Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,34
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.