“Alaric already told me that he doesn't know how Katila's soul got out of the Void,” I answered for Al. “He was there and then gone.”
“Is that how it was with my soul?” Odin asked.
“No. I knew Vervain came for you. I was aware of her presence and your conversation. But I have always been aware of Vervain. I don't watch all the souls in the Void as closely as I watched over yours, Odin.”
Odin's expression squished up. “Thank you?”
“You're welcome.”
“So, he can't get through now?” Viper asked. “Now that you've changed the ward chant to banana pancakes.” He pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.
“It just popped into my head.” I grimaced. Then I looked around. “Where are the children?”
“Outside playing,” Kirill said. “Sam and Fallon are vith zem.”
“Good.” I looked back at the tracing room. “And to answer your question, Viper, I don't know how secure we are. Cuz I don't know how he got in the first time.”
“Well, you've got a lot of people traipsin' in and out of this terr'tory,” Austin drawled.
“What are you saying, copper?” Lucius, another lion, asked.
“Just that it's hard to keep a secret between two people. But a hundred?” He looked around. “I'm not besmirchin' anyone's honor here. Just saying, that's how it goes. Three can keep a secret if two of 'em are dead.”
“You think one of my friends or family gave up the tracing chant?” I asked.
“Maybe not knowingly.” Austin shrugged again.
“He also got into Heaven and Hell,” Azrael said.
“Both terr'tories with a lot of residents,” Austin said.
“So now you think someone from Heaven, Hell, the Greek Underworld, and here gave up the chants?” Viper asked.
“It would be the easiest way to get through.” Austin, who'd been slouched against the wall, straightened and sauntered over. “I don't know wards as well as you folks, but I know doors. To get through, you have to have a key or a sledgehammer. No one sledgehammered your ward, did they, Vervain?”
“No,” I said. “But we've left out one other option.”
“What's that?”
“Katila may have overheard the chants.”
“Fruity Pebbles!” Trevor snarled.
“I don't get it,” Austin said.
“Katila is like a ghost,” I said. “You won't see him or even sense his magic. It's more than invisibility. He's simply not there. So, he could have been anywhere without us knowing. He could have found a god from each territory and followed them until they traced home. Then he'd just have to listen for the chant.”
“What about the Faerie Realm?” Aidan asked. “How did he get in there?”
“With Viper,” I said. “The ward recognized Viper and allowed the person with him to tag along.”
“The easiest explanation is usually the right one.” Odin nodded.
“Which reminds me. When I attacked him with fire, he went transparent,” I said.
“Doubtless a talent he got from consuming a Yamaduta,” Odin said.
“Or their magic enhanced his own, and he has become unnoticeable to the point of also being untouchable,” Alaric said.
