Hammered

condescension. I hoped that would be enough to save her when people came looking for me and realized that she knew nothing.
    My lunch date was Malina Sokolowski, the leader of the Sisters of the Three Auroras. We met in Four Peaks Brewery on 8th Street. She was wearing the same red wool coat she’d worn the first time we met almost two months ago. Her blond hair lay upon her shoulders like a rich nude woman on a divan, sleek and shiny and unapologetically decadent. I felt the eyes of envious men boring into my back as she favored me with a brilliant smile of welcome and a pleased purring of my name.
    It was strange to think that I had made peace with a coven of witches, but I had to admit that Malina’s crew was different. Though they still took advantage of people and were always, always plotting to exert some sort of control over others, they at least had pretensions of being good citizens otherwise. We had fought side by side and recognized that there was a patch of common ground between us, a sliver of ellipsoid in a Venn diagram of a witch and a Druid where we could meet—meet and pretend that the vast area of the spheres behind us was undiscovered country rather than our comfort zone.
    We spoke of small things at first. She inquired after Granuaile and Oberon; I inquired after her coven sisters. Our draughts came: I had a Kilt Lifter and she was drinking the Sunbru Kölsch. We toasted healthy alliances and sighed appreciatively as we set our glasses down.
    » Beer like that almost makes me forget the incredible danger we’re in, « Malina said.
    » I beg your pardon? I mean, yeah, the beer’s good, but what danger? «
    » We’ve been continuing our divination rituals because we’re unconvinced that we’ve seen the last of the Hammers of God. From what we can tell, the rabbi is definitely coming back with more Kabbalists just like him. But that’s not all, « Malina said. » Something else is on the horizon. Several somethings. I think one of them is Bacchus. He might be coming here to look for you. «
    This wasn’t a surprise, between what I’d done to his Bacchants in Scottsdale and the blame I’d laid at his door while I was in Asgard. » How soon? «
    » Tomorrow at the earliest, if I’m reading things right. «
    That was a surprise. » Gods Below, « I cursed, » I don’t have time to deal with that. «
    » Time? « Malina spluttered. » What about the strength? You can’t take on one of the Olympians. «
    » I seem to remember you doubting I could take on Aenghus Óg, « I teased her. » Have I not earned at least a fighting chance against Bacchus? But that’s assuming I’d want to fight him, and I don’t. What else did you see? «
    » Many vampires. « If I needed any confirmation that Hal was right about the vampire war, this was it. » How goes the recovery of Mr. Helgarson? «
    » Absolutely peachy as far as I know. I’m supposed to see him tonight. But, look, between your coven and me, he’s leaving tomorrow. «
    Malina’s lips tightened. » Leaving for good? «
    I shrugged. » That’s my assumption. This place will be crawling with would-be replacements before long. «
    Malina grimaced and muttered something in Polish that I guessed was a curse.
    » By the way, I’m leaving too. «
    Her eyes widened and the Polish cursing became more vehement.
    » Plus Gunnar Magnusson. «
    She didn’t have words to express her shock at that. Why would an alpha ever leave his pack? » What is going on? « she breathed.
    » I can’t tell you. But what I respectfully suggest to you, as an ally, is to get yourself out of here. The Hammers of God are coming for you every bit as much as they’re coming for me. And you don’t want to be around when the vamp war begins. Whoever comes out on top is probably not going to ignore your coven like Leif did. «
    » No, that’s for certain, « Malina said, and took a long pull on her beer for courage. » I think your advice is good and we should pursue it, but I don’t know where to go. We were counting on this area remaining stable. «
    » The era of stability is already gone. This city is about to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Deep Shit. Best to cut and run while you still can. «
    » Is that what you’re doing? Running? «
    » I suppose I’m running from one fight to take part in another. Characterize it however you wish. Look, just pack all your crap into a U-Haul tonight and get out of the state. Stash everything in a storage facility