Strong as the world. Strong enough to stand against the gods. Even this one whom we knew so well.
To me, Raven looked identical to how he looked when he was last in town as Crow. He was medium height, black hair cut in a messy style that only enhanced the handsome features given to him by his full-blood Siletz lineage. His eyes twinkled and his smile was warm and welcoming.
This trickster god had a swagger and love of mischief that turned both male and female heads wherever he went.
He flicked his gaze from Delaney, winked at me, then turned his attention back to her, his arms still wide and waiting.
“Well?” he asked. “You still love me, don’t you, boo-boo?”
Delaney wrapped him in a hug, her head on his shoulder. He dropped his arms around her so he could pat her between her shoulder blades.
“It’s good to see you,” she said.
“It’s good to see you too, little bit.” He gave her one more gentle pat then released her. “Now, how formal is this going to be?”
“There are rules, Raven.”
“Oh, do call me Crow.”
“I will. When you put your power down. Until then, I will call you by the name that recognizes which god you are.”
“The best god?”
“Raven.”
“The god you love?”
“Raven.”
“The god you trust and missed and would do anything for? Why, thank you, Delaney. I know I’m amazing. You’re too kind.”
“No,” she said, the strength of Ordinary in that word, the stone of Ordinary, the power. “You are a trickster god, Raven. Of course, I love you. But I’m not letting you back into town until you agree to the rules.”
“All right.” He stuck his hands in his back pockets. “Shoot.”
“You will follow all of Ordinary’s rules while you are within Ordinary, especially the rules involving picking up or putting down your power.”
It wasn’t something that usually had to be told to a god once they had signed the contract upon their first entry into town. But Raven had broken that rule specifically.
“As if I’d ever do anything to break Ordinary’s rules.”
She held up one finger. “Stop. In case you forgot, I don’t have to let you into Ordinary, Raven. You vacation here at the blessing of one person in the universe. And you’re looking at her.”
He gave her a hard look. “The demon has your soul, but you’re still you, aren’t you? Gotta love that Reed blood.”
“That isn’t a promise to follow the rules,” she said. “Give me your word, Raven, that you will follow the laws of Ordinary.”
Raven slapped his palm against his chest. “I, Raven, do solemnly swear to obey the laws of Ordinary, including that pesky power rule I broke last time I was here.”
Delaney waited for a heartbeat, for two. Finally, she nodded. “See that you do.” Then she took one big step backward.
Nothing changed.
Except somehow, everything changed. The day looked brighter, the air sweeter, the sounds of ocean and, in the distance, laughter and music, closer.
The barrier between gods and Ordinary was lifted, and Raven took three steps forward into Ordinary proper.
“Welcome back, Crow,” Delaney said.
