Trapped (The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book Five) by Kevin Hearne Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kevin Hearne
Oberon
.
There was nothing I could do about it now. “Speaking of people returning from a long absence,” I said, “Loki, the Norse god of mischief, is walking the nine realms again. And he seems intent on burning others.”
Brighid frowned. “Explain.”
I waved a hand at the Russian thunder god looming behind me. “This is Perun, a Slavic god of the sky. Loki somehow gained access to his plane and burned it all. You could feel the plane dying on the earth. I tell you three times; Gaia shuddered beneath my feet. I do not know if Loki plans on attacking the Tuatha Dé Danann or the Fae, but considering the myriad paths to Tír na nÓg, I highly recommend taking steps to seal it off from intruders, keeping in mind that Loki has a reputation as a shape-shifter.”
Brighid nodded. “I hear you three times, Siodhachan.” She turned to her right and said, “Manannan. Ogma. Please see to our security and devise a plan to deal with Loki should he make his way here.” She turned to her left and addressed the dignitaries there. “The Lords of Faerie and their respective hosts will assist you.” They bowed in acquiescence and acknowledgment of the order. The hairstyles represented there, I thought, could start a revolution in Hollywood salons. I didn’t know much about the Lords of Faerie and their hosts, other than that they didn’t like me very much. I think that had something to do with the cold-iron-touch-of-death thing.
One of the lords cleared his throat to get Brighid’spermission to speak. He was dressed foppishly in an Elizabethan kit, cursed with the physique of an anorexic mannequin, and had half-lidded eyes that communicated his disdain for the universe. She looked at him and dipped her chin, giving him the green light to pontificate.
“Majesty, perhaps the shuddering of Gaia reported by the Iron Druid may explain some recent disturbing reports coming in from the rangers throughout Europe.”
“Do share with us all,” Brighid said.
“Most tethers to Europe from Tír na nÓg are now inoperable. The death of the Slavic plane may explain this.”
“Begging your pardon,” I said. “Are you saying that it’s impossible to shift to Europe right now?”
The fop raised an eyebrow and sneered 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 doesnot 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
.
There was nothing I could do about it now. “Speaking of people returning from a long absence,” I said, “Loki, the Norse god of mischief, is walking the nine realms again. And he seems intent on burning others.”
Brighid frowned. “Explain.”
I waved a hand at the Russian thunder god looming behind me. “This is Perun, a Slavic god of the sky. Loki somehow gained access to his plane and burned it all. You could feel the plane dying on the earth. I tell you three times; Gaia shuddered beneath my feet. I do not know if Loki plans on attacking the Tuatha Dé Danann or the Fae, but considering the myriad paths to Tír na nÓg, I highly recommend taking steps to seal it off from intruders, keeping in mind that Loki has a reputation as a shape-shifter.”
Brighid nodded. “I hear you three times, Siodhachan.” She turned to her right and said, “Manannan. Ogma. Please see to our security and devise a plan to deal with Loki should he make his way here.” She turned to her left and addressed the dignitaries there. “The Lords of Faerie and their respective hosts will assist you.” They bowed in acquiescence and acknowledgment of the order. The hairstyles represented there, I thought, could start a revolution in Hollywood salons. I didn’t know much about the Lords of Faerie and their hosts, other than that they didn’t like me very much. I think that had something to do with the cold-iron-touch-of-death thing.
One of the lords cleared his throat to get Brighid’spermission to speak. He was dressed foppishly in an Elizabethan kit, cursed with the physique of an anorexic mannequin, and had half-lidded eyes that communicated his disdain for the universe. She looked at him and dipped her chin, giving him the green light to pontificate.
“Majesty, perhaps the shuddering of Gaia reported by the Iron Druid may explain some recent disturbing reports coming in from the rangers throughout Europe.”
“Do share with us all,” Brighid said.
“Most tethers to Europe from Tír na nÓg are now inoperable. The death of the Slavic plane may explain this.”
“Begging your pardon,” I said. “Are you saying that it’s impossible to shift to Europe right now?”
The fop raised an eyebrow and sneered 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 doesnot 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
Similar Books
Miami Spice
Deborah Merrell
A Weekend Temptation
Krista Caley
Inequities
Jambrea Jo Jones
Mystic Memories
Gillian Doyle, Susan Leslie Liepitz
Everything You Want
Macyn Like
Captive Star
Nora Roberts
No Time Like Mardi Gras
Kimberly Lang
Love Hurts
Brenda Grate
In the Blood
Nancy A. Collins
Biblical
Christopher Galt