Into the Wildewood (12 page)

The other Merry Men sang a bawdy song, with hand gestures, about Robin and Marian being fruitful and multiplying in Sherwood Forest. Maid Marian’s long black braids, wrapped in green velvet and criss-crossed with leather cords, swung behind her like twin pendulums. Her skirts swayed with her steps. She was gorgeous. Keelie wondered how old she was. Eighteen? Ninety-two? You couldn’t tell with elves. Dad might know.

Keelie made a face behind her back. Maid Marian was responsible for starting the attack of the stick-wielding princesses earlier in the day. Then the elf girl turned her head and Keelie almost gasped. The blurry effect was hiding her true face, and Keelie had seen right through the blur when she turned. The girl’s beauty was a mask, a trick. Underneath the spell she looked sick, all hollow-eyed and pale.

As they neared the main performance stage, they passed Elia and her elven entourage—the girls who had accompanied her yesterday at the costume shop. A slender knight stood beside them, his armor stacked next to him. He had his head turned to one side, and Keelie admired his profile. His nose was straight as a knife, and strands of his long, butter-colored hair moved gently in the breeze. Keelie caught a glimpse of a pointed ear. An elf, of course.

Keelie hadn’t yet checked out the jousters here, the stud muffins of every Faire. Some of them were sick. Her own favorite jouster, of course, was at the Florida Faire. He was part of the reason that Elia hated her so much. Sean o’ the Wood had dated Elia, or whatever the elven equivalent of dating was, until Keelie had caught his eye.

She kept wondering why Sean hadn’t returned her calls, or emailed her through the Admin office, since he’d left for his new jousting gig. It’d been almost two weeks! He was probably busy, but it still hurt that he hadn’t contacted her. He was the most handsome guy she’d ever seen, and he’d smiled at her as if she was the most beautiful girl in the world. It made her warm inside to remember his kiss the last night of the Faire. It had been so romantic. Well, romantic until Knot used Sean’s leg as a scratching post.

Still, since he hadn’t called, she wasn’t feeling guilty about her Robin Hood lust. Ahead, Maid Marian hurried toward the elven girls, joining them without a word of goodbye to her fellow actors. Elia greeted her, then stepped out in front of Keelie. “Well. Well. What are you supposed to be?” She smoothed out her skirts and preened at the Merry Men, who grinned appreciatively as they passed by.

Keelie didn’t blame them. Elia was glowing. She looked as if she’d spent a week at a spa. Her friends, on the other hand, looked pale. If there was a bug going around, then it had totally missed Elia and hit them head on.

The Merry Men didn’t slow down, so Keelie walked faster to catch up. She liked being a part of their tipsy parade, and she was too tired to banter with Elia.

But Elia caught up with Keelie, and smiled as if they were the best of friends. “I heard you stank like a human sewer earlier today.”

Keelie ignored the elf girl and kept walking. Maybe she could give Elia to the trees in the forest, to use like a battery. She wouldn’t last long. Then again, the trees might toss her back.

Elia pinched the back of her arm. “Hey, I’m talking to you, Round Ear.”

The parade stragglers turned to glance at her. Keelie pulled her arm close and kept her gaze straight ahead, and soon the others did, too. Tuning Elia out was easy today. There was nothing the elf girl could say that would make things worse than they already were. At the intersection to the Enchanted Lane she turned, and the Merry Men walked on, still singing. As their voices faded, the Lane lost its enchantment. It looked sad without the bustling tourists, and this evening there wasn’t even the usual hum of voices as merchants discussed their day.

Lady Annie’s was already closed. Keelie walked past her shop, carefully stepping over the acorns that littered the sandy dirt path. She was afraid to look at her feet. They ached horribly from her barefoot forest run, and were probably bruised and cut.

Heartwood seemed deserted, too. Glancing next door, Keelie noted that Lulu’s place was shuttered for the night. What a relief. She didn’t want to face Lulu. She couldn’t exactly blame the puppet lady for losing her temper. Yelling the ultimate swear word in front of little kids, no matter how obnoxious they were, had been pretty bad.

Keelie closed her eyes, and to her relief discovered that the oaks were asleep. A heavy green slumber blanketed their consciousness. But a pang of sympathy stabbed her, because even in sleep, grief cloaked them.

A loud voice boomed from the front of Heartwood. “Your shop was closed and whenever someone approached it, they were attacked by acorns.” The voice was so earsplitting Keelie was surprised that the oaks hadn’t awakened and started running for the nearest mountaintop.

Her father answered, sounding weary. “I’m sorry. I … ”

Keelie wanted to dart into the shop and defend her dad from the bawling Faire director, who would’ve scared a ship-load of Vikings, but she hung back when Finch resumed her loud harangue. This time she bellowed.

“You were closed today. Where were you? We’ve never had so many problems with the Enchanted Lane. I received over a hundred complaints about the number of acorns on the paths, and it’s not even fall! And after I had them swept, they’ve come back.”

Dad seemed lost. “The oaks … I’m trying to find the source.”

“The oaks! Let’s talk about those demented trees and the real world. You don’t have liability insurance to cover injuries due to falls, but I have to have it. And when the insurance adjustor sees all of the acorns, then the rates go up. Head Office will want an explanation, and then I’ve got to haul my ass into Head Office and explain why I haven’t cut down all the trees. I sure can’t tell them that the Tree Shepherd couldn’t control the oaks. And when I come to discuss it with you what do I find? Your shop is closed!”

Dad bit his lip. Keelie couldn’t believe he was letting her talk to him like this.

“You said you’d take care of the oaks. Now do it! Now let’s talk about your cat. Lulu went ballistic on me today because your hairball stole a puppet or something.”

“I’ve paid for the toy unicorn. Lulu and I spoke about it.” His voice was almost inaudible.

“Glad to hear it. Make sure I don’t hear any more complaints about Knot because I swear, if I do, I’ll personally tie a knot in his tail that he’ll never be able to straighten out. Put that cat in your camper, get a television, and tune it to Animal Planet.”

“I’ll find a way of restraining him,” Dad replied in a tired voice.

“Yeah, you’d better, because he wreaked havoc at the Steak-on-a-Stake booth earlier, and your daughter was a part of it.”

Dad made no sound. Keelie wondered what he was thinking. She’d wanted to break it to him herself. In a way, though, she was relieved. The thought of Knot locked up in the Swiss Miss Chalet was a lovely one. Heh! Not that it would humble the hairball. More likely he’d just have the opportunity to trash Keelie’s belongings, as he had in Colorado when he’d peed in her suitcase and ruined all her underwear.

But Knot had to stay free, because he was Keelie’s link to the unicorn. Without him, she might not find it again.

“Do something, Zeke; otherwise, I’ll have to.”

Retreating, stomping footfalls meant that Finch had to be leaving. But Keelie waited a few minutes to be absolutely sure.

She finally tiptoed to the back of the shop. Suddenly, something furry rubbed up against her legs. She jumped and swallowed the squeal that wanted to escape from her lips, just in case Finch was still around. Placing her hands against her thumping chest, Keelie she realized that the furry-something was the white kitty. She lifted the sad cat in her arms, but he struggled to be free. She released him, and he jumped from her arms and ran back outside. Did the cat belong to one of the Faire workers? They shouldn’t let it run free.

Keelie stepped out from behind the furniture that was lined up against the wall and put on her chirpiest voice. “Hey Dad, what’s going on?”

He startled. He was leaning against the counter, and in the fading light he looked a lot paler than he had earlier in the day. Poor Dad. Scott had a lot to answer for. If the turd had honored his agreement, her father wouldn’t be worked to death and getting reamed out for not keeping the shop open.

Keelie looked at her father and her heart clenched as the light shifted outside, illuminating him. He looked really sick. Finch’s demands were probably making him feel worse. Just being around Finch stressed Keelie out. The woman had the aura of a volcano ready to erupt at the slightest provocation.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all afternoon. I had a very disturbing message from Finch.”

“I followed Knot into the woods. He wanted me to follow him.”

Her father’s expression changed to surprise.

“Don’t yell about me going into the woods. The forest is sick, and the trees need our help.” Keelie motioned toward the large oaks across from the shop. “It’s not just the oaks. Can’t you feel it?”

In reply, Dad drew in a sharp breath and leaned back against the counter, his shoulders slumped as if a huge sack of life’s burdens had been placed on them. “I went searching for it, today. The unicorn. The trees blocked his energy from me.”

And you’re not looking so hot yourself, Keelie thought. “What are we going to do?”

“I know about the forest, Keelie, although the unicorn … ” He looked up at her with a strange look, as if he was trying to be angry but couldn’t summon the energy. “Dark magic is poisoning the forest. Sir Davey and I are working on it, but Keelie … You need to stay out of the forest. What if you’d been hurt?”

She walked closer. “Dad, I’ve already been in the forest. Knot led me there. He really wanted me to help the unicorn.”

Her father’s face went still. “What happened?” His voice was a whisper.

“There’s a spell on the water, on the stream, and I got caught in it, like in a spider web. It was like the Dread, but it wasn’t just a fear spell. It wouldn’t let me cross. The unicorn jumped right through it, but then it wasn’t beautiful anymore. It looks like a mangy old horse. His horn is all yellow and worn and cracked, and he’s so skinny. I think he’s dying, Dad.”

Zeke rubbed a hand over his face, and Keelie saw tears in his eyes. “Is that all?”

“No.” Her voice was very low. She didn’t want to tell about this part. “There was a little oak, and it needed my help. And I thought I could help just this one little tree.”

“No—” Her father’s cry was strangled. “Keelie, you can’t help just one tree in a dying forest.”

Keelie continued, afraid that if she stopped, she’d never say it. “I used the Queen Aspen’s heart, I drew her power, but the other trees wanted it, too, and then I kind of passed out, and Knot brought me back.”

Dad’s arms went around her and he pulled her close. “Oh, Keelie.”

She hugged him back, sinking into his embrace. The only family I have left, she thought. His rib bones were like ledges under her hands, and her cheek hurt against his sharp collarbone. He’s fading away, she thought, fading like the unicorn. She shivered.

“You really truly saw it.” Dad stared at a chair in front of him, as if its crystal-bedecked swirled branches could tell him what to say. Footsteps sounded on the wooden floor. Keelie turned quickly, peeved.

“Hello? Anyone here?” The voice was soft.

“It’s Janice,” Zeke said.

“Back here,” Keelie called. Dad placed his finger against his lips. “We’ll talk about this later. It’s better others don’t know about the forest being sick.”

Janice might know what was ailing Dad.

The herb lady bustled in, bracelets jangling, surrounded by the delicious scents of the plants she worked with. She smiled at them. “Hey, you two. I want to invite you to dinner at my place. Nice stout stew in the crock-pot, crusty bread, and lots of hot tea. With Raven gone, it’s very lonesome in the teeny-tiny closet that serves as my apartment here.”

“Thank you, Janice. You’re very kind.” Zeke nodded as if his head was the only part of him flexible enough to bow.

Knot hopped onto the counter and rubbed his head against Dad’s elbow.

“Keelie, what happened to you?” Janice frowned. “And what are you wearing?”

“You must not have gone to the food court yet. I worked at Steak-on-a-Stake. Briefly.” She glared at Knot, who blinked once, as if in answer. “Knot got me fired.”

“Did he chase you through a rose bush, too?” Janice shook her head. “Come on. I have some salve that will take the sting out of those scratches. And you don’t look so good, Zeke. Goodness. The two of you need looking after. Follow me.” Janice bustled off, looking happy to have someone to care for.

Keelie followed her in relief. “Food sounds great.” Just being around Janice comforted her. “How’s Raven doing?”

Janice waved her hand. “She’s having fun. I’ll catch you up with what’s going on when we have dinner.” She put her arm through Zeke’s and he leaned into her a little. Knot trotted next to them, his ill-gotten stuffed unicorn hanging from his mouth.

“Hey, about Laurie,” Keelie blurted out. “She said she’ll be here Friday. Can we pick her up?”

“We’ll arrange something,” Dad promised. Keelie’s heart sank at the thought of driving up to the train station in the Swiss Miss Chalet.

Janice’s booth was smaller than the one she’d had in Colorado, but it had the same wonderful herbal smell.

“The privies are close.” Keelie was trying to be diplomatic.

“That’s both good and bad, Keelie,” Janice replied. “The traffic is always great here, because people swarm by at all hours. But when it’s hot, the smell is not the sweetest.”

“Good thing you have all these herbs, then.”

Janet laughed and ushered Zeke in. Keelie was about to follow when she heard a sound that drew her to the back of the little half-timbered building. The forest grew close here, and she heard the sound clearly. A single note, sustained for so long that she couldn’t tell what instrument made it, or what throat.

She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, and then moved closer to a straight, slender oak. She stopped well away from it, but something was scratching her head, tugging at her hair. She reached up and her fingers touched the stick hand of a
bhata
. “Stop it, or I’ll freeze you.”