The Fairy Diary Day 245 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Down from the mountains we passed onto the foothills. Our road now is surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Dunfallon, surprisingly, does not wander off to take in the sights and aromas of burgeoning blossoms. (He did pick a few wild flowers and presented them to Noralei – which she received graciously).

Here and there we passed elves superintending the work of the bees. They were friendly when they caught sight of us, but none set aside what they were doing to come talk. 

They did not need to as it turned out. Six elves appeared at the head of a bridge and surrounded us to hold up our passage. Word had come to them to expect travelers that fit our description. We confirmed our identity with Nililitil’s passport, and with that they allowed us to pass over. 

With one request- to join them for dinner at the Blue Daffodil, an inn just a bit down the road.

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Day Seven Hundred Thirty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The lake has shrunken. Due to our distance from it, not because of the water taken out of it. Though I suppose, given time, that will have its effect too.

Three tanker trucks were visible, applying their pumps, upon our last view before we descended into a valley the other side of the foothills. Perhaps we will see it again when we climb into the next pass.

Our road parallels a river which carries scarcely a trickle. If it ever reached the lake below, I don’t think it could now.

It seems to me that Tomas is returning to check in more often than he used to. He converses with Elijah almost always. And sometimes the Captain.

Mei notices him.

Day Seven Hundred Thirty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Tomas led the way, as usual, around the lake and into the foothills. Our guests carried on behind us. Each fully armed and with heavy packs. They’ve been instructed to follow us until they reach the goal of their mission. Besides themselves, Elijah is the only one with that knowledge.

Their names are Lung and Mei. I really was bowled over to learn that Mei is not a man, but a woman. Both had been guards over Elijah, and Mei was always barking commands and gave no hint of her gender.

Elijah knew, of course, and was greatly amused at my discovery.

Our road is a good one. It has been surfaced for vehicles, and we are making good progress.

Day Six Hundred Forty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Through a mutual agreement Elijah and I kept an eye on our friend lest he do something rash. I kept him engaged in conversation and later accompanied him to the cave. There we prayed for Tomas.

Later upon our return, the sky to the south was filled with more lights than ever. The Captain asked Elijah how long it had been going on. His reply upset him. And the Captain demanded to know why we had not been fetched. Before he could answer, a string of flashes lit up the foothills below the high mountains.

There was no stopping the Captain at that point. But we managed to limit our travel backward to the amount of night left to us.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Five Late Morning #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Lyle writes:

The trembling has stopped, and so has the forward motion of the wave.

Rather it has become solid. A mountain whose foothills touch the oasis, and beckon.

Day Fifty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We cleared the first foothill yesterday, but didn’t get much farther than that. The city for the most part is blocked from sight, only the tallest buildings poke their heads up enough to be seen.

There was another reason for our lack of headway. Lyle shared an account of his adventures with me. They were pretty hair-raising. I’ll suggest to him that he share his journal too.

But I will relate that he had a run in with that woman he feared. She had him cornered at one point, and fortunately as it turns out, placed him right in the midst of what he went to find – all that rope.

And it directly led to the recovery of Rufus.