Alaric’s Diary part 9: The Fae Summit

In The Doom that Came to Amber

24^th Bull 3658

I dressed in my familiar colours and in honour of Faerie once again adorned my black wig. I’m sure Paolo would approve of my foppishness! I went through to Aylwin late in the afternoon. He or Peter Thrice I suspect had organised a large Japanese styled pavilion staffed with Oriental servants. The Portal was some hundred yards away and the Embassy was expected at dusk.

Sure enough, just before dusk proper many small lights darted through and about the Portal. I had the impression of being buzzed at and a small sprite stopped in mid-air to examine us. Their leader, Flummery, suggested that we met in the circle as it was safe. So we did – leaving staff and pavilion behind us.

We awaited the arrival of their Earl from the King’s Court and the Puck from that of the Queen. We were told to greet the Earl with insult. A bright light appeared from the Portal and in walked the Faerie envoys with their Earl – who seemed dignity personified. He was seated upon a throne of wood and one by one we were urged to insult their Lord whilst they threw rotted fruit and vegetables at him. I was forced to play their game or face a duel with their poor Earl – and who knows, probably he too was under Glamour and was in truth a young and fit and actually rather good swordsman.

I looked from face to face with wonder. He, with a face so still and they with their strange faces and stranger bodies. Most odd of all was the Puck himself – who seemed regarded with fear by the Fey. Peter Thrice – I now realised was of Elven blood – and thus his predisposition to illusions I should guess.

The banquet began in its proper form. If proper is the correct term? They are truly exasperating as dining companions. I was beset by quite obvious desires to sleep with them. But Bleys’ warning rang clear in all our heads; Faeries are not be slept with! Fortunately both my dining companions seemed to be male so there was little danger of temptation! I had them change their hair so I might see their Glamour more closely.

And so to their important information: the Puck spoke a doggerel verse to each of us. Mine was worrying. How can they know of my doings and me? It was read thus:

You wail and weep for innocence lost,

And wonder whence came your plight

Yet you built your trap yourself;

Sense shown may yet make all come right.

Oh I pray so Master Puck. I pray so.

To all of us gathered he said:

Children! The tree keeps the sapling

From the light; so are eclipsed your hearts.

Yet as the oak falls, grows the sprig;

The whole is stronger than the parts.

Thus we have it. But is the analogy of our parents; our own generation or of Amber herself?

They departed then, having offered Amber the support of Faerie in their own way. We worked our way back to our camp having found the camp torches extinguished – and in fact unlit as the servants were sleeping – caused to sleep by spell almost certainly. We returned to Amber – wondering. And I return to my work and conscience.