She caught a tiny flash, then nothing, as Niriel turned from her.
“Keelie, it is time to go,” Dad said.
He escorted Keelie out of the communal building, lecturing her on proper protocol and common sense. As he turned toward the bridge, Keelie stopped.
“I thought we were going to Davy’s RV?”
“I’m taking you back to Janice’s shop. Stay there until the meeting is done.”
“But Dad-”
“You stay there. Speak to no one. Do not try to find the goblin.”
She only nodded, numb at the events of the night.
Janice met her with a cup of tea and a hug, then handed her pajama pants and a sweatshirt. “No need to wake up early. It’s almost morning now, and you’re done in.”
Keelie put on the borrowed pajamas and crawled into bed next to Raven. How could the elves think she would give the Compendium to the goblins? She’d been planning to post it online, so that there wasn’t only one copy.
The worst thing was, she didn’t know what to do about Dad’s anger. He had defended her, and then she had released the goblin, pretty much proving herself guilty. She hoped he didn’t do anything foolish back at the elven village. Her face burned at the position she’d put him in.
And why hadn’t Sean defended her? Was it because his father was back? She’d never expected to see Niriel again. Or maybe in a hundred years or so. The only being worse than Niriel was Peascod, and at least he hadn’t shown his masked face here.
When the first rays of morning light filtered through Janice’s homemade curtains, Keelie felt as if she’d barely slept-although Raven was no longer next to her, so she must have been asleep for a little while. She yanked the covers over her head. All night long she’d wondered how she could find out what had happened to the Compendium, and who had started the fire at Heartwood. She’d thought about trying to contact Herne; however, with the elves upset about the goblins, it didn’t seem like that would be a good idea.
Neither Cricket nor Knot had returned home. No, this was not home. This was Janice’s shop. This was Raven’s home. Keelie’s had burned and all was lost.
She sighed and rubbed her chest. Was this heartbreak? She hoped Knot and Cricket were safe.
Janice knocked softly on the door and poked her head in. “Are you up? You have a visitor.”
Keelie lowered the quilt from her face. “Who is it?”
“It’s Sean. Why don’t you come out when you’re dressed?”
Keelie sighed. “I don’t want to see him.”
Janice frowned. “He’s very insistent. He says it’s an emergency.”
Keelie thought of Dad heading back to the elven village and fear pulsed through her, along with images of him hurt and alone. She flipped the covers off, grabbed her running shoes with yesterday’s socks jammed into them, and ran downstairs wearing an old pair of Raven’s pajama pants and Janice’s Earth Is Our Mother sweatshirt.
Her bare feet were cold on the hardwood floors (oak from Northern California). Sean stood there alone, surrounded by displays of bottled tinctures and baskets of loose herbs. He turned to look at her, handsome in his jousting clothes, with his blond hair pulled back by a leather tie.
“Is it Dad? What’s wrong?” Keelie rushed to him, dropping the shoes and placing her hands on his chest.
“Your father’s safe,” he said. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.
Relieved, Keelie bent to put on her shoes, schooling her face as she jammed in her feet and tied the laces.
“If you were to stay in the elven village, it would be easier for me to watch over you.”
“I’m happy staying with Janice and Raven.”
Sean stepped closer to her, as if bridging the distance between them could make her do as he wanted. He pressed his forehead to hers. “We would be together, and the other elves would see that you’re with me, not running around with fairies and goblin creatures. They will take note that you’re trying to be more elf.”
Before Keelie could answer, Knot pushed his way through the door, followed by Cricket, who had several bhata riding him like a spidery golf cart. Feithid daoine buzzed around the open window. Something had the fae and dark fae creatures in turmoil. Knot saw Sean and pushed Cricket back out the door, then sauntered back in, arching his back and meowing.
Sean cast a glance at Knot. “Stay here at Janice’s, then. The elves are looking for the goblin.” He didn’t see Cricket, who was climbing out the window, probably headed for the roof with his bhata riders.
Tension threaded through Keelie’s body. It would be hard to keep Cricket out of sight. “Let’s go for a walk. It’s stuffy in here.”
Keelie looked back at Knot and motioned for him to stay. Knot’s tail twitched angrily. “I’ll be right back. Sean and I need to talk.”
“Meow.” He narrowed his eyes.
She didn’t want to say it aloud, so she thought at Knot, hoping the telepathic connection they once had would work again: Keep an eye on Cricket. He may know where the Compendium is, if it survived the fire.
Knot ignored her and washed his front paw.
She didn’t know if he heard her, but she knew Knot wouldn’t listen to her anyway. When did he ever?
eight
Keelie and Sean started down the path. There was a different vibe to this stroll.
“As I said, your father is well. He’s in talks with Elianard and my father.”
“Thank you. I was worried. So, if he’s okay, what’s so urgent that you have to speak to me this morning?” She stopped and folded her arms across her chest.
Sean sighed. “I’m here on official business, representing the Elven Council.”
Keelie fought not to roll her eyes. “Again? Another summons?”
“No, just me this time.” Sean looked down at her, face sad but stern.
“You’re here to represent the elves.”
Sean nodded, standing stiffly. “Keelie, if only you would listen to me, then we… I wouldn’t have to do this.” Rubbing his chin in frustration, he watched her sadly.
“Do what?” She shivered, and it wasn’t from the chilled morning air.
“They’re going to question you, maybe by magical means, to discover the location of the goblins. You and I both know you’re not telling them everything. I thought I’d give you a chance to speak freely, away from the others. You can tell me what you know about the goblins.”
Keelie inhaled, taking in the green scent of the forest to help steel herself against her sudden anger. She should be shocked at his words, but maybe she was numb from the loss of Heartwood.
“No amount of magic can make me say what I don’t know. I’m not psychic, and the goblins don’t send me texts to tell me where they’re headed.”
Sean’s eyes glinted like emeralds. “You’re endangering yourself and all elves by your association with the goblins.”
“I’m not endangering the elves or myself. I am a tree shepherd. I deal with the problems of the forest. In the Northwoods, that included goblins. And might I remind you that the elves sent me there?”
The muscles in Sean’s face twitched, and he stepped forward to lean close. “You get yourself into situations that put your life at risk. When Herne took you
Under-the-Hill, I couldn’t go. I feel like a puppet that hangs around you, unable to stop whatever threat is coming. Not this time, Keliel. You have to let us, the elves, handle the goblins. You need to stay out of it. You’re putting our future children in jeopardy.”
“Children?” Keelie’s eyes widened in shock. She wasn’t ready for a family. She was too young to think about starting a family.
“Yes, children. I want children. I want a family, but I’ve begun to wonder what you really want. I don’t know if I’m going to have to wait a couple of hundred years before you decide you want a child, and then there’s no telling how our child will turn out. Will it chase faeries and trees?”