Keelie didn’t appreciate being tossed around like a misdelivered package, but she was glad to be free of Niriel’s clutches. She had to get the Compendium. She looked up in the sky. Time was running out.
She turned to Elianard, ready to plead for his help.
Elianard placed his index finger against his lip. “Walk with me to the edge of the village, and from there you can make your way back to Finch and the others.”
“But-”
Elianard began to walk quickly, silvery hair drifting behind him in the breeze.
Behind them, she heard Bromliel’s voice. “That’s the last one. Let’s move out.”
She turned to see Sean walking toward the open cab of the big pickup truck. He turned to look at her, and their eyes met. For a moment she felt like rushing to him, but then a horse kicked from inside the trailer, rocking it, and Sean glanced toward it, breaking their contact. The moment was over.
Keelie knew she had grown past the girl who would have been happy living out her days in the Dread Forest and going from faire to faire, year after year. There was more to her, and there was more to the world. She wanted to see it before she settled down.
She turned and hurried to catch up with Elianard. She took a deep breath to swallow the sob that wanted to burst from her chest. Later.
As they neared the edge of the village, Elianard glanced at her. “You know, Keelie, you may be able to find the Compendium because it likes you.”
Keelie stopped walking. “It’s a book. How can it like me?”
Elianard waved his arm for Keelie to catch up. She had to fast-walk to keep up with his pace. It was as if he was trying to get her out of the village as quickly as possible but be subtle about it.
“You said that the Compendium was revealing hidden layers. I knew this could happen, but for it to reveal goblin secrets? Amazing. When magical objects are exposed to additional magic, they sometimes develop a consciousness, and that must be what happened to the Compendium when it was with you. It is rare for a magic book to change and adapt like this.”
Shocked, Keelie didn’t know what to say. But she did feel a personal attachment to the Compendium. She’d even written additions for it, chronicling the information she’d learned in the Northwoods about dragons and dark fae.
“If the book has grown a consciousness, then the book can be like a familiar. It can assist you in your magical needs. But the book has to choose you.” Elianard stopped at the edge of the woods.
Keelie turned to him. “Peascod has the Compendium and Tavyn wants the magic for himself. First the rift, now the Compendium. I don’t understand.”
“You will have to figure out the answer,” Elianard said.
Chills danced up Keelie’s body as she realized what the jester wanted with the Compendium. “I think Peascod wants to use the magic in the Compendium to break free of Tavyn.”
“What hold does Tavyn have over Peascod? And how are they both so powerful, in any case?”
“Peascod absorbed the wild magic of the rift, and if he was in thrall to Tavyn, he could have fed that power to him.” Keelie shrugged. “It’s a theory. And if Tavyn gets his hands on the Compendium, he’ll be even more powerful. He’ll be able to use the magic of the elves and goblins, and he would probably challenge Herne, who was once Peascod’s master.”
Tavyn’s goblins were already imbued with wild magic. Once he reached his goal, would Tavyn become King of the Dark Fae?
“Herne the Hunter.” Elianard sighed. “Elia told me the tale of your journey north. If I had known it was so dangerous, I would have gone in her stead. But your thoughts about the strength of the Compendium and its use to these rogue goblins is sound. The Compendium knows you. Maybe it will try and reach out to you.” Elianard pointed at her.
Keelie thought of Sally and the prophecy of her magical cards. Her stomach knotted with tension. If those images gave her anxiety attacks, how was she going to react when she saw Tavyn face-to-face again?
“Can the Compendium warn me through a magical tarot deck?”
“It’s definitely in the realm of possibility.” Elianard tilted his head. “Have you seen such?”
“The tarot reader, Sally. Her deck started showing the same image of Tavyn, over and over.”
“Then you must find the Compendium quickly,” Elianard said grimly.
“If I find Peascod, I’ll find the Compendium,” Keelie stated. It sounded easy, like finding the clues to a mystery game. She knew the truth would be very different.
Overhead, a helicopter lowered to the ground, sending debris flying around. Elianard held his robes close as the wind whipped them. A door opened on its side and a green-clad figure jumped out and ran toward them.
“In your studies, did you notice a section that dealt with finding missing household items?” Elianard shouted, his eyes twinkling.
“Of course!” Keelie had used it to find her father’s car keys when he’d hidden them right after she’d learned to drive. “It starts with a tree branch, freely given,” she yelled over the noise of the rotors. She recalled the rest of it, too.
“Exactly,” Elianard replied. “I have the utmost confidence in you.”
“Lord Elianard, we must depart,” the elf called as he reached them. “Lord Niriel says that if you and Lady Keliel are leaving, then it must be now or never.” The elf turned his face when she looked at him. Guess he was a Niriel follower.
“I must go, Keliel. Good luck and may the Great Sylvus watch over you in your quest to vanquish the goblins.” Elianard kissed her on her forehead. “You have been one of my most promising pupils.”
Keelie choked back tears. That sounded like a goodbye forever.
Elianard hurried to the helicopter in a swirl of robes and dust.
It was up to her. First, she had to find Hrok, because she needed a branch. Then she’d find her book.
She watched as the helicopter lifted and passed low overhead. She waved to Elianard. She felt his gaze on her, and wondered if Niriel was glaring down.
The walk back down Water Sprite Lane was spooky. With no elves, the woods behind her seemed menacing, even though it held the same trees she’d become friendly with last year. Now they thought that goblins were their friends, and she couldn’t help but think that the forest might be spying on her.
Keelie trudged through the meadow. Dad had hammered into her the importance of education, and he’d been right. Although he could never have foreseen this-a situation where the fate of many depended on how well she’d done her homework.
twenty-one
The meadow was quiet. Keelie glanced uneasily toward the place where the goblin tree grew, but it was still just bare earth. She marched up to the aspen tree.
Hrok, I need your help.
Hrok’s face formed in the bark. Milady, I am surprised to see you. How may I help you?
I need a freely given branch.
Hrok’s eyes widened in surprise. Of course. A large branch lowered so that she could reach it. What is this for, milady?
It will help me find something I have lost. Will it hurt you?
Hrok grimaced. A little. Do it quickly.
Keelie snapped the branch, twisting to make the thin green bark release, then pulled it free from the big branch. Sorry.
She ran through the directions of the spell in her mind. One must turn in all cardinal directions, and then visualize the lost item, and the branch would direct her. She hoped it would work.
Hrok’s face vanished into the bark, then quickly returned, eyes darting wildly. Milady, I sense goblins firing at trees with flaming arrows. They carry weapons. They’re close, milady. They’re coming in from Equus Island.
Flaming arrows? Panic filled Keelie. She sent reassuring waves to Hrok. I must go into the campground and rally everyone to fight.
You were right, milady, the goblins mean to burn us. What will we do?
Green shrieks pierced Keelie’s mind. Rampant fear spread through the forest as the trees discovered
the goblins meant to burn them down. Keelie nearly fell over from her telepathic connection to the traumatized trees.
Knot bounded up to her, his eyes dilated with alarm. He kept looking over his left shoulder. “Meow must go now.”
Keelie hated leaving Hrok and the other trees vulnerable to a goblin attack, but their only hope was for her to get back to the faire, rally everyone, and find the Compendium. She wasn’t about to hand it over to a goblin, though. If it had chosen her, as Elianard said, then she would use it to defend the faire and chase away the goblins.
I will return with help.
Keelie ran. Not far away she could hear the clanking of armor and the goblins horn of battle being blown loud and clearly, its strong deep sounds ringing up against the Rocky Mountains. The sun was almost touching the mountaintops to her left-the four hours had passed. Propelled by the need to warn everyone, Keelie forced herself to keep running. She remembered the image on the tarot card of the goblins attacking the village.
Ahead, she saw the Ren Faire buildings peeking through the tree line. Cars were lined up at the performers’ entrance.
What were the fools doing outside the faire?
“Get inside! We’re being attacked.”
Thomas the Glass Blower gawked at her. “What say you?”
“Goblins! Need to find Finch.”
Thomas guffawed. “You’ve been living too long at the faire-the real and the fantasy are intermingling in your mind, girl.”
“No. Goblins. Get inside the faire,” Keelie shouted.
He wrinkled his forehead. “What games are you playing?”
Keelie didn’t have time to argue with him. “You must get inside. Goblins are on the march.”
Inside the faire, shopkeepers including Sam the Potter had pulled their vehicles up to their shops, and many were loading up their merchandise and other personal belongings. Mrs. Butters was serving cold drinks outside of the tea shop.
“What are you all doing?” Keelie asked Mara.
“We’re getting the hell out of Dodge. It’s been one bad thing after another. This place is cursed.” Mara was holding her two-year old daughter, Ava. “We can’t stay, Keelie. It’s not safe. I’ve been having visions of creatures with swords. They’re here, and I’m afraid.”
Could the Compendium have been reaching out to everyone in the faire to warn them about the goblins, because that is what she wanted to do? Keelie wondered. She tightened her grip on the branch.
“My grandmama said I had the sight, that I could see fairies, but these aren’t fairies-these are monsters that are going to attack us.” Mara hugged little Ava.
Keelie didn’t know what to tell her. Some goblins, like Peascod, had the hearts and souls of monsters because they wanted power. They would kill and hurt and destroy whomever and whatever to achieve their goals-but not all goblins were like that. She blinked back tears as the image of Cricket formed in her mind. She was starting to understand how goblins were a lot like people. Some good, some rotten.
Keelie made a decision. She had to tell everyone about the goblins. Their lives could depend on that knowledge.
“I have to go find Finch. You need to stay inside the faire. These visions you’ve been having are real. Those monsters are goblins, and they’re on their way right now.”
Mara’s face grew chalky white as she clasped her daughter closer to her.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to leave, but it would help if you stayed. We’re going to need all the help we can get in the battle,” Keelie said.
“What do you mean, goblins?” Mara backed away from Keelie. The expression on the young mother’s face said you’ve lost your mind.
Keelie hadn’t considered the possibility that people wouldn’t believe her. Without visible proof, most humans wouldn’t believe the truth. Not until it was too late.
Keelie took off before Mara could say anything else. If the goblins were coming in from the west, then it would be better to face them head on. Keelie turned the corner on the West Road and jumped back as a motorcycle came tearing down the lane.
Riding like a bat out of hell on his chrome beast was none other than Vangar, Finch clinging to him as if she were his biker babe. Talk about major attitude turnaround. Love can make you do crazy things. The bike slowed, then turned around and came back to where Keelie stood.
Finch dismounted. “Why didn’t you contact me over the radio?”
Vangar wiped his forehead with his sleeve. His face was red and his dreadlocks were tangled and wild.
“The trees say the goblins are marching in from Equus Island. The elves have left, and the goblin wizard is in fact Tavyn, and I have to get the Compendium from Peascod if we want to have any hope of defeating the goblins.” Keelie rushed the words out, so she could say everything she needed to before Finch could bellow at her.
The shop owners and performers had gathered in a big crowd, watching and listening to Finch and Keelie.
Thomas pushed his way through. “This girl says we’re being attacked by goblins.”
Mara stepped forward with her daughter in her arms. “Is it true?” Her voice on the brink of hysteria.
Finch’s gaze held Keelie’s. “You told.”
“Tavyn’s attacking. He wants the Compendium. I didn’t know what else to do.” Keelie looked at little Ava. She didn’t want this little girl to die at the hands of goblins.
Finch grinned wickedly. “Time to make a battle plan.”
“What?” Thomas asked loudly.
Blakely the reporter stood in the background writing furiously on her pad. Her photographer now had a camcorder and was filming the action. Finch was too busy to notice.
“Everyone, I want you to go back to your businesses. We’re under attack, and you’ll be safe as long as you stay inside the faire.”
Thomas confronted Finch. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m saying it’s too dangerous for you to be out in the open unless you can wield a sword or some other weapon against an ugly beast that looks like an orc,” Finch snarled back at him.
“That’s why we’re getting out of here. You have no business telling us what to do,” Thomas yelled. “And if we’re going to be afraid of someone, how about that firebug?” He pointed at Vangar.
“Vangar is innocent. It was Hob who set the fires,” Keelie said. “Hob was just a disguise for a dangerous creature who wants to destroy us.”
Marcia, Tracy, and Lily arrived, dressed in jeans and T-shirts. They looked like ordinary girls except for the swords they wielded. They stood in front of Finch like a human shield.
“You heard Finch, Thomas,” Marcia shouted. “Get back in your shop, or get out here and fight and help defend our faire.”
Keelie’s opinion of these three fairy-wing wearers went up several notches.
“You’re wrong, Marcia. Hob tried to help us all. He warned us about Finch and Vangar,” Sam the Potter said.
Lily snorted. “He lied and cheated. He’s nothing but a fraud.”
Tracy scowled. “He was nuts, too. He started going around talking to his puppet, which was weird.” She carried her broad sword with an air of expertise.
Finch smiled and cut her eyes over to Keelie.
“You fools need to listen to Finch and Keelie.” Sir Davey’s eyes flashed. He shouldered his axe. In full dwarven armor, he was a formidable sight.
Then a loud roar split through the air. Spinning around, Keelie couldn’t see if something or someone had transformed, or appeared out of thin air.
“It’s too late to run. Now is the time to fight,” Finch said as her eyes narrowed to slits and flame blazed within the irises. “They’re on Equus Island, but the shield holds for now.”
In the distance, Keelie heard a loud booming of a drum and the familiar blare of battle horns.
Marcia, Tracy, and Lily joined up, shoulders together, ready to take on whatever came their way.
Dad! Keelie heart’s thumped hard against her ches
t as everyone looked toward the sound of the horns. She made her way to Sir Davey. “Where is Dad?”
“Once he had the dwarfstone, he said he needed to speak to a friend named Bruce.” Sir Davey scowled. “He said if he was late, not to worry-he will be here with reinforcements.”
Not to worry. Keelie planned to give Dad a good talking to when he arrived. Until then, she would help Finch and Vangar. Wait… the only Bruce she knew was a tree. She shrugged; she didn’t know everybody.
With a cry of horror, Thomas pointed at a charging throng of armored goblins wielding swords and battle axes. “Keelie was right,” he squealed. “The goblins are real.”
“It isn’t real. They’re probably making a movie,” the turkey-leg vendor said, but her eyes were wide.
“You fool, those goblins are the first wave of an attack, and if you had any sense about you, you’d get inside and protect your family. All of you,” Sir Davey bellowed to the assembled shopkeepers and performers. “Stay within the faire. You’re protected by a magical force field.”
Keelie turned to Finch. Sometimes people needed a demonstration to change their minds and convince them that something was real.
“Finch, show them what you are.”
The dragon smiled her wicked grin as smoke drifted from her nose and ears. “Yes, I think it’s time.”
A tornado of fire swirled around Finch, and Keelie shielded her face with her hands as the intense heat blasted toward her. Small beads of light twirled, then sucked inwards as if Finch were magnetic. Bright light exploded, then collapsed, too bright to endure. Keelie closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, Finch was gone. In her place, a red dragon with glistening scales reared up on powerful back legs, her wing tips soaring in an arc over their heads.
“Wicked cool,” Marcia said.
“Can you teach me how to do that?” Lily’s eyes blinked several times, as if she couldn’t believe what was before her.
Tracy just stared, jaw dropped open.
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