Hexed

mistake my meaning. «
    She set her ale down on my kitchen table and stepped close to me. Her hand groped below my belt but pulled away, disappointed.
    Brighid’s face clouded. » What’s the matter, Atticus? Do you not find me attractive? Am I not desirable to you? «
    › Oh, great big bears! Beam him up, Scotty! Now! ‹
    » It’s not that, not that at all, « I said, clearing my throat uncomfortably as I reminded Oberon that Brighid could hear him. » It’s just that I’m extremely tired at the moment—exhausted, in fact—and while I can do you any other service, I simply can’t do … that. Right now, I mean. Later would be good. « I nodded, smiling. » Great, in fact. «
    Brighid’s nose wrinkled. I heard her sniff a couple of times, and then she abruptly stepped back and tore my shirt down the front, revealing the scratches and bruises from my morning’s exertions. Brighid’s face flushed and her eyes bulged as she drank in the evidence of my dalliance with her rival.
    » I knew it! « she shouted. » You’ve lain with her! You’re the Morrigan’s creature! « And that’s all the warning I got before she unleashed the flames of her wrath against me in very literal terms. Fire whooshed out from her fingers and palms to char me toasty in my own kitchen. It didn’t burn me directly, thanks to my amulet, but it did behave differently than the fallen angel’s hellfire: Whereas the hellfire gave me a flash of heat before fizzling impotently, this ball o’ fire got channeled directly to the cold iron on my chest, where it began to burn painfully, just like the German hex had a couple of days ago. That was a mystery I’d have to ponder later. Right then I had a friend to protect, skin to heal, and several fires to put out.
    › Hey, you can’t stick it to my Man! ‹ Oberon barked.
    That’s why I wanted you behind her. Don’t attack yet; I’m okay .
    I drew Fragarach from its sheath, wincing at the heat in my palms, and pointed it at Brighid’s throat. » Freagróidh tú! « I yelled.
    » No! Release me now! « she shouted back. She struggled to move but could do nothing but twitch, held fast in the blue glow of a spell crafted by her own brethren ages ago.
    » You’re giving me commands? You just tried to fry me and you want me to obey you now? I’m sorry, that’s not how it works. And you’re the one who said I was fit to wield this sword. «
    » You said you’d never wield it against me! « she blazed.
    » True, « I admitted, » but that was before you tried to kill me. «
    Her eyes shifted to find Oberon. » Release me now or— «
    She stopped as I pressed Fragarach to the hollow of her throat. » Understand me, Brighid: If you ever hurt Oberon, your very long life will end directly afterward. You know I can move between the planes as I wish; there is no place you can run that I cannot follow. «
    » You dare threaten me, a guest in your home? «
    » You tossed out all the rules when you lost your temper. So we’re going to have a nice, long talk, you and I, and Fragarach will make sure you are not deceitful. «
    › Atticus, the cabinets are on fire behind you. ‹
    Thanks, buddy . » Please take a moment first to put out the fires you started. «
    » Why shouldn’t I let the whole house burn? «
    » Because that would be rude when it’s a simple matter for you to put them out. Please put them out so we may talk peaceably. «
    » Peaceably? « Brighid sneered. » With a sword at my neck? «
    » Touché. But this would not be necessary had you acted with restraint. I ask you politely once more: Will you put out the fires? «
    » What’s next? Torture if I refuse? «
    » No, I’m not the Inquisition. I will find other means to put them out if you will not. « Fragarach could not compel her to act; it could only compel answers. I had a fire extinguisher in the garage, and I’d have to drag her there and back if she didn’t agree.
    The goddess of fire grimaced but focused on something behind me and growled in Irish, » Múchaim. « Then she focused on me and said, » It is done. «
    Is it done? I asked Oberon.
    › Yep, she snuffed them. ‹
    » Of course I did, « Brighid said, reminding us that she could hear Oberon.
    » Thank you. « I nodded, as smoke roiled near the ceiling. » Let’s be seated, shall we? « I moved the sword slowly, allowing Brighid to shuffle in an undignified way to a chair at the kitchen table, then lowered it by degrees until she was able to sit down.