Trapped

imagine, they have found employment as assassins. But in Álfheim they are forever attacked on sight for their unforgivable treason and regicide.
    When Manannan fell silent, I prompted him to continue. » Go on, « I said.
    » That’s it. «
    » What? That can’t be it! «
    » That’s all I was told. I can tell ye it’s more than most people know about them. «
    » There has to be more though. Centuries of war and rivers of elfin blood, battles that lasted for three months—come on! «
    The sea god shook his head. » No. The Álfar despise the Svartálfar as traitors but refuse to go to war on their own kind. Between you and me, I think they fear entering Svartálfheim and being corrupted in the same way. The turning-to-mist trick seems like a fabulous plus, but they make awfully messy corpses. The Álfar think it unwholesome somehow and a high price to pay to exterminate traitors who are otherwise doin’ no harm to the realm. «
    » Which realm? «
    » I misspoke. No harm to Álfheim. «
    » Yeah. Tell me more about that trick of theirs. What is the ‘Gift of Smoke,’ precisely? «
    Manannan shrugged. » Some kind of mutagen. «
    » Hey, look at you busting out the modern words! «
    He scowled at me. » Not all o’ the Tuatha Dé Danann believe the mortals have nothin’ to offer us. «
    » I’m of your mind, Manannan, and have been for a long time. I approve. No one knows what this mutagen might be? «
    » Theories abound, but the Svartálfar refuse to discuss it and no one has delved deep enough into their realm to see it. They meet envoys and conduct trade in a couple o’ large chambers not far down from that dark stair they built. What’s going on deeper inside, no one knows. «
    » Sounds like North Korea. Can’t believe one of the Álfar told you this though. It wasn’t exactly flattering to their king. «
    Manannan nodded. » They are nothing if not an honest people. «
    » So if this story is true, it means the dark elves aren’t inherently evil. «
    » No. They are a proud people and will not hesitate to kill, but they seek no lands beyond their own and have no wish to dominate others. «
    » You’d never know it from the way people talk about them, myself included. I mean, I’m not going to stop thinking they’re creepy as hell—because if your body turns to tar, you’re fucking creepy, right?—but I’m frankly shocked to hear they don’t want to destroy us all. They need to get a good PR guy. «
    » What’s a PR guy? «
    » They’re kind of like the old Greek sophists who played with words until you believed up was down. PR guys get paid to make people believe that a pile of shit is an investment in soil fertility. Professional liars. «
    » Ah! « Manannan’s expression lit with comprehension. » They are politicians? «
    » No, they’re smarter and less pretty. They advise politicians. «
    » Oh. Well, I thought ye should know the dark elves are seeking ye. «
    » I appreciate the thought. It is bizarre. Two years ago, you say? I wonder what set them sniffing after my trail. «
    » I wondered that myself, lad. Hoped ye might have an answer. «
    I had a possible answer; thanks to a certain rendezvous six years ago, three of the Norse gods knew I was alive. One of them could have let slip the truth, intentionally or not. But since I had no way of knowing, I just shook my head. » No. But it’s one more enemy to watch out for. I’d love to see that map of the nine realms. «
    » I’ll get ye a copy. «
    » You are kind. Might you have a place in the castle where I could perform a divination in private? «
    » What sort? « Manannan asked. Some of the old Druidic divination rituals could be messy, what with sacrificing animals and all. I had never favored those methods: Truth stained with blood is not so savory as truth arrived at without the forfeit of life.
    » Just wands, « I reassured him.
    » Oh, sure. « He waved a hand dismissively. » Not a problem. «
    » There’s one other matter we should speak of. That hairy Russian god doesn’t have a home anymore, and he’s being pursued by Loki. Do you think the Tuatha Dé Danann might grant him asylum here for a time? «
    Manannan grunted and smirked. » I feel certain Flidais will grant him nearly anything right now. It’s fine with me, if ye vouch for his character. «
    » I do. «
    » Then I can’t see too many objections if he has our support. I’ll send a faery to Brighid right away. « He dispelled the binding of