“Ass saddle,” Odin muttered.
“What’s that?” Aaron cupped his hand to his ear. “What did you call me?”
“Boys,” Herri warned.
Crow shook his head. “And you thought the tricksters cause trouble.”
“I thought,” Odin said, his deep voice loud enough to silence both of them, “that we were telling Delaney that we’re worried about her.”
“Wait,” I said. “We’re what now?”
“Worried about you,” Odin said, still glaring at Aaron and Crow in turn. “Isn’t that right, boys?”
Crow slid me a small smile. “I think that was actually the point.”
“Worried? That I can’t do my job?” Okay, maybe I said that a little louder than I’d intended.
I could feel all the gazes in the room turn to me.
Terrific. Now all the gods were interested in the subject of my inexperience.
“It’s just that your father…” Zeus began.
“My father what?” I demanded. “He taught me how to do his job. I’ve known for years that I would take it on. Just because he and I don’t sense power in the same manner doesn’t mean I’m not living up to the Reed blood and word. I will not fail this town nor the gods, creatures, or mortals within it.”
“…asked us to look out for you,” Zeus finished quietly.
Oh.
Well, I’d just been getting all worked up over the wrong thing.
“I can take care of myself.”
Frigg reached over and patted my arm. “We know. You’re a Reed. We know you’re strong. Your family always has been. But you’re new to this, Delaney.”
“And”—Zeus held up one finger to keep me quiet—“you not only have a new god in town, but you also need to rehouse your first power. It is a lot to take on at once.”
“Not to mention the murder,” Aaron said.
“And the murder,” Zeus agreed.
I hadn’t told any of them I thought Heimdall was murdered. “Who told you he was murdered?”
“He fell off his boat and drowned,” Odin said. “We’re on vacation, we’re not idiots.”
Thor stood up on a table and wobbled like a surfer trying to catch a wave. “Let’s swim the sea naked! In Heimdall’s honor! Who’s with me?”
Death, who was sitting primly in a corner booth sipping a fruity drink with umbrellas in it, glanced around the room, keenly interested in the answers.
“Well, some of us aren’t idiots,” Zeus said. “Some of us just raise them.”
Odin stood. “At least some of us aren’t cheap.”
“Cheap?”
“You broke my chainsaw.”
“It was dull.”
