Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,57

and there was some kind of spell on it.”

Frowning, Sir Davey took it. He held it up to the light. “It’s not parchment.” He sniffed it and nibbled an edge. “Not vellum, either. It doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen.”

He waved his hand over it, closing his eyes and making a strange humming sound. Keelie hadn’t seen him do this before. Maybe it was a new way of doing a magical analysis. Finally, Sir Davey opened his eyes. He shook his head. “If it’s associated with magic, it’s not Earth-based magic. If it’s fairy magic, then stay away from it, Keelie lass. You’ve messed with that once, and it changed you.”

Keelie took the scrap of paper from him. She rubbed it between her fingers, remembering the fairy spell that had briefly appeared when she first held it. It wouldn’t take a giant mental leap to think that Mom had used fairy magic, given her fairy blood. Of course, anyone who’d known Mom would have denied it. Keelie remembered how her mom had tried to scour anything magical or fantastical from their lives. The only toy that Keelie ever really played with were her My Little Ponies. The beautiful wooden toys that Dad sent her were special treats; Mom always gave Keelie nonfiction books and toys that had educational value.

Keelie studied the paper scrap. She had to know what this was from. The more she learned about her Mom, the less she really knew her.

“Why don’t you call your father?” Sir Davey suggested. “The cell phone is on my dresser. Let him know what you’ve been up to. I need to run to Admin,” he added. “They’ve received a delivery from my brother in Arkansas.”

Keelie went back to the bedroom to get the phone, and was not surprised to see the movie The Two Towers playing on the big-screen television mounted at the foot of Sir Davey’s bed. Saruman was commanding the Uruk-hai to destroy the humans. Something about Saruman reminded Keelie of Bloodroot. It could possibly be that the tree was a lot like a wizard. She took the iPhone from its charging cradle and went back to the front of the RV.

Laurie had crawled onto the couch and pulled a quilt over herself. Knot sat in the window looking out into the parking lot. She knew something wasn’t right about him.

“Are you waiting for your girlfriend?” she asked.

He didn’t turn around. She reached out to pet him and he moved his head so she couldn’t touch him.

“Are you mad about Coyote?”

Knot wouldn’t look at her.

“You’re my guardian. He’s just a friend.” She didn’t like having Knot upset with her.

His tail twitched angrily.

“Maybe you could use the extra help.” Keelie had to be honest with him. “I feel like you’ve been preoccupied ever since we came here. And I don’t trust the redwoods.”

Knot turned and stared at her. Keelie reached out to pet him and he snagged her arms with his claws.

Keelie disengaged them and rubbed her arms. “Good. Glad to know we have an understanding. If you’re stressed, I can make you some catnip tea.”

Knot gave a slight nod.

“Okay, I’ll make you a cup.” She put water on to boil and rooted in the cupboards until she found a baggie of catnip. She wanted to hear Dad’s voice, but first, she’d call the person who knew the most about fairy magic.

Keelie reached for the iPhone and tapped in a number.

“Hello.” Zabrina’s chirpy voice warmed Keelie up like a ray of sunshine. She missed her friend and her home in the Dread Forest—and she never used to think that was possible. Keelie even sort of missed her lore lessons with Elianard. She thought of the Compendium, which she’d left at Heartwood. She’d go get it this afternoon and study. The lore lessons were proving to be very useful.

At least in the Dread Forest, she’d had her routine. She had a rhythm to her days and knew her place. Here, everything had changed. California was no longer the home she’d held precious. The memories of growing up would always be with her, but L.A. wasn’t home anymore. Her childhood home was in her heart.

“Hey. It’s Keelie.”

“Hey, Keelie. How are the redwoods? Are they full of good energy vibes?”

“Well, they’re sending vibes. Their tree shepherd is missing. They’re a different sort, these trees.”

“How different?” Zabrina’s voice held concern. “What kind of trouble are you in? Missing tree shepherd—it sounds like you’re starring in one of those detective shows where the detective