The Fairy Diary Day 498 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Before we set out again this morning Merlin shared the results of his extra time in the quarry yesterday. Through close observation he had figured out how to follow the Maulfors in their movements under the mountain branching out from the quarry. This was new to Glossom – though somewhat skeptical he was willing to test it. 

Thus we re-entered the same entrance as yesterday and followed the wizard’s lead to some fresh signs of worm passage. 

The goblins were impressed. We were soon running in passageways hitherto unknown to them. However the gems left behind had a reddish tone, not a purple one. Merlin took them anyway in order to see what he could do with these particular crystals. 

We were almost back to the main quarry when a Maulfor came crashing through a wall chewing everything in sight. 

This one had never met a pixie before. 

Dunfallon within the space of two wingbeats had the front of the beast sliced off from the back, and from its slimy innards out slipped a purplish stone. I scooped it up to the applause of all present.

And we returned to Glossom’s with gladness. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 497 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin did something I had not seen him do before. In preparation for entering into the quarry with us, he made himself small – somewhere between fairy and pixie size. 

Glossom had thought that the wizard would have had to remain behind but was pleasantly surprised when Merlin had his own solution. This left Glossom the largest member of our party to enter into the quarry by the worm holes. 

I did not worry about the iron which was supposed to be present in abundance because of the protection of my third pendant – but I did have apprehensions about encountering the giant worms which Gibley was certain would consider fairies a great delicacy. Collectively the goblins call these worms Maulfors. 

Dunfallon was not the least bit anxious about them. “One cannot live in burrows,” he said, “without having to deal with such things eventually.” Still, he did keep one hand on the hilt of his sword. 

By the light from the goblin torches and Merlin’s staff (and my glowing pendants) we searched the other offshoots from the main quarry. I was somewhat relieved that we did not bump into a Maulfor – but then again we did not find what Glossom told us to look for – purple colored gems that have passed through the insides of a worm. 

It is the only type of gem pure enough. 

Glossom said we will try from another entrance tomorrow. As we turned to trudge back Merlin begged leave to remain behind and test a few notions about the nature of the Maulfors. 

None objected.