Page 61 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part One

It was my last Rita Rules interview before the Samhain Court, and I was glad of that. I was waking each day feeling like I’d been run over and with no memory of why. No new exercises. No new furniture. Don’t bother to ask the question about stress. It goes hand in hand with being magistrate.

“Are you ever worried about grudges?” Blaes asked.

“Ooh. Good question. Only once. It was a case brought by a Valkyrie. The Council of Asgard sent a representative to speak on their behalf. It was Tyr, Norse god of war. He would be fearsome in any case, but he had all the markings of a sore loser going nuclear. If not for Keir…”

“Oh, I know. I was there that day. When he and that monster horse went flying through the air toward you? And those big hoofs only missed your head by inches? I don’t know how you were able to stay so still and be so brave.”

I smiled. “It was easy. I was frozen in place by fear.”

She stared blank faced for a few seconds waiting for me to reveal the odd human/American sense of humor. When no such indication came, she said, “Are you serious?”

“I am. I don’t know if you should share that with Rita Rules. Maybe it’s better to let everyone think I’m mega-bold.”

“So, off the record?”

“I’ll leave it up to you. You might include my answer about grudges and keep the revelation about courage out of it. They don’t need to know that I considered wearing Depends acting as magistrate.”

“What are Depends?”

I chuckled. “Never mind. I didn’t want to share that either. The answer to your question is this. Tyr was a no-nonsense war god and a seriously scary dude. Having him leave my courtroom in such a spectacular demonstration of grievance has caused some unease when I wake in the middle of the night.”

“Are you sorry about your ruling? Would you do it differently if you could?”

“Oh, no. Sigrid, the Valkyrie, absolutely deserved to be freed to pursue her talents and interests. I wouldn’t change a thing about the outcome of that case.”

“See. You are brave.”

I laughed. “Thank you, Blaes.”

Shortly after Blaes had gone, the doorbell sang out. I really needed to change the tune.

“Just a minute,” I called.

After almost stumbling over the pups, not just once but twice, I made it to the store swearing to be more diligent about their training.

A quick look through the peephole verified the caller as friend and not foe. I opened the door wide.

“Braden!” I said. “Please come in.”

Seeing my reaction to Braden, the pups switched gears to mild-mannered house pets excited to have company. He stayed on his knees for a good while making sure each of them had received attention.

“Hey,” I said to Fenn and Frey. “Enough. He’s here to talk to me.”

The pups gave Braden one last lick then flopped down onto the floor.

“You know,” I told Braden, “it’s good to have friends who appreciate dogs.” He chuckled as he stood. “Want tea?”

“Oh, thank you, no, Magistrate. I must make this delivery and head straight back to work.”

“Okay. Thanks for stopping by.” He was hesitating. “Oh. Were you thinking I’d open this now?” The near-instant bloom of a blush said yes. “Of course, you were. What a dither I am. Come in and have a seat.”

“Alright. Just for a second.”

“Is this…” I’d wracked my brain trying to remember if there was some occasion I’d forgotten but couldn’t think of any. I pulled a box from the tissue. It was about the size pendant jewelry might come in but twice as thick.

Ah. Sure enough. It was the copy of the Tiffany Diamond which, let’s face it, was just as beautiful.

Braden had created a large platinum brooch with complicated Celtic knotwork and filigree. The center was a magnificent wolf’s head holding the diamond securely between upper and lower fangs, demanding attention be split between the diamond and the sapphires. The sapphires were worth only a tiny fraction of the diamond, but they drew attention like magnets.

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