Part 11 (1/2)

”I met your replacements,” he said.

Atropos rolled her eyes. They were almond-shaped, accented by kohl. Very Greek. All three women looked very Greek. He hadn't realized that before either.

Was their claim to have lost their magic correct, then? Was he actually seeing them in their real forms?

”What did you think of them?” Atropos asked.

For a moment he thought she was referring to their forms--a question he didn't ever want to answer, in case they did get their positions back--and then he realized she was asking about the Interim Fates.

”They didn't seem to have a solid grasp of the rules,” he said.

”Such a surprise,” Clotho said, even though she didn't sound surprised.

”Imagine what a mess they'll make,” Lachesis said, putting a hand to her cheek in mock dismay.

”Save it,” Dex said. ”They told me that you picked them.”

”Out of a candidate pool of three,” Atropos snapped.

”Although we didn't tell them that,” Clotho said.

”They're Zeus's daughters,” Lachesis said. ”They have an in with the Powers That Be.”

”Zeus?” Dex raised his eyebrows. Somehow this amazed him, and it shouldn't have. ”Zeus must have a million children by now.”

”Seven-hundred-and-seventy-five thousand,” Atropos said. ”Not that anyone's counting.”

”Do you see why we made it so that men can't father children after they've come into their powers?” Clotho said.

”Most men wouldn't abuse the privilege,” Lachesis said.

”But every once in a while, you get someone like Zeus,” Atropos said.

”No matter how much you tell him,” Clotho said, ”he simply doesn't grasp the idea of birth control.”

”Well, he does,” Lachesis said, ”but he doesn't appreciate it.”

”Last time we told him, he said something about socks.” Atropos shook her head.

”Let me guess,” Dex said. ”You haven't even tried to talk to him for the last hundred years.”

”And we should have,” Clotho said. ”Those children really are children. Because he had his powers when he fathered them, they were born with powers.”

”We've had to monitor them from the beginning. Imagine a baby with the ability to change the world with the wiggle of a toe?” Lachesis said.

Vivian was still leaning on her elbows, frowning as the conversation continued around her.

Dex had lost control of it, and quicker than he had expected. The Fates, even though they might not have their magical powers, still had the power to confuse.

”They seem to think that just because they've had constant schooling since birth, they know enough to govern the world,” Atropos said.

Dex was cold. ”Don't tell me. They really are teenagers?”

”They might as well be,” Clotho said, ”for all the learning they've done.”

”They're actually not much younger than you, Henri,” Lachesis said. ”Not much older than sixty, if my memory serves.”

”I hate relying on memory,” Atropos whispered to Lachesis. Lachesis nodded.

”Sixty?” Vivian sat up even farther. She looked at Dex as if he'd sprouted two heads. ”You're sixty?”

She made it sound so old. He didn't want to seem old to her. He wanted to seem perfect. He said, ”Actually--”

”Yes,” Clotho said. ”They're just babies.”

”I don't think anyone can make informed decisions until they're well past their first century,” Lachesis said. ”These girls are going to be a disaster.”

”You hope,” Dex said, happy the focus had been taken off his age. He was 105, barely within the realm that the Fates considered old enough to make an informed decision. Although Vivian would probably find 105 even more shocking than sixty.

The Fates were staring at him as if he had said something profane. He had to think back. He wasn't quite sure what had come out of his mouth.

”No,” Atropos said. ”We do not hope. We have spent millennia preventing disasters. We do not want one.”

Clotho nodded. ”However, we could not explain to the Powers That Be”--at this the Fates extended their hands and bowed their heads with respect, just like they were supposed to--”how important we are.”

”They seem to think anyone can do the job,” Lachesis said.

”So long as these anybodies follow the new rules for application,” Atropos said.

”Did we tell you that we must reapply?” Clotho asked.

He was feeling dizzy with information. The Fates weren't playing a trick on him--or if they were, it was a successful albeit elaborate one. They really were in some sort of trouble.

”Is that why you have no magic?” Dex asked.

Clotho's mouth thinned. Lachesis crossed her arms. They both looked at Atropos, who shrugged.

”We don't have magic,” Lachesis said, ”because Atropos believed we should try to fulfill all the silly new requirements.”

”Now you blame it on me,” Atropos said. ”You agreed to it.”

”That was before we were attacked,” Clotho said.

”Attacked?” Dex asked.

”It's a long story,” Lachesis said. ”Let us tell it to you in order.”