Titans of Chaos

"So every eye is on Mavors now, now that he has imprudently risked the Children of Chaos towinkle out the traitors among us. If he finds the hidden foe whose hand guides Lamia to her sickcrimes, the Great Queen, Mavors' mother, will support him, so she has said, and we all believe hislover, the Cyprian, will also, once a firm excuse allows her. Even his enemy, Tritogenia, thewar-goddess, who hates him, cannot withhold her grace from a victor crowned by fate. If theThree Goddesses give him the auspices, Lord Pelagaeus the Earthshaker will withdraw his claim,and even Lord Dis may withdraw his threat to give the throne of brightest heaven to the sadgirl-queen of darkest hell.

"Is the moral of my little story clear? Mavors, utterly un-suited to the task, must win the love ofthose he seeks to lead. He, who could conquer Heaven by fighting, will not be fit to rule inHeaven, unless he can conquer it without fighting. Letting you five run free until his prey startsfrom the brush is his way of proving to his peers that he is a master of policy and craft, not ofbloodshed only. He has to prove he can cooperate with Mulciber and outthink the conspiracy thatthreatens us all. He has to prove he is as cunning and cold as old Boreas, or else old Boreas willnot serve him loyally.

"So much is riding on this episode, but he should not have crossed me. I am his son. My wars arefought in the heart, and my battlefields are more terrible than his! Do you doubt me, that I canovercome his curse, and free you from his command? Look at the orderly Cosmos around you!

What power guides the planets in their courses? What keeps the stars in place? What keeps theEarth firm on her center, and the polestar on his axle? Look, and answer! Is not love strongerthan war? If you agree, vow fealty to me!"

I was impressed, in that I did not think Archer was exaggerating, but I reminded myself thatBoreas had sent me here, and so this might be merely another and larger trap. I wanted to talk toVictor.

I said, "Sir, I cannot answer you quickly, or you will think me flippant. And I will need to consultwith my crew before we make any deals."

At that moment, I heard Quentin's voice in my ear, clear and close as Jiminy Cricket. "Leader,Victor says he has built up sufficient potential to discharge a one hundred and twenty-megavoltX-ray laser into Archer's skull. If you want us to attack, extend your middle finger toward him. Ifnot, touch your nose."