The Fairy Diary Day 516 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Before our descent, while we were still on the lip of the crater, Noralei decided and directed that we get as deep and as fast as we could. So, rather than keep to the solid ground to descend via the pathways we launched out towards the center of the well. There she hoped we could fly down to the Dark One’s lair and drastically reduce the time it would take to reach him. 

But that proved to be impossible. There in the center the turbulence was such that try as we might we were being blown up and out of the well. Additionally the force of the wind was breaking apart our formation, causing us to lose track of one another. And since we believed we must stay in contact with one another to maintain our power to overwhelm our adversary, we retreated to the nearest solid ground, and again pushed on in our descent. 

Keeping together had the added advantage of lighting our way better through the cloying darkness. And as for the gloom that unsettled our minds, my pendants I do believe warded off the evil thoughts. But best of all were the songs that Navril sang – especially a pixie ditty that he learned somewhere. Dunfallon picked up in that one with gusto. 

Thus we shall press on. Gibley is confident that we are progressing handsomely. 

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Day Seven Hundred Seventy Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Yesterday was a refreshing day of rest for all of us. We each drew apart at times for communion with the Spirit.

Both Tomas and Mei desired to venture on to see what lay beyond our line of sight, but we prevailed upon them to just wait.

This morning, therefore, we were more than ready to depart. So, we let loose the young people to tumble down the mountain ahead of us.

More switchbacks eased our descent and we remained bundled up against a bracing cold. And thankfully no sign of Stan’s presence, brooding or otherwise, disturbed our peace.

The Captain and I lagged behind and filled our time with conversation on many topics. But  at their center was Jerusalem.

Day Seven Hundred Sixty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our path has become easier. More level. And word  from Tomas reported that a descent to a mountain valley lies ahead.

Still no pursuers visible behind us. But we can’t shake the feeling that someone is back there.

In a couple instances, Mei dropped behind to observe, but each time the trail remained empty.

She talked most of the time with the Captain.

He later told me that she was fixated on Elijah’s staff. At the first, he recounted the times that he had witnessed great deeds with it in Elijah’s hands, but then he realized she was forming a wrong idea about the two.

So he sent her to Elijah who gladly dispelled the false notions she was forming.

Day Six Hundred Ninety One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I was the one who stumbled upon the right path this time. Tomas had just returned from an unsuccessful attempt to find a way down when I arrived with the good news.

After an hourlong descent we  were on the level of the pass. Signs were everywhere of the army’s passage: abandoned and broken down equipment, strewn trash and spent fire pits. The area must have been used a multitude of times by different units of the army as it passed along.

After the briefest of rests, we took to the trail again. It was very easy going, our only impediment, having to walk around garbage dumps.

We hadn’t gotten far when the Captain noticed that we were being watched.

Day Six Hundred Eighty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The open tableland  came to an end, and with that our ease of movement. Our progress slowed with much time taken up in the descent to a lower elevation.

When the pass below came in view, no one was in sight.

We wondered if we had outpaced the army.

The Captain suggested we halt to wait and see. Elijah, however, said we had things to do further along.

And so it was before the daylight faded, Tomas spotted another force, hidden in ambush in a defile off the trail of the pass.

Elijah took up a position above them and struck the ground with his staff. The mountain quaked and the defile below filled in with an avalanche of rock.

Day Three Hundred Eighty Six evening #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Enoch writes:

It was a grueling descent, especially for the youngsters. Circumstances dictate we stay here for the night to rest and recover.

The road ahead looks straight and level. The city in sight.

Day One Hundred Sixty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

This is definitely not the time. Lyle had no confirmation. In fact, he feels it is vital for us to remain at this time.

He went into the west end to follow up on some leads gleaned from his conversations with Grazie.

Grazie and I hiked out to the vineyard early. There, as before she stood guard while I ventured out to explore the ways down to the desert floor. After some searching I found the narrow track again. To say the descent was difficult would be an understatement, let us say, I would not want to be in a hurry.

At last, I reached the bottom. From there the track divided into two paths.

I could sense our future.