Having not many options apparently he was going to have a meal with the Goddess Ishtar. He wouldn't be the one preparing the meal. He told the goddess that strawberries are usually a desert or snack. And made sure she wasn't vegetarian.

The only place he could really take him was the mess hall. And her entrance basically silenced the whole place.

Many of the goblins and elves stood and bowed or even knelt not exactly knowing what to do. They made their way to a table which was cleaned by the people sitting there before they got there as they stood up and away. Ishtar sat down like this was a normal thing.

"It's very gracious of you all to honor me, but please sit down," Ishtar spoke in a commanding echoing voice.

The place slowly started to sit, with more whispers of talking than the normal rowdy crowds. Many had taken a last few bites and stayed to exit.

Kurt took a basket of strawberries to the kitchen and met with Susan.

"What happened?" said Susan.

"Thank the gods you're here."

"What?"

"See this?"

"Yeah it's a basket of strawberries, that's great, I haven't had those in a bit. Not really enough for everyone though."

"Apparently there is an actual goddess out there, and I gave her one and she absolutely loves them."

"Who doesn't really?"

"Make the most damn delicious strawberry flavored dish you can think of, make two or three," said Kurt "And whatever is on the main menu makes sure it's the best prepared one you got."

"Can you give me like an hour? At least untill the desert?"

"Umm, maybe. She seems understandable."

Kurt came back out and explained the situation to Ishtar. She seemed agreeable that she could wait for the best possible outcome.

They were given a large loaf of bread and a poultry and pasta dish.

"Ohh this is strange as well," said Ishtar.

"We call it pasta, it's mostly finely ground up grain we call flour and eggs from a bird. The meat is the same bird actually."

"I see," Ishtar took a bite and her reaction seemed to find it tasty as well. "That far was right, you humans do have some good cooking ways. Not sweet but savory. This pasta has a strange but enjoyable consistency and seems to pick up the flavor of the sauce."

"Do gods need to eat like this? If you don't mind me asking, that is?"

"Yes sometimes, not very often if we don't want to. But we do enjoy a good meal."

"You were born like this?"

"I see I was right."

"Right?"

"There are no gods in your world."

Kurt looked back with a shocked expression. I guess she was right.

Ishtar continued, "this is why you're so worried right. A change like that."

"Yes."

"Well, what do you think will happen?"

"Honestly, the more I think about it, the more inevitable it seems."

"My thoughts exactly. So why do you fear Rosie such much and yet not me?"

"She's intimidating and you make me delirious."

"I see, the reaction is much different from us."

"I don't really understand it all."

"You have it too, you know, the divine. Just haven't really touched it." Ishtar placed his hand on Kurt's chest and the red power within him started to burst and circulated around his whole body. It was always a tiny little part that sometimes it reached. She pulled her hand away and the sensation and power sprung back into its small form. But he took the time to try and remember how it felt.

"Good, remember that," said Ishtar. "So if it's enviable what do you do?"

Kurt thought about that question for a bit. And ate some more of his pasta. He didn't really have an answer. "I'm not sure."

"You're overthinking it."

"I feel like you're trying to manipulate me to your solution."

Ishtar laughed, "ohh trust me your current solution is bad."

"And what is my current solution?"

"I would wager," Ishtar took a fork up and looked at a bite of pasta, "not much," then took the bite.

Kurt gave a silent response.

"Just delay as it comes?"

Kurt grunted.

"I understand really, it's big is it not?"

"Yeah."

"So the solution, since it's enviable, is to guide it. You are in a unique position to do that. One you might not have very long."

"What do you mean?"

"You fought battles correct, and been in the room for the strategy."

"Yes."

"So when you can not change the fact that the enemy is coming, what do you do?"

"I.. " Kurt thought of all the battle plans he was in. "I… I choose where it happens."

"Yes, the location and timing of a battle is usually the deciding factor, if not faced against an overwhelming force."

"So if they are coming, I pick who and when and where."

"Yes," said Ishtar, "and you will not have that luxury forever. And remember our opponent does have a similar advantage. The sorcerers can make these very same decisions."

Kurt thought about this for a while. And realized Layla had already been doing that the entire time the two fae wells in the world. How secretive the process was.

"So why help us?"

"And not tell Rosie to destroy you all?"

"Couldn't get your own hands dirty," said Kurt.

"Do you want to waste away into a corpse to be reanimated to do it all over again? Until you agree and I stop. Or just let you die."

That seemed like something this goddess was very capable of. "Okay, I get it. Then why not?"

"And run the nation and stuff? The gods are very lazy, you understand. You must have all these headaches from all your followers and this whole town. All the little people. I've lived a long time, we all try it once or twice. Always some grand idea of how we can do it better, and we never do. But it is better for us to be above it all. A light touch."

"So what are you suggesting?"

"The only card you have, your world's own politics."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, a goddess such as myself is known by many names, adding one or two wouldn't be an insult if you think that."

"You want to appear as one of the gods we talk about."

"Ohh you talk about us? I would have thought of the concept."

"It's hard to explain."

"It's no matter," said Ishtar. "What I'm saying is if you do it right you'll end up on top, do it wrong and you'll be punished. But sometimes that is life."

They continued eating their meal. Several of the elves and goblins have finally started to come up and give a proper greeting to the goddess. Some brought offerings. A set of Minotaurs have established themselves as guards behind her.

After a while the desert came out. It was under a cover. Susan had brought the dishes out herself.

"Goddess Ishtar," said Susan, "this is a strawberry glazed cake with strawberry ice cream." Lifting the cover to show a slice of cake covered with a strawberry sauce and a pink ice cream scoop next to it."

"It looks wonderful," said Ishtar. Taking a spoon and breaking a piece of cake with the glaze sauce. Smiling Kurt had done the same, still warm and gooey. Ishtar took another bite of the cake.

"Try the ice cream," said Kurt.

Ishtar took a spoonful and her eyes lit up. "It's cold but sweet and delicious. I've never had such a thing," taking another spoonful and another.

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