Kalix turned around, anger lining his face. “How dare you disrespect the wishes of Bella Matera. You must do as she says. It is our way.”

“It may be your tradition to follow the trees,” Grandmother retorted, “but when the trees no longer obey the rules of the Great Sylvus, then it’s time a shepherd guided them back to the path. I will speak no more of it.”

Kalix turned to Sariela. “We must call a Council meeting immediately.”

Sariela nodded stiffly, glancing at Grandmother with fear on her face.

Grandmother slumped into a chair the minute the two elves stormed from the room. She seemed every one of her hundreds of years.

“Are you going to be okay?” Keelie kneeled at her grandmother’s feet. “I’m so proud of the way you stood up to them, and to Bella Matera.”

A faint smile brought life to Lady Keliatiel’s face. She put a hand on Keelie’s head. “I just beat you to it, and I’m more powerful than you. I could see your outrage at their suggestion to move Norzan into the forest.”

“What can I do to help you now?”

Grandmother opened her eyes. “I have to go to the Globe. We’re doing a special fundraiser performance tonight.”

“They’ll find someone else to play Queen Elizabeth.”

The look Grandmother shot Keelie would have drilled holes in steel. “They will not. I’ll be there.”

Keelie turned to Sean. “Will you walk with us to the theater?”

Sean nodded. “I’m glad you invited me, because I would have come anyway.” He looked worried, although his tone was light.

Grandmother looked at him. “Keelie cannot go. She must remain here to guard Norzan until the healer arrives.” She glanced toward the doorway. “I’m not sure he’ll be safe, otherwise.”

“I’ll stay as well, then,” Sean added quickly. He winked at Keelie, but went to the doorway and casually looked outside.

“I trust you to behave with decorum.” Grandmother looked toward Sean.

“Of course.” Keelie smiled and put her hand on Grandmother’s shoulder. “You’re the Queen, right?”

Grandmother’s eyebrows rose. “Perhaps Knot is the wrong guardian for you. You seem to be picking up his ways.” She smiled and stood up, wincing. “Perhaps I need some of this coffee you speak of with such fondness.”

“Radical.” Keelie smiled. “You might never be the same. But be careful, okay?”

“I shall.”

Keelie stood by the window and watched Grandmother walk through the forest below. The faint sounds of a harp wafted by. Sean came up behind her and they stood together silently.

“I’m getting used to being alone with you.” Keelie leaned back against him. “Could you live way up in the trees like this?”

“I’m sure it would be fine if you grew up with it.” He put his arms around her waist. Keelie loved the feel of his strong arms next to hers and his warm body behind her. He smelled spicy, but more like soap than the forest. “Of course, I’ll be happy anywhere you are.” He spoke into her ear, making her shiver.

Keelie turned her face toward him, hoping he’d get the hint. He did. His green eyes darkened and he touched his nose to hers, then kissed her.

Oh, god. Keelie was going to die of bliss. All thoughts of tree spirits and missing shepherds vanished. She turned in his arms and kissed him again, snaking her arms around his neck. His hands pressed the small of her back, squeezing her closer.

“Let’s find a way to be alone more,” he whispered. “We’ve managed fine so far today, despite our responsibilities.”

“I’ll make it a priority. You’ll be number one on my agenda.” She stopped talking as he nibbled her jaw.

Someone rapped on the door three times.

Sean swore, and Keelie swatted him on the shoulder. “And what’s with the ‘you’ll be happy anywhere I am?’ Sappy, but good try.”

He groaned. “Was that an awful line?”

The knocking started again, louder this time. Keelie reached up to smooth Sean’s mussed blond hair. “There. You look better now.”

He straightened his tunic and cautiously opened the door. Three tall elves bowed to him. “We are the healers of the Northwoods, come for Norzan,” one said.

Keelie sighed. Her romantic moment was over. “Welcome, healers,” she said. “I’ll show you where Norzan lies.” How did they travel, cross-country sap?

Sean stepped aside and, as Keelie passed him, he swept a hand down her shoulders in a delicious caress, a promise of more to come.

The Northwoods elves seemed familiar. Keelie walked down the hall ahead of them and saw Kalix duck back from a doorway.

The healers surrounded Norzan, and then one turned to glare at Keelie. “You may wait on the forest floor.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Sean grinned. “Why the frown, Keelie? We’ve been ordered to wait alone, together. Doesn’t sound so bad to me.”

“Come to think of it, you are absolutely correct.” Keelie linked her arm through his. “Let’s go.”

They were interrupted again an hour later, when Wena the tree gave a great groan. The wicker gurney bearing Norzan’s still form appeared near them at the base of the tree, flanked by two of the healers. Wena’s spirit was suddenly there too, leaning against the rough bark of her physical form. She looked exhausted.

“Too many traveling the sap,” Wena gasped to them.

“Yeah, it’s sort of a hotel these days, isn’t it?” Keelie sympathized. “I’m sorry, Wena.”

Wena waved them away with one spectral, stick-fingered hand.

The tree creaked as the third healer appeared. The female healer gave Keelie a curious look. “You are the half human, Keliel?” Her tone was snooty, as if she’d been looking for a lioness and found a possum.

Keelie inclined her head regally, as she’d seen her grandmother do. “I am Keliel, Daughter of Zekeliel of the Dread Forest.” Take that, blondie.

The elf woman sneered, and Keelie suddenly knew why these elves seemed familiar. “Are you kin to Elia, daughter of Elianard?”

The woman’s eyes darkened. “She is kin.”

Oh yeah, they’d probably heard that their precious elf princess had married a unicorn. Uncle Dariel, that is, when he took a human form.

“Dear Auntie Elia.” Keelie didn’t even pretend to hide the fake fondness. Even though Elia had somewhat redeemed herself, Keelie could never consider her a true friend. She was wandering around the Dread Forest right now, making everyone fetch things for her just because she was the first elf woman in a generation to get pregnant. And elf generations were three times as long as human ones.

The Northwoods elf woman sputtered, probably trying to think of something mean to say, but then one of the others called her and she hurried to catch up with them.

“Gee, she didn’t even say goodbye.” Keelie waved cheerily.

“Let’s see how they got here.” Sean’s hand closed around Keelie’s. Ahead, flashes of silver marked the movement of the first two healers as they made their way out of the forest, Norzan between them. The woman healer walked behind, holding a glowing light ball aloft and glancing back at them every third step.

In the clearing by the road, a helicopter waited, rotors whirring almost silently.

“Is it electric?” Keelie thought electric helicopters were just for toys. “I didn’t think elves were big on motors.”

“I don’t know much about them myself.” Sean’s arm draped over her shoulder as they watched Norzan get loaded into the back. The female healer turned and walked back toward them.

“Our thanks to Lady Keliatiel for calling us. It will take Lord Norzan long to heal, but he will recover. We shall see you at the Quicksilver Faire.” She bowed, all business, and Keelie and Sean returned the bow.

Keelie wasn’t so sure she wanted to attend the Quicksilver Faire. The snooty factor promised to be high there.

A loud “huzzah” echoed from the direction of the Globe.

“I wonder if the play has started,” Keelie said.

“No telling.” Sean put his arm back on her shoulder, pulling her close to him. “Let’s watch Norzan off and then we can head that way.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

If the healer elves thought it strange that the daughter of the Dread Forest’s tree shepherd considered kissing her bodyguard’s face to be an important part of their farewell, she’d hear about it later. Right now, she enjoyed it too much to care.

Sean and Keelie watched the helicopter vanish above the trees, then cut through the festival grounds to the Globe. They passed Heartwood and Tudor Turnings.

Scott appeared at his doorway. “Are you heading toward the Globe?” He fell into step with them. Sean didn’t seem pleased that Scott had joined them.

“I asked Laurie to join me for a late dessert and coffee after the show,” Scott said. “Want to join us?”

“We might.” Sean dropped his arm over her shoulder. Keelie smiled at the possessive move. “We have to check on Keelie’s grandmother first.”

Laurie met up with them as they passed Sir Davey’s RV in the parking area. A smile erupted on Scott’s face when he saw Laurie. “Guess what? Sean and Keelie are coming, too.”

Laurie grinned. “Great. It’s a double date.” Her eyes widened when she got a good look at Keelie. She pretended to straighten her hair.

Had she gone nuts? Then Keelie realized that Laurie was signaling that Keelie’s hair was messed up. She reached up and quickly finger-combed it down. She wondered what the Northwoods elves thought of her ’do.

Keelie saw Coyote standing at the edge of the forest, camouflaged by the trees. He lifted his head, then, nose to the ground, took off in the direction of the festival. She hoped he stayed out of garbage cans and out of trouble.

The Globe was packed full of jostling, good-natured theater-goers. Luckily, the fundraiser show was running a bit late, and the ticket takers recognized them and waved them inside. Sean led the way, his height letting him see above the milling crowd in front of the stage.

As in the real Globe Theater, there were no chairs in the area directly in front of the stage. The groundlings had to stand, just as they had in London hundreds of years ago. Several of Sean’s jousters were guarding the backstage entrances.

Keelie wondered how her grandmother was doing. “I’m going to check on the old lady,” she told the others. She chinned herself up onto the stage and walked toward the doorways in the back.

“Please, milady, actors only back here.” A wide woman opened her arms to shoo Keelie away. Keelie ducked under her arm, scooted through the doorway, and froze. The carefully aged look of the Globe was all for show. Back here, walls were made of raw lumber and a water cooler hummed in a corner. Actors and actresses, some dressed, some half-dressed, buzzed around, concentrating on the upcoming performance. A few muttered lines to themselves like crazy people.

A girl with long, flowing golden hair leaned against the doorway, watching the action. She smiled at Keelie.

“Excuse me,” Keelie asked. “Have you seen a lady dressed as Queen Elizabeth? She’s my grandmother.”

The girl laughed. “I certainly have.” Her voice was startlingly deep. She pointed a thick finger toward the left, and Keelie realized that she was a he. “Through there.”

Keelie rushed in that direction, anxious to get away from the confusing place. Why did Grandmother like this so much? A discordant feeling rippled through her body.

She heard a familiar jangle and turned, searching for the source of the sound. Peascod. She expected to see him in his familiar red and green suit. She didn’t see him, but she sensed him nearby. Keelie shivered, but kept moving. She didn’t want to meet him in a dark hall tonight.

A low murmur of voices came from behind a door. A religious service? A poetry reading? She opened the door carefully, not wanting to make noise. Inside, a circle of folding wooden chairs, each holding a costumed courtier, surrounded a small armchair upon which sat Grandmother, sumptuously costumed as Queen Elizabeth. She wore a white and crimson gown, and her face was painted white in a style Keelie knew had been popular in Shakespeare’s time. A woman in street clothes stood behind Grandmother, gluing pearls onto her tightly curled red wig.

Grandmother lowered the jeweled hand mirror she was using to observe the woman’s work. “Keliel, my dear, you should not be back here.”

Keelie wanted to tell her about the Northwoods healers, and about Peascod and Tavyn in the woods, and also ask what she thought of Kalix and Sariela’s strange behavior, but she couldn’t do it in front of all these people. Suddenly uncertain, Keelie backed up a step. “I wanted to be sure you were okay. I’m out front with Sean and Scott and Laurie.”

Grandmother made a motion as if to dismiss her. The courtiers looked at her curiously, but Grandmother did not introduce her. Embarrassed, Keelie closed the door gently behind her and pushed her way toward the stage.

The boy in the long golden wig smirked as she went by. “Granny didn’t care to see you?”

Keelie ignored him. Sure, Grandmother’s indifference stung a little, but she knew her better now. Grandmother was unpredictable. And she was glad for her—Grandmother was probably having more fun than she’d had in centuries.

Laurie waved to her from one of the upper balconies. Sean appeared a moment later with bottles of water, and the four of them sat packed together tightly on the bench seats.

Sean and Scott talked to a nearby group of vendors. Sean quickly introduced her to everyone, and they discussed taxes, inventory, foot traffic, and whose food shop was likeliest to induce food poisoning. Even Laurie joined in. After a while Keelie felt almost normal again.

By now the Globe was bursting with people. They hung over the balconies and swarmed in front of the stage, holding drinks dispensed from a bar by the tall, splintery doors. Keelie leaned forward in her seat, holding onto the round timber banister (yellow pine from Alabama). From here she could see the front doorway, where people were still piling in, trying to squeeze through the crowd to find a good vantage point.

“I wonder if it was like this in Shakespeare’s day,” Keelie mused aloud.

“Before my time,” Sean said, and he was serious.

“It was much like this,” the man to her left confided. He wore a University of California-Berkeley T-shirt. “I come every year and bring my students.”

A fanfare played on long golden trumpets, and then Master Oswald introduced the festival court. The crowd went wild as the lords and ladies of the court sashayed to their places, dressed in colorful silks and satins and wearing bejeweled hats. Peascod, playing the royal jester, followed. He seemed to look straight at her, then pointed his jester’s scepter at her.

The biggest cheers were for Grandmother, who waved solemnly to the crowd, her red, pearl-sewn wig now sporting a tiny diamond crown. She looked pretty authentic, Keelie had to admit.

Grandmother held up her gloved hands and the crowd fell silent. All faces turned to her. “Play on, good folk,” she pronounced, and took her seat to wild applause. A cannon shot from the top of the wall, the boom rattling the whole theater, and then the actor playing Theseus stepped onto the stage, arms spread wide and face uplifted. Everyone settled in for a night of fun.

Back in the tree house later that night, Keelie didn’t have to fight to stay awake. The coffee they’d had at the Capulet Café had taken care of that. But then she’d studied the Compendium, and now she was yawning over her cup of tea. The elves could get rich selling sample chapters of the charm book as sleep aids. But Keelie had to stay awake, in order to bring Laurie up the sap when she returned. Scott had taken her for a long walk on the road that bordered the moonlit beach.

Grandmother was missing in action as well—probably carrying on with the rowdy players. It made Keelie twitch to think about it.

Keelie glanced up at the clock. It was 1:00 in the morning. She sat up, suddenly worried. Despite their active social lives, Laurie and Grandmother shouldn’t be out this late. She glanced over at Knot, who slept on his back with his paws up in the air. His tail twitched in his sleep, and he meowed angrily. Maybe he was dreaming about catching feithid daoine. Keelie closed the Compendium. She didn’t want to read about spells and charms, although the book really had some doozies. She wanted to sneak outside and be with Sean. The memory of his kisses trailing down her neck still lingered.

On the opposite side of the room, Risa lifted her eyes and scowled. She was reading a worn, leatherbound book. It looked like one of Elianard’s lore books.

Keelie glanced toward the door.

Risa closed her book. “Don’t even think about it.”

“What?”

“It’s written all over your face. You want to go down there and snuggle up to our favorite elf guy.”

“I thought you didn’t want him anymore?”

“I love Knot, but Sean and I were meant to be together. It’s an elf thing.” Her eyes rested on the cat’s sleeping form.

“Like I’m not an elf.”

Risa rolled her eyes. “You’re half elf. I’ll give you that. But you and Sean are too different, and it won’t last. When he’s tired of you, or you get old and ugly real fast because you’re half human, then I’ll be waiting.” Risa ran a hand over her chest to emphasize her point. “I’ll still be firm while you’ll be all saggy. Patience is an elven virtue that you obviously don’t have.”

Risa had given voice to one of Keelie’s worries: would she age faster than Sean? She wasn’t going to let Risa get the best of her.

“Who knows. Maybe I won’t age at all. Then what are you going to do? Dig in your garden and talk to your plants and collect cats?”

“Collect cats? There is only one cat I want, and we both know who it is.” Risa’s face became all aglow with adoration as her gaze fell upon Knot. “You took Sean from me, so I’ll take Knot from you.”

Knot yawned and stretched his paws, sinking his claws into Keelie’s thighs.

Risa sighed and her eyes misted over. “Isn’t he an amazing specimen of feline elegance? Angeliello, the famous elven sculptor, couldn’t have captured Knot’s grace and beauty in marble. I don’t think any artist would be able to do justice to Knot.”

Keelie wrinkled her nose at Risa’s obsession over Knot. “What did you put in that love potion?”

Risa eased back in her chair and arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because you need to find an antidote, and you need to find it real fast.”

Risa picked at the dress material on her knee. “There is no antidote. I’ve been searching for one.”

“What? You were going to give Sean a potion without an antidote? That’s cruel and stupid. Not to mention selfish.”

Risa lifted her head, her green eyes bright with tears. She rose and walked over to the fireplace. “I didn’t give it to him, so it all worked out in the end. I’m the one being punished. It is my heart that is breaking. My love for Knot will forever be unrequited and I will have to endure my days upon this earth alone, knowing he is with you.”

Knot sat up, twisted, and began washing his butt. Risa looked over and placed her fist in her mouth to stop her cry.

The doorknob turned. Keelie’s heart raced as Grandmother stepped in. She had bright rosy cheeks and her eyes were glowing a deep green. “Why are the jousters camped at the base of the tree?”

“Sean thought I needed extra protection. There was something following us in the woods earlier tonight.” Keelie spoke impatiently, anxious to find out if Grandmother had noticed anything off about the redwood elves.

“You should not be alone in these woods. We have already seen what great danger there is here.”

Keelie lowered her head and sighed. “I’m never alone in the woods.” She looked toward Knot.

Grandmother shook her head. “I’m glad Sean was with you.”

Keelie was glad of that, too. “You know, we saw Peascod walking with Tavyn.”

“There is no law governing walks in the woods,” Grandmother said. “But that is indeed a curious thing. Peascod is a player, not an elf. What was he doing in the forest?”

Risa wrinkled her nose. “Peascod never changes his costume.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Keelie parked her hands on her hips. “I’m trying to tell Grandmother something serious and you’re going on about fashion. It’s not like jesters have a lot of choice.”

“I mean, he never changes. Have you smelled him?”

Keelie shuddered, remembering her first job at the Wildewood Faire, when she’d worn a smelly purple dragon suit. Even thinking about it brought the stench back. “I could have gone the rest of my life not knowing that.”

Risa sat up. “Did you hear that? Knot needs me.” She went to the door and looked out. “I’ll be right back.”

Grandmother sighed, but the corners of her lips were raised in a little smile. “Keelie, you’ll soon have some help looking for Viran. Bloodroot has volunteered to help you.”

“Bloodroot the tree? Did they pin your wig on too tight?” Even his name sounded sinister. “I can do it with Knot and Sean.”

“But my dear, Bloodroot knows this forest as you do not.”

Kalix and Sariela glided into the room. Kalix lifted his haughty face. “Your grandmother is right. You need to listen to her.”

Sariela sat down in a chair by Keelie and stared pensively toward the doorway.

Grandmother was oblivious to Keelie’s bemusement. “He seems to have many interests and talents. It’s amazing what the Ancients can do.”

Kalix nodded. “Your grandmother is right. You will benefit from the benevolent wisdom of Bloodroot.”

Benevolent? More like malevolent. Was something wrong with Grandmother? Suddenly she seemed to trust the trees. Something wasn’t right. Keelie needed to talk to Dad.

The room suddenly shook strongly, causing the dishes to rattle in the cupboards. “Earthquake. Minor one,” Keelie said. There wasn’t much point standing in the doorway. They were in a tree, for Pete’s sake.

“I suppose they have more temblors than we do farther north,” Grandmother mused. The doorknob turned and Grandmother smiled as the door opened. “Ah, there you are. We were just talking about you.”

Tavyn stood in the open doorway. Keelie bit her lip. Tavyn came closer and Keelie backed away, staring. His skin had a reddish cast, as if he were sunburned, but too much sun didn’t explain why the whites of his eyes were deep green and there was a loamy scent about him, very much like the redwoods.

The answer hit her as he turned to her with a ravenous stare. Her hands clenched.

“Good evening, Keelie.” His voice sounded like scraping branches. Bloodroot looked out at her through the ranger’s eyes.