Chapter 473: Marliweather Again, Already?
Tala was pleasantly surprised by how many Archons had questions for Walden, and how many were able and willing to pay the price in dimensionally expanded volume for Kit to eat.
It was a little annoying to arrange for them to get to Tala, but the Alefast, Waning, Constructionists began making such items on commission, in order to deliver them to Tala as payment for the answers she could now provide. There was also the fact it was Alat and Mistress Ingrit who were doing the actual logistical work. So, Tala really had little to complain about.
The Librarian was still handling all of the negotiations and facilitation of the inquiries into Tala’s various available memories and other sources of wisdom and knowledge. Tala—once again—verified that Mistress Ingrit was getting compensated for her time spent and effort given. The Librarian not only assured her that she was, but once again made sure that Tala had access to the records of such compensation.
Tala hadn’t doubted the woman’s integrity, but Tala just couldn’t understand why Mistress Ingrit was willing to accept so little.
Sure, there was the value of having access to all of the intangible goods for free herself, but was that really worth so much to the woman?
-Let me see, does a life-long Librarian value knowledge? Come on, Tala, is this really confusing to you?-
…Fair.
One incredible result that Tala had only briefly considered was that many Archons had similar questions for Walden, and so Tala only had to bother—or pay—the immortal elk once for each of those groupings. Then she could collect a smaller fee to simply pass the knowledge on to following inquirers. Well, Tala and Kit got the fee so that Mistress Ingrit could pass the knowledge on.
Some, including Master Grediv, even asked the question that Tala had at the start: Why—in the opinion of the Immortal Elk—were cells seeming to degrade more quickly? Or at least why were more coming up as in need of maintenance in this waning?