Free Shadows of the Redwood by Gillian Summers Page B

horrified Keelie that trees could do this. But according to Bella Matera, they did it all the time.
    The weird jester dude who played Puck was coming toward her. Again, he made Keelie feel uneasy. As he passed, his eyes flicked toward her and she caught a sinister glint in his gaze. This guy was pretending. He was not under the tree spell, but Keelie didn’t want to give him away. What would the trees do if they found out? And what was different about him? If there was anything to be cautious about in the festival, it was this guy. And of course the trees.
    “He comes,” Bella said in a whispery, scratchy voice.
    “Who?” Keelie pulled her gaze away from Peascod.
    “Our Lord Bloodroot.”
    Bella drifted down to center stage and stood with the other tree spirits.
    Norzan stepped closer to Keelie. He smiled. “I think we’re about to be allowed to see an ancient ritual.”
    Keelie felt a tingle shimmy up her spine at the thought of seeing an ancient tree ritual. Excitement warred with apprehension at the thought of what she would see. She wondered if Dad had ever witnessed anything like this.
    Norzan leaned closer. “We must be careful. I’m very concerned about Viran, but until we find the answers, trust no one, not even the trees and the redwood elves. I think it wise to keep our counsel among ourselves.”
    Surprised, Keelie nodded. Good advice. She liked Norzan, and she trusted him.
    Grandmother joined them, her face transfixed with wonder. “It’s not like the real Globe, but it’s a very good replica.” Keelie knew Grandmother was old, but put in this context … holy cow!
    The air suddenly became chilled, and the wind kicked up. Keelie had to push her curls out of her face. Floating toward center stage was a large, dark cloud. All was quiet, as if everyone and every tree was holding their breath, expecting something big to happen.
    And it did. A green bolt of lightning flashed in the sky.
    Thunder boomed over the Globe, rattling the stage. It was kind of like the special effects at a rock n’ roll concert.
    A giant tree spirit materialized out of the mist. He was human-looking except for his eyes, which were vertically slitted, like a cat’s, and emerald green. He surveyed the stage and the surroundings as if memorizing everything. His trunk and roots, even in the dim light of the lanterns hanging in the Globe, were red like blood. Hence the name, Keelie figured.
    And talk about a dramatic entrance. Keelie couldn’t help but be mesmerized by Bloodroot’s presence. There was something about him that drew her to him.
    “Gentle trees, and shepherds who have gathered among us, I bid thee welcome to our forest. May you find peace in our soil.” His voice was deep and loamy.
    Bloodroot fixed his intimidating gaze on Keelie. Her blood grew cold. He was looking into the core of her essence, and the tree magic within her would soon reveal all her secrets to him. Keelie dug the rose quartz from her pocket and pulled on a strong filament of Earth magic while visualizing a shield. She definitely agreed with Norzan. They were going to have to be careful around such powerful trees.
    Grandmother had an enraptured look on her face, as if she’d found tree nirvana. Water droplets sprinkled on Keelie’s arms. It was going to rain very soon. She hoped the trees performed their ritual quickly.
    “Tonight, we come together to find our shepherd.”
    There was a deep “om” from the gathered tree spirits.
    Bloodroot gestured with his branches toward the sky, and then, as if he’d caught a firefly, he clasped them close together.
    There was a unified gasp of awe from the tree spirits.
    “We send out an air spirit to seek him.” Bloodroot lifted his branches. His twiggy fingers glowed with glacial blue light.
    The tree spirits swirled and cheered.
    Keelie could barely make out a shape within the glimmering light. It looked like a small humanoid, shimmering like an image on bad TV reception.
    “Air spirit, go out in