“It was a ring.”
“How is that a message?”
“It was the ring she wore when she led the hoards into the Bothersome Battle against Sticksquim the Screamed.”
I frowned.
“You never read about that battle? Well, she also wore the ring into the Conflict of Consequence with Boraka the Bad.”
“Who names your wars?” Crow asked. “You need to fire them.”
“Is the ring a weapon?” I asked.
“Why?”
“We’re following up on two other packages that have been left at people’s doorsteps. Both reported this morning. Did Xtelle receive her package this morning?”
“According to the call I got from her screaming about it? Yes.”
“She has a phone?”
He cast his eyes heavenward, which was pretty funny considering he was a demon and even less likely to receive relief from those quarters. “She has a phone.”
A second kitten attacked the screen, this one finding less purchase. It burped out little mews all the way back down to the ground.
“What kind of weapons have been delivered?” Bathin asked. “I’m assuming none of them are as mundane as guns or switchblades.”
“You assume correctly,” I said. “What does your mother’s ring do?”
“It makes her invincible. Might stop time.”
“For real?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “That’s what she’s always said. I was there with her in the Skippy Skirmish against Thatbottom the Thick. Some of the things she did there, I still can’t explain.”
“Really,” Crow said. “Fire your marketing department. They’re making all your fights sound like they took place on a kindergarten playground.”
“Is the ring famous?” I asked. “She’s well known to use it in battle?”
“Among her enemies, she is.”
“And her allies?”
“Not sure she has those anymore. But yes, demons know of it. I’d guess other beings do too. Or at least those who occasionally crack open a book and read up on this stuff.”
“Hey, I read.”
He gave me a small smile. “Not according to your sister you don’t. You just ask her about the important stuff.”
“That’s because she’s the keeper of the library. It’s her job. You can stop grinning at me now. Did she tell you to try and get a rise out of me about this?” I knew I was starting to blush, could feel the prickly heat on my cheeks.
I’d been slacking a little on keeping up on my ancient lore refreshers. Myra had inherited the library instead of me. I was so glad it was in her capable hands, I’d stepped away from the studies we’d all been doing pretty much since we could read.
Dad had never forced it on us, but books were important, and all three of us Reed sisters were voracious readers at heart.
“You are so easy sometimes, Delaney,” Bathin said. I was reminded that he had been in possession of my soul for a long time. Long enough to know how to push my buttons. “Feeling a little guilty your studies have slacked off now that you’ve gotten yourself a fiancé?”
“Good-bye, Bathin. I’m going to go talk to your mother now.” I turned.
