Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,58

goes to a different location to solve a mystery. Except in your case, it’s with trees.”

“I need your help.”

“See, you’re the detective calling the friend to check on some evidence for her,” Zabrina said.

“You need to stop watching cable television.” Keelie filled a tea ball with catnip leaves. Knot appeared on the counter, nostrils flared.

“Hey, I just got that satellite dish and I’m catching up. So, what do you need help with?”

“I have this piece of vellum-looking paper that was in my mom’s house, and it looks like it came from a lore book. But Mom wouldn’t have owned anything like that. Anyway, I thought about your glasses. Maybe if you looked at it, you could tell me more about it.”

Zabrina had a pair of enchanted glasses that allowed the user to see through glamour. Useful when dealing with fairies. Keelie dipped the tea ball into a mug and poured boiling water over it while Knot flopped over onto the baggie of catnip and writhed. She yanked the bag out from under his furry bottom and put it back in the cupboard.

Zabrina hummed a bit. “Yes, I can. But there’s a problem.”

“What?”

“I can’t see over the phone.”

“Oh!” Keelie felt her cheeks get hot. She should have thought of that.

“Mail it to me, and I’ll let you know. Or wait until you get back and show it to me.”

“Would it work if I emailed you a picture of it?” Keelie didn’t want to wait for the mail.

“No. Then I would just be looking at an image, not the real thing. Can you send it by overnight express?”

“I can. Be on the lookout for it.”

“Bye, kiddo.” Zabrina hung up.

Keelie really missed her. It felt like clouds had come back, and a chill permeated the air. She wondered if her watcher tree was hanging around nearby. She was going to have to corner it and get some information.

Knot licked up hot tea while surveying the parking lot. His ears twitched like little furry radar antennae.

“I’m going to Heartwood to grab the Compendium. Want to come?”

Knot looked interested. Keelie glanced at Laurie, who was still snoozing, and let herself out quietly. The Compendium was just where she had left it. She’d taken a chance leaving it like that, because it was one of the elves’ treasures and she’d put it under the counter where anyone could have snatched it.

Keelie opened it up randomly on top of the counter, and glanced down at the chapter titled “Goblins.” Interesting, since she’d encountered a Red Cap. She read,

Goblins are an Under-the-Hill species that live in urban areas, although they are also known to live in forests. Large populations live in Seattle, Washington; London, England; the Northwest Territories; and Moscow, Russia.

Unusual locations. At least L.A. wasn’t polluted with them.

Goblins are practitioners of dark magic, and using their blood in spells and charms guarantees a grim outcome. A strong charm must be used to deter these foes of elves.

Suggested charms:

Air charm—Harnessing the powers of the wind can create a thunderstorm; thus, an elf can call lightning down upon the goblin.

Spirit Charm—Binding the goblin’s spirit to a place, object, or sometimes a live container will keep him locked in this place until he is freed. One must be careful to remember where one has bound the goblin. A goblin’s spirit can taint a location, an object, or its living container the longer it stays in that location. A goblin’s death can taint a locale even more strongly.

Hay-fever Charm—Goblins suffer from hay fever, and recreating the conditions of newly mown grass will immobilize your enemy as they sneeze their way to defeat.

Hay fever? So Mr. Heidelman was keeping the goblins away all that time with his midnight mowing. Who knew?

Knot placed his paw on Keelie’s leg and meowed.

“Okay, buddy, let’s see if that calm charm will help you.”

She turned to the page and said the magic words, visualizing a calm beach with palm trees as she patted the cat on the head.

Knot eye’s widened, and Keelie definitely smelled the scent of suntan oil. Knot purred and slunk away, kitty muscles relaxed, his lofty tail held high.

Keelie liked the Compendium. The goblin stuff was creepy, though. She wanted to think they didn’t exist. She pushed all thoughts of goblins to the back of her mind. Anyway, she’d just avoid Seattle. No big deal.

Gobblers.

The word came back to her like a wave of cold Arctic air. It chilled her all the way to her bones. The little mall tree had said the gobblers