Page 20 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part One

When he didn’t continue, I prompted, “How?”

“Well, like all the sons of Eros, he was irresistible to human women. He threatened Conan, that was the name of the pain in my arse, that if he continued to be a problem for me, Conan’s wife might be smitten with a new love interest. Since he knew Eros’s sons had the gift of compelling, Conan disappeared from my life, never to be seen or heard from since.” He paused. “At least not by me.”

“Sounds like a satisfying conclusion. So, what’s the problem?” Keir asked.

“When I offered my thanks for the favor, the demi-prick laughed and said, “Favor? Oh, right. Call it whatever you want, just as long as you know that someday I may need a ‘favor’ in return.”

Once again, Keir and I shared a look.

“And?” I said.

“Somehow the Greeks found out that I owed something to one of their own.”

“This sounds kind of like mob behavior,” I said.

Lochlan laughed softly. “Mob behavior. Well, you knowthem.”

I gathered he meant the Greeks. “Actually, no. I don’t.”

“Oh, right. No. Of course you don’t. What was I thinking?”

“Reliving old times?”

“Hmmm.”

“But not good times?”

“Hmmm.”

“So let me summarize. You went to a rave attended by magical creatures and gods. Or their offspring. You got drunk, shared a story, and ended up owing a favor to a heartthrob.” He nodded. “Let me guess. They’ve called in the favor and, if I don’t make good on it, you’ll be in deep doodoo.”

“Succinct and thorough. This is why you were chosen to be magistrate.”

“I like my butter on baguettes, Lochlan.” I caught the ghost of a sheepish smile. “Stay on point. There’s an elephant in the room holding up a placard with a big question mark on it.” I’d regained Lochlan’s attention, pulling him back from whatever walkabout he’d taken. “How do the Greeks imagine BOBO can handle this any better?”

“I’m glad you asked.”

“Right. Spill it.”

“The Greeks don’t have experience with limiting each other’s freedoms. This exile is the closest they’ve come to restricting freedom and, although it was intended as incarceration of a sort, it didn’t work. As you now know.”

“They’re a live-and-let-live sort. Free speech. Free love. Spill the wine.”

“Well put.”

“Have you actually run this past BOBO? I mean, wouldn’t it be prudent to be certain that my judgment could or would be carried out before I’m asked to rule.”

“Indeed, the alternative would cause the court a good deal of embarrassment.”

Nodding in agreement, I said, “I would think so.” After a minute of dead silence, I said, “Well?”

Lochlan swiveled his head toward me. “Well? What?”

“Are you going to ask BOBO if they could confine Medusa and keep her from wreaking havoc?”

“That would be a logical course of action.”

“Yes.” The doorbell rang, signaling the beginning of Legendary Lunch and a temporary pause on discussion of the latest unimaginable event. As we stood to go, he handed me the ancient leather folder he’d brought. “I hope you’ll read this before you make a decision.”