The Secret of the Dread Forest: The Faire Folk Trilogy (9 page)

Stop who? Where are you?

The trees’ fear clouded the images they were sending her.

To her left, Keelie noticed movement, and then a dull silver glow came from an evergreen. For a moment the tree glowed like neon light. Then it started to fade, as if something was pulling the light out of it.

Help me.
The evergreen pleaded in her mind. The fog was becoming thicker.

Keelie closed her eyes and centered herself. Green magic filled her.

Dad.
She saw him, sitting at a long table, the faces of other elves around him.

Keelie?
He frowned. She hardly ever initiated telepathic communication between them.

There’s something draining the life force from one of the trees. I’m going to stop it, but I may need your help.
She sent him a mental image of the area, hoping he’d recognize this section of the forest.

Keelie, stay away from it. I’ll be right there.

I can’t stay away, Dad. The tree’s fading. I have to go to him.

She closed the mental communication with Dad.

When Keelie opened her eyes, she could see with her tree sight—she could see the faces in the trees, just as she had in the Wildewood. They were frightened, although some seemed angry.

The fog blanketed the forest, rising from the ground, making it hard to see even with her tree vision. She didn’t know how she was going to stop the predator, but she’d improvise.

She walked silently, focused on the glow from the evergreen, but it was getting dimmer. She sent encouragement to the tree.
I’m on my way
.

She knew from the other trees that this was Ernem, and he was fading quickly, soon to be a part of the Great Sylvus. Keelie hurried. She could finally make out a smoky image, blending with the shadows of the trees, that was absorbing the evergreen’s energy.

“Stop it, Jake. Leave him alone!”

The smoky, hazy form turned to her. Keelie’s heart pounded hard and fast. She didn’t see a corporeal image, but she could make out a human form inside the haze. It looked larger than Jake. Could there be two vampires in the forest?

She had no more time to think about what it might be. The smoky form whirled, batlike, in the air above her, and then flew straight for her.

Terrified by the shadow swooping toward her, Keelie ran, the sound of rushing water filling her ears. She was now close to the creek again. She didn’t see the sprite, which was wisely hidden away. Knot was gone, too—some guardian he turned out to be.

The aunties called out to her, their voices heavy and ancient.
Cross running water, Tree Shepherdess. The evil will not follow.

The darkness touched her back, cold, and Keelie hurried down the bank of the stream and then launched herself into the air, briefly flying like Ariel before crashing
down on the boulder. She grabbed at Orim’s trunk and held on.

Dad’s mind touched hers.
Keelie?

I’m okay, Dad. I’m in the creek.

Don’t move. I’m on my way.

Bhata
scrambled in the treetops, their borrowed limbs clicking like chopsticks. Keelie pulled herself to her feet, holding onto Orim’s trunk. She winced at the pain in her knees but sent soothing thoughts to the tree, who was alarmed at all the commotion. Then a movement on the opposite creek bank caught her eye, and she stared.

It was Jake, standing in front of a large deer. The animal was in some kind of trance. A wave of silver energy flowed from the deer to Jake. His eyes were closed, and his body glowed with the silver light that filled him. He was draining the life force from the deer.

“Stop it!” She jumped into the creek and picked up a fallen branch, lifting it like a sword, thinking only of saving the deer. She held the branch high over her shoulder, ready to wield, and forded the creek, water squishing through her already-wet tennis shoes. “You have some nerve, trying that again.”

Jake opened his eyes. They widened in surprise as he saw her climbing up the bank below him.

Dad’s voice filled her mind. I’m almost there.

“Stop it
now
. Let it go.” Keelie motioned toward the deer. “You’re killing it.”

“I’m not.” Jake gestured with his hands as if to break an
invisible tether. The deer blinked, awareness returning. It pawed the ground then bounded away.

Relieved that it seemed to be okay, she turned to glower at Jake. “What were you doing to that deer? The same thing you did to the tree? And why did you attack me?” She lifted the branch, ready to defend herself if he jumped her.

“What are you talking about? I wasn’t harming the deer. What attacked you?”

Keelie scrambled up the bank and stormed over to him. “Game time is over. You’re going to answer my questions. I saw you in the forest draining the energy from a tree, killing it. Why would you do such a thing?”

His eyes darkened to flat black. “You saw someone draining the life force of a tree? That’s not possible.”

“It’s possible, and it happened. I thought you were different. Haven’t you learned anything? Of course the elves will kick you out of here if they find you. You’re a monster.” She held the stick like a baseball bat.

Jake flinched. “I don’t need blood, just energy. I only take enough to sustain me—I would never drain another creature of its life force.” His gaze held hers. “You have to believe me, Keelie. I’m not evil. And I don’t do trees.”

Keelie didn’t believe him, but Knot was weaving in and around Jake’s legs. There should be a warning label: Do
not
use your cat as a guidepost in decision-making.

“Where have you been?” Keelie glared at the hairball. “You abandoned me.”

He sat down and blinked at her—Kitty for
you’re fine, quit your whining
.

Green energy filled her as Dad connected telepathically.
Keelie? Where are you? You’re not by the tree.

I’m okay, Dad. I was scared and ran. I’m in the woods, not too far from the creek.

Stay there. Don’t move. I’m on my way.
Keelie felt a mental hug from her father. Like he used to do.

Keelie looked at Jake. She didn’t know why she didn’t want to reveal his presence to the elves, especially if he was a danger to the forest. “I don’t know what’s going on, but we need to talk. Knot seems to trust you, so I will, too— for now.” She pointed to the direction the deer had taken. “You’re going to have to explain what is going on in this forest. For now you need to get out of here. My dad is on his way, probably with help.”

Jake’s tense posture eased. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I will tell you everything.” He was gone with supernatural speed.

Seconds later, Dad was there. He grabbed her and wrapped her in a hug, almost squeezing the air out of her lungs.

He released her and brushed her hair from her eyes. “Thank the Great Sylvus you’re safe.”

She smiled up at him. It was like having Ren Faire Dad back.

“What happened?” His eyes searched her face.

Keelie swallowed. She couldn’t tell him about Jake— she’d promised him a chance to explain himself. She didn’t
like keeping secrets from Dad, but she felt sorry for Jake. Earlier in the summer, she’d accused Dad of keeping elven secrets from her, and now she was the one with the secrets (of course, she hadn’t told him about the Wildewood unicorn at first, either). But when she had some time, she had to figure out why she couldn’t let him in.

Branches swayed as a wind began to blow through the trees. Keelie could hear murmurs and scratchy whispers— the trees were speaking to each other. The green leaves on the hardwoods flipped, showing their undersides as they liked to do when a storm was coming.

Dad closed his eyes. He was talking to the trees, although Keelie was blocked from the conversation. When he reopened them, his eyes glowed bright green. He stared at Keelie in shock. “It can’t be.”

Keelie shuddered. So he knew about Jake now. This was her chance to explain, but she couldn’t.

Deep male voices boomed nearby. Keelie recognized Niriel’s, then heard someone shout, “Milord, over here.”

Dad touched Keelie’s arm. “Say nothing. Let me answer the questions.”

She nodded. No problem there.

Dad’s face was drawn and tense. He kept Keelie close to him, his hand grasped tightly around her upper arm. She watched as he scanned the forest. Maybe he thought the fog thing would return.

She heard the pounding of horses’ hooves upon the ground before she saw them. The entire Silver Bough
jousting company thundered up on horseback, swords drawn, ready to go to battle, led by Niriel. Sean, whose hair still looked a little bedraggled from his recent bhata encounter, was at his father’s side.

Keelie hoped he had a lifetime of bad-hair days for breaking her heart. He didn’t make eye contact, but Niriel stared at her as if she was a disgusting peasant and he some feudal lord coming to punish his errant servant. He reined in his horse near them. The big beast snorted and bobbed his head.

“Something evil plagues the forest, the Dread fades, and your daughter is at the middle of it,” Niriel said coldly. “Explain why you’re here in the forest.”

“I could ask the same of you, Niriel. Why is the entire elven patrol riding in the forest?” Dad looked regal in his elven clothes, a match for Niriel or anyone in the jousting company.

Niriel motioned with a gloved hand. One of the jousters rode forward. Keelie recognized him from the Wildewood Faire, where he’d escorted the elf girl playing the role of Maid Marian. He handed a burlap bag to Niriel, who scowled and curled his nose as he reached into the bag and pulled out a stiff rabbit coated in mold. It stank, and looked flat as if all the air had been sucked out of it.

Niriel threw it down at Dad’s feet. The rabbit’s head broke off and rolled away. Dust billowed out from the body, releasing more of the rotten odor. “We have a vampire in
the forest, and when we find him, his fate will be quick. We’ll destroy his cursed soul.”

A cold fist squeezed Keelie’s heart. Jake. She looked at the rabbit. He’d told her he didn’t totally drain the life energy of animals, but rabbits were so little. Maybe he hadn’t meant to kill it.

Dad looked from the rabbit to Niriel. Keelie saw he was forcing himself to keep a stolid face and not wrinkle his nose in disgust. “Has the Council sanctioned this hunt?” His voice sounded calm.

Veins bulged in Niriel’s neck. “Etilafael has called for a meeting this evening. I’m sure as soon as she and Keliatiel understand the danger we’re in, they will approve extending the protection of our jousters to all our lands, as they were of old. Not only are we facing an ancient evil, but the Round Ear town mayor has canceled the harvest festival and declared the lands next to ours open for recreational use for all.”

“I wasn’t told of this arrangement.” Dad frowned.

Niriel leaned forward in his saddle. “The Round Ears are now allowed to bring their machines on the park land…” He snapped his fingers as if it would summon lost words. “ATVs, I heard one Round Ear call them. On our land.”

“The Dread will keep them out.” Dad still sounded calm, but Keelie noticed that his left hand was squeezing a piece of wood. He was tense.

“The Dread is failing,” Niriel said. “I will propose to the Council that we use the book.”

Keelie wondered if Niriel was talking about the book at her grandmother’s house. She glanced quickly at the spot where the sprite had put the amulet. The sprite splashed in the water, but no elf glanced her way. All eyes were on Dad and Niriel. Poor sprite.

“The old ways will not work. There would be repercussions from the humans and others if we use the forbidden magic.” Dad’s voice grew harsh as he struggled to maintain control.

Keelie had never heard her father refer to “humans” in such an angry way. It shocked her to her core. Had he forgotten she was half human?

It seemed Niriel hadn’t, as he looked from Dad to Keelie. “Yes, I agree, but seeing that you care for them so much, what do you suggest, Tree Shepherd? Will you send your Round Ear child to tell them to stop invading our land with their destructive ways? What about the trees— how will you protect them? Because mark my words, once they allow the humans access, the loggers will follow.”

Dad pulled Keelie close and wrapped his arms around her protectively.

“Names can’t hurt me, Dad.”

Before he could respond, a ripple of fear filled the air. It came from the trees, and the first wave was followed by a stronger one that made the rose quartz in her pocket grow hot.

The trees swayed as if a strong wind was blowing
through their branches. In her mind, Keelie heard panicked cries from the trees.

Tree Shepherd, protect us.

The weight of their pleas pressed in on her. The jousters looked up into the green canopy above as if they too could hear them. The horses whinnied and pawed at the ground. Sean made soothing noises, trying to calm his horse.

Niriel smiled wickedly. “It is your duty as Shepherd to heed their call.” He held his gaze hard and fast on Dad.

Dad lifted his right hand, palm outward, then moved it quickly to his right in a cutting motion. A green light enveloped him and Keelie felt chlorophyll fill her body. She could see frightened faces in the trees, their eyes filled with anxiety and apprehension.

Dad’s loud telepathic message rang through the forest.
I will protect you
.

The aunties, the most ancient oaks of the forest, chimed in, their voices united.
Calm yourselves. Listen to the Tree Shepherd.

“I have not seen you use your power often, Zekeliel. I have to ask myself why you don’t use it more in our times of need. Your daughter, as well. My son has told me interesting stories about your daughter’s magical capabilities.”

Keelie’s chest tightened with fear. Had Sean told him about the wooden sword?

“Everyone has a story about my daughter’s magical abilities.” Dad’s smile was tight. “She is a tree shepherd. The trees
accepted her from the beginning, and she came to them in their time of need.”

“And now she can prove herself to us during our time of need?” Niriel looked at the other armed horsemen.

“You want her help, yet you call her a Round Ear. She doesn’t have to prove anything to the elves.” Niriel started to stammer a reply, but Dad was on a roll. “And whose time of need do you speak of, Niriel? The trees? The elves?” Dad lowered his head and aimed a hard look at Sean’s father. “Yours?”

Niriel’s eyes narrowed. “I speak for this forest. Our home. I will call a meeting to propose that we use the book’s magic to protect what is ours.”

“Then we will discuss it with the Council, not here in the open forest where all can hear.” Dad toed the rabbit carcass. “My daughter’s magic is not open for discussion by you or by the Council. This conversation is over. I have tree-shepherd business to which I must attend.”

Niriel bowed his head elegantly. “Later, then.” He tapped his feet against his horse, turned around and motioned with his hand for the jousters to follow. Sean looked at Keelie and then rode away with his father.

Dad tugged on Keelie and she trailed after him as they walked down the path to the ailing evergreen. She’d never heard Dad speak so forcefully in front of another elf. Okay, he’d spoken to Grandmother the other night when she challenged him about Knot’s guardianship. He’d taken on Elianard several times. But this time Dad had radiated power.

Keelie remembered that she hadn’t seen Elianard today. Not that she wanted to, but normally he would be right in the thick of things with Niriel, demanding use of the book. Maybe Elianard didn’t do horses.

She walked alongside Dad in silence. She was surprised that her magical abilities hadn’t gone unnoticed by the elves here. At the High Mountain Faire she’d taken part in the Tree Lorem for the Queen Aspen, but most of the elves had been sick at the Wildewood Fair, where she’d really used her magic. In typical elven fashion, it sounded as if they were finding ways of using her without acknowledging her. She didn’t like that idea.

They soon found the tree, which was scared out of its trunk. Keelie summoned her tree magic, and as green energy filled her, she could see its face. Thin, long-nosed, and with worry wrinkles lining his barky forehead, the poor thing was jittery, his eyes darting back and forth as if he were on the lookout for more trouble.

Dad circled the tree, examining it as a doctor would a patient. “Whatever drained it will be back.” He spoke aloud to Keelie, then said in mental tree speak,
Fear not, Ernem. We will protect you.