The Fairy Diary Day 528 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

In the end circumstances forced our decision. 

I had come to the conclusion that my team and I would return – without Tinadell. I had written the High Fairy and put in our request for them to strike the bell as soon as they received it. This I told Tinadell, and promised that I would do everything within my power to bring him over later. 

We assembled and mounted our dragons and took flight. 

However, the very ground rose up to meet us, wracked by a great turbulence. I sensed the Land of Darkness was reverting to the Land of Plenty. I made a snap decision and ordered Gibley to turn Cluyjil around, and together we rescued Tinadell from the mounting cataclysm. 

The instant we rejoined the others, we heard the reverberation of the Crack of Doom. And almost before I knew it we were back at the repository – with much to explain. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 309 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin made no demands of us before he departed. Neither commanding us to stay nor to continue on. He only asked that we consider carefully our next step. 

This was what we wanted to do anyway. Though each one of us was willing to soldier on, we took his advice to heart and paused to weigh our decision. We wanted to be absolutely sure we had a call to go on. 

On the face of it we were unsure what we small folk could do against such a large force. Hitherto we had considered ourselves as just scouts for the greater forces of our allies. 

Rumble this time surprised us all with his suggestion that we set pixie traps to whittle down the numbers of the dark elves. And further he said he could come up with a fairy trick or two that could be equally effective. 

This won Dunfallon’s vote. 

Noralei was silent in thought throughout these martial pronouncements. So, I asked what troubled her. 

She replied that she felt a rising bloodlust within her that, in fact, scared her. 

Then she said something else that fell on our ears like a blow. 

We have seen the dark elf warriors, but where are their women and children?

Day One Thousand One Hundred Fifty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

One more night and the decision will need to be made. Last night we moved forward in our uncertainty. At least, the amount of patrolling drones has dropped to nothing.

Consequently, Elijah lifted his prohibition on talking, so his three disciples filled their time up with arguments for Elijah’s going to Jerusalem tomorrow night.

The whole matter seems to amuse Elijah, who remains silent and just smiles. He has made it plain that they are free to go to Jerusalem on their own.

Who knows, perhaps that will be what ultimately happens.

Reuben and Tomas are still keen to be back at the hiding place, too, but afterwards they do intend to go up to Jerusalem together.

Elijah didn’t comment.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Thirty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah made the decision. No discussion beforehand. Of course, neither Reuben nor I objected. Rather we were more than glad to comply. Because of what Reuben had told us, we turned our back on the path before us and headed back towards the bivouac of the army of the North.

Elijah had noted another path that branched off near there, so we took that path.

It wound higher into the hills. As we continued we always chose the forks that we judged would parallel our desired course, but avoid the approaches to Sy’s redoubt.

We met no opposition, no patrols. Not even any animals, wild or otherwise.

What did slow us down were those paths that dead ended atop hills.

Day One Thousand Ten #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We set out immediately to answer Reuben’s call. Mei had caught us up on the problem (she did not return with us, but will guide the Purser and the last group out).

My heart was heavy at the news of a traitor among Reuben’s charges.

Providentially Quasimo had returned, so he accompanied us.  (He will see us and Reuben’s group through the dangers ahead). He kept quiet while Elijah and I discussed the options.

First thing on our arrival, Reuben insisted we hold off till this morning to allow tempers to cool. One man in particular is consumed with vengeance and was stoking the others’ indignation.

Our decision was unanimous. We’ll leave the traitor incarcerated when we move out tomorrow.

Day Nine Hundred Thirty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

As for Elijah, there was no question over the decision. We were out here and very close to turning up another missing group. And that was the bedrock of his thinking.

Jezer expressed surprise over this decision given the concrete evidence for one versus the scant evidence of the wheel tracks for the other. Even when he added that rumors were afloat that the group in prison was facing capital charges, did nothing to budge Elijah off of his decision.

I was torn seeing the value behind both arguments. So I counseled to wait and pray for direction. My two friends concurred.

Thus we waited, prayed, and watched. And this morning we saw our answer – a tanker truck lumbering along.

Day Nine Hundred Twenty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Quasimo and I made short work of completing the new drone. Then Elijah and I sent him off to rejoin Jezer to take up the search again.

We then had a brief respite to catch our breath before the next demand on our attention.

When it came, I shouldered it myself as Elijah had sequestered himself with the intercessors in their labors.

A dispute had erupted between members of Quasimo’s group and a few from that led by Mei over the distribution of the daily allowance. Unable to locate Mei, Meesa stepped in to help defuse the tempers. After Mei surfaced, a solution was quickly reached, and consequently the women announced their decision to administer rather than join the search.

Day Eight Hundred Sixty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our observations of the last day and a half have brought up something very curious. The two main roads are often backed up at certain times as the vehicles are checked before entry. A third way into the city lies between them. A steady stream of people on foot depart the main roads on either side to join the path to this gateway.

So, to my mind without a vehicle ourselves, this looks to offer the best way in, leaving the only decision as to the morning or the evening busy times.

But Elijah hasn’t ruled out one of the vehicle only entries. In fact he rather prefers it.

In which case I think it calls for a closer look.

Day Eight Hundred Fifty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I twisted my ankle on our transit last night. Elijah caught me before I hit the ground. Otherwise the injury would have been more serious.

As I sat there he rubbed his hands together creating heat from the friction. Then seized the point of the swelling. I could sense warmth radiating from there throughout my body.

In moments I was able to stand. He loaned me his staff as a precaution against further missteps.

We called an end to our night walk early for we came upon a well at a crossroads.

We drank our fill and found a place nearby to rest and pass the day.

Given the crossroads we had another decision to make, hopefully not under duress.

Day Eight Hundred Forty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We continued sometime past sunrise to be sure we had not missed the second mountain peak in Quasimo’s instructions. We were encouraged that no such landmark lay over on that side of the horizon. Yet.

We had decided between us that we will not switch to daylight travel, but will continue our nocturnal strolls, with a couple of adjustments. We will start well before sundown and not call a halt until an hour or so after sunrise. We are confident that will be enough to keep us oriented properly.

We also were helped along in our decision by an occurrence over the night. I again heard noises trailing us. Not barking, rather this time, clearly voices on the desert air.