The Fairy Diary Day 365 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Nailbiter gave over to us his private audience chamber so we fairies (including the High Fairy) could question Dunfallon about his captivity. There are so many details that he could not recall. It was our hope that we could jog his memory. Especially as to what Willie had done – and what the Wisp was planning next. 

It had been disappointing to find the crystal cover to the chalice charred and cracked. I held its pieces and examined them throughout the questioning. 

What Dunfallon recalls was being knocked off his eagle and somehow being caught by Willie. It was a pleasant encounter at the first – Willie was friendly, even apologetic for his recent behavior. 

Noralei pointed to his silver whistle and asked why he had not used it to summon his eagle. By the pixie’s blank stare we all knew that there was a spell of forgetfulness at work. 

Rumble, Noralei and I left him in the care of his excellency to deal with the enchantment. 

We gathered outside the burrow to examine further the broken crystal. In the afternoon sunshine a facet to one of the crystal pieces flashed. Looking closer we could see a repeated image of our pixie being pushed off his eagle by the black bird.

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Day Eight Hundred Fourteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The first part was easy. Quasimo led us out of the audience chamber the same way he had gotten in. Avoiding all surveillance.

Then came the tricky part.

He took us into the communication/security room in the basement. There he was to report the success of his mission. It also held the relay connections to initiate a final solution in the event his mission turned suicidal. He switched the controls to that connection over to a timer instead. Set it and led us away via underground passages.

We emerged in the market area. But Quasimo held us back – until the explosion.

Then he explained, “Now all surveillance is down. And all the barriers also.”

Elijah asked to go south.

Day Eight Hundred Thirteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I am naturally suspicious. So it took awhile for me to warm to Quasimo. Elijah had no such qualms. He kept him nearby all of yesterday and together they planned for our exit.

It was necessary to remain in the audience chamber for, per his knowledge, everywhere else was under surveillance. There, I finally took some time with him this morning to get to know him better.

His family was taken up in the glorious appearance. He was left behind and bitter. And sought the kind of employment that landed him in the inner circles of the world government.

He was blinded, but now he sees.

As we set out, he turned and asked for the removal of the mark.

Day Eight Hundred Twelve #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

While now we saw the cage with which Stan thought he could contain us, I was left wondering by what means he meant to neutralize us. By that I meant, kill us.

I no more expressed that thought out loud when Elijah motioned me to be silent.

He turned and announced to the empty room, “You can come out now.”

A diminutive man did so.

He’d been ensconced behind a sliding panel in an alcove behind the podium of the audience chamber. His hands held high, and one holding a dagger. As he advanced he let it fall harmless to the floor.

Having observed us the past few days, he had decided to defy his master and help us instead.

Day Eight Hundred Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I followed Elijah’s lead up to the top of the tallest building. And here we passed the night in what I would describe as an audience chamber.

On a clear day I suppose the view would go on forever. At least far enough to trace our recent path through the mountains and then down to this megapolis. But today nothing but haze meets our gaze, rendered more opaque by the brilliance of the sun’s rays from somewhere up above.

Our time of meditation was interrupted by the floating image of Stan which was bigger than both of us. He gloated about his successful effort to remove us from our role as the protective covering over the army of the East.