Scalpel listened to the detailed explanation that this Amaretto gave him, and his eyes lit up at the prospect of gaining access to such a massive collection of lore and history utilising a god given key. He had heard about the raid by the god through his various Canterlot connections, but never presumed that the god would have any interest in sharing with any of mortal kind the secrets he hoarded. 

The offer was undeniably seductive, but unlike with the case regarding Astral this pony was quite unknown to him and he did not desire to be tricked into filling his part of the deal without some payment before hand, and it certainly didn’t seem like Amaretto would give the key to him freely. 

As Amaretto finished Scalpel stayed silent whilst he continued his options, before taking another deep drink of the whisky in his hooves and placing it gently to the table beside him with a touch of magic. “So… you want your friends and family resurrected and in return you are willing to offer me a divine key to the greatest library in Equestria as of late? It is certainly a… persuasive offer, but you must understand that I don’t work on promises; I work for hard payment, which must be given before I begin my attempts. Now I understand you’d be unwilling to allow me take that key before you had your associates back In the land of the living, and in theory I could simply kill you for what you have there and avoid the hassle all together...”

Scalpel paused, and gave a small smile “…However, I’d prefer not to have to deal with the ensuing chaos resulting from your probably violent and dangerous disposal, I would prefer instead to arrange a compromise. What I want before I begin working in your interests is something preferably valuable and particularly rare from this collection of yours, you can decide what to bring me yourself, but I’d prefer something on observations regarding magical ley lines. With this as solid evidence of your goodwill regarding your end of the bargain I will willingly begin to arrange as best I can the processes necessary for my end…”

“However first of all Mr Amaretto, before I agree to anything, I would like a demonstration of this key in action. Right now you have given me a merry tale about your trials and tribulations, but little evidence to support your claims of having a divine instrument, a shiny key means little if I cannot see what door it unlocks, so if you please…” he gestured towards the double doors of the room, an intrigued and crafty smile plastered over his face.

“Also if you would be so kind as to confirm my suspicion, you are the patriarch of the Jamison distillery family aren’t you?” He shrugged, gesturing the decanter beside him, “I ask because the name sounds familiar to me, I remember my family bought from those connoisseurs many years ago. I believe that if you are the patriarch, then the whisky next to me was probably made by your great, great grandfather.” He filled up a glass again and raised it in salute with a legitimate smile, “trust me, it has aged excellently.”