A deal worth making

That has shaken me and I blurt out „Ragnarök, as with Fenrir breaking loose and Nagelfar ferrying the army of the dead to battle? Time of storms, time of the wolf, brothers fighting brothers?“. She seems a bit surprised by my surprise and replies „That is the prophecy and only the gods and by extension maybe their priests know for sure, until the Gjallarhorn sounds, except maybe Atlanteans, but Loki has cast aside his bonds and this is the earliest winter since times immemorial. Why do you think an Atlantean took such a risk and goblins are attacking humans?“

I need to get up and pace. Even so I almost knock over my tea beaker. I’ve arrived during the end of the world, well the beginning of the end of the world. In particular there will be no spring. We’ll end up under a glacier here. And the attack on my wasn’t just bad luck.

So what do we do, run and risk it? I see no alternative. „Do we have any alternative? Some ally we can call upon? The dryad?“ I ask.

Anjali is alarmed. This is backfiring. First go for a calmer atmosphere „Let me think. Do you have some tea left?“. He looks embarrassed and answers „Sure. I am sorry, let me get you a beaker. … Here you are. Milk? We have no sugar unfortunately. “

This man is sincere. He doesn’t deem himself above her. He is no conquering hero either. That is most of all unusual and unusual people are harder to predict. So asking more is better „Milk?“. He hesitates just a bit before his speech becomes a bit quicker „I had to test diverse mammals. I have cow, goat, sheep, human, horse, elephant, ibex, …“ He falls silent, as she raises an eyebrow and firmly proceeds to say „I’ll try human.“. He is like other wizards though. He cannot remain silent about aspects of his art. He prepares her a beaker of tea with a generous helping of milk. Many other wizards would have just pointed to the correct vessel. He even apologizes „No spices or honey either.“

I am now sure she thinks that I am a complete pervert. But it was necessary. It turns out that in terms of amount of mana per milk produced human is best with cow being a relatively close second. If we needed to survive on the stuff I can make this would be vital to know. I hardly trust my ears as I hear her say „We need to make the most out of the mana we have and stretching the time available is valuable for preparation. You just need to concentrate more on destructive aspects. What was wrong with throwing lightning?“ To go back to a topic not involving human milk is a relief „He outranged me. The lightning incapacitated him with a single hit, but that is of no use if he can hit me multiple times with his curses before I can get in close enough.“

Anjali is delighted at being taken seriously for her ability to combine wizardry and tactics. Being able to use her lessons for the benefit of a wizard her grandfather would not approve of makes it even better. So she is happy to cover for blocked memories. „Generally if an opponent uses a variation tactics to prevent adaption of your wards it depends on whether you have the speed and power advantage, if you do, you better not go for an exchange of courses, but you overcharge your generic wards and accept the hits only to press in for short range attacks, maybe even into melee range. I think your concrete deficiency was not having replaced your staff so you had no reserves to draw from. Of course that was a low probability event. Bad luck.“ His reply leaves her stunned. „Wards? Staff?“

His mien makes it clear that hers is not under control. Maybe this is salvgeable. She should not treat him like she treated her customers, but like a wounded warrior of her clan. Back then when she still had a clan. He isn’t stupid. Nor is his mind damaged. Just his memories are damaged extremely unevenly, yet to an extent they grossly underestimated. Had the Atlantean selectively broken memories he would have needed to fight back? She has to keep telling herself that. Nothing else makes sense.

I have done it. Again. She thinks I am an idiot. And now her face is switching to pity. What can I do? She speaks a bit slower „I think your memories are more damaged than you realize. It looks to me like the Atlantean took more of the knowledge you could have fought him with away.“ My knowledge denies that. Would it know, though?

She says something. „What?“ I reply „I am sorry, I am a bit distracted.“. She smiles and repeats herself „I could show you the diagrams, but you do not know our notation. I don’t know a quick answer for that.“ I nod. She continues „But it seems you have a good mage sight. You could have a look at Zewrepa.“. This woman is clever. „in the meantime …“ she shakes her empty beaker and points at the empty container that once held human milk. She is also mercyless.