Titans of Chaos

Colin said, "Quentin detected that Mavors could manipulate fate, and make it so that his shipscould outmaneuver us. Okay, fine. That's fine. He's the god of war; I guess one of his perks is tobe able to dictate the outcome of sea combats. But apparently Boggin can't just decree that we'dall be good students and never give him any problems. Or else he would have done so. Maybe he'sdecreed we will always be caught each time we try to escape, but why not just decree that wewon't even try in the first place? You see? You see what I mean? Is there a price they have to pay?

A limit? Do they only get three tries?"

I said to Quentin, "Are there any myths or legends about people who escape from the fates thegods set for them?"

Quentin smiled and said, "No. No poet would dare write such a tale, would they?"

Vanity said, "Yes there is. Wagner's Ring Cycle. Die Walkure and those other operas. Siegfriedand Tod, or whatever the names were. Remember? The fates decree that Ragnarok will destroythe universe and everyone in it, but Wotan finds that if he can create a man brave and freeenough not to be bound by any destiny, Siegfried, that Siegfried can break the magic spear ofWotan with his magic sword Nothung, and he frees the girls from the magic circle of fire, butdrinks a magic potion by mistake..."

Colin said, "Isn't that the opera where everyone is stabbed and poisoned at the end, except thegirl, who sings, jumps on a funeral pyre, has the roof fall on her, and the Rhine floods and sweepsthe ashes away? Not exactly a happy ending."

Vanity said, "Two humans survive the death of all the gods, hiding in a beech tree. I thought thatwas the happy ending you were just wishing for. End of the universe. Roll credits."

I said, "Hold it. Dark Mistress hereby says we table the seminar on Wagner opera. The questionraised by Colin is perfectly valid: What are the limits on Olympian fate-control, and how can weelude them? Vanity's question is equally valid, and I think it is brilliant. What are the limits onOlympian divination, and how do we hide from it? I am interpreting both of those as motions onthe floor for the plan: go somewhere and find out. The question is, where? Who knows the stuffwe need to know?"

Quentin said, "There are readings I could do. But I was not able to find a way to make themsecure from eavesdropping."

" 'Star-dropping,'" murmured Colin.