Trapped

at me. » That is precisely what I am saying. Except for a small area in the south of Greece. «
    » The tethers for the rest of the world still work? « Brighid asked.
    » Yes, Majesty. «
    » And the secret paths walked by the Fae? «
    » Those still function admirably. «
    » So your theory is that the death of Perun’s plane is causing this. «
    » It is a possibility. «
    » Where, precisely, in Greece may one still travel freely? « I asked.
    » Anywhere in the vicinity of Mount Olympus. «
    I snorted. » An Olympian wants to kill me and the only place I can currently bind my apprentice to the earth is under the nose of the Olympians? Doesn’t that seem odd to you? «
    The faery shrugged indifferently. » The timing of the Slavic plane’s destruction coincides with the beginning of the tether disturbance. I realize that correlation does not imply causation, but it is a plausible theory. Have you another to offer? «
    I almost held back, but then thought better of it. I would never win the favor of any Fae host at this point, so I might as well enjoy myself and call it like I saw it. » I will offer the theory that you are an insufferable grundlebeard, « I said, much to the amusement of the audience behind us, who were not of that particular lord’s host. He’d always be called Lord Grundlebeard after this, and he knew it; his face burned red.
    » Why is it that only the area around Olympus is free from this disturbance? « I asked, turning away from the Fae.
    » It would make sense if you assume the Olympians are protecting their territory, « Flidais said, rising from her chair to address the assembly. » I’m sure the dryads are under their protection. If the reverberations of Perun’s plane are being felt worldwide, the Olympians would see it as their duty to prevent the creatures in their domain from suffering. «
    » Then why don’t all the world’s pantheons do the same? « I asked.
    Flidais shrugged helplessly. » Perhaps they don’t understand that there’s a problem. Few depend on the earth for travel as we do, and they might be entirely unaware. And they might also be too weak to do anything about it, whereas the Olympians still retain a decent measure of their old power. «
    These were certainly possibilities. It would be as fallacious for me to assume that the world was out to get me as it would be for them to assume the world wasn’t. In their favor was the timing: How could the Olympians have known an hour ago—in time to orchestrate something like this—that I was still around? I had to admit that, though it looked like a convenient trap for me, Flidais’s theory held much more water. The Olympians were looking after their own.
    » Brighid, though the news of my return has probably spread already, as Fand noted, will you neglect to tell Olympus, or to officially acknowledge my return, until such time as I can finish binding my apprentice to the earth? «
    She tilted her head slightly to one side. » Why should I do this? «
    » So that the world will have another Druid. One, « I added with a wry smile, » who is perhaps not so annoying as myself. « Self-deprecation is an enduring social lubricant and should be applied liberally in cases like these.
    Brighid broke into a full grin. » For that, I would do much more. « Her voice took on the three-note tone and she announced, » None of the Fae or the Tuatha Dé Danann are to speak of the Iron Druid’s return until after his apprentice is bound to the earth. Transgressors will be severely punished. «
    I nodded my thanks instead of speaking it. » Will that be all, Brighid? «
    » For now, « she said. » Your audience was not without excitement. But Fragarach is returned and we have a new Druid to welcome. « All was forgiven, then. At least in public. » Please inform us when she is successfully bound. «
    » I will, « I said.
    » Flidais will escort you wherever you wish. «
    A soft but excited » Da! Da! « escaped Perun’s lips. As Flidais walked up to us, a coy smile on her lips for the thunder god, the assembled crowd began to murmur and discuss my audience. Flidais said the Tuatha Dé Danann all wanted to meet Granuaile; for them, she was the highlight of the day, for she represented something new. Watching them stand next to each other, I was struck again by how similar they looked—at least, when Flidais was all » cleaned up « like this. They were the same height, and their hair was quite nearly the same shade;