always said about Laurie’s mom.

Loud feminine laughter, mingled with a horse’s whinny, drifted to Keelie. For a brief moment, it was hard to distinguish the two. Sean and the other jousters were leading their horses to the nearby paddocks.

Maybe that feminine laugh had been one of the horses. Weird.

Sir Davey motioned his head toward the jousters. “Have you forgiven them for being Niriel’s army?”

Keelie blushed. “Shh. Sean is coming near, and Niriel is his Dad, you know.”

Nodding, Sir Davey smiled mischievously. “I get it. You’re still sweet on the elf.”

“Niriel is doing community service,” Keelie said out of the side of her mouth.

“Prithee, tell me what that rapscallion is doing that could be recompense for his actions.” Sir Davey’s smile transformed to a tight line as he pressed his lips together.

“Niriel is helping Uncle Dariel, and he’s working with Zabrina. Together they’re mending the rules that the mayor of Edgewood broke when he let humans into the forest. Niriel has people skills,” Keelie said in a soft voice. She wondered if Niriel was using his elven charm to help convince the Edgewood city council.

As Sir Davey and Keelie neared the jousters, she saw Risa was with them, standing close to Sean.

Keelie’s eyebrows rose when she realized it hadn’t been a horse that had laughed. Risa tossed her red hair across her shoulder. She was dressed in a green satin gown with fake fairy wings that glittered cheaply in the early evening light. Keelie could almost imagine Risa being one of the Shining Ones, even with the tacky wings.

Sean turned to look at Keelie, and flashed a smile at her. He waved to her, secretly pointed at Risa, and crossed his eyes.

Warmth flowed through Keelie as she waved back. Sean wasn’t falling for Risa’s flirtation. Instead, he was making a jest about her, and Risa was oblivious to it.

Keelie watched as Sean said something to Risa and the other jousters. He motioned toward Keelie. Risa smirked and finger-waved at Keelie as if saying “Look at me, I’m with Sean, and you’re not.” Then she grinned wickedly as she placed her hand on Sean’s shoulder and leaned intimately against him.

A growl formed in the back of Keelie’s throat. If she had a wand, she’d make Risa’s wings become real and take to the air, and then elf girl would crash into the ocean. The image eased Keelie’s jealousy. She shouldn’t think things like that, but sometimes a girl couldn’t help herself.

Sean shrugged Risa’s hand off and moved away from her. Risa glared malevolently at his retreating figure.

“Holy Granite. That girl never gives up,” Sir Davey said in a loud voice, loud enough that Risa must have heard him because she turned around and scowled at them.

As if on cue, Knot threaded his way through the jousters and sat down near Risa. He started washing his tail. Risa’s expression transformed from evil-vulture glower to besotted love ogle. She dropped to her knees and her wings bounced up and down as if preparing to take flight. “Knot, my love, come to me.”

The cat stood and backed away from Risa. His tail swished back and forth as the jousters gawked at the spectacle. Sean laughed. He left the group.

“Earthworms from Mars, what has happened to that girl?” Sir Davey said, his eyes popping out of their sockets.

Risa advanced on Knot. He leaped, and then bounded away and was lost in the gathering crowd of people waiting to attend the play.

“What is that about?” Sir Davey looked up at Keelie.

Keelie explained about the mixed-up potions and the result: Risa being hopelessly in love with Knot.

Tears formed in Sir Davey’s eyes as he laughed. “’Tis certainly hilarious, but that cat needs to careful. He is your guardian, and Risa is a distraction that he doesn’t need at this time. There is danger here, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.”

Keelie rubbed her hands over her arms as a chill spread through her body. Several tree spirits now hung over the Globe. Sean was weaving his way through the crowd to her.

“You’re right, and I can’t rely on the trees, either.” She started to tell him about the trees, but there were too many of them about. Maybe in town it would be better.

“Milady Keliel,” someone called out.

Keelie turned and saw Tavyn step out from behind a hemlock tree. He was dressed in his dark brown gambeson, green hose, and tall boots. His dark brown hair was loose and free. A pointed ear tip poked through the strands. Keelie assumed it would go unnoticed—there were mundanes here with fake elf ears.

He bowed his head. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if you will allow me to sit with you.”

Surprised at the request, Keelie looked at Sir Davey, who winked at her. Then Sean came over to join them. He nodded politely to Tavyn.

The Redwood elf clasped his hands behind his back and returned Sean’s nod with a distinct not-glad-to-see-you gaze. There was definitely an undercurrent of tension between the two elves.

Sean stepped close to Keelie. “I was going to ask Lady Keliel to dine with me, and you, too, Sir Davey.”

“I’d like to, but I have to go for my fitting.” Sir Davey pulled out a slip of paper from the leather pouch holding the iPhone. “‘Costume fitting: 6:30.’ I’ll see you later.” Sir Davey wandered away—mumbling about how vendors shouldn’t be forced against their will to be in a stage production.

Keelie gritted her teeth together, trying to repress a laugh as the image of Sir Davey in wings returned to her. She wondered if his wings would be like Risa’s, cheap and glittery. Nah, Sir Davey would carry the whole fairy handmaiden look much better than Risa could ever do.

“Lady Keelie, if you’re ready, I’ll escort you into the theater.” Tavyn held out his elbow in an invitation.

Sean stepped forward. “May I interrupt? I need to speak to you, Keelie, about your father.”

“Is something wrong?” Keelie’s heart had started thumping, either from Sean’s nearness or his mention of her father.

“Not at all,” Sean replied quickly. “But it’s a personal matter.” He stared coolly at Tavyn.

Tavyn stepped back. “Of course.” A flash of irritation crossed his face. “Until later, Lady Keliel.” Tavyn took two steps back, turned, and walked away, blending into the crowd.

What was up with Sean? He’d acted all macho elf when Scott had been paying attention to her, and now he was doing the same thing with Tavyn. Part of Keelie was secretly thrilled that he was acting like a boyfriend, but there was another part of her that wasn’t too happy. Relationships were so confusing.

Knot had returned. He sat down next to Keelie and proceeded to wash his butt. Risa was nowhere in sight. That was a small favor, and one less thing to deal with.

Sean held out his hand toward Keelie and motioned with his head to the path leading back down to Juliet City. She accepted Sean’s hand, and a tingle skipped up and down her spine.

As they walked, a cloud was following them from above. It had to be the same tree spirit Keelie had noticed hanging around the shop. It was so obvious. Sean turned, and the cloud floated up. He looked puzzled, shook his head, and continued walking.

“You said you needed to talk to me about Dad. Why?”

“Your father wants me to go with you and Laurie to L.A. next week. I know he didn’t tell you that. Typical Zeke.”

Sean in L.A.? Keelie was thrilled, but her head spun at the concept of her lordly elven boyfriend in worldly Los Angeles. Of course, with his surfer good looks, he could fit in. She’d have to come up with a good costume for him.

The cloud was back, floating along. It was trailing them again like a bad detective. Keelie saw, from the corner of her eye, that Knot was watching it too, his eyes dilated.

All of a sudden, Sean stopped. He glanced up. The cloud scooted into some bushes. It could at least try to act like a cloud. Knot darted off into the rhododendrons.

“What is going on?” Sean pointed in the direction of the cloud and cat.

Keelie looked to the left and the right of the path to make sure no one was around. She leaned close to Sean and whispered, “It’s a tree.”

“It’s a tree?” Sean blinked as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.

Keelie nodded. “It’s a tree spirit. The redwoods can spirit walk, and allow anyone to see them. Even humans.”

Sean’s eyes widened in surprise. He turned to look for the cloudlike form and found it hiding behind a large rhododendron. Sean gestured in the direction of the ocean. “What about the mist. Is that a tree, too?”

“No, just mist. But they use it for camouflage. They blend in with it.”

A small breeze began to blow. The tree spirit flew out of the bush, carried by the wind, then dissolved. Knot walked out from underneath the bushes. The end of his tail was crooked.

Sean made a grim face. “There were always stories about the power of the redwoods, but this goes beyond what anyone imagined.”

“I think it’s just the tip of the branch,” Keelie said. Now that the cloud was no longer following them, she felt free to talk to Sean, although the tree spirits were probably all around, listening. “Tonight, Grandmother, Norzan, and I are going to hunt for the missing tree shepherd. Want to come?”

“Why not do it during the day? It seems dangerous to go out into the forest at night. You could twist your ankle.”

“You are so sweet to worry. But Grandmother has this Queen gig, so we have to work around that. You can come and protect me.”

“What time? I will defend you against any evil ferns and fog.” He smiled down at her.

“Don’t worry, you’re excused. I know that jousting is hard work, and I’ll have plenty of company in the woods. If too many of us go hiking at night, it’ll look weird.”

“Then it will just have to look weird. I’ll be there to protect you.”

Keelie smiled and squeezed his hand, but she had the disturbing feeling that the woods were more dangerous than either of them knew.

“Grandmother, don’t you think it’s weird that the smaller trees don’t talk to us at all?” Keelie sipped from her water bottle and looked down the path at her grandmother, dressed in twenty-first-century hiking togs. They’d been searching for Viran for an hour, senses open, looking for signs of the missing tree shepherd, but feeling none of his essence.

“I think they’re frightened.” Grandmother put her own bottle back into the special holster at her belt and glanced at Norzan, who was frowning up into the canopy far above them.

“There could be another reason, but we don’t know yet. It will take a while to understand,” he said. “The rules of this forest are different.”

“I’ll say.” Keelie replied. The strange quiet extended all the way to the forest floor. Except for the small animals, there was no motion in this forest. No fairies at all, no clicking of the sticklike bhata or humming wings of the feithid daoine. “What’s next, then? It’s pointless to just wander around looking for him, especially if the trees can’t find him either.” Keelie placed a hand against the young tree’s bark and didn’t feel its presence. Tree silence, just as it had been before her gift had grown.

Grandmother frowned. “I believe I may know where he might be,” she said slowly. “But we can’t move too fast, if he’s in danger.”

“So you don’t think he’s just lost or hurt—you think someone has him? If he’s in danger, shouldn’t we move faster?” Keelie looked from Grandmother to Norzan.

“We can’t rule anything out.” Norzan gestured toward the coast. “Don’t you feel it? Something is definitely wrong here.”

Keelie remembered the blinding headache that had hit her when she’d first entered the forest, and the black spots she’d noticed along the edge of the tree magic. Norzan was right. These woods were unlike any she’d ever seen.

“Trees, Keelie,” Grandmother intoned. “These aren’t teenage girls. They are ancient trees. And their ancient tree shepherd moves slowly as well.” The ancient sequoias were like great buildings that rose straight up, the open spaces around them filled with great ferns and smaller trees and bushes. Keelie couldn’t relate to a tree of this size and age.

A dark shape suddenly plummeted down toward them and Keelie ducked, arms over her head, until she realized that it was an owl. It soared through the dark forest, a blacker shadow against the darkness.

They marched on, heading deeper into the forest, with Norzan leading the way. Keelie walked behind Grandmother, listening for signs of tree speak or Viran’s presence. She heard nothing … except, once, the faint, far jangle of bells.



Laurie arrived on Monday as promised, black D&G wraparound sunglasses hugging her spray-tanned face, freshly highlighted blonde hair whipping around her head as she drove her BMW into the parking lot, honking the horn and leaning out the window yelling, “Woohoo, faire people!” She swung expertly into a parking space and hopped out of her car.

Keelie envied her friend, who looked fresh and just out of the salon. As opposed to Keelie, who’d spent the weekend manning the store and trudging through the woods looking for Viran—with no luck. At least sales at Heartwood were good.

Tavyn was standing at the edge of the parking lot near Keelie and Sir Davey. He stared, frozen, at Laurie’s bright hair and tight jeans. “Who is that?” he asked.

“That’s my friend, Laurie,” Keelie replied. “She’s from Orange County.”

Tavyn nodded as if he understood. “We have people who come up from Orange County. They always seem so unbalanced, removed from nature.” But his admiring looks didn’t agree with his words.

Laurie hurried over to hug Keelie and Sir Davey. “You’ve got to give me the two-dollar tour!” she demanded, looking around. She beamed at Tavyn. “You are all so cute!” Laurie kept talking as she pulled Keelie aside. “When I told Mom you’re staying where they put on a Shakespeare Festival and you wanted me to visit, she was all for it. She said it would be educational for me, so she let me skip school. She booked a week at a Catalina spa. She said you were a good influence on me, and Mom thinks your dad is hot. She calls him Sexy Zeke.”

Eww! Keelie just couldn’t imagine Laurie’s mom and Dad together. She needed to change the subject. “Let’s go watch the actors get ready for the show.”

The morning performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was packed. Tavyn had been right. The parking lot was crammed with cars from up and down the coast, here just for the show. When Peascod strode onstage, playing Puck, he was wearing his red and green harlequin’s costume. Didn’t the man ever change his clothes?

Knot hissed as the actor took his place onstage.

“That is one strange guy,” Laurie noted.

“I’m glad you picked up on that, because we all agree that he’s very creepy.”

The bearded actor playing the part of Bottom said his line, “Enough; hold, or cut bow-strings,” and left the stage. One of the pie sellers came in with fairy wings strapped to her back. Peascod strode in from the other side of the stage. “How now, spirit! Whither wander you?”

Or rather, his lips moved to the lines, but all anyone heard was Knot’s loud yowling.

Peascod glared in their direction, and so did everyone sitting around them.

The fairy said her next lines undisturbed, and then Peascod opened his mouth and Knot started to howl again.

Master Oswald leaped up. The actors stopped, and everyone in the Globe looked at Keelie and Laurie. Master Oswald pointed toward them. “No cats allowed in the Globe.”

Knot looked very satisfied with himself as they slunk out of the theater.

“I can’t take you anywhere,” Keelie groused.

“Personally, I think it’s kind of cool. First time I’ve ever been evicted from a Shakespeare play,” Laurie said.

They headed to Sir Davey’s RV, ready for lunch. The RV was uber-luxurious and retrofitted for everything the dwarf wanted.

“So, when we get to L.A., want to go shopping?” Laurie asked as she picked the tomatoes out of her salad.

“I’d love to go shopping.”

Sir Davey plunked a tuna fish sandwich in front of Knot. Knot meowed piteously.

“What?” Sir Davey looked hurt. “I made you a sandwich.”

Keelie wiped her hands on her napkin. “He wants you to cut the crusts off.” She sawed off the crusts and set the sandwich back in front of Knot. He swatted at her hand.

She nudged him with her foot. He purred as he ate.

Laurie shook her head. “He’s so weird.”

Sir Davey snorted. “You don’t know the half of it.”

Laurie nibbled at her salad.

“Knot should act more like a guardian,” Sir Davey added, pointing with his fork at the cat. Knot’s eyes turned to slits. His tail twitched.

There was a knock at the door.

Sir Davey looked alarmed. “I hope it’s not the costumer.”

He opened the door, and in walked Risa. Keelie wanted to hiss. She’d been hanging around Knot too long.

“There you are.” Risa glided into the camper. “Your grandmother suggested I’d find you here.” Her eyes drifted to Knot. “I’ve been searching for you all morning,” she continued, her voice rising in pitch as she dropped down to her knees and gazed at Knot. His eyes dilated and his tail trembled with agitation.

“Who is that?” Laurie asked, as she and Keelie exchanged looks.

“Risa.”

“Oh,” Laurie’s eyebrows rose. She shifted in her seat. “That Risa.”

“That Risa.” Keelie glared. She wondered if the Elven Compendium of Household Charms contained a “charm” to get rid of pests. She needed to study more.

The elf girl turned her head and glowered at Laurie and Keelie. “Yes, I’m that girl.” She pushed herself up to her knees. “I’m that girl who was betrothed to Sean, but now my heart belongs to Knot.” She stood. Even while proclaiming that her heart belonged to a cat, Risa held herself with dignity and grace. Keelie always felt those certain qualities were lacking in herself.

Sir Davey walked over to Risa. “I think this upcoming trip will be good for you, too.”

“What upcoming trip?” Risa asked, turning to Keelie for answers.

“The one Keelie and Knot are going to take to L.A. It’ll do you some good to be away from Knot. See if you can break that spell. Shouldn’t have cast it in the first place, but I think you’ve suffered enough.” Sir Davey stroked his Van Dyke beard as he studied Knot.

Keelie’s mouth dropped opened and she stared at Sir Davey. Whose side was he on, anyway?

Risa shook her head. “No, that’s impossible. I can’t be separated from Knot. I have to go to L.A., too.”

“She can’t go to L.A.” Keelie said. Laurie kept eating. Knot hopped up beside her and looked at her as she ate. She ignored him.

“Besides, where I’m going there aren’t a lot of trees. Canyon lands, scrub brush, freeways, malls, you know. Urban nature.”

“All the more reason I need to go. How dare you take Knot into such a dangerous and polluted environment? He’ll need my healing powers to help cleanse his system of the toxins.”

Waving her hand, Laurie pointed to Knot, who now sat in her lap. “He’s already polluted. He needs a breath mint.” She pushed her salad away. “And that’s just his sweet side.”

Risa’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “What charm have you used, sorceress, to make Knot sit in your lap?”

“I’m not a sorceress. I’m a junior at Baywood Academy,” Laurie said defensively.

Sir Davey looked from Laurie and Knot to Risa, then back to Keelie and shook his head. “It’s a good thing Sean is going with you to L.A. You’re going to need all the help you can get on this trip.”

“Sean is going?” Risa stomped her foot. “And Knot? That does it. I’m coming, too.”

Keelie felt nauseous as she imagined the clown-car effect of having two elves, a fairy, and a mall brat in the same car with her.

In the afternoon, Keelie gave Laurie a tour of the festival. Even though the shops were closed to mundanes during the week, the streets were lively with vendors cleaning their booths and calling out to one another. Knot accompanied them everywhere they went, apparently trying to overcome the accusation of being a slacker guardian. Then, leaving Laurie with Sir Davey to happily discuss precious and semi-precious stones and their metaphysical properties, Keelie went to find Grandmother.

Lady Keliatiel was at the Globe. She was dressed in her elven robes that had embroidered trees on the bell sleeves. Her hair was pinned up in an intricate bun, held in place by two gem-studded sticks. She looked very fashionable, not as dusty and uptight as she once did. Acting was good for her.

Grandmother walked with Keelie around the stage.

“I’m going to L.A. tomorrow,” Keelie told her. “Remember? I have to handle some things for Mom’s estate. They’re selling the house.”

“I’m not senile, Keliel. I know all about your trip. Why have you not introduced me to your friend? She must be a charming girl, for Alora to think so highly of her.”

Keelie grinned. “You’ll meet her tonight.”

“While you’re away, I will be meeting with Bella Matera,” Grandmother said. “The redwoods are growing more and more worried with each passing day about Viran, and I am, too.”

Keelie didn’t know if she should bring it up, but she decided to go ahead. “I’m not exactly sure about the redwoods’ motives, especially after Bloodroot and his demonstration last week.”

“I’m going to ask Bella Matera about him,” Grandmother said. She looked up at the stands, as if practicing hearing the applause.

“Don’t say too much to Bella Matera until we know more about the redwoods,” Keelie replied.

Grandmother’s face became pinched and drawn, and she was once again the more serious, uptight woman Keelie knew. “Child, I am centuries older than you, as old as many of these trees. Give me credit for a little sense.”

“I’m sorry.” Grandmother did know a lot, but she didn’t have any modern street sense.

A mist rose suddenly from a corner of the stage and Bella Matera drifted forward.

Keelie backed away, seeing anger in the tree spirit’s ethereal features.

Grandmother started forward, but Bella Matera blocked her path and confronted Keelie. The tree spirit ran her sticklike fingers down the side of Keelie’s face. “Calm your fears, child. There are no secrets in this forest.”

And that was what Keelie feared most.

Laurie’s mouth gaped at the elven village high up in the trees. She clutched the rose quartz that Keelie had given her to fend off the sickening nausea and fear of the Dread, which was strong enough by the village to deter even the most determined hiker.

“Where are the Ewoks?” she asked.

“No Ewoks. Elves,” Keelie corrected.

“How do you get up there?” Laurie pointed up, her face pale. “You’re not expecting me to climb, are you? I don’t climb. If you need to read the Laurie book of instructions—it says no climbing. Born with a fear of heights.”

“Maybe I can find a charm for your fear of heights.” Keelie had lugged the Compendium home from the shop after she’d caught Knot reading it. He had opened it to the charm for fresh breath. It had worked, too. His breath was minty with a hint of catnip. Maybe the book was going to prove more useful than a doorstop after all.

Knot sat next to her. He blinked and yawned as if saying, “Chicken.”

Keelie focused on the tree. Could she do this on her own? She almost felt like she had, already, even though she’d always had an escort. “You’ll have to hold my hand,” she told Laurie.

“Do you need help?” Risa said, in a superior, snarky tone that grated on Keelie’s nerves.

“We can do it.” Keelie juggled the Compendium in the crook of her left arm.

“Fine.” Risa closed her eyes. Whoosh! Away she went.

“Whoa,” Laurie said. “Where did she go?”

“She’s up there.” Keelie pointed upwards.

Way, way up high, a small figure waved down to them.

“Close your eyes,” Keelie said. She grabbed Laurie’s clammy hand.

“You mean you can do this, too? How often do you whiz up and down trees?”

“First time for everything.” Keelie visualized traveling up the tree, green sap pulsing in her mind. Take us up, she told Wena.

The glow of the tree’s magic enfolded them. Beside her, Laurie’s eyes bugged out.

Whoosh!

She’d done it! They were on the wooden rope bridge outside the tree house. Keelie tried to keep the silly grin off her face, in case Risa was looking. Laurie dropped to her knees. She stuttered as she clung to Keelie’s legs.

Holding out her hand, Keelie reached for Laurie’s. “You’re fine. Just don’t look down.”

“I don’t know if I can breathe.”

“Easy,” Keelie encouraged her. “It gets better.”

Laurie accepted Keelie’s hand and got shakily to her feet.

Keelie slowly scooted, with Laurie clutching her shirt, to the tree house door. Once inside, Laurie collapsed onto a chair. Her face drawn and pinched, she closed her eyes. Keelie noticed her friend’s hands trembling.

Opening the Compendium, Keelie searched for a charm for fear. Under “Calming Charm,” she read about the magical words and the energy she needed. It required her to tap into “nature” and pull a string of magic. Nature?

Keelie scratched her head. She wasn’t quite sure what the book meant by “nature.” Maybe it was tree magic. Earth magic? But elves didn’t tap into the deep Earth for energy. She peered more closely at the text. She didn’t want to use tree magic, not here in the redwoods.

Keelie turned to the index: “Nature: pages 1000-1003.”

“You’re reading while I’m dying over here.” Laurie opened one eye and glared. “I’ve seen some weird things with you, but this ranks right up there.”

“I’m looking for a cure for you.”

“Nature: The energy of the living earth, the sun, the wind, and the energy of living things. When creating charms, it is important to have a base of nature to energize the magic.”

Keelie closed her eyes and imagined sunlight reaching out to Laurie, wrapping her in a blanket of calm. Keelie felt warm as she recited the words of the charm. Then there was a tug from within her as she felt power flow from her. Her hands became hot, and when she opened her eyes, her hands glowed with yellow light. She lifted them up, and the golden light formed a sphere.

The light floated over to Laurie and bounced over her head like a beach ball. Then, like an egg cracking over a bowl, the light spilled out and poured into her body.

Keelie sniffed. The aroma of lemon oil and cedar shavings filled the air. It smelled like the Heartwood shop after she had polished the furniture.

Laurie bolted upright and blinked several times. “Wow! I feel like I’ve been to the spa and had a detox avocado body wrap with a lemon juice tonic.” She stretched her arms. “What did you do?”

“I used a calm charm to help you recover from your fears,” Keelie answered.

“A charm? Isn’t that the magic thing your Dad did to whammy that town council woman at the Wildewood Faire?”

“It’s one of the charms the elves use most,” Keelie said. “I’m learning.” She gazed down at the Compendium.

Laurie’s expression darkened. “I’m not going to have any side effects, like growing cat ears or a tail?” She pressed her hands to her face. She touched her nose as if seeking reassurance it hadn’t returned to its pre-surgery shape.

“I don’t think so.” Keelie hadn’t thought of side effects. She’d have to ask Elianard about them. She wanted to be confident in front of Laurie, but she’d have to keep an eye on her friend.

“Is this appropriate for L.A. and the mall?” Risa walked into the room, holding out a beautiful green gown with flowing sleeves, the elven fashion norm. She held up another one, a blue empire gown (Jane Austen inspired) with puffed sleeves at the shoulder.

Laurie and Keelie exchanged looks.

Keelie hauled out the street clothes she’d packed. She had jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes. Her wardrobe had become sort of rustic since living with Dad. Back to basics. When you lived in the Dread Forest, you didn’t wear Dolce or Stella to the Edgewood Diner.

“You want me to wear this?” Risa sneered, inspecting the clothes.

“You’ve been shopping online from Enviro Girl, haven’t you?” Laurie said with disbelief in her voice. “I told you to stay away from that website.”

“I’m a tree shepherd—I can’t go around wearing Prada in the forest. I have to at least attempt to blend in.” Keelie was about to pack her clothes away. Let Risa wear her elf clothes and face the ridicule.

Risa lifted a shirt with the tip of her index finger. The shirt hung limply, like the droopy flag of some forsaken country that had lost its independence.

Laurie frowned. “Your clothes aren’t cute. There isn’t any style to them. It says Nature Geek.”

“What do you mean they aren’t cute?” Keelie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She picked up a green T-shirt with a crackled and fading image of the planet and the words “arth, a Great Place to Live.” The “E” had disappeared several washings ago.

Risa nodded. “They’re ugly, too.” She wrinkled her nose as she held up a pair of camo cargo pants with several pockets down the leg.

Shocked, Keelie looked at her wardrobe. Risa and Laurie were right. A lot of her clothes were various shades of green and brown—like a tree. She was dressing in forest colors. She’d buy some bright new happy colors at the mall in L.A.

“Maybe we need to stop at La Jolie Rouge,” Laurie suggested.

Risa turned to Laurie. “What is this La Jolie Rouge?”

Laurie beamed. “It’s this awesome store with cool clothes.”

“I would like to go shopping at this La Jolie Rouge,” Risa pointed to Laurie’s shirt, a pink and white top with an embroidered sunflower. “I like your clothes. Maybe you can guide me in my selections?”

Laurie’s face lit up with radiant happiness. “I’d love to be your stylist.”

Keelie listened as Laurie and Risa talked about clothes. The two had similar styles. Laurie and Keelie used to talk about clothes at Baywood Academy, when her life had been focused on the mall, fashion, and their friends. Now it was the trees and Dad. Keelie lifted her battered “arth” shirt. She had changed a lot.

“I need to get ready for tonight’s show,” Risa said, looking out the window and noting the position of the sun in the sky. She turned to Laurie. “Why don’t you come with me, and we can continue our discussion about fashion.”

Laurie was about to agree, but she stopped and her eyes held Keelie’s with a searching gaze. “I think we’re going to go to that French restaurant in Juliet.”

Keelie nodded.

“Perfect. We can all meet after the show.” Risa smiled like she’d just negotiated a treaty for world peace.

“Works for me …” Laurie said tentatively. “Keelie?”

Keelie glared at Risa. She hated how the elf was worming her way into every aspect of her life. A sharp pain lanced through her temple, and just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.

Suddenly, fatigue drained the energy from her muscles. Keelie sat down. Maybe she was tired from using the charm. She didn’t have the energy or the inclination to argue with Risa right now. “Sure, why not?”

Two hours later, Keelie, Laurie, Risa, Sean, and two other jousters met up under the Globe’s arched doorways. Streams of theater-goers pushed past them, leaving the building.

“Your friend Scott is coming too, along with three of his friends,” Risa told Keelie.

Sean scowled. “Who invited him?”

Risa batted her eyelashes. “I did. Are you jealous that Scott talked to me?”

“No, but I saw Knot sitting with one of Queen Titania’s handmaidens at the Queen’s Alehouse. He was purring as she scratched underneath his chin,” Sean said.

Risa shot him a venomous look. “How long ago?”

Sean shrugged. “Possibly fifteen minutes ago.”

“I have to hurry. I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”

As Risa rushed away, Grandmother appeared, still in makeup. She allowed herself to be photographed, and signed autographs while making her way toward Keelie. She motioned for Keelie to join her in a corner. “Kalix has summoned us back to the forest. It’s an emergency.”

“What’s going on?”

“Norzan is missing.”

Stunned, Keelie stared in disbelief at her grandmother. “We have to find him.”

She thought about Sean and Risa being together at the French restaurant. Everyone would be having fun and hanging out while she, once again, would be trudging through the forest. A pang of envy zapped her. At least Laurie would be there to keep an eye on Risa, in case she forgot Knot and made a move on Sean.

“Okay, Grandmother. Give me a moment.”

Grandmother patted her arm, adjusted her jewelled red wig, and returned to the crowd awaiting their queen.

Keelie sighed heavily and looked toward the stage. Sean now sat on the boards, one leg raised and the other dangling, looking like any other gloriously hunky teen guy. She knew that, being an elf, he was way past eighty years old. So why did she still think he was so hot?

He was laughing at something his friend Bromliel said.

Oh yeah, because he WAS so hot.

“Sean, I can’t go to dinner.”

He jumped off the stage and took a good look at her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Norzan is missing. I have to help Grandmother find him.”

“We’ll all help.” Sean looked over at his elven jousters.

Keelie grabbed his sleeve. “No. You’ll start some kind of war here. It’s tree shepherd business until declared otherwise. Go to town. I’ll try to catch up with you guys.”

Sean cupped her face with his hands, then kissed her. Keelie closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment, which was made even more delicious by Risa’s hiss and Laurie’s gasp of delight. Some moments were just perfect. It almost made up for not being able to go into Juliet City.

Back at the tree house, Keelie put on her camo pants and her “arth” shirt—tree shepherd attire. Normally, she would’ve opened herself to the trees and asked for their help, but that was no use in the redwoods.

Grandmother noticed Keelie’s uneasiness. “I wouldn’t suggest this, but given the situation, I recommend we join our magic and shore up our defenses.”

Keelie and Dad had a telepathic bond. Did she share one with Grandmother? “Can you read my thoughts?”

“No, I cannot,” Grandmother said. “Nor would I want to be privy to your half-human musings.”

Relief flowed through Keelie, even considering the insult.

“But if we both want a door, one will open between our minds,” Grandmother suggested, her gaze level with Keelie’s.

Keelie recalled the first time she and Dad had a mental “talk.” She wondered what they had done to make it happen.

A tickle touched her mind. It was very different from the green thoughts from the trees. The tickle became stronger and moved her thoughts to a vision of a door opening, golden light pouring forth.

Can you hear me now?

Grandmother smiled. I can.

Wow! The power of Grandmother’s mind was strong, Supergranny strong. She was way more powerful than Dad.

Grandmother smiled wickedly, like “yeah!”

If she was this strong, Keelie was going to have to figure out how to keep Grandmother out of her mind. With Dad, she did it by imagining defensive walls around her mind, but she didn’t know if that would work with Grandmother.

Lady Keliatiel extended her hands, and Keelie took them. She dropped her mental defenses, and once more that golden light connected them. It felt like being wrapped in strong arms—utmost safety. Keelie had never felt anything like it. She sadly realized that this was as close as she and Grandmother would ever get.

She felt a pang of echoing sadness. Startled, she looked at Grandmother and saw sadness flash in her eyes, revealing vulnerability within the power. Insight filled Keelie—Grandmother’s magic was so powerful that if she unleashed it on an unsuspecting person, they would fall immediately in love with her. It was sort of like a charm. Then the aloofness Grandmother wore like armor was back.

“Norzan needs us.”

Keelie nodded. They headed out.

In the Redwood Forest, with their minds bonded, Grandmother and Keelie cast their thoughts to the trees. Ancients, we seek your help in finding the Northwoods Tree Shepherd.

“Should we ask about the Redwood Tree Shepherd?” Keelie whispered.

“I already asked them earlier,” Grandmother replied.

An unfathomable, soaring voice answered. We cannot find either of the tree shepherds.

This was the true voice of a redwood. But the green that Keelie associated with tree speak was tempered with dark flashes. She wanted to return by day to see what she could find there. She’d bring Knot with her—the fairy would be able to see things that she could not. She felt Grandmother’s approval.

A misty cloud spiralled down from above. It was Bella Matera, her eyes pinpoints of silver light.

Terror surged from a nearby stand of hemlocks. Keelie and Grandmother turned their attention to the trees, but a wall of magic blocked them. Sharp pain pierced Keelie’s mind. She couldn’t break through. But then the pain disappeared just as quickly as it came.

Bella’s essence swathed Keelie’s mind. You are frightening the trees. I am only protecting them from their fear. I am deeply worried that we cannot find the two shepherds. I vow to continue to search for them.

Thank you, Grandmother replied. Your trees need not fear us. We are tree shepherds.

The tree spirit drifted into the sky, and as she vanished, the wall of magic dissolved.

Keelie turned to the hemlocks. You can trust me.

We trust no one.

Grandmother looked at Keelie, frustrated. “We must continue to search.”

Although Keelie wanted to go to bed, she knew that her grandmother was right, and wondered what had happened to the little trees to frighten them. “Let’s go.”



Risa and Laurie were already in the bed by the time Keelie collapsed on the skinny strip of space the bed hogs had left for her. Thank goodness she was able to travel the sap by herself. She was so exhausted that she didn’t think she could have waited for someone to come down and help her. She would have drifted off right there between Wena’s roots. She was not going to have any problem going to sleep tonight.

She moved her feet and her toes curled up against something large, lumpy, and furry. Knot swatted at her foot, snagging a claw in her skin.

Keelie jerked her foot away, kicking Laurie in the back. Laurie, in turn, rolled over and her arms landed on Risa. Risa fell out of the bed with a large thunk.

“Ow!” Risa rose up on her knees and slammed her fists on the bed. “Somebody isn’t going to live until morning.”

Knot dug himself out of the covers, growling as he jumped down onto the floor.

Risa turned, watching him leave. “Don’t go,” she pleaded. “I’ll go and you can sleep on the bed.”

He stopped in the doorway, the light from the bathroom casting a golden glow on his orange fur. He meowed and walked away.

Minutes later, Grandmother bellowed, “Damn fairy!”

Soon all was quiet.