seventeen

Jared didn’t throw himself down between them, to Keelie’s relief. Instead, he went to the tent’s corner, where a Mr. Coffee sat on a wooden table. The “on” light glowed bright orange.

Keelie frowned. “How are you powering your coffeepot?” If she kept the focus away from Laurie, maybe they’d get out of here quickly.

Jared paused and pushed the tent wall back. A power strip was rigged to a huge plastic square. “Battery. We don’t use it much, to conserve power. But I’ve got to stay up to watch the horses.” He grinned at Keelie with his dimples set on high. “Can’t leave civilization behind, can we, little dove?”

Little dove? Keelie smiled weakly at Laurie, who shot her a mock venomous look. Jared poured some coffee into a small green porcelain cup. Keelie smirked at her friend’s reaction. She’d been called little dove, and Laurie hadn’t. The scent from the cup wafted out to greet her, like a siren’s call to her taste buds.

She accepted a green china cup with a chipped handle. Jared gave Laurie a white cup painted with delicate roses. Laurie’s grateful smile was way over the top.

“Sorry about the random mugs. With all the traveling, we end up with a jumble of dishes.”

“You travel from Faire to Faire?” Laurie blew on her coffee. “That’s so gypsy-like.”

Keelie could have kicked her, but Jared might notice.

Jared smiled. “Yeah, I’m on the circuit.”

“Are you Robin Hood at every Faire?”

“No, different Faires have different themes. I audition just like everyone else. It depends on the role. Sometimes I just joust, and play the Queen’s Champion or the Black Knight.”

“I hear auditions are tough. At our school in L.A., our friend Ashlee was always auditioning for TV roles.”

“Are you both from L.A.?” Jared sat down on a tall stack of pillows with his own steaming cup of brew.

“Yes, and I live still live there.” Laurie probably thought he’d be impressed.

“And I’m living with my dad,” Keelie replied with a grin. She was glad he wasn’t falling for Laurie’s flirtation.

Laurie leaned forward, still trying to act cute. “Are you doing another Faire after this one?”

“Nope. This is the last one of the season for me.” Jared sipped his coffee and looked at Keelie. “How about you and your father?”

“This is our last Faire for the season, too. Dad spends the winter making furniture, so we’re going to his home in the Dread Forest when this Faire closes.”

“The Dread Forest?”

Was she supposed to keep the place a secret? Keelie couldn’t remember. “I know it sounds like it’s located in Transylvania, but it’s in Oregon.”

Knot sat next to Jared, who reached down absentmindedly to scratch the cat’s ears. Knot closed his eyes contentedly, but his tail swished back and forth like a furry snake.

Laurie gave Keelie a “back off, he’s mine” look. “So, are you alone here? We thought you were having a party.”

“This is the party tent, but only the person on watch with the horses sleeps here. Something’s been spooking them, so I’m on watch all night.”

Keelie grinned at Laurie. “It was probably a bear.”

Jared laughed. “I’m pretty sure there aren’t any bears around here. It was probably that wild white horse. They get really upset whenever they see him.”

“I saw him!” Laurie exclaimed. “Can’t you catch him?”

“Not yet. I was amazed that he let Keelie get so close.”

He seemed ready to talk more about the mysterious white horse, so Keelie changed the conversation. “I can’t wait for Laurie to see the Faire in action. You’re very convincing as Robin Hood.”

He preened. “Thanks. Have you seen the entire Robin Hood and his Merry Men story line played out?”

“No, I’ve been busy working as a Jill-of-the-Faire for Ms. Finch, and in my dad’s shop.”

“Ah, Finch, aka the Faire Dragon.” Jared rolled his eyes and made a face. “Yeah, she’s got all the acts scheduled to appear at the Maypole tomorrow. It’s going to be a traffic jam, and if Sir Brine the Pickle Man shows up, then I’ll shoot him with a bow and arrow myself.”

“Faire Dragon?” Laurie looked confused. “Sir Brine?”

“I’ll explain it all later.” Keelie wasn’t sure she understood it all herself. “Suffice to say, Finch is my boss, and you’ll get the dubious pleasure of meeting her tomorrow.”

“You’re working?” Laurie’s eyes were wide. “Like, a job?”

“Don’t act all shocked.” Another round of heat flushed Keelie’s skin. “I have to.”

“Well, I’m here to have fun. It’s summer vacation.” Laurie scooted closer to Jared and linked her arm through his elbow. “You’re an actor and a jouster. That’s so cool. Sounds like I’m going to have lots of free time tomorrow. Maybe you could show me around.”

Jared cleared his throat. “I do have to be Robin Hood, so unfortunately I won’t be able to tend thee, my fair lady.”

“Well, I’ll be sure to say ‘hi’ to you. Tell me, what’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to you at a Faire?”

Jared smiled and began telling Laurie tales of Rennie life. Keelie wanted to hit her with a pillow. It wasn’t fair. Laurie could come to the Faire and play, and then return to her life in California. She’d waltzed into Keelie’s new life, enchanted Sir Davey, and was now flirting with Robin Hood, while Keelie had been working her ass off. The only thing she had to show for it was more work ahead, thanks to Dad and his ideas about learning values and building character.

Then a realization hit her like a cold slap. Dad would be waking up soon. Very soon.

“What time is it?”

Jared glanced at his watch. “Four thirty.”

“Laurie, we need to get back or we’re going to be grounded.”

“Grounded by your dad? He’s too sweet.” Laurie gave Jared a syrupy smile. “So far I’m very impressed by the handsome men at this Faire.”

Jared’s gaze bounced from Keelie to Laurie. “Keelie’s right. Her dad is tough. He sent a memo out to all the jousters saying they were to stay away from his daughter.”

Keelie sat straight up, outraged. “He did what?”

“He wasn’t fooling.”

For the umpteenth time, Keelie blushed. “Laurie, it’s time to go.” Laurie cuddled closer to Jared.

“We’re already in trouble just for leaving the RV. So what more can he do to us?”

The aspen heart talisman grew warm against Keelie’s skin. She put a hand up to touch the T-shirt covering it. Was Einhorn back? It hadn’t reacted to the unicorn before.

“Are we having a party?” The deep baritone voice came from just outside the colorful cloth wall. A man stepped through, and Keelie stared. He was a stranger, but he seemed familiar.

“Lord Niriel. I didn’t know anyone else was up.” Jared looked uncomfortable.

Laurie giggled. “It’s so cool the way everyone calls each other Lord this and that.”

Lord Niriel didn’t seem amused. “You’re supposed to be watching the horses, not entertaining ladies.”

Keelie poked Laurie in the back, trying to get her to shut up. The man looked young, but there was something about him that said he was much older. He was in shape, with broad shoulders and a small waist, and he had a majestic face with an aquiline nose. Although the only sign of age was a couple of wrinkles that creased at the corners of his eyes, wisdom clung to him like a cloak. He looked as if he should be wearing long robes, but he was dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved polo shirt with a shiny leaf embroidered on the left pocket.

Jared stood with athletic grace and bowed from the waist. “Lord Niriel, you were right, the white horse returned.” He motioned to Keelie. “I saw it go to Keelie.”

Lord Niriel arched an eyebrow. “Ah, Keelie Heartwood. So your charm extends to stray horses. I would think collecting jousters’ hearts would be work enough for you.”

Jared looked at her with renewed interest.

Keelie’s heart raced. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He meant Sean, of course. Her palms were sweaty at the thought of him. She wiped her hands on her pajama pants and hoped she didn’t smell like cinnamon.

“Hi, I’m Laurie. I’m staying with Keelie.” Laurie’s hand stuck out, daring Lord Niriel not to shake.

He took it and bowed slightly over it, then released it and turned back to Keelie. “I’m speaking, of course, of Sean o’ the Wood.”

“You know Sean? Have you spoken to him? Is he still in Florida?” Sean must have mentioned her to this man. He’d been thinking of her.

Jared motioned to the cushions. “Please, milord, have a seat.”

Niriel did so, sitting close to Keelie. “He is in Florida, and was well when I left him. I drove all night to get here, when I heard that most of the jousters in my company were sick.”

“You must be the head of the Silver Bough Jousters.” That accounted for the leaf crest on his shirt.

He bowed again.

“My dad mentioned you. He said you were on the Council.” That explained the elven-sounding name. “If you just got here, then you missed the meeting.”

Lord Niriel looked quickly at Jared and Laurie, then raised an eyebrow at Keelie, as if cautioning her to stay quiet.

“Sean’s the guy you met at the High Mountain Faire, right?” Laurie pouted. “Too bad he’s in Florida. I was dying to meet him.” She smiled at Jared, as if reinforcing the idea that Keelie was taken, but she was not.

“Is he enjoying the Faire in Florida?” Keelie was starting to run out of conversation, and she was desperate to get back to the RV before Dad woke up.

“Somewhat, although he is confused.” Lord Niriel looked directly into her eyes. “Sean is my son, and he tells me you haven’t returned any of his letters.”

Keelie stared at him, dumbstruck. She swallowed. “What letters?”

Before he could answer, the colorful strips that formed the wall were pushed violently aside and her father appeared. Gone was the mild-mannered artisan. He looked like an avenging warrior.

Keelie wished she could disappear like the bhata. But her father didn’t even glance at her. His steely gaze was fixed on Lord Niriel, who returned the stare. No love lost there.

“Keelie, Laurie. Come with me.”

The girls scrambled to their feet. Keelie’s legs wobbled from nerves. Lord Niriel was watching her, his eyes secretive. Was her panic obvious?

“I need to speak to your father,” he said. “And now is as good a time as any. Excuse me, ladies. Zeke, follow me.” He pushed past Dad, crossed the outer room, then ducked through the tent door out into the night.

Keelie was amazed when her father followed him without a word. She saw a corner of Dad’s blue tunic outside before the heavy canvas dropped into place once more. She ran to the outer room and leaned forward to hear their conversation.

“Zekeliel,” Lord Niriel said, his tone frosty.

“I came for my daughter.” Dad’s smooth voice cracked.

What was wrong with him? Keelie had never been so afraid. Her father sounded angry, but he sounded sick, too.

Laurie stood up. “Are you okay?

“We should’ve left hours ago.”

Dad’s voice rose. “She’s my daughter, and I will decide what happens to her.”

“Uh-oh.” Keelie looked at Laurie.

“He’s just blowing off steam because he’s worried.” Laurie waved a hand dismissively. “Here’s what you do when you’re caught—you find a way to twist everything around and make it his fault. When Mom caught me drinking this spring, she was going to ground me and cut off my credit card. I told her if she did, I’d run away. I told her it was her fault I was drinking because she loved her new boyfriend more than me.”

Keelie realized that her mouth was hanging open, and closed it. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, but she detected deep pain beneath her friend’s nonchalant attitude. She wondered if this was how she sounded to others.

“Keliel Heartwood, out here now!”

Before she could move, the tent flap opened again. Dad appeared with a lantern held high, casting its bright glow onto Keelie and Laurie. This was all so surreal, as if she were one of those characters in a movie, just escaped from imprisonment, but now caught red-handed with all the searchlights focused on her.

Dad’s forehead was deeply furrowed. The arm that held the lantern aloft trembled a little, causing the shadows around them to flicker. Jared started to back away from the older men, then turned and pushed past Keelie and Laurie with a muttered, “I need to check on the horses.”

Dad looked them over, then turned. “Follow me.”

Keelie and Laurie did. Outside, Lord Niriel stood to the far left talking to Elianard and Elia. Keelie hesitated, wondering what they were doing here. Was everyone up at this time of the night?

The elf girl scowled at Keelie. This was probably the moment she had been waiting for. A sick feeling hit Keelie in the pit of her stomach as she envisioned Sean’s handsome face when Elia told him she’d been in the Rivendell tent with Jared—of course, leaving out the fact that Laurie had been there, too.

Dad motioned to them. “We’re going home.” He looked exhausted. His shoulders drooped, and he wiped his hand across his forehead. Guilt slammed Keelie. She noticed how Niriel, Elianard, and Elia, even in the glow of the Rivendell lantern light, shone with radiant health. They weren’t sick like the other elves, or even tired like Dad. Very curious.

Unable to take her father’s silence and the weight of his disappointment, Keelie started to speak, but only managed “I … ” before Dad cut in.

His voice held a mix of controlled anger and restraint. “We’ll discuss this later.”

Keelie was silent.

“Keelie snuck out to find that stray white cat.” Laurie’s voice was pitched high; she wasn’t immune to the strained atmosphere. “I mean, she worries about him, and then she freaks when this white horse gallops past from the woods.”

Elia gasped.

Keelie wanted to kick Laurie in the knee for opening her big mouth. Elianard and Elia didn’t need to know about her involvement with the unicorn. From their reaction, they’d put two and two together. But this probably wouldn’t put Einhorn in danger… all the elves knew about the forest guardian.

Dad’s stare was fixed on the elven trio.

Lord Niriel lifted his head. “How interesting.” He walked closer to Dad. “Zeke, since I arrived too late for the Council meeting, let’s get together at the lodge to discuss the illness that has befallen us.” He glanced at Elianard. “Can you join us?”

Elianard nodded.

“Good. Then let’s say in about three hours. I have to meet the Faire director first and go over available jousters for today’s show, but it will be a short meeting.”

Dad’s eyes narrowed, and he gave a resigned sigh. “I’ll be there.”

“See that you are.” Lord Niriel’s authoritative voice told Keelie that he was accustomed to being obeyed. Even though he was Sean’s father, she didn’t like the way he ordered her father around.

Elianard strode forward with Elia following in the wake of his robes. He stopped with a smarmy smile on his face. “Until our meeting at the lodge, Zekeliel.”

Dad gave a slight nod.

Something was up with the elves, and fear for Dad made Keelie forget her own situation and the fact that she’d probably be grounded for life. She wondered again if there was a connection between Einhorn’s failing health and the elves. As Dad always said, “as the forest goes, so go the elves.”

Elianard walked past her, and Elia, like a dutiful daughter, trailed after her father. She lifted her head slightly and glared at Keelie, then sneered at Laurie, the lowly human.

“Your face will freeze that way,” Laurie said casually.

Elia looked dumbstruck, as if a chair had insulted her.

Dad started down the path, his lantern steady in the darkness. “Let’s get back to the RV.”

On the hike back to Sir Davey’s, Keelie couldn’t take her father’s silence and his disappointment. “Dad, I … ”

“Why were you in the tent?”

“It was cold and dark outside.”

Dad stopped and held the lantern high above her head, making it look like he had a halo. “Keelie, you’re old enough to be responsible for the consequences of your actions. There are consequences, dire ones, if you take the wrong path. It can lead to darkness, to loneliness and despair. I trust you, Keelie, not to break the hearts of those who love you, those who will have to live with the aftermath of your actions for the rest of their lives.”

Shocked, for a second Keelie couldn’t find any words to make a reply. It sounded so extreme. She glanced at Laurie. She couldn’t explain about Einhorn in front of her friend. “Tavak called me. I had to go.” Dad’s expression didn’t change. It seemed to be a mix of love and pity and fear.

There was more going on with the elves than the unicorn and the illness afflicting them. Lots more. Maybe that was what Dad had been hinting at. Dire consequences. Right. It wasn’t as if she were about to turn into Darth Vader or anything.

At the RV, Sir Davey greeted them with a weary smile. “Coffee’s brewing.”

Laurie yawned. “What time is it?”

“Six,” Dad answered.

“Can you get me up at, say, twelve?”

“You’d better stay awake.” Sir Davey bustled over to the coffeemaker. “Going to bed now is pointless, since the Faire opens in two hours. Lots to do.”

“What? My mother would never … ”

“If you can stay up all night, then you can stay up all day.” Dad didn’t appear ready to stay up another second.

Laurie seemed at a loss for words. Keelie was sure that if they’d been in full daylight, her friend’s face would be pasty white from shock.

“I suggest if you want a hot shower, you go and take one now. Last one in will probably get a cold one.” Dad turned to Sir Davey. “Let’s start the oatmeal.”

Keelie’s stomach turned over. Elf politics, unicorns, trees, fairies, and Sean’s dad. And the missing letters from Sean. She needed quiet time to process everything that had happened tonight. She needed sleep. And in a few hours, she’d have to face Finch.