"Oh, always possible," he says readily. "Gods can be just as clueless as mortals, that's my theory."

(It's a very good theory.)

"Either way, there's a few questions buried in there," he observes. "What could they gain from putting the choice on you; what could they gain from the sacrifices you chose; what could they gain from landing you here. Is it the place or the people that are important? How much do they have to do with each other?"

He resumes drumming his fingers again.

"That's why I wish I understood the process better, you know. It sounds like the girl was Deerington, or near enough. Hard to say whether this place was an intended outcome, or just a side effect."