Home > Scourged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #9)(5)

Scourged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #9)(5)
Author: Kevin Hearne

“It has come to my attention,” Brighid says, “that one of the Norse gods intends to begin his pantheon’s version of apocalypse. They call it Ragnarok. Are you familiar with it?”

“Aye. Siodhachan caught me up on all that bollocks.”

“It poses a serious threat to us. Should they harm a significant portion of our Irish population, we will suffer a similar reduction in our powers, and tethers to Tír na nÓg and the other planes may be severed.”

“So it’s back to defend the homeland, eh?”

“Yes. But we alone may not be sufficient. We need all the Fae to participate. We need all the Tuatha Dé Danann too.”

“Ye mean we need Fand and Manannan Mac Lir.”

“Correct. Siodhachan tells me she’s in the Morrigan’s Fen.”

“Aye. I heard the same.”

“It is my opinion, Owen, that only you can mend the rift between us.”

“I was just thinking someone ought to be mending rifts, but I didn’t think I’d have any part in it. I’m rather the sort to create rifts.”

“She will not speak to me or Siodhachan. We are corrupted by iron, both in her eyes and the eyes of all the Fae who follow her. She cannot listen to us or she will lose face among them. But you are of the Old Ways and have enjoyed their hospitality in the past. You will at least gain an audience.”

“Forgive me, Brighid, but I don’t think so. All those Fae and the Morrigan’s yewmen will cut me down before I can even flash me teeth at Fand.”

“That is why I am sending Coriander with you. No one will harm him or dare touch anyone under his protection.”

“His protection?” I glance back at the bewigged faery and wonder if he can even protect his own sack from a swift kick. Brighid catches this and smiles.

“By all means, Eoghan, feel free to test his defenses if it will ease your doubts.”

“What? Ye mean punch him in the nose or something?”

“Whatever you wish.” Brighid stops walking and gestures at the herald. “Do go ahead.”

“Can I use me knuckles?” I asks her, and she hesitates.

“I would not recommend it. Start with your bare fists or feet.”

I squint at the fancy herald. “Are ye all right with this, lad?”

“Of course, good sir. I hope you will not be injured too badly.”

Their unworried confidence shakes me own, and I go ahead and check out the herald in the magical spectrum. He shimmers with layers of protective wards, among them a kinetic one of a strength and weave I’ve never seen before.

“Shrivel me cock, lad, who gave ye such wards?”

“Most of the Tuatha Dé Danann have contributed in one way or another. I represent a group effort. I cannot be harmed or deliver harm, except to redirect that aimed at me; I am therefore allowed everywhere in the nine planes, since I cannot be used for treacherous purposes.”

“I see. And should the yewmen take it into their wee woody noggins that I’m to be skewered sideways, ye can prevent them from doing that?”

“So long as I remain between you.”

“Ah, so beware me flanks, then?”

“Precisely.”

I turn back to Brighid. “All right, if I go, how do ye suggest I get her to cooperate?”

“You may relay an offer I think she will find attractive, if she be not mad.” And once she gives me the details, I asks when I must go.

“Now, Eoghan. I will bind this eucalyptus to Tír na nÓg while you make your farewells.”

“But the devils—”

“—will still exist should we prevail. Nothing will remain if we fail.”

“Ah. Thank ye for the perspective. And have ye spoken to Siodhachan about this? He’s on the island somewhere.”

“No longer. He heard from the Morrigan and is pursuing different objectives. We used a tree he bound to shift in and had to travel here at speed over land. You may rest assured that Granuaile will be involved as well.”

“Right, then. I’ll be back soon. Excuse me.”

Greta waits for me, arms crossed and her neck taut with stress as she searches me face. “Damn it,” she says. “You’re leaving us here, aren’t you? I can tell already.”

“I have to, love, though I’d rather not.”

“You don’t have a choice?”

“Not if I want to keep me honor intact.”

She growls at me, “To hell with honor! That’s the kind of thinking that gets people killed. Gunnar’s dead because of his sense of honor, and Hal’s dead because of someone else’s sense of honor. I don’t want you dying for the same reason. I’d rather have you intact than your honor.”

“Not sure if I can stay physically intact if I don’t also protect me honor in this case. I have to go see Fand and convince her to help us fight off Loki. Ragnarok’s coming, love. It’s not the sort of thing ye sit back and watch and hope someone else takes care of it all.”

She snorts in disbelief, then stops breathing. “You’re serious? You’re talking about the end of the world?”

“Let’s hope it won’t be, but yes. It’s what Loki wants.”

“Where are you going?”

“To the Morrigan’s Fen. After that, I’m not sure. But I’ll come back here to finish this job when I can. Ye can either stay here and watch over the kids—they have the knack for it now—or ye can pack up and fly back to the States. I surely don’t know which is safer.”

“Okay. We’ll decide later.”

I bid farewell to the apprentices and their parents, and tell them to keep up their fine work, and spend a little bit of time with each apprentice.

Thandi worries she’ll forget everything when I’m gone, because she finds something to worry about in every situation. Her father, Sonkwe, is so patient and kind with her that I think this must be a recent behavior caused by her mother leaving them. She will see her strength soon enough.

Ozcar will be fine so long as his parents are all right. He checks on them to see how they’re handling my leaving, and since they seem unconcerned, he simply tells me to be safe and they will do the same.

Tuya asks me if she’s going to get to learn any more about the plants while I’m gone. Healing devils is fine, but she’s really fascinated by flowers and trees and growing things.

“O’ course,” I says to her. “Remember that ye can talk to Tasmania anytime ye wish through your sphere there.” I point to the locket around her neck. “Ask the elemental about its favorite plants and I’m sure you’ll learn all ye ever wanted to know. Did ye know that there are plants here that eat bugs?”

“Really?”

“Sundews for sure, perhaps many more. Ask about them.”

“I will!”

Mehdi, a solemn boy from Morocco, assures me that he and his father will pray for my safe return. “We will work hard while you’re away,” he adds.

Amita hears this and nods. “We will heal as many devils as we can.” She’s already the sort of person who works tirelessly at a goal once she’s been given one. She’s going to be a powerful champion of Gaia when she grows up.

Luiz, me animal lover, doesn’t care at all that I’m leaving. “What? Oh. Bye,” he says, then he whips his head around. “Wait. We don’t have to stop healing devils while you’re gone, do we?”

“No, lad. Ye can keep at it.”

“Good. I love this.” He flashes a gap-toothed grin at me before turning his attention back to the devil he’s healing, and I’m already forgotten.

Me farewells to the apprentices finished, Greta grabs me by the face, both hands in me beard, and leans her forehead against mine. “You come back to me, Teddy Bear.”

“Ye can be sure that’s the plan, love.” I really don’t want to leave her, or any of them. This bollocks sounds like the kind of fool thing Siodhachan keeps getting involved in. Maybe this is what it’s going to be like now, being one of the few Druids left instead of one of the many: Everything’s an emergency. I give Greta the sort of kiss that says I want to pick up where we left off, and I promise a good run through the forest when I’m back.

   
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