I knew exactly why I wanted Kanesha in the council of war.

“I’ve been doing research,” she said right away while Loki paced back and forth. There was no sign of the old dog, yet.

“Okay.”

“First of all, we can’t seriously hurt Anansi. He’s the spirit of all stories. Or at least all stories from west Africa.”

I nodded. “I don’t intend to. If he’s hurt, it will be by absorbing death power.”

“I bet a lot more horror stories are being written this week,” Kanesha mused. “But here’s a thing. He’s married.”

“Aha.” I glanced at Loki.

“Wives,” he grumbled, but he clearly wasn’t too upset.

“Her name is Aso. And that’s absolutely all I know about her.” Kanesha looked apologetic. “If any of my ancestors were Akan…”

“It’s fine. I asked you because you’re the better researcher.” I grinned at her. “So. Aso. If we could find her, maybe she’d help us.”

Loki was still pacing. “Maybe she would, if she thought it was for her husband’s own good.”

“It is,” I said, firmly. “He’s messing himself up with this.”

“It’s worth a try.”

“But like I said.” Kanesha frowned. “The only thing I can find on her is the name. Not what kind of spirit or deity she is, nothing but that she’s Anansi’s wife and the mother of his children. Or at least of some of them.”

Gods weren’t exactly known for fidelity. Except my mother. I frowned a little bit. “Alright. Do you know somebody who might know more?”

“I asked the guy who collects Anansi stories. That’s all he’s ever been able to find too.”

“Interesting,” Loki mused. “She’s either utterly unimportant or very powerful.”

“I think it might be the latter. See, Anansi used to be a creator god. He kind of got demoted.”

“But he’s more interested in destroying death than getting back to the top of his pantheon?”

Kanesha nodded. “Makes you wonder who…” She tailed off. “There’s nothing we can find about her.”

“Oh dear.” I glanced at Loki.

Very softly, “I would take down the barriers between the Nine Realms for her.”

I knew he spoke the truth. He would cheat on my mother, he would drive her nuts, but he still loved her.

We could be wrong, but if so…

“We need to find where he’s keeping Brother Death. He would know, right?”

“He would know,” Kanesha agreed.

So? It was back to plan B.