Life, Interrupted

The water demons have enlisted demons of the air. Together they have smothered the fire elemental working this beat.

In other words, the pilot light is out and won't relight. Also--I heard the hall toilet start running again, briefly.

Upping space heater. Digging out thermals.... Will try to light again in a while. Hurricane Man was called, but the Shaman and the Wizard have duties elsewhere.

Merlyn is quite put out and wants me to fix it. Since I upped the oil heater and got myself tea, he seems a little happier. I have somewhere to go this afternoon, and would be happier if the heat was back on before I leave.

"I saw six squirrels scatter from under your car, early this morning."

When the Wizard speaks, we listen. He doesn't, often--his intense work requires concentration to protect himself from others and others from his power. So he doesn't speak unless he feels the knowledge is necessary.

This past weekend I found him carefully raking leaves into patterns on the huge front lawn. It is very hard for him, because as a hedge wizard, the animals and even plants trust him. They do not understand when he comes to weed or cut or take away their dead--so they fight back. He is stealing their nutrients. He cannot explain magic to them, only tell them that this defends the home from all enemies. But he cannot finish in one day. I offer to help, but no--if he pushes too hard, his own system rebels. He becomes the Sasquatch...towering, vaguely menacing, often mischievous. It takes days to recover from a Sasquatch transformation.

So the pattern sits overnight, the magic soaking in, until a vivacious acolyte of Skuld comes to help him finish his spell.

Not a clue what the squirrels are up to...