Ishmael's log, Chapter 130

Ishmael Trumps Whimsy. She arranges for them to meet for lunch.
At lunch, he asks her about how to ward against the faeries. Her genius suggestion is that he should mix cold iron into the mortar and paint of his house.
She suggests that Ariana might have a better suggestion as she's had a long-standing feud with Jack.

Ariana tells him that the cold iron suggestion that Whimsy gave him won't work. If anything, it would turn his house into a beacon.
She says that she needs something of Caerdis' to make an effective ward. He knows that Maddy wouldn't cooperate with that, so he pretty much discards the idea.
Her last-ditch suggestion is that either Nicholas or Benedict could tell him how to find the Faerie Wards.

Ishmael asks Nicholas if he knows where he can find four Faerie Wards. Nicholas tells him, "No."
Ishmael explains the whole thing yet again, telling Nicholas that Maddy broke her promise to the faerie when she was poisoned.
Nicholas asks whether or not Ishmael has researched the problem. Since he's spoken to two people, he says, "Yes."
Explains that Whimsy told him to paint his house and Ariana told him that he's screwed.
After a bit more explanation, Nicholas gives Ishmael his Faerie Ward to give to Maddy to wear until they figure out how to solve the problem.

Ishmael gets home and Maddy has already been taken by the faeries.
He Trumps Nicholas, who proceeds to describe Whimsy and Ariana as Ishmael's "best bet."
This elicits a groan from Ishmael.
Nicholas tells him that he'll need to be turned into a faerie before he can enter their lands. This idea is less than appealing.
Ishmael Trumps in Whimsy and Ariana. Whimsy suggests that Alexandra could take them to the "'Tween."
Alexandra is Trumped. She says she'll be there in a few minutes.
A few minutes later, she arrives -- with a picnic basket.
Whimsy hints that "her source" wasn't able to give her the name of the new Unseelie Queen.
This rouses Ishmael's suspicions that she may have told Jack, despite her saying that she wouldn't speak of it. Alexandra takes them to the 'Tween.

They arrive in the center of a meadow where they can see a castle on a mountaintop.
Ishmael starts heading toward the castle.
They are quickly met by a band of faeries who accompany them to the castle.
Ariana tells Ishmael not to eat or drink anything while in Faerie. He states aloud that he wishes he had eaten lunch. Alexandra holds the basket aloft.
It takes about an hour to reach the castle, where they are then lead to the throne room.
The Unseelie Queen rises and bows, addressing Ishmael as "M'Lord."
She assures him that Maddy is fine -- a bit hungry perhaps, as they've not let her eat.
She wants to speak to Ishmael alone. He agrees. The rest of the group go to find Maddy.
The problem is that Maddy broke her promise when she spoke about the faerie who killed her uncle.
Ishmael points out that it wasn't technically her fault, since she'd been poisoned.
She insists that it doesn't matter. He thinks it should.
She wants to find a way to resolve the problem, so that Maddy can go home with him.
She starts talking, "My line is weak and..."
She wants Ishmael to father her child.
He agrees, but adds, "Only if you agree to leave me and my family -- Maddy, me, and our kids -- alone." She agrees.
Ishmael goes and assures the group that things are going to be fine and he'll join them just as soon as he's finished in Faerie.
The rest of the group is returned to Amber.

Ishmael starts having serious doubts about what he's agreed to.
He resolves the internal conflict by masturbating himself almost to orgasm, and then penetrating the faerie queen.
The Queen, of course, takes great delight in watching him. (Much to his embarrassment.)
When all is said and done...Ishmael starts wondering about the kid and asks if he'll ever see it.
The Queen tells him that eventually his son will come to Amber to claim his birthright.
Ishmael requests some notification. She tells him that he will know.
Ishmael is allowed to return to Amber.

Last modified on March 2, 1999 by Kris Fazzari.