As Ishta intends to marry into House deSilvestris, she knows Ekaterina well. So, I decided to ask her help. I found her at the bar in Gottin's lamp.
To my surprise, she asked money in exchange for introducing me. I was much offended and she must have seen my disappointment. She changed her demand, and asked in stead that I imbibe a glass of whiskey. This beverage is new to me, although of course I have heard of it and was aware it has a high alcohol content.
Ah, that cruel creature exploited my inexperience with inebriation. The copper-colored liquid smelled of wood fire and sea breezes. But, when I drank it, that liquid fire burnt its way most painfully down to my guts. Now I know: in the song she let me hear, the man who screamed the song did not have acid poured down his throat, but this liquid.
I paid my price twice. As I am fasting, the assault on my stomach was too much to bear, and I became sick yesterday night after I returned to my cell. I woke up this morning feeling weak, but strangely, without head-ache. It is a small consolation.
