It became obvious fairly quickly that Kanesha was not in Old Town. She was not quite that far west. The bike roared back across the river and then south towards Mount Vernon.

“They’re trying to pull you away from your support. But Thruor and Mike are ten minutes behind and I’ve called the others.”

Who might or might not be in a position to come – I knew that. Calling the others was a good idea, but I might have to do this with what I had.

Two valkyries, one cop who was a decent shot, and me. I had my sword and my guns. We could do this.

And there was something else, too. Kanesha would, I knew, be looking for every opportunity to rescue herself. They’d have to keep her bound and gagged or she’d be out of there. I kept my mind focused on that odd trace of her, that sense of her reality, hoping that I might feel something if she did get herself out.

I hoped she would. I really did. I didn’t like being the one doing the rescuing – it made me uncomfortable and uncertain. It made me feel like her superior again.

Maybe we needed to teach her how to use a sword. Would it help? Or did I have to get used to this. She’s yours echoed in my mind. Maybe a goddess, even a half-trained one, could never even pretend equality with a mortal.

In that case, how could we have a relationship at all?

“She’s moving,” I said, almost before I consciously realized it was true.

“Which direction?”

“North. More or less towards us.” I felt hope rise up within me. Or they had her tied in the back of a van. I hoped not – I might ride right past it before noticing she was there. I wished I could talk to her, but it didn’t seem to work that way.

Or maybe I just didn’t know how yet.

“Okay. Let’s try not to go right past her.”

“I was just thinking that I was worried I’ll do just that.”

Then the traffic hit. There was some sort of accident up ahead. Even the bike was stalled, and if she was going past in the other direction, we’d have some real problems getting out of here.

Unless…

“Get us up to the accident.”

“I’m trying,” Kara admitted. “I do still need something of a gap.”

She managed to weave the bike onto the shoulder, but it was blocked by a cop car. She swore in Old Norse.

We were pretty much stuck.