“Well, notjusta vessel,” she confirmed.
“Okay,” I said. “Yes. This works. So, Tala. To enter Ordinary you must agree to set your power down and live your life as close to a mortal life as possible.”
“I understand.”
“There are risks. Without your power, you can be injured. In extreme instances, you can be killed and your power will have to be transferred to another mortal. I will be the way in which your power is transferred if that happens.”
She stepped away from Than and stood in front of me and Frigg, the perfect point in our triangle. “Delaney,” she said kindly. “I fully understand my actions and the consequences of them. I agree to the terms. Now, shall I shed this power so I can see the color of your ocean with my own eyes?”
I nodded. Some gods needed a lot of reminding of what they were getting into. Especially those gods who didn’t like to follow rules, or who had never followed rules.
I’d been dealing with demons a lot lately too. Demons who hadn’t found a rule they couldn’t wait to break.
“Frigg, do you agree to harbor and keep safe Tala’s power?”
“Yes. Happy to.”
I nodded at Tala.
She reached for me, and I took her hand as she offered Frigg her other hand. Frigg took it and also pressed her palm against the back of my shoulder.
I inhaled, exhaled and then—
—light, rising soft and pure, no heat, silver trill of birdsong, of starsong, a call, a hope—
—opened my mind, my soul, the path of me that was Ordinary’s heart—
—a single note, a pulse point, silence held, then a breath—
—power, Tala’s power, the goddess of the morning star fell silent and liquid through my veins, flowing like a mercury river into the bobbin, into the grove, into the welcoming arms of Frigg’s spinning wheel, another thread, another string weaving the fabric of the universe.
Then it was done.
“Good,” I said, still vibrating with the aftermath of carrying such exquisite energy. “Welcome to Ordinary, Talli. Than, would you please show her around?”
She smiled. Even though she wasn’t carrying power, it was brighter somehow, better somehow.
Free.
“Thank you. Both.” She gave Frigg’s hand a squeeze. Frigg removed her hand from my shoulder so she could give her a quick pat on the shoulder.
“Us girls have to stick together,” she said with a wink. “So, Delaney. The crowning? I’ll see you there?”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “If for no reason other than I want to see what you’re lying about, yes. You’ll see me there.”
She waggled her eyebrows and started back to the rig. “If you two want a ride, I’ll take you,” she threw over her shoulder to Talli and Than.
Talli turned to Than. “Should you like a ride?”
“I should rather a walk,” he said. “A stroll.”
“Well then.” She offered her hand, poised to take his arm. He strode forward, his face carefully blank, slotting his elbow in place.
Without even one more word, they strolled off, leaving me behind.
“Okay,” I said, watching them go. “Don’t worry about me or anything.”
Anoinking by my feet drew my attention. Dragon pig sat there, looking up at me with its adorable face.
