Hounded

«
    Descending to the level of death is also distasteful, and that’s a distinct possibility once one is in a battle. I kept that thought to myself, however, and nodded sympathetically.
    » Aenghus wants Fragarach because he believes it will penetrate my armor, « she said, tapping her helmet.
    » Won’t it? «
    » I don’t know for sure, « Brighid said. » This armor is an honest attempt to forge something immune to Fragarach, unlike what I gave to Bres. I’d rather not test it. «
    » I would never wield Fragarach against you. «
    Brighid laughed. It was like listening to a symphony that makes you shiver and cry for the joy of it.
    » I know that, Atticus. And I would rather Aenghus not wield it against me either. «
    » I’d have to be dead first. «
    » Precisely. I think you are fit to wield it, and I would rather it remain in your possession. But Aenghus definitely wants it and he is manipulating events to make sure it falls to him. You may have noticed some of this already. «
    » You mean the Fir Bolgs who attacked me last night? I noticed that, yeah. «
    » I was speaking of other matters. For example, the mortal police pursuing your wolfhound. «
    » But that came about because of Flidais, and you said you sent her. «
    » I sent her to warn you, yes. But that park ranger was the work of my husband, doing Aenghus’s bidding. The police are now tools of the love god. «
    » They’re definitely tools, « I agreed.
    » They will try to find a way to take the sword from you, even if you resist. Aenghus hopes you will, because the police will pull their weapons and take the sword from you at the first sign of resistance. He will have no trouble taking it from them after that. «
    » I see. They will probably get that search warrant, then. I should warn my lawyer. «
    » There is more. Aenghus has recruited a coven of witches against you. «
    » What? « I said. » Which coven? «
    » They call themselves the Sisters of the Three Auroras. «
    I felt the spike in my blood pressure immediately. » But they claim to want nothing to do with Aenghus Óg! One of them is bedding him, and she asked me to brew a tea to make him impotent! «
    » Aenghus Óg arranged the entire thing with them. It is both a way to give him just cause to kill you and a way to get the witches close to you. «
    » But I have Radomila’s blood! « I spluttered. My outrage was sloshing over and turning to spittle. » Her coven is pledged to do me a favor in return for my services! «
    » They are counting on you not being around much longer to collect, « Brighid said. » If you ask them to do anything that conflicts with Aenghus Óg’s interests, this Radomila will be conveniently unavailable. «
    » What do the witches get out of the deal? Aenghus must have promised them something huge. «
    » I do not know for sure. My guess is that he has promised them free traveling privileges through Tír na nÓg. «
    I gave a low whistle. » That would allow them to become a very powerful coven. «
    » Yes. But they are not the only group he is making promises to. He has enlisted the help of the Fomorians, he has stirred up a large number of the Fae against me, and I suspect he has made some bargains with hell. «
    That could be a fairly huge problem. There were way more of them than me, and they wouldn’t listen to my lawyer. » What about the rest of the Tuatha Dé Danann? Where do they stand? «
    » Most of them are with me. The idea of Fomorians and demons in Tír na nÓg does not make a convincing sales pitch. «
    » What about the Morrigan? «
    » No one knows, because no one has spoken to her. « Brighid grinned wryly. » I think Aenghus was worried she would end his plotting prematurely. For my part, I would rather not be in her debt. She does not work well with others. «
    » She has spoken to me, « I said. » She is already suspicious that something is going on and is incensed at being left out. «
    » She will get herself involved as she chooses. Are you willing to get involved, Druid? «
    » I already am involved, it seems. «
    » I am asking you to choose sides. My side, specifically. «
    » Done, « I said instantly. What moral dilemma was there? She wanted me to keep the sword; Aenghus wanted to take it. She liked me alive; Aenghus didn’t. She was hot; Aenghus was not.
    » My thanks. « She smiled so warmly, I felt as if my kidneys had melted. » Kill Aenghus Óg for me and I shall reward you. « I have to admit that some of