Titans of Chaos

The other nymphs looked at each other. The one with the broken nose, Sagaritis, murmured, "Themaenads are trapped, motionless and paralyzed,, imprisoned in forms alien to their wild freedom,but forms natural and dear to us. What is the worst this child might do to us? Turn us into trees?"

Another nymph murmured, "What is death to us? The guide of the dead has vowed to guide ourshades astray, and lead us to the light again, where we never can belong."

It was Victor who interrupted, saying coldly to Quentin: "Call Hades."

Vanity-the real Vanity, who had come up through one of the trapdoors in the clearing just at thatmoment-put her hands in front of her mouth, and screamed in utmost panic. "Don't say thatname! He heard! He's coming!"

Her eyes were rolling and starting with fear: Her voice and limbs shook.

The nymphs, so defiant a moment before, threw themselves on their faces, groveling, begging, andcrying. The change from self-possessed enchantresses to quaking shapes of utter panic was tooquick to be believed.

The shadow of Quentin casually moved over to where Vanity was. She had elevated his emptybody into place through her trapdoor of grass. He shrank and resumed his flesh and stood. He putout his hand and called: From among the trees came flying a length of white wood, his wand, andit fell lightly into his palm. I suppressed a giggle: He looked so like a stage magician in his tuxedo.

Only now did he deign to turn and notice the groveling, pleading forms of the lovely nymphs.

Their tresses, once crowned with flowers, were now tangled in the trampled mud and wine of thegrass.

Quentin raised his white wand, saying, "There is but one world where the Lord of Death has noreign, and but one people beyond the power of his laws, beyond the power of all laws! I am aPrince of Chaos, the realm where time, and space, and order are jarred and confounded togetherin roaring tumult-what is death to me?"

There was more screaming from the nymphs, calls of "Save me!" "I'll swear!" "Master, spareme!" while he spoke sharply at them, demanding their oaths.

It was confusing, but Quentin pointed his stick at them, one after another, and exacted thewording of the vows he wanted.

Quentin waved his wand over them and demanded them to be silent. With a little whimpering andweeping, the girls fell quiet.