Part 19 (2/2)
”Pureblood?” Dad echoed, surprised.
”There's more,” Keelie said quickly. ”Queen Vania turned her into a brownie, cursing her for a love affair she had with a mortal man. My grandfather.”
A frown creased Dad's forehead. ”Before your mother was born?”
Keelie nodded.
”That means that Katy was-that you are-”
”Dark fae. It's why I can go Under-the-Hill.” Keelie didn't add how at home she felt there. ”Herne told me that my dark fae side is strong enough, along with my elven blood, to make me not human. I'll have the lifespan of an elf or greater.”
Dad didn't seem overjoyed. ”Your mother never told me all this. If the elves discover it, they may consider you more dark fae than elf. It won't help matters.”
Grandmother Keliatiel knew. Keelie didn't say the words aloud, but it looked like Grandmother had kept the secret well. Was this the reason why Mom had left Dad and the Dread Forest all those years ago? Had she feared her dark fae blood would be revealed? If so, she'd had nothing to fear.
Keelie jumped up. ”I thought you'd be happy, Dad. I won't live just eighty years. We'll have more time together.”
”I never doubted it.” He said the words as if he really believed them.
Keelie was astonished. ”You've never said that before.”
”We'll talk about that later. One thing at a time, Keelie.” Dad sighed heavily and sat down on the bed. ”Norzan insisted you were the one to help. Mother convinced me you could handle yourself among the fae, after the superb way you managed the situation in the redwoods.”
”Grandmother said that?” Keelie was pleased. A com pliment from her rigid elven grandmother was high praise indeed, and rarely given.
”I wasn't going to let you come here, but she convinced me, along with Dariel.” He scowled at his younger brother.
Dariel shrugged. ”We all trust Norzan.” Keelie caught the implication that Dad had agreed with Norzan, also.
”Elia wanted to visit her family, and with Sean and Knot along to protect you, I thought you would be safe. Dariel thought Elia would be safe with her clan.”
”My clan did not welcome me. I felt unloved and dismissed.” Elia blinked several times. ”They didn't even celebrate the hope of the child.”
Dad nodded. ”We didn't expect the hostility and anger toward you both or we wouldn't have sent you into such an uncomfortable situation, much less such a dangerous one.”
”Dad, I don't think anyone knew about the rift other than Vania. What I don't understand is how Peascod and the goblins have been able to collect the wild magic to make themselves stronger.”
The dwarves' singing had stopped. Silence filtered through the motel walls, punctuated with an occasional ”huzzah.” Uncle Dariel and Elia walked over to the door, where he embraced her.
”Get some sleep. We have much to discuss in the morning. Sean's jousters and the dwarves will take turns keeping watch for goblins and Herne, so you'll be safe. Dariel and I must go speak with Terciel and King Gneiss about our next strategic move against the goblins.”
Elia walked over to the bed, pulled back the covers, and slipped in.
Dad kissed Keelie's cheek and held her close for a moment. ”I won't let anything happen to you Keelie. You are my life.”
Tears p.r.i.c.ked her eyes. ”I love you too, Dad.” She closed the door after him and turned to Coyote and Knot, who seemed to be asleep on the floor. ”I know you guys are faking it. Get up. We need to talk.”
”Will you shut up?” Elia said. ”I'm trying to get some sleep.”
Coyote's ears p.r.i.c.ked up. ”First talk to Herne. He's waiting for you outside.”
Elia levered up on her elbows. ”Not him again.”
Keelie whirled and ran to the window. Sure enough, the forest G.o.d was outside. He waved.
”What nerve! After what he did to us. We're stuck in this fleabag motel and he's out there laughing.” Keelie frowned at the horned Green Man.
”Gotta admit, it was pretty funny,” Coyote's black lips curled up in amus.e.m.e.nt.
”Well, I'm not going out to talk to him. The guards will probably see him and kick him out anyway,” Keelie said. As if the guards could even touch him.
”You're delusional.” Coyote threw his head back and howled in glee.
Herne must have heard, because he grinned at her.
”Shut up. You'll bring the guards over here.”
”So go talk to him. What can it hurt?” Coyote's tongue lolled.
”Zeke will kill her. That's what it's going to hurt,” Elia said. ”Don't take advice from an ugly dog.”
”I'm not a dog.” Coyote narrowed his eyes.
What could it hurt? Herne could whisk her off to Underthe-Hill again, that's what. ”You're supposed to be protecting me,” Keelie accused Coyote. ”Whose side are you on?”
Knot opened one eye. ”Yeow's the trickster.”
”See, even the cat agrees with me,” Elia said.
”Yeah, I'm getting that.” Keelie glared at Coyote. She turned to look back out the window and stifled a shriek. Herne's face was pressed up to the gla.s.s. She turned around to tell Elia, but the elf girl was suddenly asleep.
Keelie yanked the door open. Her elven guard lay on the ground, snoring, his eyes wide open.
”That's just wrong. What did you do to him?” she asked.
”Sweet dreams,” Herne said, with a wave of his hand.
”Get in here before anyone sees.”
Herne shook his head. ”You come out. These buildings are full of iron.”
Keelie rolled her eyes and stepped outside. She turned to look back. ”Stay in there and don't make any noise.”
Coyote looked at her innocently. ”Who, me? She's making enough noise for all three of us.” He motioned with his paw at Elia.
Knot closed his eyes, but she knew he was the biggest faker. She stepped outside and closed the door gently behind her.
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