Keelie rubbed her sore arm. “It’s going to be days before I have feeling again.”
“Quit being a drama queen. I have other matters to discuss with you.”
“Like what?”
“Let’s take a walkabout to the meadow. There’s something I want to teach you.”
“Teach me? What?” Keelie frowned. The last thing she wanted was more lessons. But you didn’t say no to Finch.
As they left the clearing, shop owners and performers cleared the way for them. They passed Hob, who inclined his head. Finch returned the acknowledgement with a slight tilt of hers.
“How do you like your new neighbor?” she asked Keelie.
“He seems nice.”
“Do you sense anything different about him?” Finch asked.
“No,” Keelie said as they headed down the hill. “He’s been friendly.”
Finch stopped and watched Hob make his way back to his shop. Her eyebrows knitted together as if she was focusing on something.
“Why are you so curious about Hob?” Keelie asked.
“I can’t read him,” Finch squinted at the retreating figure of the mask shop owner.
“Read him?” Keelie hadn’t heard that one.
Finch lifted her face, and her eyes were dilated like big black moons. Then her pupils contracted back to normal.
Keelie inhaled. “Are you okay?” Maybe Finch had the hots for the handsome mask maker as well as for Vangar. What fickle games the dragon heart played.
“Yes. And you’re going to try to read him too, using the To See Truly spell.”
“To See Truly?” Keelie hadn’t heard of that one, and she quickly rearranged her thoughts. It seemed Finch was suspicious of Hob.
“Yes.” They had reached the bridge, and Finch stopped to gaze down at the flowing water rippling over the stones. Keelie wondered if the sprite would be splashing about, and if it would irritate the dragon.
“To See Truly allows you to see through layers of magic, down to a person’s essence. I’ve been using the spell to see the faire folk and their true form, but with Hob-nothing. A blank.”
“You think he’s using a glamour?” Keelie toed a loose board on the bridge (oak from New Hampshire).
“I’m not seeing a glamour,” Finch said. “I can see straight through a glamour.”
“What do you see if he’s just a human?” Keelie looked into the distance, where shop roofs peeked through the trees.
“I see their intent. But with him, I see nothing.” Finch nodded. “It’s possible he’s human, but I have this feeling something isn’t quite right, and the To See Truly spell hasn’t ever failed me, which is why I want another perspective.”
Keelie didn’t know whether to be thrilled that Finch wanted her opinion, or to be scared. What if she failed? But since it was Finch, you had to do what she said.
“What do I do?” Keelie swallowed.
“Look at the water and concentrate. What do you see?”
Keelie gazed down. “Water flowing, stones, and green ferns growing on the embankment.” A gentle breeze flowed through her hair as she inhaled the loamy scent surrounding her. She held her hands toward the water. “The minerals in the water tell me that the stream’s spring isn’t far away.”
“Good. You’re a natural. You’re feeling the Earth magic of the place, and now I’m going to teach you something dragons do naturally.”
“Teach me what?”
“Angle your head fifteen degrees to the right.”
“Fifteen degrees?” Keelie stared at Finch. “How will I know I’ve angled my head fifteen degrees? What if I angle it seventeen degrees?”
“It takes practice to work with light refraction and Earth magic to allow you To See Truly. When you feel the presence of the Earth, like you did with the minerals in the stream, then you’re on target. Dragons have a natural predilection for this spell.” Finch’s voice reflected pride. “Have you ever caught a quick glance of something in your peripheral vision? Then it was gone?”
Keelie nodded. “Yes, especially with the fairies.”
“That’s To See Truly. You’re glimpsing through layers of magic. As you become better at using it, you’ll be able to see the true form and the essence of all beings. At first, you’ll see glimmers of magic, like the ripples in a pond. Next, you’ll pick up on different kinds of magic, like when someone is under an enchantment. Then, when you least expect it, the spell will work, and when it does-kapow! An overwhelming sensation of magic flows through your body, and you’ll feel like you’re swimming in a lake of light, but you’ll see truly.”
“That’s powerful,” Keelie said. She thought about Tavyn and Bloodroot in the Redwood Forest-if she’d been able to see through the bad elf’s magic, then she would have been able to stop him sooner. “I angle my head fifteen degrees, and then what?” She was anxious to learn more.
Finch gestured toward the embankment. “Call upon Earth magic. If you’re not making the connection, pick up some dirt and hold it in your hands, which usually helps. Next, concentrate on the light around the person, and then repeat these words: Allow me to see truly. It doesn’t have to be out loud, but that’ll help at first.”
“Is that all you say? Allow me to see truly?” Keelie had recited some complicated elven spells, and this seemed so simple. As far as she was concerned, it was in the bag.
Finch arched an eyebrow and chuckled. “You think it’s easy, but it takes practice. Try, now, and tell me what you see on the embankment other than ferns.”
Keelie stood on the bridge, angled her head, and called upon Earth magic. She felt it zing through her, then focused on the embankment, narrowing her eyes to see something hidden within the sun light. “ Allow me to see truly.”
Nothing. No ta-da moment. Keelie was disappointed. She saw green ferns, rippling water, and granite rocks. She cleared her throat and repeated the procedure. Nothing.
“I don’t see anything.”
“Quit your whining.” Finch touched Keelie’s shoulder. A surge of power flowed through her, and suddenly the world brightened into a stark clarity she’d never experienced before. Ripples of light spread out and around the embankment, and she now clearly saw the sprite sunning herself in the ferns.
“She has the power of invisibility,” Finch whispered.
“What did you do?” Keelie asked. She stared in astonishment at the little catfish-like fae sleeping peacefully on the rock. “Why couldn’t I see her the first time?”
“I gave you a boost of dragon magic.” Finch shot Keelie a grin. “Keep practicing. The ability to see truly will kick in.”
Finch marched off the bridge. “Come on. I need to get back to the office and see what list of whiny-baby complaints I have to deal with today. You can tell me about the little tree as we walk.”
“What little tree?” Keelie wondered if the aspen sapling had done something to bring attention to himself.
“I’ve detected the presence of goblins at the faire, and your angry treeling could form an alliance with them,” Finch said.
Keelie trotted after her. As they entered the fairegrounds, some of the shopkeepers skirted away and shot angry glances in their direction, which made Keelie recall Vangar’s words about being a friend to the administration. She’d studied labor relations and the rise of unions in school; it could get ugly, and here she was, now firmly stuck on the ugly side. Throw in some goblins, plus a hostile treeling?
Just what she needed.
Four
“So, how did you find about out the goblin tree?” Keelie asked as they swung down King’s Way toward the Admin office.
Finch’s lips pressed together. “I have a reliable source.”
“Ermentrude.” Keelie had told the old dragon everything that had happened to her since her mother died, and Ermentrude had no doubt passed it on to her daughter. “Don’t worry, the treeling won’t be staying in the meadow. My dad’s going to move it. It’ll be over at Heartwood.”
Finch pinned her with a gaze. “You swear?”
“Yes. But if you want it so much, he’ll deliver it to you. Goblin blood makes very bad tree fertilizer, let me tell you.”