“It isn’t too late. For us.” Sean’s eyes pleaded with her to say yes.
Releasing the horse’s reins, Keelie shook her head. “I have to stay.”
Dad came to Keelie’s side. “Stand beside us, Sean, and persuade the other elves to join us against the goblins. Let’s put a stop to Peascod once and for all.”
Sean frowned. “Lord Zekeliel, you helped form our escape plan. You yourself said that humans are in no danger. Humans can’t even see goblins, remember? I cannot join your foolish venture. Our forest needs us.” Sean turned his horse, as did all the other elves.
Before he galloped away, Bromliel turned around and bowed his head. “Good luck to you, Daughter of the Forest. Lord of the Forest.” He clicked his heels against his horse’s side and cantered away after Sean and the others.
“They’re really leaving.” Keelie looked up at Dad. Another helicopter circled above. “Dad, what you said before, about goblins not hurting humans, might not be true.”
Dad watched the helicopter fly off, then shook his head. “Humans have never seen goblins, and some goblins live side by side with them, thriving on their refuse. Why would they hurt them?”
“Because it’s an army?” Keelie sighed. “I think things are very different now. Peascod is leading them, for one thing.”
“If we had a large number of magical warriors, then the goblins might be swayed not to attack,” Dad said thoughtfully. “We could turn them against Peascod.”
“Where are we going to find magical warriors?” Keelie asked.
“I don’t know.” Dad frowned. “I still believe that humans are in no danger here.”
“Except that if Peascod wins, the whole world will suffer.” Keelie looked closely at her father. “We need to get you a stronger talisman soon.” She bit her lip. “The only other option is… ”
“What are you thinking?” Dad cast a worried look in her direction.
“I’m thinking that in order to keep the humans safe here, they need to know what they’re up against. They need to know about the goblins because no one else is willing to protect them. They need to know about the magic, so that they can defend themselves.”
Dad’s mouth dropped open, and then he closed it quickly. “Why would they believe you? How would they defend against a foe they can’t see, who might not even want to harm them?” His shoulders slumped. “I need to rest now. In the morning, let’s talk to the dragons, after we stop at Sir Davey’s RV to find a talisman. I do not want to come under another of Niriel’s enchantments.”
seventeen
The next morning, Keelie slipped out early to grab tea and muffins from Mrs. Butters’ shop. The place was practically deserted without the early rising jousters.
“Your father’s gone to see Sir Davey,” Janice said when Keelie returned. “He doesn’t look well.”
“Alone?” Keelie set out a couple of muffins and abandoned the tea on the table. “I brought breakfast. Gotta go.”
She raced through the faire’s lanes. She spotted Dad at last leaning against Sir Davey’s RV. His face was pale, with sickly green undertones.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, forcing the panic of out her voice.
“I feel the enchantment becoming stronger, trying to take over-I feel the need to leave with the elves. It’s as if I’ve been infected with something.”
“We need to get that talisman,” Keelie said. She helped Dad inside.
It seemed very quiet, considering the goblin tree was there.
“Davey?” Dad called from the doorway.
No answer.
Dad dropped into one of the recliners by the door.
Keelie heard a moan from the bedroom and walked silently toward the back, apprehension slowing her steps.
Sir Davey lay on the floor, unconscious, blood pooling around his head. Was he dead?
Keelie ran to kneel at his side. “Dad, over here! Sir Davey?” She touched his arm. Please be alive.
Dad staggered in and yanked off one of Sir Davey’s boots. He grabbed the foot, in its sparkly amethyst- colored sock.
Keelie raised her eyebrows.
“I need to check his vitals, and a dwarf’s pulse beats strongest in the soles of his feet.”
Sir Davey moaned and Keelie let out the breath she’d been holding, relieved when Sir Davey moved his hand and tried to sit up.
“What happened to you?” she asked.
Dad propped Sir Davey up against the wall. The dwarf opened his eyes, then moaned and closed them again, pressing a hand against the wound on his forehead. “I didn’t see them-they hit me upside the head with a heavy object and took that tree before I could stop them.”
“The goblin tree has been stolen?” Keelie scanned the interior of the RV, although she didn’t know what she was searching for. A trail of potting soil?
“Who’d want it?” Dad shook his head. “We’ll find it later. We need to treat your wounds.”
Keelie wet a clean washcloth in the bathroom and found bandages and some of Janice’s herbal healing salve in the cabinet.
Once she’d bandaged his head, Dad helping out, Sir Davey sat down in the diner-style booth in the kitchen.
“I’ll make coffee,” Keelie said.
“Please.” Davey shook his head as if to clear it.
“Make me some tea.” Dad lowered himself across from Sir Davey.
As she prepared the coffee, Keelie reached out telepathically to Hrok. He might be able to sense the goblin tree.
Hrok?
Yes, milady.
Someone has injured Sir Davey and stolen the aspen sapling.
Oh dear. Whoever has that tree doesn’t know what they’re in for. Hrok seemed amused.
We have to find it. Alert the trees.
I will, Daughter of the Forest.
Once the coffee had finished brewing, Keelie poured Sir Davey a cup and brought it to him. “Thanks, lass.”
She placed a cup of chamomile tea in front of Dad, and he nodded his thanks. She poured coffee and sat down with them in the circular booth.
“I alerted Hrok about the missing goblin tree,” Keelie said.
“It will be interesting to discover who has taken it.” Dad grasped the cup in his thin fingers. “Davey, I need some sort of talisman. I’ve been enchanted, and we think it’s Niriel’s doing.”
Davey scowled. “I’ve always known that elf was a bad seed.”
Dad sipped his tea, then lowered the mug. “The first group of elves have already left, and the others are awaiting the return of the helicopters.”
Sir Davey looked up. “So much for waiting several days before making a decision.”
“I cast the deciding vote to leave, under magical influence. It seems my vote carries more sway than those of other Council members,” Dad said.
“Sean hasn’t left yet. The trailers just arrived for the horses.” Keelie chewed on her lip.
A frantic and rapid-fire knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Keelie’s heart thumped against her rib cage.
Sir Davey rose cautiously, his hand pressed against his bandaged head.
