First Dangle and Other Stories by Kevin Hearne

Author:Kevin Hearne [Hearne, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Published: 2019-06-04T21:00:00+00:00

I took three whole steps toward Clíodhna before Coriander broke away from Brighid and floated my way, indicating he’d like a word.

“The pixie in question was indeed, as I suspected, loyal to Fand rather than Brighid,” Coriander said. “Like many such Fae, she worked in service to one of the other Tuatha Dé Danann rather than work for Brighid directly. But Brighid hasn’t seen her at Court for weeks, which corresponds to my picnic in Kew Gardens. It’s likely the pixie hasn’t returned to Tír na nÓg, or if she has, she’s been very careful not to attend Court.”

I gave the barest nod toward the Queen of the Banshees. “I was about to ask Clíodhna if she might know whether that pixie was still around or not.”

Coriander’s eyes darted that way briefly and returned to mine. “She does not give such information away for free.”

“Ah. Well, never mind then.” The last thing I’d ever do is get myself in debt to the Tuatha Dé Danann. That kind of dealing is what got Siodhachan in so much trouble.

“No, it is a good idea. I will pay whatever she wishes. It’s not normal for the pixie to be absent this long. Something has happened.”

The Herald Extraordinary led the way and the cluster of goddesses and faeries shifted subtly at his approach. Clíodhna crossed her arms in front of her, a clear negative signal. Soon after, Fodhla and Banba mirrored this. They were all but shouting that they did not welcome him, either personally or as a herald of the First among the Fae. It looked like some of them were curious about my presence here, which I did not appreciate. Drawing the attention of the Fae rarely worked out to one’s benefit. It was best to live in such a way that they never knew of your existence, or failing that, in such a way that they found uninteresting.

Coriander and Clíodhna exchanged stilted formal greetings and then the herald asked about the pixie.

“I know what happened to her, yes,” the queen said. “But there is a price for such information.”

“I will deliver a written message for you to any lesser being on any of the planes so long as it does not conflict in any way with my duties for Brighid; if it does, the priorities and wishes of the First among the Fae must supersede yours.”

Clíodhna raised an eyebrow. “Good enough. It is a bargain. Know then that the pixie in question is dead. The bean sídhe wailed for her.”

“When?”

“Two weeks past.”

“How did she die?”

“Violently. But the precise manner of it was shrouded from our sight.”

“Where?”

Clíodhna shrugs. “Somewhere on the mortal plane. But there is nothing to find or investigate. She was finished off with iron. That is why we know so little.”

Coriander’s shoulders drooped. “Very well. Good day.”

I noticed that the Tuatha Dé Danann were pleased to see him defeated. They uncrossed their arms and their mouths upturned in smug smiles of victory. They might simply be happy about his unhappiness, or they might be behind it all.

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