Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,25
trees swirled back down to the stage and surrounded Bloodroot. “Go and seek our shepherd,” he commanded them. “Do not return until you do.”
The air spirit, released, ascended to the sky like a spectral comet.
Keelie followed its trajectory, forgetting to breathe.
More lightning flashed in the sky, and more thunder followed, and the skies released the rain.
On the way home, Knot hissed every time a water droplet fell on his fur, which was wet and sticking out in weird points.
��Shut up. You’re not the only one getting wet.”
A waterlogged Grandmother, Keelie, and Norzan slogged on behind the other elves, each lost in thought.
Keelie heard whispers from smaller trees, which were soon silenced by a green power. But Keelie sensed dark spots in the greenness, and she didn’t like it. That same prickly premonition feeling scratched at her brain. She shivered—not from the cold, but from that feeling. When they reached Wena, Grandmother touched her shoulder and she felt the green glow surround them. Keelie rode the sap without comment, thinking about what she’d seen tonight.
When she woke up the next morning, with a ray of sun shining through the little round window in the guest bedroom of Kalix’s treetop condo, something was kneading her hair. A loud purr started up in her ear. Keelie reached out and swatted at Knot.
He purred even louder. She rolled over, quickly rising to her knees, and pulled the pillow out from underneath him.
Knot landed with a thud on the ground, purring even louder. Of all the guardians available in the world of fairy, she’d wound up with the feline version of Puck. That thought reminded her of Peascod, and how he’d been unaffected by Bloodroot’s powerful magic last night. Keelie wondered where he worked by day. Probably at one of the festival shops or stages. Maybe he had a charm against the tree magic. If so, she wanted to look at it.
Knot gazed at her, his dilated eyes as black as small hematite stones and ringed in green.
She pointed to the door. He narrowed his eyes.
“Out. It’s time to dress, and you have to use the kitty box.”
Knot started to wash his tail. Keelie walked over to him, about to throw him out on his rear end, but he hissed and reached out to swat her, missing her bandaged ankle by an inch.
“Missed me.”
“Keelie, you’re up?” Grandmother asked from the doorway.
Knot shot out of the bedroom like a furry missile on four legs. Grandmother quickly stepped back; otherwise, Knot would’ve crashed into her. A moment later, the cat came crashing back in, his kitty paws sliding on the polished wood floor. He skidded under the bed and didn’t come back out.
Something was different about Grandmother this morning. Normally she would’ve said something negative by now, but she hadn’t even said anything about Knot.
“Do something about your hair. We have company for breakfast.”
Okay, that was more like the grandmother she knew.
Then Grandmother frowned, and her lips moved as if she was rehearsing to herself. After a moment her eyes met Keelie’s. “It won’t be for long, but we’ll have to make the best of it.” She turned and left, her cryptic words floating in the air between them.
Keelie threw on some jeans and a tank top, pulled a baggy sweater over that and walked out, barefoot. Sariela was at the stove, tending a batch of fragrant pancakes.
The table was set for four. Norzan was eating delicately, as if he’d never seen pancakes before and one might leap up and bite him. Next to him sat Risa, a tidy stack of small round pancakes cooling on her plate. She smiled tightly at Keelie.
“Good morning, Keliel, “ she said politely. Her eyes glittered.
“Risa, what a surprise.” Keelie looked around, hoping and not hoping to see Sean. He wasn’t in the tiny house.
“I’ve invited Risa to stay with us for a few days,” Sariela said. “It’s not right for an elven girl to be alone with all the humans.”
Unlike a half-elven girl, who had lived among humans for years with no harm done.
“Isn’t this a treat for you girls?” Sariela seemed to expect a happy response.
“Oh, joy.” Keelie wondered where the elf girl would sleep.
Sariela answered her unspoken question. “Keliel, you and Risa may share that big bed. Lady Keliatiel will have to make do with the little room.”
The little private room. The one with no Risa in it. So this was what grandmother had meant when she said it would only be for a little while. Right.