Hounded

the warm fuzzies flew away right there. It made me feel like a mercenary. » And should you run into some demons, I have a gift for you. Give me your right hand. «
    I placed my right hand in her left. Her palm was cool to the touch, calloused from the forge; her fingers were long and strong. She placed her right index finger onto the loop of my tattoo and tried to do … something. Uh-oh.
    » I do not understand. « She frowned. » Something is preventing me from giving you the power of Cold Fire. «
    I kept my face carefully neutral, while part of me was screaming inside and another part was thinking, Cooooooool . My amulet had just prevented her from performing magic on me. It might have even protected me from summary incineration, had the meeting gone differently—it was not the sort of thing I wanted to test. But now she would become aware of its existence, and things could get awkward.
    » Your aura is strange, Druid, « she said, sitting back in her chair, noticing it for the first time. » What have you done to it? «
    » I have bound it with cold iron, « I said, pulling my necklace out from underneath my shirt. » It protects me from most magic. «
    Brighid said nothing at first, just sat and stared at my necklace. Then she said, » It is also protecting you from my aid. I cannot give you Cold Fire. If you face any demons, you will be left to your own devices, and I cannot see how that will avail you if you cannot use magic. «
    » Oh, I can use magic. «
    » Does not the iron prevent it? «
    » I have discovered a solution to the old problem. «
    » Remarkable that you have found one where I have not, « said the goddess of the forge.
    » Have you truly tried? «
    » No, « she admitted. » I thought it was impossible. «
    » Turns out it’s only next to impossible. «
    » Have you tested it against demons? «
    » It prevents succubi from casting their charms on me. «
    » But you have not had to deal with hellfire or any other hellish attacks? «
    » Not yet. «
    » You will need to test it soon. You need a way to deal with demons. Lots of them, if I am right about who Aenghus has been talking to. «
    » What does this Cold Fire do? «
    » It allows you to burn them from within, but it burns like ice burns. It takes a lot of energy and it drains you—even if you draw power from the earth, it will drain you—but it will save you from being overwhelmed in a fight. Alas, I cannot give it to you. «
    » Sure you can, « I said, and I took the necklace off. It changed my aura immediately, and I became nervous. She could hurt me as easily as help me now if she liked.
    » That is truly wondrous craft, Siodhachan, « she said admiringly, noticing how my aura changed. She’d forgotten my chosen name already and used the one I was born with. » I would have you teach it to me. «
    I was afraid of this. » My apologies, Brighid, but I have sworn to keep it a secret. « I left out the rest of the sentence, which said, » except from the Morrigan, « and hurried on before she thought to ask to whom I had sworn. » But now that you know such a thing is possible, I have no doubt that you can figure it out on your own. I counsel patience. This craft took me seven hundred and fifty years. «
    She did not appear offended, thankfully. Disappointed, yes. But as she continued to stare at the necklace on the table next to her gauntlets, her expression slowly changed. She looked delighted.
    » You have given me a new challenge, Druid, and a most worthy one, « she said. » I will try to fashion my own in a shorter period of time. I know you cannot tell me how it was made without breaking your oath, but will you allow me to inspect it from time to time? «
    » Of course, « I said.
    » Am I right in thinking this necklace will work for no one but you? «
    » Yes. It is bound specifically to me. For anyone else it would simply be jewelry. «
    » I see now why you have survived so long. «
    I blushed at her compliment and she put out her left hand again, smiling. I placed my right hand in hers, and she held it as she touched her finger to the loop of my tattoo. This time I felt something, a rush of heat and ice through my veins and a spell of dizziness.
    » Now you have the power of Cold Fire, « Brighid said. » It works only on hellspawn, and both you and your targets must be touching the earth. Point at your targets with your right hand, collect your will, and say ‘Dóigh,’ and they will be destroyed—though I warn