Free Hounded by Kevin Hearne

mortals had a clue about his true nature. They describe him as a god of love and beauty, with four birds following him about, representing his kisses or some such nonsense. Who would tolerate four birds flapping about his head, constantly letting loose their bowels and screeching? Not the Aenghus I know. But some accounts provide a better picture of his character by also telling of his deeds, such as taking his father’s house from him by trickery and slaying both his stepfather and his foster mother. Or the time he left a girl who was hopelessly in love with him and who died of grief a few weeks later. That’s more the kind of man we are talking about.
    No, the Celtic god of love isn’t a cherub with cute little wings, nor is he a siren born of the sea in a giant clamshell. He is not benevolent or merciful or even inclined to be nice on a regular basis. Though it pains me to think of it because of what it says about my people, our god of love is a ruthless seeker of conquest, wholly self-serving, and more than a little vindictive.
    As if to punctuate that thought, emergency sirens began to wail in the night.
    » That noise is used by mortal law enforcement, is it not? « Flidais asked.
    » Aye, it is. «
    » Do you think it probable that they are headed here? «
    » Of course. Aenghus sent this man to die, « I said, waving at the ranger, » and he wants us to be inconvenienced as much as possible. « The chance that the police would not know precisely where in the park to look for us was as close to zero as I could imagine.
    » And I suppose, « she said with asperity, » that you would not want me to kill the mortal authorities so that I can take time to harvest my trophy. «
    She was not joking. She really would have killed them without compunction. From her tone, it was clear that I should be grateful to her for recognizing that I might have a different set of priorities.
    » You suppose correctly, Flidais. Living as I do amongst the mortals, I am subject to their laws and do not wish to draw undue attention to myself. «
    The huntress sighed in exasperation. » Then we must hurry. The best I can do is to have the earth swallow him, « she said, yanking her knife out of the dead man’s shoulder.
    I shook my head. » The police will have him out of the ground again as soon as we leave. But go ahead, since it is the best we can do. It may contaminate the evidence somewhat. «
    Flidais spoke some of the old tongue, and the skin around her tattoos whitened briefly as she drew power from the land. She frowned a bit: There was not as much to be had out here as in the Old World, and it cost her more effort than it should have. But she waved her fingers, said, » Oscail, « and the dirt beneath the ranger obeyed. First the surface gravel began to skitter away from him, then the crust began to cave and ripple beneath him, and he sank. Once he was only a couple of feet below the surface, Flidais waved her fingers in the opposite direction, muttered, » Dún, « and the earth closed over him. It was magic I could have performed myself, albeit not so quickly. There was nothing subtle about it though. The earth looked churned up and disturbed, and the police would have little trouble deciding where to look for a freshly killed body. The sirens were close now.
    » Back to the chariot, « she said, and I nodded and set off at a ground-eating pace, calling Oberon to follow. Flidais paused only to collect her bow and pull her arrow out of the ram, then she caught up and ran with us.
    The sirens stopped, and we heard the dull whump of car doors slamming to the south as we reached her chariot. If they had a guide, and I had no doubt they did, the police would reach the body in minutes.
    › Why isn’t your tail wagging, puppy? ‹ one of the stags said.
    › Were you a bad doggie? ‹ the other chimed in.
    Before I could, Flidais told them to shut up and thankfully Oberon bit back any response he would have given. Flidais cast