The Fairy Diary Day 645 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Captain Goff joined us for the morning meal in the inn. The only one not with us was Dunfallon, who could not bring himself to leave the ship unprotected by his absence. 

And probably for good reason. The captain had some disquieting news. Rumors were rampant around Corbelin stemming it is believed from factions sympathetic to our prisoners. He fears that an attempt will be made to seize them from us. He advised us to depart as soon as possible.

We sent Rumble off to see if he could buy back one of the wagons he had sold here. Noralei went off to see to the needs of our dragons. And I took a meal down to Dunfallon and recounted the news and our decisions to him.

When Merlin came aboard, he immediately went below to visit the prisoners. After he emerged he went to Noralei who was then feeding Clemjil, and asked her to fashion cages for the renegade queen and the Caretaker, like those she had made for the Will’o’the Wisp.

By the afternoon, Rumble returned and he had with him the very wagon we had used before to transport Dunfallon’s “army.” It should handle the bell and the prisoners with no problem. And the pixie intends to keep his soldier-less weapons out of their boxes, ready and moving under their own power.

I pointed out a couple suspicious characters to Rumble and Dunfallon, whom I had seen repeatedly pass back and forth by the ship. They gave a wide berth around Cluyjil who was snoring in the late afternoon in his place on the quay. He startled awake once, and I was amused to see the suspect pair scatter.

Before we prepared for the evening meal, Noralei returned, bearing one newly fashioned cage. She gave it to the wizard for his approval. He did and she will make the other tomorrow.

I could not bring myself to stay in the inn overnight but decided to stay aboard the ship with Dunfallon.

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The Fairy Diary Day 619 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon roused us early. He had been up to walk off his impatience, and ran into a band of traveling elves. They were headed down to Corbelin to attend the festival of moon flowers. And they invited him and his friends (us, that is) to be their guests. 

The elves had not waited, but headed down the road. If we wanted to attend, we could meet them at their rendezvous, which our pixie recognized as the inn in which we had stopped on our last trip to Corbelin. 

Dunfallon wanted to go in any event, if we chose not to. Before I could put it to everyone else, however, a reply came in from Merlin to my note of yesterday. 

The wizard informed us that he was awaiting our arrival at a different inn down near the harbor. And he requested that we collect moon flower blooms on our way in. 

We thought his request rather strange, but we did so. And piled what we could find along the way into the second wagon. (Dunfallon would not hear of placing anything near his “army”).

Conjil was somewhat adverse to the aroma coming from the blooms, so Gibley made certain to keep them at a distance from her. Noralei loved their scent so she gladly kept busy stowing them about the second wagon. 

When we passed the inn surrounded by celebratory elves our pixie begged leave to join them and promised to rejoin us later. 

I gave it not a second thought until we arrived at the harbor. The wizard was a little miffed that we were not all together. He wants to run through his explanations only once. So, we will have to wait for him. 

In the meantime we settled Conjil and the wagons into a special place that Merlin had secured for us. 

Day Nine Hundred Forty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The wind changed and was at our backs when we walked out of the wilderness into the village. The streets were deserted but we didn’t think it strange, given the time of day- early afternoon.

The only building not closed up was an inn on the main street. We entered and were greeted by the innkeeper. He remained friendly even after we said we would not be staying. When Elijah asked after the news of the day, a youngster sweeping the floor sidled away.

The innkeeper had just finished his account of police patrols combing the area for two strangers, when in burst five men who seized us.

As they placed us in their vehicle I saw the pesky villager.

Day Seven Hundred Twenty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Members of the city’s militia came to the inn this morning looking for Tomas. And finding him with us, they demanded that we all come with them for questioning.

So it was after a long wait, we finally appeared before a tribal magistrate. He had no questions for us, only for the militia soldiers. Tomas had been observed by those stationed at the dam. Their conclusion was obvious – Tomas was a spy, and by association so were we.

We protested, but our words fell on deaf ears. We were hustled away to the dam, of all places, and locked up in a chamber deep therein.

I guess with all the soldiers about they believe it to be the most secure.

Day Seven Hundred Twenty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We exercised the usual caution today.  At first light Tomas went into the city to scout, while we stayed on the outskirts.

The Captain was focused on the fruit trees that were indeed on the approaches to the city. Very little fruit was left to glean. What there was, was green or in one instance mealy.

Tomas brought an end to our foraging upon his return. With a long explanation he hustled us into the city.

The city was in the throes of preparing to stave off an invasion.  He convinced us that we needed to be settled as soon as possible.

Thankfully we found an inn. Though Stan’s image was everywhere no one asked if we bore the mark.

Day Six Hundred Seventy One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I guess, most would think I was panicked into numbing inaction, by concern for my friends. Or even paralyzed by fear for my own safety.

And perhaps so they would judge by my immediate actions.

But such would not be the case.

Yes, I turned in for the night.

But that was because I knew I was not alone. The One who is with us always, never leaves us.

And I simply followed His direction.

And out of that time of rest came the dreams. The dreams that old men dream.

Which came to pass today when Elijah came for me, and brought me out of the inn right under the noses of the guards called for by the innkeeper.

Day Six Hundred Seventy #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Overwhelmed.

This is one of those times when so much has happened I am not able to write it all down. So I’ll just touch on my highest concern.

I went out early to find some light fare with which Elijah can end his fast. (And to look around and get a feel for our situation). The innkeeper looked nervous when he saw me leave.

After a multitude of encounters in the market I concluded that it was sold out of fruit. A function of the army’s presence.

That being the case I found and begged a few pieces from an army mess.

Upon my return to the inn, the innkeeper was gone. Vanished.

And so were my three friends.

Day Six Hundred Sixty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah remained in one of the two rooms we have taken in the inn, while the rest of us went out to look around the town. I don’t believe he will stir from there for the next few days. I am considering leaving our room solely to him and joining our friends in theirs.

We split up upon leaving the inn.

Tomas visited the town center, its marketplace and civic buildings. He reported an encouraging lack of presence on the part of the global authority. And no posters of Stan anywhere.

The Captain checked for transportation alternatives over the mountains. We have several possibilities.

I walked down by the river. It was even lower there than upstream.

We returned exhausted.

Day Six Hundred Sixty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It was strange to see other human beings going about everyday tasks. Such sights seem like forever ago.

We have entered the valley which we found dotted with small farms, and a town or small city rises from its center.

Much of the activity hereabouts deals with bringing water up from the river.

The Captain discovered why. The irrigation ditches are empty, the river being too low to feed them.

My concern grew. What would be their reaction if they knew Elijah was responsible?

We pushed on into the town. And there found an inn.

We plan to stay a few days, as Elijah has now told us he plans to end his fast in four days.

He needs rest.

Day Four Hundred Ninety Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have gained in elevation, and the temperature has dropped in consequence. So we have chosen to make a long march of it and switch over to traveling in the daytime.

Come sunrise there was no place to shelter anyway, so we had another reason to press onwards.

Past the meridian we arrived at a teeming metropolis. We experienced no problems at all upon entry. Apparently no control or restrictions are being exercised at this time over people’s comings and goings.

And we had no trouble either in finding an inn. A notable blessing, as we were exhausted and turned in immediately.

We awoke in the early evening as our bodies are still attuned to nocturnal activity.

But what now?