The fairy vanished again. Figuring she would be a while, we went to a hot dog stand and got ourselves lunch. Hopefully it wouldn’t end up also being dinner.

 

“So, dwarven steel hurts and scares fairies, but not as much as cold iron.”

 

I nodded. “That might be worth remembering.”

 

“For all kinds of reasons.”

 

She was right. I didn’t generally have an issue with fairies, and I didn’t want to create one where one did not exist.

 

This time, though, I hadn’t created the problem. If he’d ignored us, I would never have noticed him, never have been remotely aware of his presence or his plans.

 

Pleasantville.

 

I shuddered. A morbid part of me wanted to go look, see what was going on, but that was a good backup plan.

 

If the fairy couldn’t convince Unseelie that we were a good neutral party. That we had no interest in the conflict between the Courts.
Which I really didn’t. Until they forced me to take sides by being assholes.

 

Well, I could make that part clear too. I finished my hot dog right as the storm started.

 

It drenched us before we could get to the car, then when I turned around…then I saw the Lady of the Winter Court.

 

“That was unnecessary,” I grumbled under my breath, but the rain, hail, and lightning had already stopped.

 

“I see the godling likes getting wet no more than the mortal,” she said in acid tones.

 

“I don’t like getting wet unless I intend to, no.”

 

She laughed. A ringing laugh. “So, why do you care about my…servant’s…affairs?”

 

“He harassed me and then attacked my consort,” I said, simply. “I was quite willing to ignore him. Heck, I probably wouldn’t have noticed him.”

 

“Fool. Maybe I should just let you beat him up.”

 

“It’s tempting. But he has led me to oppose his plans.”

 

“And you do not ally with the Summer Court.”

 

“No,” I said, with a bit of a wry half-grin. “Except that I protect mortals and have occasionally protected stray fae from fools.”

 

“Ah.” She studied me. “I see now. The Trickster’s daughter. But honorable, I suspect.”

 

“In my way.” I knew about Fae honor. The importance of promises.

 

“Not so far away from our way, from the encounters I have had with Aesir and Vanir over the centuries. You dislike breaking your word almost as much as we do.”

 

“Which is why I am not giving it.” I grinned at her. “I cannot promise we will not end up opposed.”

 

“A smart woman. And I will not give mine, but I will try and bring this one to heel.”

 

“And the mortals he is abusing?”
“No concern of mine, but I would suspect whatever harm he has done will fade with time.”

 

It was, I knew, all I would get out of her.