“You said you cared about the drowthers,” said Hermia to Danny. “But you’re not doing anything to stop the carnage.”

“What carnage?” asked Veevee.

“The war among the Families is about to erupt, and it’s going to be fought by drowthers, using drowther weapons. It’s going to make the Trojan War look like an amusement park ride.”

Danny shook his head.

“That’s the problem,” said Pat. “We were given some … I don’t know, rules. Danny isn’t supposed to take away other people’s power of choice. Including the Families.”

“No, I can … I can do things. Save people. Some people. Heal people. But I can’t stop them from waging their war, or at least I think that’s how it’s supposed to work. If I can persuade them not to…”

“They’ve all been to Westil now,” said Hermia. “You don’t have any leverage.”

“Persuasion isn’t leverage,” said Pat. “Leverage is coercion. Persuasion is to help them see things differently and change their minds, on their own. Not because they’re afraid of Danny, or because they want something he can offer.”

“That’s the only kind of persuasion that works in the real world,” said Hermia. “People don’t actually change their minds, they just claim they did when they realize that they’ll get more advantage out of behaving differently.”

“I wish you were just being cynical,” said Veevee, “but sadly enough, I think you’re right.”

Danny sighed. “You think I don’t know that? But rules are rules.”

“What an ungatemagely thing to say,” said Veevee.

“Ungatemagely,” repeated Hermia. “Oh, that is a word that needed to be said, at least once, in the history of the language.”

“The person I need to have here for this discussion is Loki,” said Danny.

“Text him and see if he comes,” said Hermia.

“There aren’t many cell towers on Westil,” said Danny.

“And Danny can’t go there himself,” said Veevee. “Because he’d carry Set with him. And what if he got out after all?”

“So you sit here on the balcony taking in the sunlight,” said Hermia.

“What were you doing in the Aegean?” asked Pat.

“I was a prisoner there.”

“And we’re prisoners of our ignorance,” said Danny. “But I appreciate the conversation, because now I think I understand where I’m not going to get any answers.”

“From us?” asked Veevee.

“From the data available to me so far,” said Danny. “If we had enough information, you might very well be able to come up with good ideas. So if you don’t mind waiting here for a while…”

“I mind,” said Hermia.

“I’ll escort you back to Arkoi,” said Pat. “I think I’ve learned enough of what Danny does to take a willing passenger.”

“Are you two a thing now?” asked Hermia.

Pat stared back at her blankly.

“She’s asking if you’re sleeping together, dear,” said Veevee.