Coyote didn’t show up. I suspected he was off working his own plan and hoped we wouldn’t bump into him in the worst way.

Okay. Where would you keep an imprisoned death god?

“He might not have him…”

“We don’t have Coyote, do you have a way to cross into the spirit world?”

“Not that one, no.” Loki frowned. “But it shouldn’t be that hard to recruit somebody who can. I’ll be back.”

And he vanished.

I glanced at Kanesha. “I’m guessing Coyote’s already there.”

“Because waiting for us…”

“If he doesn’t think he needs us, then he won’t.” I shrugged. “I’m getting bad for that too. Don’t let me?”

“I promise.”

I hoped…no. That dark thought had to be chased away and put where it belonged. “Alright. So, Loki’s gone to find us a spirit.”

“Probably somebody he slept with.”

I laughed. “Probably.” I wasn’t anywhere near as uncomfortable with that as I had once been. “Anyway. So, we find Brother Death and talk to him about Aso.”

“Maybe we’re wrong and she’s just so quiet nobody can see her behind her husband.”

I grinned. “That wouldn’t surprise me that much. I mean, being married to the ultimate storyteller you’d either have to try and keep up or just be…you know…”

“Happy to be in his shadow.”

But the possibility had to be pursued and, besides, if we could rescue Brother Death… “Just be aware, if we pull him out…”

“…then Anansi will do whatever he can to get him back, and if he’s that powerful.”

I nodded. “Right. He’ll come after us.”

And then Loki showed back up. He hadn’t taken long, but there was an owl on his shoulder.

I still thought it was probably somebody he slept with.

“This is going to be dangerous,” he said, grimly. “Absolutely, under no circumstances, leave the path.”

And his eyes rested on Kanesha. It looked like he was going to say something else, but then he didn’t.

Worried the mortal would get lost? Probably.