Titans of Chaos

"Ahem. I had not been planning on any acts of rape. Such things generally turn out badly. Ask mywife. But I compliment you on the fecundity and liveliness of your imagination. I will bedisaccommodated if you allow things to degenerate to the more brutal state to which they mightdevolve. Please consider answering my question."

"I left them. I knew you could follow me; I knew you could not follow them. So they are safe."

"You must have arranged some system of rendezvous, or exchange of messages? Dropboxes,letters to the Times signed in code, colored smoke signals, that sort of thing... ?"

"You and your people can erase memories. Why not read minds? I thought it would be safer if Ididn't leave myself any way to reach them."

"But they can reach you, one supposes?"

"I promised Colin I would have sex with him."

"Hphfnah? I mean, I beg your pardon... ?" Disgust, and even anger, broke in his voice. The noisehe made was like the snort a large black bull makes when a younger bull comes nosing around hisharem. The contemptuous blow of a bull lowering its head to gore an insolent opponent.

"It is like my promise to you. An oath. Colin and Quentin can use it to find me."

"Miss Windrose, sometimes I just wonder what on Earth goes on in that head of yours. Did youactually promise an amorous liaison with... Oh, it boggles the mind! With Mr. mac FirBolg?"

"What's so wrong about that?"

"What's so wrong? What's so wrong? Did I really teach you so poorly, Miss Windrose? Have youno sense of propriety, no sense of pride, no sense of self-esteem? Have you no sense? What abouttaste? Have you no taste?"

I looked at him with my eyes half-closed. "You don't think he's good enough for me."

"I assume, with the natural perversity of teenagers, this will merely recommend him to your favor.

But, as a mental exercise, envision a delicate and graceful rose, the fairest bloom of the fairestspring. Now picture a slug dropped on it, leaving a trail of ooze. I am aghast."

"Do you not like Colin so much?" I said, my voice light and airy.

"Mr. mac FirBolg has no capacity to apply himself, and, were he not graced with dangeroussupernatural powers, would have no doubt found a satisfactory life as a fast-food-restaurantclerk, or a heroin salesman. But you, you, Miss Windrose, whether born a princess or goddess,common or mortal, you could make of your world what you will of it. You are much too fine acreature for a dull-eyed sluggard like Mr. mac FirBolg. What of your Mr. Triumph?"

"Victor... ?"