Titans of Chaos

I raised my hand in a commanding gesture. "The Dark Mistress hereby orders that we table thisconversation for later. Mavors would not have let us go if he did not have a mechanism in placeto prevent us from leaving the universe and going home. He let us go to act as bait for Lamia; hewould not take the risk of triggering Ragnarok. So there must be something watching us,something that will swoop down and stop us if we get close to the gates at the edge of the world,or wherever you have to go to get out of the universe. Find out what the mechanism is and how todisarm it, or find out where the Gates at the End of Creation are, and who or what is guardingthem, and then we'll talk about going home. Until then, let's talk about getting free and stayingalive."

Victor said, "I would raise the same objection to talk of approaching one faction or anotheramong the Olympians. Mulciber might help us escape Mavors, for example, and protect us fromLamia, but only if we promised to support his bid for the throne of Heaven. He also might simplyimprison us and erase our memories. Or he might be the one who sent Lamia. The same is true ofanyone else." To Vanity, he added, "Even the Phaeacians might start a war, or turn us back overto the Olympians, if we approached them. And we do not know who sent Lamia."

Quentin said, "But we are not perfectly ignorant. What about the three Olympians who were alliedwith Chaos? They are almost sure to be our friends: Dionysus, Athena, and Hermes. Or, to use thenames they are using these days, Lord Anacreon, Lady Tritogenia, and Lord Trismegistus. Theyare all gods of wisdom and magic, mysticism. They have nothing to gain from the status quo. Wecould take precautions, make a careful approach."

Victor said, "My suggestion is to approach nobody, nobody, until we discover more information."

I said, "One suggestion for deserted island, one for back to Chaos and destroy the universe, onefor find out more. Vanity? You are the only one who hasn't said anything yet."

Vanity said meekly, "Is going to Hollywood and becoming famous an allowed suggestion?"

I shrugged. "Why not? It is not any more unreasonable than the 'destroy the universe' suggestion.