Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,38
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