sixteen

Keelie dove to snatch up the book and held it tightly against her chest, turning to keep Jake from grabbing it.

“Stupid girl, you’ve cursed yourself.” He was angry.

Then Elia’s voice rang out in the darkness. “Let go of her, Jake. She’s got to help my father.”

Jake ignored Elia. “The magic didn’t heal Ariel. It transformed her.” He turned to Elia. “And it won’t help your father, either.” His eyes flashed red, reminding Keelie that he was neither elf nor human.

Keelie shrank away from him. She wanted to feel the magic course through her again. She hugged the book tighter and was thrilled to see the golden glow reach out to her.

“I don’t believe you,” she told Jake. “I used the magic to heal Ariel.” She gestured toward the cage with a lift of her chin. “Look. She’ll be able to fly.”

Golden sparkles danced all around Ariel. The magic was working. Keelie’s heart gladdened despite the dark, icky vertigo that had begun to swirl in her brain.

Elia looked at her, then clapped her hands over her mouth. “Keelie, Jake’s right. You didn’t save her—you’ve condemned her. Look at you.”

“What?” Keelie felt a little sick, but no different. “You’re wrong, Elia. If you hadn’t cursed her in the first place, then I wouldn’t have had to use the book. She won’t die. If your heart is good, then you can control the bad magic. The unicorn trusted me. I’m saving Ariel, and I’ll be able to save Grandmother and the Dread Forest.”

Keelie felt drunk with the power of the magic. It felt so strong now, flowing through her and making the dizziness ebb away. It was as if her mind was being cleared. She didn’t understand why Dad or Grandmother hadn’t used the magic before. It was so different from tree magic.

Keelie stepped away from Jake, out of his reach. She looked at Elia, who stared back in shock.

“I have to restore the Dread. The Shining Ones’ magic can be used to help others.”

Jake edged closer to her. “No, Keelie. You don’t understand. It’s not a magic book from the Shining Ones.It’s a darkling book filled with the secrets of the Underworld—the dark fairies. It’s dangerous, and it’s changed you already.”

“No it’s not. You just want the power for yourself.” There was a part of Keelie’s brain that was reeling in shock—thinking, “what are you saying? This is not you.” But no, the book belonged to her. It was hers. She could use this magic for good. This wasn’t like tree magic, or the Dread, or even the charm that the elves used on humans.

She heard the trees calling to her, afraid. Tree Shepherdess?

Tell Dad I saved Ariel. Tell him she can see.

Tree Shepherdess, your father is…

A loud clanging pierced Keelie’s ears. She twisted, trying to get away from the sound. Her head filled with the ringing of hammers on hot steel. Her mind whirled with images of the dwarves’ forge. “I can’t hear the trees.”

Jake frowned. “The Underworld is reaching out, blocking you from the trees.”

Keelie shook her head. “Underworld? Dark fairies? This is supposed to be the magic of the Shining Ones. The magic of Einhorn and the good fairies.”

“But this is not the power of the Shining Court, Keelie. I told you.” Jake lifted his head and listened. “Armored men are coming close.”

“I don’t understand what you’re telling me. If it’s not the Shining Ones, who is it?” The clanging made her head spin and a headache pounded behind her eyes. She shifted the book to one arm so that she could rub her temples.

“The dark fae.”

The clanging drew louder and Keelie realized that it wasn’t all in her head. Panic and nausea hit her like a punch to the pit of her stomach as she realized what she’d done. “I’ve used the magic of the dark fairies to heal Ariel,” she managed to whisper. “How can I undo it?”

“Forget the bird—how can she use the book to help my father?” Elia asked impatiently.

“Your father made his choice and it can be undone no more than Keelie can undo hers.” Jake sounded just as tense. “But Keelie can summon the bird to do her bidding. Maybe it can help us.”

“We’ve caught you, vampire!” Three armored jousters sprang from the bushes and surrounded Jake, swords drawn, so that he could not escape. Two more stood on either side of Elia. The armed men wore breastplates and fitted helmets over tunics. They must have dressed hastily.

Niriel strode forward, a lantern in his hand. “Give me the book, Keelie, and don’t listen to this creature. He was formed from an act so vile that it tainted his soul and turned him into a vampire. There was nothing evil in what you did, dear child. You merely wanted to save your bird.”

“Leave Keelie alone, Niriel.” Jake stood in front of her, pushing aside a sword blade.

The elven lord motioned with his hand. “Look at your hawk.” He lifted the lantern and Keelie saw that Ariel’s eyes were no longer milky white with blindness—they were golden and bright with a ring of black around the irises.Her red tail feathers had turned black. It was as if Ariel was no longer in the hawk’s body, replaced by something dark and sinister.

Wondering if Niriel could be right, Keelie placed her hand against Ariel’s cage, her fingers trembling. “What’s happened to her?”

“The magic has transformed her,” Jake answered. “Even though your intentions were good, the dark magic works unexpectedly.”

“I’m sure your transformation was unexpected as well, was it not, vampire? Our forest will soon be cleansed of your presence.” Lord Niriel’s smile was smug.

Jake lunged toward the woods, but two of the jousters restrained him, holding his shoulders tightly.

Niriel walked past him to Ariel’s cage. The hawk watched him intently, head thrust forward, as he unlatched the door’s catch.

“What are you doing? You can’t let her go in the dark.” Keelie watched, dismayed, as he flung the door open.

Ariel spread her wings, then jumped into the doorway and launched herself like a feathered missile into the night sky, disappearing into the shadows of the trees with three fast beats of her wings.

“See, child, the hawk is flying free, isn’t that what you wanted? To restore her sight, so she could fly?” Niriel’s eyes narrowed with evil pleasure. He brushed his hands together. “Now that you’ve accomplished that goal, you can give me the book and I will be a character witness for you at the trial. I will tell them that you were distraught about the hawk, driven mad with the goal of restoring her sight. The book called to you and because of your human blood, you couldn’t resist it.”

“What trial? What are you talking about?” Keelie clutched the book tighter, not trusting Niriel’s intentions, especially if he meant to bring her to trial.

“You wouldn’t dare bring her before the Council.” Jake tried to struggle free of the jousters, but he couldn’t break their hold.

“It’s really your fault if the Tree Shepherd’s daughter is condemned,” Niriel told him. “A trial has been called based on evidence that she has concealed your presence from us. Elianard was to be judged, too, but he is in poor condition.”

“It’s not fair,” Elia cried out. “My father was trying to save the Dread. He didn’t want to kill Einhorn. He only wanted the horn to renew the magic, and now he’s fading and no one will help him.”

Jake looked at her, a tender expression on his face. He must love her, Keelie thought. When did that happen? Nothing was going her way this night.

Above, Ariel called out, a joyous sound that rang through the trees. Keelie looked up and saw her hawk, glowing with the power that vanquished her curse. Whatever happened, Ariel would survive.

Emboldened by the realization, Keelie faced Niriel. “Let them go. You have me and the proof of what I’ve done. Jake and Elia have done no wrong.”

“Tell her, Jake… is that what you call yourself now? Tell our little Tree Shepherdess how you became a vampire.” Niriel’s smile was cruel.

Jake’s expression darkened and he struggled against his captor’s grasp. “You were part of it, Niriel. Tell her yourself.”

Keelie looked from one to the other, puzzled. “I know what happened. Jake said he used dark magic.”

Niriel’s smile widened. “And so he did. He killed the unicorn of the Okanogan forest, and used its horn to restore the Dread. Alas, it doomed him.”

Keelie looked at Jake. “You killed a unicorn?” Her stomach twisted as she remembered Einhorn, broken and dying, before her magic had restored him. “How could you?

Jake lowered his head, then met her eyes. “Like you, I thought I could control the dark magic. Elianard, Niriel, and I thought the unicorn’s horn could be used to restore the Dread and save our home. It worked—but I spend every minute of every day regretting my decision.” Jake looked at Elia with sadness. “I’m sorry.” He reached out to her, and she ran to his embrace.

“Elia?” Niriel scowled. “You let this abomination touch you?”

“He is no abomination.” From within the circle of Jake’s arms, Elia lifted her chin, defiant. “You are. You’re the one who urged Father to save the Dread by killing the Wildewood unicorn.”

“Your father is the one condemned by the magic, not me.” They were all included in Niriel’s contemptuous stare. “If he had been able to follow the plan we made, he would have remained untouched by the magic. The unicorn’s horn would be ours.”

Keelie knew what the plan had been. “You were going to kill the Wildewood unicorn and use his magic to save the Dread Forest, and I was supposed to lure Einhorn while you killed him—but Einhorn lived. So why is Elianard dying?”

“Because he used the amulet with intent to harm. You, my dear, can use the book and the amulet, too. You will restore the Dread.”

“But I’ll be cursed,” Keelie said. This didn’t sound like a great plan.

“You’re already cursed,” Niriel said curtly. He turned to the jousters. “Let’s get them to the Lore House.”

The jousters moved forward.

“I won’t do it.” Keelie held the book high. “The magic of this book was guarded by the tree shepherds, and the amulet was entrusted to me by Einhorn. I’ll give them to my father.”

Niriel cocked his head and motioned nonchalantly. Several jousters stepped up with swords drawn. “Brave words that signify nothing. You will be held in the Lore House to await the pleasure of the tree queens and the Elven Council.”

Jake growled.

Niriel pressed his sword tip into Elia’s chest, daring Jake to come closer. “I wouldn’t move if I were you. This one’s death would spare the Council one decision.”

Elia stared at Niriel, unafraid.

The other elven jousters moved in around Jake. He stood still, his eyes on Elia. “Don’t hurt her.”

“He actually cares for you, Elia. And you care for him. I thought it impossible for someone to break through your icy veneer. To think I even considered a marriage between you and my son.” Niriel laughed.

Jake broke free of his captors and one of the jousters lifted a sword in a wide, slashing arc toward Jake’s neck.

“Stop.” Keelie dropped the book and lunged forward to grab the sword’s blade, ignoring the sharp pain as it cut her hand. Her blood sizzled, and sparks shot from the steel as it transformed to wood.

The elf dropped the sword with a startled cry and jumped back.

“Impossible,” Niriel hissed.

Everyone stared at the wooden sword on the ground. The jousters shifted uneasily.

“A pretty trick.” Niriel motioned for more elven guards. The jousters recovered from their surprise and surrounded Jake, Elia, and Keelie. “Take them to the Lore House.”

“The trees told me there was trouble.” Zeke walked rapidly toward them. The jousters stopped, confused at the sight of the tree shepherd.

Niriel reached down for the book, but Zeke’s booted foot stepped down on it. “This book is forbidden to you.”

Niriel straightened with a scowl. “Tree Shepherd. Of course.”

“What goes on here?” Grandmother appeared behind Dad, her eyes wide at the sight of the armed men. “The trees called to me in my sleep. It’s been so long since they’ve spoken to me. They told me my granddaughter needed me.”

Keelie was so glad to see them, but she was also frightened and embarrassed to be found out.

Grandmother looked at Keelie, and then her gaze slid to Jake. She lifted a trembling hand to her face, her expression frozen in a mask of disbelief. “Dariel?”

Jake bowed his head. “Mother, Zekeliel.”

Mother? Keelie looked from Jake to Dad. Oh yeah, she could see it now.

Dad paled. “Dariel, why have you returned? Leave at once, or you’ll be killed.”

Keelie looked from Dad to Jake. “What’s going on here?”

Dad shook his head. “The trees whispered of this, but I hoped it wasn’t true. And if it wasn’t, then it was a secret best left in the past.”

So Jake was Dad’s long-lost brother. This was a family disclosure straight out of Star Wars.

“Jake, you could have told me that you’re my uncle.”

“Family secrets revealed.” Niriel sneered at them. “Really, Zeke, you must learn to communicate with your daughter.” He shook his head, feigning sadness. “Of course, this changes nothing. I am escorting them to the Lore House, Tree Shepherd. There they will await their trial.”

“Ridiculous,” Grandmother said angrily. “If anyone is to go on trial it is you and Lord Elianard.”

Niriel bowed his head. “But Keliatiel, we have witnessed Keliel’s use of dark magic, and she has admitted to aiding the vampire, as has Elia. Our laws are clear and must be honored. You lead us, what say you?” His eyes shifted from face to face.

He’s lying, Keelie thought. His plan’s been found out and he’s making this up as he goes along.

Keliatiel looked from her two sons to Keelie, eyes shining with unshed tears. “I will see you at the Oaken Circle of the Queens, before the Caudex.”