Tricked

hope for a better future. It’s an odd way to reassure someone, but somehow it seems to work across cultures and outlast dynasties. It works well in the cab of an SUV too.
    After a few more miles of silent driving, Granuaile opened her mouth to speak, made a tiny noise, and then closed it again. Uncertainty.
    » What is it? « I asked.
    » I have something to share with you, but I don’t want you to be angry with me. «
    » No one ever wants their sensei to be angry with them. It tends to lead to dire punishments, like being forced to read Candide . «
    She smiled nervously, unsure if I was joking. » Right. Well. In the interest of not hiding anything … «
    » Yes? «
    » My stepfather is an oil executive in Kansas. «
    » I know, you’ve mentioned it before. «
    » I hate him, « she spat, fingers tightening on the steering wheel.
    » I had surmised as much. Where’s the hidden part? «
    » While you were in Asgard, I underwent the Baolach Cruatan . «
    That got my attention. The Baolach Cruatan was a test of courage and cunning administered to new initiates by elder Druids, and not everyone passed. Those who failed died. I hadn’t been sure when or even if it would happen to her, but the fact that she was sitting next to me meant she’d passed it. » Congratulations on your survival, « I said. It was a practice of Druidry that had made Saint Patrick’s job of converting the young much easier; as far as initiation ceremonies go, a short dunk in some cold water was a much more attractive option than an uncertain trial in which you would undoubtedly be scared shitless and perhaps die. » Who tested you? «
    » Flidais and Brighid. «
    » Both of them? You saw them both? « Breakfast with Coyote hadn’t been her first meeting with an immortal after all. Granuaile nodded.
    » Wait, « I said, a spark of irritation flaring at her for the first time in my memory. » Two members of the Tuatha Dé Danann visited you and you failed to mention this to me? Did you not think it was relevant somehow? «
    » I was ashamed because of what happened— «
    » Okay, stop right there, « I said. » I don’t care what happened, because the fact is, you survived. The mistake you made was letting your emotions dictate this choice not to tell me of it. I just got finished working out a scheme with the Morrigan to fool the Tuatha Dé Danann into thinking I’m dead, and now you tell me they’ve seen you? «
    » They saw me weeks ago, when you were in Asgard, before you faked your death. «
    » I understand that. But when they hear that I’ve died, they’re probably going to wonder where my apprentice is—the one that survived the Baolach Cruatan . They may even want to take it upon themselves to finish your training. «
    » But we just faked my own death, « she protested.
    » No, I didn’t stage that to fool the Fae, because I didn’t know you’d come to their attention yet. Bottom line is, you need to tell me whenever you run into any gods, because you might not be seeing the bigger picture. If Brighid has taken a personal interest in you, she will probably send Flidais to the crime scene and then we’ll be found. Flidais will hunt us down. «
    Granuaile clenched and unclenched her fingers on the steering wheel, obviously distressed.
    » I’m sorry, « she said.
    I didn’t accept her apology right away; a bit of extra guilt on this issue would be good for her. I pointed at the iron amulet currently dangling on a gold chain outside her shirt. » Look, have you been wearing that amulet all the time, including whatever sack time you got last night in all that madness? «
    » Yeah, I’ve gotten used to it. «
    » Good. There’s a chance Brighid might not be able to divine your presence if you keep wearing it. It’s not bound to your aura yet, but its close proximity might help quite a bit. And if that does work, she might really believe you’re dead and never send Flidais to look for you. «
    » Or she’ll remember I was wearing it during the Baolach Cruatan and send Flidais anyway, « she replied.
    This made me smile. » That’s the way to think. «
    Granuaile frowned. » Do you seriously think Flidais can track us from my old car to the new car, through the two different restaurants, over to the hotel, then to the hospital and the vet’s, all the way up here to the rez? «
    » I don’t know. But she doesn’t have to do it that way. «
    Her hands left the steering wheel in a gesture of helplessness. » How