Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,41
to argue with Risa right now. “Sure, why not?”
Two hours later, Keelie, Laurie, Risa, Sean, and two other jousters met up under the Globe’s arched doorways. Streams of theater-goers pushed past them, leaving the building.
“Your friend Scott is coming too, along with three of his friends,” Risa told Keelie.
Sean scowled. “Who invited him?”
Risa batted her eyelashes. “I did. Are you jealous that Scott talked to me?”
“No, but I saw Knot sitting with one of Queen Titania’s handmaidens at the Queen’s Alehouse. He was purring as she scratched underneath his chin,” Sean said.
Risa shot him a venomous look. “How long ago?”
Sean shrugged. “Possibly fifteen minutes ago.”
“I have to hurry. I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”
As Risa rushed away, Grandmother appeared, still in makeup. She allowed herself to be photographed, and signed autographs while making her way toward Keelie. She motioned for Keelie to join her in a corner. “Kalix has summoned us back to the forest. It’s an emergency.”
“What’s going on?”
“Norzan is missing.”
Stunned, Keelie stared in disbelief at her grandmother. “We have to find him.”
She thought about Sean and Risa being together at the French restaurant. Everyone would be having fun and hanging out while she, once again, would be trudging through the forest. A pang of envy zapped her. At least Laurie would be there to keep an eye on Risa, in case she forgot Knot and made a move on Sean.
“Okay, Grandmother. Give me a moment.”
Grandmother patted her arm, adjusted her jewelled red wig, and returned to the crowd awaiting their queen.
Keelie sighed heavily and looked toward the stage. Sean now sat on the boards, one leg raised and the other dangling, looking like any other gloriously hunky teen guy. She knew that, being an elf, he was way past eighty years old. So why did she still think he was so hot?
He was laughing at something his friend Bromliel said.
Oh yeah, because he WAS so hot.
“Sean, I can’t go to dinner.”
He jumped off the stage and took a good look at her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Norzan is missing. I have to help Grandmother find him.”
“We’ll all help.” Sean looked over at his elven jousters.
Keelie grabbed his sleeve. “No. You’ll start some kind of war here. It’s tree shepherd business until declared otherwise. Go to town. I’ll try to catch up with you guys.”
Sean cupped her face with his hands, then kissed her. Keelie closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment, which was made even more delicious by Risa’s hiss and Laurie’s gasp of delight. Some moments were just perfect. It almost made up for not being able to go into Juliet City.
Back at the tree house, Keelie put on her camo pants and her “arth” shirt—tree shepherd attire. Normally, she would’ve opened herself to the trees and asked for their help, but that was no use in the redwoods.
Grandmother noticed Keelie’s uneasiness. “I wouldn’t suggest this, but given the situation, I recommend we join our magic and shore up our defenses.”
Keelie and Dad had a telepathic bond. Did she share one with Grandmother? “Can you read my thoughts?”
“No, I cannot,” Grandmother said. “Nor would I want to be privy to your half-human musings.”
Relief flowed through Keelie, even considering the insult.
“But if we both want a door, one will open between our minds,” Grandmother suggested, her gaze level with Keelie’s.
Keelie recalled the first time she and Dad had a mental “talk.” She wondered what they had done to make it happen.
A tickle touched her mind. It was very different from the green thoughts from the trees. The tickle became stronger and moved her thoughts to a vision of a door opening, golden light pouring forth.
Can you hear me now?
Grandmother smiled. I can.
Wow! The power of Grandmother’s mind was strong, Supergranny strong. She was way more powerful than Dad.
Grandmother smiled wickedly, like “yeah!”
If she was this strong, Keelie was going to have to figure out how to keep Grandmother out of her mind. With Dad, she did it by imagining defensive walls around her mind, but she didn’t know if that would work with Grandmother.
Lady Keliatiel extended her hands, and Keelie took them. She dropped her mental defenses, and once more that golden light connected them. It felt like being wrapped in strong arms—utmost safety. Keelie had never felt anything like it. She sadly realized that this was as close as she and Grandmother would ever get.
She felt a pang of echoing sadness. Startled, she looked at Grandmother and saw sadness flash in her eyes, revealing vulnerability within the power.