“It might have killed you,” Blue said. “If you had hit a rock and lost your head, you would have died, Quetzalcoatl.”
Quetzalcoatl blinked. Looked toward the edge. Faced me. “Holy shit.”
I laughed. “Don't think about it.”
“Just don't do it again,” Blue added.
Quetzalcoatl pulled me into a hug. “Thank you, Vervain. You saved my life.”
“It's all right. I'm glad I was here.” I pulled back and looked at his bare chest. “But I can't help noticing there's somethingmissing. Perhaps the reason for your failed flight?”
Quetzalcoatl grimaced. “Your arrival is well-timed in many ways.” His hand went to his chest. “Someone has stolen the Wind Jewel.” He looked at Blue. “I didn't think my magic was so dependent on it. I thought I'd still be able to fly without the jewel, and I did. For a few miles. But then.” He waved limply at the sky. “I don't know how I'll get home.”
“I can take you back, but maybe you should come with us for now,” I said. “If I take you home, you won't be able to leave easily, and we could use your help anyway.”
“My help?” Quetzalcoatl frowned. “I'm sorry, Vervain, but I must hunt whoever took my breastplate.”
“We are hunting the same thief,” Blue said. “It's why we came. He stole a staff from Hermes and left a clue that led us to you.”
“A clue? What kind of thief leaves clues?”
“One who's also a trickster,” I said. “We've dealt with the god before. He likes to play games, but his last game ended up helping us. I'm not sure if his motives are as pure this time, but Iamsure that he's leading us through another round ofFollow the Clues.”
“A trickster,” Quetzalcoatl murmured. “There are very few people who have access to my territory and none of them are tricksters.”
“This god has gotten into many places he shouldn't have been able to,” I said. “I don't think he is any of the people who have access to your territory. Although, it wouldn't hurt to be wary of them for now. Uh, and, before we go, could we inspect your home for traces of him? Or rather, no traces of him.”
“No traces?”
“He stole magic from another god,” I said. “The magic of Unseen. It's a type of invisibility magic that covers all traces of a person, including their scent. It makes him nearly impossible to track.”
“That's why I couldn't find a scent trail in my home!” Quetzalcoatl growled.
Right. Snakes could track too.
“It must be the trickster,” Blue said. “There was no scent trail at Hermes's home. The clue led us here, and there's no scent here either.”
“Yes, it has to be the trickster who stole the . . . what did you call it? A wind jewel?”
“Yes,theWind Jewel,” Quetzalcoatl confirmed. “Its full name is The Spirally Voluted Wind Jewel.”
“Let's just call it Wind Jewel,” I said dryly.
Quetzalcoatl grinned. “I've forgotten how funny you are.”
“Well, it's been a while since we've hung out.”
“It has.” Quetzalcoatl grinned wider and stepped closer to me.
Blue stepped between us. “Seven husbands, brother. She hassevenhusbands.”
“That sounds like an open marriage,” Quetzalcoatl said.
“It's not.”
Quetzalcoatl looked at me for confirmation.
“He's right,” I said. “It's not. We're faithful to each other.” Then I grinned. “But I'm really flattered that you hoped it was.”
