Tala had a lot of time on her hands, unexpectedly. She was used to sleeping later, at least until morning was near at hand.

Why did I wake up so soon? If her reckoning was correct, she’d gotten what felt like a full night’s sleep in around four hours.

I’ve been needing less sleep, but this is a marked difference. The inscriptions throughout her body felt more settled, improving her physiological functions more than ever. She had her iron salve in place as well, amplifying and condensing all the magic within her. It makes sense that would translate to more efficient sleep, I suppose.

As she stood outside the Constructionist Guild, on dimly, but sufficiently, lit streets, the question was, what now?

She could find a place to train, or a place to anchor Kit, and train in there.

She could…

Her head twinged with ignored pain, and her stomach rumbled.

Food. I need food. Specifically, she was craving dessert. A nice chocolate cake, or caramel pudding. She licked her lips in anticipation.

She was walking through the virtually deserted city streets, aimlessly searching for an open restaurant. She would be meeting with Mistress Odera in a few hours, but she was hungry, now.

The cold stone of the streets, and the occasional piles of snow, felt good on her feet and the cool air seemed to be helping her head, even if only as a side effect. She really did love the cold.

Food, food. Where would there be food… Somewhere that caters to late night workers…or Archons?

That’s an obvious answer. She smiled. Seems like I’ll be at the Guildhall early today.

Tala turned her path and went to the Caravan Guildhall. As she’d hoped, the lounge and food area were open, even though the main space, in which clerks like Lyn worked, was closed.

By the time she arrived, her headache was more manageable once again, but she was feeling incredibly dizzy. How can I be this hungry? I know my stores aren’t low.

She could feel her own weight with each step, not that she jiggled. She could simply tell that she was still markedly heavier than a normal person would be.

Maybe, I’m missing a specific nutrient? That was a thought, probably a good one. Well, I’m craving sweets, so maybe I’m low on sugar, somehow.

The place was hardly empty, but she was able to grab a table with ease in the mostly empty space. The few other people there seemed to be deeply focused on their own business, so they and Tala did little more than acknowledge each other in passing.

When a server came by to check on her, Tala knew what she wanted.

“I’ll have the double-fried donuts, stuffed with sweet, cream cheese filling and to drink, I’d like some fruit juice, whatever is least expensive.”

“Of course, Mistress. Our apple juice is fresh pressed, and in season with the winter harvest coming from the grow complex daily. How much of the juice?”

“A gallon should do it.”

The server seemed to hesitate, then something in her stance changed, and she smiled. “Certainly, as you wish. How many donuts would you like? And what toppings?”

Tala glanced down at the menu again, looking at the price. The late-night menu was much more limited than the standard, but also quite a bit more reasonably priced. A dozen donuts for a silver. “Let’s start with a dozen, and powdered sugar over the cream cheese icing, please.”

“Very good. The total for those and the juice will be two silver. Would you like any donuts left out to eat before you go?”

Tala blinked up at the older woman. What? “Oh! I apologize for the confusion. I’ll be eating them all, here. The sooner the better, if you please.”

The server hesitated again before she nodded. “Shall I get you a larger table, or move one of the others over? How many are you expecting to join you?”

Tala sighed. “No, no. I’m not being clear.” She smiled up at the woman, trying to remain calm despite her growing irritation and headache. “I will be eating them all, myself, right here, as soon as possible.”

The server swallowed and nodded, clearly realizing that she wasn’t going to fully understand her customer. “As you wish, Mistress. Do you want any coffee with that? Help you kickstart the day?”

“COFFEE!” Tala exclaimed lifting her hands in a gesture indicating realization of the obvious. “I’m having caffeine withdrawals.” No wonder the headache is so awful… There were probably other reasons, too, but coffee was an easy enough core cause to explain it.

The older woman had taken a step back at the exclamation. Then, she gave a little chuckle. “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”

“No.” Tala shook her head, sadly. “I drink too much of it and need to stop.”

Yet again, the server seemed utterly baffled. “So, you’re going cold turkey? That seems unpleasant.”

She just wants to sell some coffee… Tala grimaced. That’s uncharitable. She’s just trying to help. “I’ll survive. Better a lot of pain for a short time, than a moderate amount for weeks.”

“Whatever you say, Mistress. It’s your head.” The server nodded once. “Alright, a dozen double-fried donuts and a gallon of apple-juice as quick as I can get it.”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll be right back, then.”

Tala placed her head into her hands. Of course, it’s the coffee. They weren’t kidding when they said I was addicted… She wasn’t exactly sure who she meant by “they,” but she was sure they had been right.

Would that explain the dizziness, though? Why am I so, so hungry?

Her mind felt pretty fuzzy, so it was no wonder she was startled when the server placed her food down beside her.

Tala jumped, causing the poor woman to step back quickly in alarm, leaving the food and jug of apple juice behind.

“Oh! Thank you.” Tala tried to smile to calm the woman once more. My manners are all over the place, here.

The server bowed and departed, though Tala hardly paid attention; her eyes were now locked on the treats before her.

She took a long swig from the jug of apple juice, and something deep within her projected happiness. This is what I need. I’m not sure why, but I definitely do.

She’d have to drop by Holly’s workshop to ask. One more thing to do.

She pulled out one of her books and continued reading though. There is so much to learn. True, she could wait until Alat finished going through her mind, and then just have her find any info at need, but Tala didn’t want to rely on Alat too much. Certainly not a lot.

She laughed, shook her head, then sighed while licking her fingers clean of frosting.

She glanced down. What?

The donuts were gone.

“Terry, did you eat my donuts?”

Terry trilled a negative, and Tala thought she detected an eyeroll in the sound. Either I’m understanding him better or starting to project.

“Huh.” She waved down the server and ordered another dozen, along with a chicken-fried steak for Terry. They didn’t normally sell just the steak, but when Tala explained it was for her companion, they relented.

Half a silver. Not too overpriced for nicely fried meat.

Terry did take a small bite of donut when Tala offered, but he didn’t seem to like it.

In then end, Tala ate four dozen donuts, drank two gallons of apple juice, and gave Terry two chicken-fried steaks.

All told? Seven silver.

Not too bad for satisfying a late night craving. It was a blatant breach of her daily food budget, but since it wasn’t day yet, she justified it to herself.

It was four in the morning. I know, I know. A budget isn’t a budget if you don’t stick to it. She’d do better next time.

Three hours until breakfast with Mistress Odera. Tala paid, thanked the server, and left for home. I’m going to talk to Lyn.

She was halfway home when a pleasant sound resounded within her mind.

-Ding-

-Further lost or repressed memories, not lost due to the natural processes of time, recovered. Please indicate when you are free to relive them-

Well, that’s something to do until Lyn wakes up.

* * *

Tala sat, weeping, with her face in her hands and tears running down her forearms in one of Lyn’s chairs when the woman herself placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Tala? Are you alright? What’s happening?” Lyn sounded at a complete loss, her tone uncertain and careful, like she was talking to a wounded beast.

Tala looked up through watery eyes. “My family.”

Lyn knelt down next to her. “Did someone die? Did you get a message?”

Tala shook her head, drawing in a ragged breath. “I just miss them so much.”

The memories drudged up by Alat were almost entirely related to her family, and all that she had experienced growing up with them. There were good and bad memories mixed in, but the common thread running through them all was how much they were family and how much she had loved them, and they her.

There had been a few embarrassing memories that she’d repressed, too, and which Alat had dredged up for her to relive, but they didn’t seem quite so bad now that she’d reexamined them. It was quite amazing how little they actually embarrassed her, now.

She even felt more embarrassment from how she’d reacted to the embarrassment of the moment, than from the initial action. But that was twisting her in mental knots, and those had been presented to her early in this set of memories, so that was not what dominated her thoughts.

“Why don’t they want me anymore?”

“Oh, Tala.” Lyn pulled her into a careful hug as she wept.

Tala just stayed there for a long time, unable to stop the tears from flowing as Lyn stroked her hair and back, shshing and speaking soft calming nothings to her.

An unknown amount of time later, Tala leaned back, pulling free of the comforting embrace. She knew it was almost time to meet Mistress Odera, but she hadn’t thought to check the time when Lyn had joined her in the living room.

“I have to go.” Tala pulled a rag from Kit and wiped her eyes before blowing her nose. Holly blocks vomit, but not snot. They’re there for good reasons, of course, but still. She sighed. Then, she looked closer at the rag and felt herself smile slightly. It had been a part of her shirt that the plant creature had torn to ribbons when she’d slept on it, so long ago. Well, torn to rags, I suppose.

Lyn’s voice brought Tala back to the moment. “You’re going to need to work through this, Tala.”

“I know.” And she did, too. She’d hidden from this for long enough. At the very least, Alat probably won’t let me repress it again.

Lyn gave her a deeply skeptical look.

“I do, I promise. I just had Alat dump on me, and I wasn’t really ready for it.”

“Oh? Like what? What besides your family?”

What? Oh. “No, not a lot.” Tala left an obvious gap between the two words. “Alat.” She spoke the name quickly, to ensure that it sounded like a single word.

Lyn cocked her head and frowned in confusion. “You’ll have to explain that one to me.”

-Tala-

-You are going to be late, unless you leave soon or are willing to run.-

I thought you went back into “deep diving” my memories.

-Firstly, you are distressed, and mental functions are impeded during times of heightened emotion. I determined it was wiser to wait for you to calm down. Secondly, I’d have told you if that were the case.-

Tala grimaced, then processed that Lyn was waiting for her. “I’m sorry, I can’t explain now. I have to go. Talk later?”

Lyn nodded, smiling reassuringly. “I’m here when you’re ready.”

Tala placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “I know, and thank you.”

Lyn gave her a quick hug, then pulled away, heading back to get herself ready for the day. “Don’t wait for me. I know you have a breakfast meeting.”

“Thank you, again.” Tala called at her friend’s retreating back.

Lyn waved over her shoulder as she walked back towards her own room. “What are friends for?”

The meal with Mistress Odera was uneventful, though Tala yet again was drawn to the sweetest available breakfast options.

As she bid her overseer Mage goodbye, she had a choice to make:

Constructionist Guild, Culinary Guild, Holly, blacksmith, or alchemist. She clucked her tongue. I’ve a lot to do, today.

-Tala-

-You seem better.-

What? Oh… She grimaced.

A sigh resounded within her skull -And you’re worse again. I’m not waiting anymore. We’re so close to done. All other functions going off-line, now.-

Alat?

There was no response.

Fine. She hesitated. Oh, right, I need to talk to Lyn.

She should do easy to hard. Well, and I can’t talk with Lyn ‘til she’s home. So, that’s got to be last.

So, alchemist first. Tala stopped, hesitating then. I’m an idiot. She’d forgotten something incredibly important. She glanced to Terry. “You were going to start training with us, today, weren’t you?”

He met her gaze and gave an affirmative, soft squawk.

“I’m sorry, Terry. I went and changed our plans without thinking about that or how it would affect you.”

He gave the avian equivalent of a shrug.

“Will tomorrow be fine to start that? I can probably still make it to the training yard today, if you want.”

Terry considered for a long moment, then shook himself.

“Today?”

He shook himself again.

“Tomorrow?”

He bobbed his head in agreement.

“Thank you, Terry. I’m sorry for not remembering sooner.”

He trilled happily and flickering away to catch a bit of thrown jerky before curling up on her shoulder once again.

That decided, Tala set off, back to the Alchemist who’d made her original iron salve after she arrived here from the Academy. She was on her last bar of the stuff, which was one reason for the visit.

When she entered the well appointed alchemist’s shop, the smell of the herbs, tinctures, and reagents hit her with a tide of memories.

Many of the remembrances that Alat had brought to the forefront of her mind were filled with similar smells. She took a moment, eyes closed, to compose herself.

When she was ready, she opened her eyes once again, and turned to the man working behind the counter. “Good day.”

“Hello, Mistress.” He turned to greet her. “How can I help you?”

“I don’t know if you remember me, but I came through here a few months back, to get some iron dust combined with a salve for application onto my skin.”

His eyes brightened with recognition. “I do! I do remember you. You gave me a lot to think on, Mistress, and through that, have allowed me to earn quite a bit of coin.”

“Oh?” Tala walked further into the shop. She was curious. I know no other Mages are using the iron salve. Well, she didn’t know, but she doubted that they did.

“Yes. If your goal is to get as full coverage of yourself with iron as possible, I think I might have a better solution.” He was grinning.

“Do tell.”

He pulled out a small jar. “This is a cosmetic paint, often used for festivals, face painting and the like. It is also the base that most of us use for beauty products, if we wish for them to last a long time.”

Tala frowned for a moment, then shrugged. I have seen some ridiculously long lasting artificial colorations. They might actually be a good basis for this. “Tell me more.”

“Well, I was able to make an even finer iron powder for combination with this, and it worked! The medium drinks in the iron to a ridiculous extent and binds with it and whatever its painted onto.” He grinned at her.

“You can’t have done this just because I put gold in your mine.”

“Oh, you started it, that’s for sure, but I realized that this works to make anything able to take a magnet, too. I took that to the Constructionists, and they were thrilled, though they tell me it has other applications as well. So, I doubt they’re using it for the magnetic applications. That is of no consequence to me, however. All that matters is that they buy it from me by the gallon.”

Tala’s eyes widened. “That’s amazing.” If the Constructionists are using it, it must have close to the anti-magic properties of a solid plate of iron, as that’s their go to method of containment. “Can I test it out?”

“Of course!” He hesitated, seeming to consider. “But first, I overrode you when I realized who you were. What brings you in, today?”

She grinned. “Well, this new idea will cover one need, assuming it works.”

“And there are other needs?”

She nodded. “I’m looking for a way to deal with many monsters at a time. Alchemist’s fire, or something like that.”

He shook his head. “Oh no, Mistress. I’m neither cleared for such a dangerous concoction, nor skilled enough to create it. You might want to check with some of the alchemists attached to the Guardsman’s Guild as they tend to have more use for and experience with such things.”

Tala sighed. That makes sense, I suppose. “Alright, then.” She didn’t let her disappointment drag her down, however. “Let’s test this stuff.”

The alchemist grinned. “Certainly! I’ve been able to produce it in black, yellow, and red. Do you have a preference?”

“Is that a true yellow, or closer to a gold?”

“Definitely not a gold. And truth to tell, the black is closer to grey, and the red isn’t a true red, more of a rust color.” He grinned at that. “As one might expect.”

“Ahhh, I see. Then, not yellow.” She imagined herself with rust colored skin and shuddered. Red eyes are quite enough, thank you. “Black, please.”

“I’ll get a sample for you to try.”

Tala had a thought as he ducked down behind the counter. “How much does it cost? Assuming it works as I need it to, I might need a lot of it.”

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Chapter: 171 - Not Pregnant