| Malachi calls a short break, for she says that there is at least one
more important matter needing to be discussed and which may take some time.
One or two who have knowledge of the matter suspect that she is referring
to the slipgates.
Astra 3 and Demifox Synizn take the opportunity to have a quiet conversation
in one corner during the break. "I'm still worried about those babies"
says the princess. "From what I've heard of the state of things, even in
a town like Walants and with the backing of rank and money, a regular supply
of milk can't be absolutely guaranteed. And as I understand the arrangement,
Johanna and Verity are only temporary stop-gaps for a day or so, and certainly
don't expect to make a career as wet-nurses for the next six to nine months."
"Well," says the demifox, "it shouldn't be a major problem to provide
a magical source of milk that will never run dry." "What?!" exclaims
Astra 3. "In that case, why didn't you arrange that for me?" "That
was very different," the demifox explains. "It's one thing to provide such
a magical artifact in a dwelling where people are going to stay long-term,
but you and the babies were going to be travelling by horse, probably then
by ship, and possibly finally on dragon-back. Bringing along a portable
and non-breakable magical milk-source - other than you - would have been
very difficult. Besides, I was one mage, with one Crystallic that I was
very reluctant to use. Now we have multiple mages, some of them more powerful
than me, with multiple Crystallics to call on. They can do much more than
I could."
Astra 3 is mollified. She goes on: "That reminds me. You wanted to destroy
your Crystallic for fear that it would fall into the wrong hands. Isn't
that still a risk?" "Yes, it is," says the demifox. "There are still some
of the Dragon Circle who I'm sure would like to get their hands on one
or more of them for their own ends. And though even magery was no defence
for humans against the phage, there must still be a few human mages who
survive. I'm sure they would also like one. On the other hand, we have
some powerful mages ourselves, and with the aid of the Crystallics they
can put up a very strong magical defence against anything that an enemy
might try. Plus we have, well, for want of a better word, an alliance with
the Alliance, who can provide whatever protection that science can afford.
And we really can't pass up our only chance of defeating the phage."
"Talking about defeating the phage with a mixture of magic and science,"
Astra 3 continues. "I think I once told you about that strange Dr Vincent
that Fred 3 and I met in the Calamari desert. I wonder if he also exists
in this reality and has survived the phage? Though he was undoubtedly a
little mad, he was one of the few people with a good understanding of both
magic and science. If we could somehow get him here, he might be of use."
"Could be," muses Demifox Synizn.
-
 Malachi calls everyone
back to resume the main discussion.
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