Gillian Summers: The goblin's curse

“Come on, Herb,” Teresa said. “There’s got to be livelier interviews somewhere else.” The two hurried off.

Dad dropped back to his knees. “Keelie, are you really okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Fala turned to Herne, his forehead creased with worry. “What are we going to do about this situation? Was this Peascod’s intent all along? Revealing the world of magic to humans will upset the balance.”

“Elves will be in peril,” Dad said. “We’d be an object of scientific curiosity. I’ve seen this behavior before, when humans are confronted with something new and different. Fear compels people of all forms to do dangerous things. At least the fae live in another realm.”

Okay, Sylvus. A little help here. Keelie searched the trees for a message from Sylvus, but there was no answer.

The pages of the Compendium opened. Talk about an answer from above. She remembered Sylvus implying that it was her instruction book.

Ancient Oblivion Spell:

Have you done embarrassing things at parties that you wished everyone would forget? Made embarrassing speeches at a Council meeting? This spell will erase selective memory and not harm the participating subjects.

Important note: If used to make humans forget, and if more than one race was present at the time of the gaff, all races must be represented at the time of the spellcasting.

Keelie smiled.

Thanks, Sylvus!

She stood and held the Compendium. “I think I have an answer to our problem, but I need a dragon, an elf, a dwarf, and two fae-one dark and one High Court. Do we have everyone we need?”

Herne stood next to her as Finch, Vangar, Dad, Sir Davey, and Fala formed a circle near the Admin building. Nearby, reporters trawled the faire seeking people to interview.

Keelie stepped into the center and read the Oblivion spell. As she read, a pale gray mist appeared from beneath her feet and crawled to each of the members of the circle, who looked apprehensive but didn’t break ranks. When all had been touched by the mist, it expanded, then burst, and flowed like waves across the fairegrounds.

“Everyone will remember a strong earthquake,” Keelie said as she completed the spell.

She cut her eyes over to Herne. “I hope it works.”

The mist traveled through the faire, touching reporters, shopkeepers, and performers. A glazed look formed in their eyes when the magic settled on them.

Teresa Smith stopped nearby, her curious expression replaced by blankness. “What am I doing here?” she asked herself.

Finch winked at Keelie. “I’ve got this.”

Tarl the mud man walked up to Teresa. “You’re here to cover the earthquake.”

Several other High Mountain Faire folk joined them. “I was in my shop when all of my pottery went flying out the window,” Sam the Potter said. “I found one of Hob’s masks all the way down here.” He lifted a broken, bone-white mask, then tossed it on a heap of trash and wiped his hands. “Creepy thing.”

Finch joined the gathered group, and the cameraman swung his camera toward her.

“Can you tell us about the faire?” Teresa Smith held the microphone up to Finch.

Finch smiled. Her eyes sparkled, and she looked directly into the camera as the magical gray mist drifted around it. “Despite the earthquake here at the High Mountain Renaissance Faire, I’d like to reassure the public that the faire will be as good as new this weekend. The Middle Ages will be alive and kicking and everyone is invited to come join in the merriment.”

Teresa Smith nodded. “You heard it here first. The High Mountain Renaissance Faire will be opened to the public after the unusual earthquake that hit the Fort Collins area.”

Keelie hoped the oblivion spell would spread across the airwaves, into the minds of any people who’d seen earlier newscasts.

“Hey, where did that tree come from?” Tarl was looking up into the branches of an aspen that now spread its branches over the Admin building.

Uh oh. That one would have to remain a mystery.

Keelie juggled the Compendium from one arm to the other. It was heavy and awkward. So cumbersome. It was past time to get this thing online-the Dread Forest elves must never lose their lore again. She also wondered if she could talk to Sylvus about maybe transforming the book of knowledge into something more modern, like a tablet computer with a wooden case.

The book rose and hovered in midair, and the pages opened to a new section.

Object Transformation:

You will need a wooden staff…

This was more like it. Keelie headed to the meadow to talk to Hrok.

The next day, Keelie found Sally examining her tarot booth. The structure wasn’t in too bad shape, except for a sagging corner. It looked like the support post had suffered some damage.

“Do the cards say anything about Tavyn?” Keelie asked.

Sally shook her head. “No sign of a goblin wizard, but the cards reveal that new powers and new magic have been awakened.

Mara joined them, holding little Ava’s hand. Ava reached up to Keelie with her chubby fingers, then laughed when a bhata landed on Keelie’s shoulder.

Its twiggy face bent in a grin, and its berry eyes radiated happiness. It climbed down to Ava.

Keelie looked at Mara. “Can you see that?”

Mara nodded.

Keelie turned to Sally. “You?”

She nodded as well.

“The humans with magic in their blood can see and feel the magic all the time now,” Mara said.

“Then you remember?” Keelie whispered.

Mara winked.

Ava laughed as the bhata danced around her. Knot strolled out into the open area. Ava squealed with delight. “Kitty.”

Knot’s tail bushed out. His eyes widened with fright when he saw the toddling little girl coming after him, squealing “Kitty, kitty, kitty” at the top of her lungs.

“Are you going to tell anyone?” Keelie asked Sally.

She shook her head. “The faire folk keep their secrets. It’s an unwritten law amongst us.”

Keelie knew the secrets of the faire would be safe.

In the woods behind the tarot booth, a huge antlered stag was watching her.

“If you ladies will excuse me, I need to go and check on something.”

Herne stood there, in his deer form, head straight and chest expanded. “What do you think?”

“You make a great buck. I don’t know if I’d hang out here during hunting season, though.”

“Good point.” Herne narrowed his eyes. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He transformed into his human form. “I think there’s something you need to see.” He held out his arm. “Milady Keliel, if you will accompany me.”

Keelie mentally prepared herself for the whoosh.

A cool breeze brushed against her face, and then she stood before the spruce trees Bruce, Deuce, and Zeus. Their tangy scent filled her. She could look down and see all of Fort Collins below and the Rocky Mountains before her. Flowers grew around the stones where Cricket had been buried.

Sadly, she looked at the grave of her little friend, but she knew he rested in peace.

“Why did you bring me here?”

He pointed. “Watch.”

King Gneiss and Sir Davey stepped forward. Vangar and Finch landed in the meadow, their dragon forms huge and muscular. Dad was riding on Vangar’s back, balanced casually like an expert rider, with Sally in front of him. She looked thrilled and terrified at the same time.

A swirling vortex of light appeared and Fala stepped through, hands held high as if he were about to perform in front of an audience. He wore a gold circlet on his forehead and a glittering chain mail shirt.

Herne arched an eyebrow. “Bit overdressed?”

“What’s going on?” Keelie asked. She wondered why her magical friends were here.

Finch and Vangar shifted into human form.