Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,91

Keelie recognized him as the wizard from her dreams, and as the man in the bubble with Grandmother. Viran, the Redwood Tree Shepherd.

“Thank you, my dears.” He bowed his head to them.

Bella floated over to Keelie, who stared at her warily, wondering what she would do next. She didn’t know if she had it in her to fight anymore.

Grandmother struggled to her feet, and Keelie let Viran lean on her shoulder. Bella zoomed around in front of them, blocking their way.

“You can’t take him. His magic belongs to me.”

“Stay away from my grandchild.” Grandmother stepped forward, confronting her.

“Grandmother, be careful. She’s still plenty strong.”

Grandmother held out her hands and green magic floated upwards from her palms. “I send you back to your tree and there bind you, Bella. Walk no more.”

Bella’s face lengthened with dismay and she started to fade, but she pulled on her power and returned. “None but the Redwood Tree Shepherd can do that, and I’ve taken his power. You are no longer lady of any forest. Your words have no power, here.”

“You have a new tree shepherd now, Bella.” Viran’s voice was strong, but he leaned more on Keelie as if the effort of speaking had drained him of his last bit of energy. “Can you not feel it?”

“That is not possible.” Bella frowned as she glared at Viran. “You are our shepherd. You have always been our shepherd.”

“My body is worn out. My time is ended,” Viran said. He turned to Grandmother. “Lady Keliatiel, I grant you my place, my power. By the Great Sylvus, so be it.”

Grandmother stood taller and bowed her head to him. Around them, trees murmured their greetings to their new shepherdess.

Keelie could feel more of Viran’s life force ebbing away. She knew no healing spells to help a dying tree shepherd. She remembered a passage about the Great Sylvus, and the covenant formed between shepherds and forests. She knew what she had to do. She said the words:

“Hear the Lore of Old, formed in the days of stars and moon, When forests slept in the Mother’s womb, And the Great Sylvus called upon his shepherds, To guard the flock of wood and green.”

Grandmother smiled. “Elianard will be pleased.”

Keelie grinned back. Warmth and loved filled her as Grandmother reached out to grasp Keelie’s hand, and together they joined their green magic and pushed Bella’s protesting spirit back into her trunk.

“My babies, who will watch my babies?” Bella’s face appeared on her trunk.

Sympathy for the tree filled Keelie. Bella had witnessed the death of so many of her children in the forest.

“I will,” Grandmother said.

“I will help.” Keelie added.

Viran lifted his staff. “Sleep, Bella.”

The tree closed her eyes and her face faded back into the coarse bark of the redwood.

Viran leaned against Keelie. “My time is short.”

Just then, Coyote rushed toward Keelie. Behind him, Tavyn-Bloodroot screamed in outrage and rushed toward Grandmother, Keelie, and Viran, his sword raised. Sean leaped into the clearing after him and attacked. Tavyn-Bloodroot whirled, clashing his sword against Sean’s. Grandmother hurried Keelie and Viran to the other side of Bloodroot’s massive trunk. Keelie pushed Grandmother’s hands away, anxious to see. Sean fought hard, but his sword seemed to have no effect on the tree-possessed elf.

Tavyn-Bloodroot knocked Sean’s sword aside and pinned him to another tree with one arm. He laughed like a cartoon villain about to deliver an evil monologue. “Do you think you can hurt me, elf?”

A blast erupted like lightning from inside Tavyn-Bloodroot. The impact sent Sean stumbling back.

The skin over Tavyn’s face split in two, and dark green light tinged in purple and red spilled out. Sean reached out and tore at Tavyn’s face, pulling the skin from the features that pushed out from below the flesh.

The creature underneath was humanoid, with long pointed ears that arced behind his head and long, greasy dreadlocks. His eyes were bright green, the pupils vertical slits that glowed with malevolence. Even his skin was vile—mottled green and gray, with splatters of red.

Although she’d never seen one, Keelie knew she stood before a goblin.

“I thought you guys were gone,” she whispered. She’d had dreams about creatures like this, but she thought they were the boogeyman.

Tavyn whirled upon Sean, whose sword was at the ready once more. “Elf cannot kill elf, Sean-Niriel’s-son. The price is high for those who do.”

“You are no elf.”

That was the truth. Keelie stared at the goblin. He was like a Red Cap on steroids.

Tavyn laughed. “I am half elf. Let me make a long

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