“We have proof that it was destroyed. You cannot delay us with your human tactics,” Niriel huffed, raising his eyebrows at Elianard as if in warning.
Keelie didn’t want to reveal too much in front of Niriel, but she didn’t have a choice. “The Compendium contains goblin magic as well as elven charms.”
Elianard’s face paled. “Impossible.”
“I think it has hidden layers that it’s revealing for the first time. Peascod took it, but I’m sure he learned about it from another.” She quickly told them about Tavyn the half-elf/half-goblin and his power grab. “Tavyn can use the power in the Compendium, and he said if I didn’t bring it to him, then he would attack the faire.”
“Even if we had the Compendium, why would we give it to you to trade to this abomination?” Niriel’s scalding gaze made it clear that he included her in that category.
Elianard was frowning, deep in thought.
“Because I don’t think Tavyn is going to stop at the faire. I’ve seen the goblins in Oregon and in California. They’re everywhere, and in every city. Tavyn can rally them, form an army, and attack humans as well as elves. You won’t be safe hiding in the Dread Forest for long.”
“Let him attack. We’ll be ready,” Niriel said. “Enough of this foolishness. If your father won’t rein you in, then I will. You are to return to the Dread Forest, where you will reinforce the defenses of your home forest with your magic.”
He grabbed her upper arm. “Sean, take charge of her. You wanted her, now you can have her.”
“Dad, this is wrong.” Sean’s face flushed red.
Keelie turned to Sean, pleading with her eyes for him to help her. He wouldn’t look at her, but his hands fisted and his eyebrows slammed together in a mighty frown.
“What?” Niriel asked, seemingly amused by his son’s anger. “Do you question me?”
“Yes, I do,” Sean cried. “You may not approve of Keelie, but I think she’s right. I fought Tavyn, and I know what he is capable of. He could attack the Dread Forest, and if he has a huge army of goblins, we don’t stand a chance against them.”
Keelie raised her fist, ready to punch Niriel to free herself, but Elianard stepped forward, hands outstretched. “Niriel, release Keliel. This is no way to treat a tree shepherdess. She is the daughter of the Lord of the Dread Forest.”
Niriel looked shocked that Elianard had come to her defense. Keelie was a little surprised, too.
Elianard folded his arms and looked down his nose at Niriel.
Niriel glowered. “You would follow Zekeliel.”
Elianard nodded. “He is the Lord of the Forest. Our chosen leader. And Keliel is right-if the Compendium still exists, we cannot leave it in goblin hands.”
Niriel scowled and shoved Keelie toward Elianard. “Do with her as you wish. She’s nothing but a curse upon the elves with her mixed blood.” A landing helicopter distracted him. “I must see to the evacuation.”
Keelie didn’t appreciate being tossed around like a misdelivered package, but she was glad to be free of Niriel’s clutches. She had to get the Compendium. She looked up in the sky. Time was running out.
She turned to Elianard, ready to plead for his help.
Elianard placed his index finger against his lip. “Walk with me to the edge of the village, and from there you can make your way back to Finch and the others.”
“But-”
Elianard began to walk quickly, silvery hair drifting behind him in the breeze.
Behind them, she heard Bromliel’s voice. “That’s the last one. Let’s move out.”
She turned to see Sean walking toward the open cab of the big pickup truck. He turned to look at her, and their eyes met. For a moment she felt like rushing to him, but then a horse kicked from inside the trailer, rocking it, and Sean glanced toward it, breaking their contact. The moment was over.
Keelie knew she had grown past the girl who would have been happy living out her days in the Dread Forest and going from faire to faire, year after year. There was more to her, and there was more to the world. She wanted to see it before she settled down.
She turned and hurried to catch up with Elianard. She took a deep breath to swallow the sob that wanted to burst from her chest. Later.
As they neared the edge of the village, Elianard glanced at her. “You know, Keelie, you may be able to find the Compendium because it likes you.”
Keelie stopped walking. “It’s a book. How can it like me?”
Elianard waved his arm for Keelie to catch up. She had to fast-walk to keep up with his pace. It was as if he was trying to get her out of the village as quickly as possible but be subtle about it.
“You said that the Compendium was revealing hidden layers. I knew this could happen, but for it to reveal goblin secrets? Amazing. When magical objects are exposed to additional magic, they sometimes develop a consciousness, and that must be what happened to the Compendium when it was with you. It is rare for a magic book to change and adapt like this.”
Shocked, Keelie didn’t know what to say. But she did feel a personal attachment to the Compendium. She’d even written additions for it, chronicling the information she’d learned in the Northwoods about dragons and dark fae.
“If the book has grown a consciousness, then the book can be like a familiar. It can assist you in your magical needs. But the book has to choose you.” Elianard stopped at the edge of the woods.
Keelie turned to him. “Peascod has the Compendium and Tavyn wants the magic for himself. First the rift, now the Compendium. I don’t understand.”
“You will have to figure out the answer,” Elianard said.
Chills danced up Keelie’s body as she realized what the jester wanted with the Compendium. “I think Peascod wants to use the magic in the Compendium to break free of Tavyn.”
“What hold does Tavyn have over Peascod? And how are they both so powerful, in any case?”
“Peascod absorbed the wild magic of the rift, and if he was in thrall to Tavyn, he could have fed that power to him.” Keelie shrugged. “It’s a theory. And if Tavyn gets his hands on the Compendium, he’ll be even more powerful. He’ll be able to use the magic of the elves and goblins, and he would probably challenge Herne, who was once Peascod’s master.”
Tavyn’s goblins were already imbued with wild magic. Once he reached his goal, would Tavyn become King of the Dark Fae?
“Herne the Hunter.” Elianard sighed. “Elia told me the tale of your journey north. If I had known it was so dangerous, I would have gone in her stead. But your thoughts about the strength of the Compendium and its use to these rogue goblins is sound. The Compendium knows you. Maybe it will try and reach out to you.” Elianard pointed at her.
Keelie thought of Sally and the prophecy of her magical cards. Her stomach knotted with tension. If those images gave her anxiety attacks, how was she going to react when she saw Tavyn face-to-face again?
“Can the Compendium warn me through a magical tarot deck?”
“It’s definitely in the realm of possibility.” Elianard tilted his head. “Have you seen such?”
“The tarot reader, Sally. Her deck started showing the same image of Tavyn, over and over.”
“Then you must find the Compendium quickly,” Elianard said grimly.
“If I find Peascod, I’ll find the Compendium,” Keelie stated. It sounded easy, like finding the clues to a mystery game. She knew the truth would be very different.
Overhead, a helicopter lowered to the ground, sending debris flying around. Elianard held his robes close as the wind whipped them. A door opened on its side and a green-clad figure jumped out and ran toward them.
“In your studies, did you notice a section that dealt with finding missing household items?” Elianard shouted, his eyes twinkling.
“Of course!” Keelie had used it to find her father’s car keys when he’d hidden them right after she’d learned to drive. “It starts with a tree branch, freely given,” she yelled over the noise of the rotors. She recalled the rest of it, too.
“Exactly,” Elianard replied. “I have the utmost confidence in you.”