Session
130
Amber, year 27, day 202 (Monday, November 14, 4)
Afternoon
There are times when I think a little bit of knowledge is worse
than no knowledge at all. If I knew nothing of Faerie, then maybe I could
believe that Maddy is safe. That maybe Caerdis will understand that she
didn't mean to break her promise. But I know better. The fact that Maddy
didn't intentionally break her promise is irrelevant to a faerie. All
that matters is that she did. I learned that lesson the hard way - with
Drumm. He didn't mean to reveal the existence of Avalon to me. I doubt
it occurred to him that I would gain that knowledge when he helped me
recall Loryn's memories. But I did, and he was executed for it. And he
was one of their own. The fact that the breech was unintentional will not
save Maddy. There will be a payment required. Ishmael thinks he can
avoid it, that he can protect Maddy from it, but sooner or later they'll
have to face it. Maybe not until there is something Caerdis needs from
Maddy, but he won't forget. And painting the house in cold iron won't
change that. In my personal opinion, it would only make things worse.
It's like making a giant beacon, shining brightly for all the fey to see,
announcing, "There's something here I don't want any faerie to have."
He'd wind up with more than Caerdis to deal with, that much I'm certain
of. I suspect the Faerie Wards will only delay the inevitable as well,
but Ishmael looked so desperate, I had to offer him something. I know
that feeling all too well. It's a horrible thing to know your family's at
risk, and not know how to defend them.
Lucien didn't recognize Caerdis, but I really didn't think he would.
I'm sure Caerdis wasn't using his true form, any more than Caerdis is his
real name, or even the one he's known by at court. But asking Lucien made
me feel like I was at least doing something. Maddy is my friend, after
all. I don't like not being able to help her anymore than Ishmael
does.
Caerdis moved even faster than I would have guessed. He must have
known that Ishmael was seeking a way to stop him. So now we must go to
Faerie and see what is required to obtain her freedom. Ishmael's taking
this hard. I don't blame him. I'm sure that's why he's being so
argumentative right now. But we have no time for this. Time can be
strange in Faerie, and if Maddy eats the food there... Hopefully we can
get to her before that happens. I'm rather thankful that Whimsy thought
to bring Alexandra in as a means of getting us to Faerie, although I'm
surprised that she did so. I can't imagine her opinion of Alexandra has
improved any over the years. But at least this means I don't have to ask
Lucien to act as transport. There's no point in risking both of us
getting trapped in Faerie if we can help it.
Faerie
I'd forgotten how much I miss this place, sometimes. Even the
Unseelie Court. There's a beauty to Faerie that I can never quite put
into words. I'd forgotten how easy magic is to use here, too. I had to
squelch a brief impulse to just throw my head back and glory in it.
Somehow, I don't think Ishmael would appreciate that. Nor Whimsy, who now
looks almost as sour as he does. It doesn't take much to guess why. No
Pattern, no Trump, no conjuration here. She gave up her magic to take the
Pattern. This reminder of what she lost can't be easy for her. Despite
all of her arguing with Ishmael, she must care about him a lot to put
herself in a situation where all of her powers are useless.
If there was any doubt that our arrival was expected, the party of
nobles sent out to greet us put an end to it. They seemed rather amused
by my warning to Ishmael about the food here. In all honesty, I should
have thought to warn him sooner. I guess I was just too worried about
Maddy to think of it. Alexandra wasn't, though. And to think I was
wondering why she brought along a picnic basket. For all of her usual
immaturity, occasionally she does something that reminds me that she is
Fiona's daughter, after all.
I don't think I really began to relax until the Queen told Ishmael
that they haven't allowed Maddy to eat. That means they intend to release
her. It also means that whatever it is they want, they want it from
Ishmael, not her. I wish he hadn't agreed to speak to the Queen alone.
There's still much he doesn't know about Faerie, and she could use that
against him. But I could hardly insist on going along when he didn't ask
for our help. I just hope that whatever it is they ask of him, it's
something he can give. And that he keeps his wits about him while he's
talking with the Queen. The Queen...there's something familiar about her.
It struck me as soon as we laid eyes on her. If only I could put my
finger on who she reminds me of.
Benedict! When I started going through my Trumps, I wasn't expecting
it to be Benedict. Bleys, perhaps, or Eric. One of the ones who were
tricked at the Pearl. But Benedict? I just can't picture him... But
then again, what do I know about where he's been in his life? Ariadne's
mother was a Chaosite, after all. It's not so unlikely that he may have
spent time in Faerie, as well. Or maybe the Queen is a descendant of
Ariadne's? I'd have to scan the Queen to be sure, and somehow I don't
think she'd allow that. Still, regardless of how far removed she is,
Benedict should be told she exists. I just wish I didn't have to be the
one to tell him.
Well, we're free to go, but Ishmael isn't coming with us. Not yet, at
least. I don't know what they asked of him, but whatever it was, it
wasn't easy. I could tell that from his face. He claimed he couldn't say
exactly what he agreed to do because he'd promised not to, but he was
lying. I could tell that from his face, as well. But Maddy didn't
notice, and I didn't have the heart to tell her. Ishmael must have a good
reason for concealing the price he's agreed to pay from her. Which just
increases my own worry about what exactly that price is.
Amber
Speaking to Nicholas, after so many years of avoiding such
communication, was just as difficult as I'd expected. But it's a relief
to have it over. And to have things settled between us. He said starting
over would make him happy, and I know he was probably just being polite,
but I'd like to believe he spoke the truth. And he didn't have any
objections to my desire to make Alastor Takaran, either. Of course, if
Ishmael refuses to help me, it won't really matter, but I figured I should
first make sure Nicholas had no objections to me possessing a Takaran
weapon, the way he objected to my learning how to make them. No sense in
bothering Ishmael if that was the case. It's interesting that such
weapons are still illegal in Chaos, though. I wonder why that is? Maybe
Nicholas doesn't want to rock the boat too much there, lest he foment
unnecessary resistance.
Gods, that was awkward. To face a man you respect immensely, whom
you regard as a mentor, and tell him that you think he may have an unknown
child, or grandchild, in Faerie. To his credit, if he was offended, he
didn't take it out on me. He simply stated that he's spent no time of
that sort in Faerie. At which point I had a strong urge to simply drop
down through the floor and leave. I suppose I could have pointed out that
he might have slept unknowingly with a faerie who was disguised by a
glamour. Eral knows enough others in our family have been caught that
way. But if it occurred to me, it occurred to him, and I wasn't about to
insult his intelligence by suggesting he overlooked that possibility. And
he may be right. Perhaps the woman I saw is a descendant of one of his
brothers. Whatever her lineage, I have fulfilled my duty to inform
Benedict of her existence. I'm more than happy to now leave the matter in
his hands.
Evening
Lucien didn't recognize the faerie queen we met, which didn't really
surprise me. What did surprise me was his admission that he hasn't really
been keeping in touch with Faerie, of late. I've always assumed that he
still talks to Auberon. He's never been one to give up a useful
information source, or ally, after all. And he was Auberon's advisor not
so long ago. I can understand how he might not have been able to maintain
his ties during their civil war, when the borders to Faerie were usually
barred. But afterwards... Why this sudden change of heart? Did the five
years he spent there trying to recover my body from Jack sour his attitude
somehow? Am I the cause of this? Or is it because of his association
with Nicholas? There must be a reason why he'd ignore a tie he's
maintained for centuries. I wish I knew what that reason was.
Amber, year 27, day 203 (Tuesday, November 15, 4)
Morning
No sign of Ishmael at our usual workout. I guess he must still be
in Faerie. I hope Maddy's holding up all right. I asked her yesterday if
she wanted any company, but she said she'd be fine. She has her children
to keep her mind occupied, I guess. Still, I hope he returns soon. I'm
really going to start worrying if he's gone for much longer.
Afternoon
Ishmael appears to be back safe and sound, at least as far as I
could tell from our brief conversation. He didn't want to talk. I guess
that's not a surprise. I hope he didn't think I was calling to try and
pry details about his stay in Faerie from him. Maybe that's why he was so
short with me. I think maybe I'll wait a bit before I bother him with my
Takaran request. To give him time to recover from whatever happened to
him while he was gone.
"Outrageous Fortune"
Ariana's Page |
Ariana's Diaries
Other PC Diaries and
Contributions
All text on this page is © 1999 by Kris Fazzari.
Last modified on April 23, 1999 by Kris Fazzari.