Using Direct2Digital as my aggregator for publishing has many advantages. One that I really like is their addition of making your book available to Overdrive (and their newer app Libby). The only drawback is that librarians need to be made aware of your publication. And they make such decisions through requests that they receive from the library cardholders.
Requests can be made through the Overdrive app itself, but not currently through the Libby app.
Meribabell writes:
I was teased wherever I went today. When I passed Dunfallon on the way to the library this morning, he gave me a deep bow – and a titter. Behind him our goblin friend Gibley scraped the ground also (though for truth with his small size it was hard to discern the difference).
I startled Rumble upon my entrance into the library. He made a hurried bow – stopped in mid movement – hesitated – then executed the lowest courtly bow I have ever witnessed. I begged my friend to desist and to never do that again, even if I were to accept the post of High Fairy.
Afterwards I fled out of the city for a little peace of mind and paid a visit to Noralei and the dragons at the inn. There I was greeted by a sweeping bow and a wink and a smirk. She giggled, and then told me that I would make a magnificent High Fairy. Thankfully she changed the topic by pointing out her new charges. Besides Rayjil, Clemjil and Cluyjil she was now looking after Conjil and Torjil too. Gibley had brought Torjil with him from the canyonlands. She is to be Clemjil’s consort upon his installation as guardian of the Crack of Doom at the repository.
By evening, the jibes were past and our regular comradery resumed. Merlin shared the news out of the palace. Tomorrow the trial of her former majesty and the Caretaker will commence.
Meribabell writes:
Screeching became howling from our prisoner’s cages as we reached the last stretch to the capital. Already they were under the weight of impending judgment. I almost pitied them.
Merlin waited at the gates to the inn where the dragons and the wagon will be housed, and was first to receive us. Noralei remained behind to see to the needs of her charges. The wizard took a cage in each hand and led Rumble and me to the gates of the capital. Rumble supervised several fairy soldiers who carried the two boxes of scrolls.
Just within the city gates, Tinadell stood to greet us. This encounter wrung another cry of despair from within the cages. Merlin handed over the prisoners to a phalanx of dungeon guards who whisked them away from our presence.
The fairy king himself ushered us up to the library where the boxes of evidence were deposited. There Tinadell extended an invitation to us to join him for dinner. Before he departed I asked him to send the same invitation down to Noralei. To this he said he would do so personally.
Merlin and I left Rumble to work on arranging the scrolls. As Dunfallon had not been on hand to meet us, I assumed the wizard had agreed with my request. He confirmed to me that the pixie had been sent to the canyonlands – not only to bring Gibley back to help with Clemjil – but also to have the goblin on hand as a possible witness in the trial.
This idea gave me pause. I said to him that that would mean all of us could be potential witnesses. The wizard only arched an eyebrow to my comment, and I knew that he definitely was being called as a witness.
Meribabell writes:
I emerged from my doldrums today. And so has everyone else. Having plans helps immensely.
I saw Dunfallon off to the pixie territory where he will return Willie to his swamp. The Wisp has asked to keep his cage as it is a finely wrought apartment and he thanked Noralei for it personally before they left.
Merlin and I went over to the High Fairy’s residence to check for any clues as to his whereabouts. The wizard has a key for his own use that allows him entry just about anywhere. Everything was as neat as a pin inside – except when we came to his library- there within was a messy mess – but knowing that Rumble had been granted access before the hearing, I was not sure that his excellency was responsible for the disarray. I took note of the open volumes. One, that was of concern, dealt with the care of dragons. But most of them were about ancient stories about fairies of the north countries – the Frost Fairies.
Afterwards we went to Rumble and asked if he had pulled those tomes for his research. He said he most definitely had not. Merlin then asked him if he would mind checking them in order to find out why the High Fairy had pulled them. Rumble agreed.
We then returned to Noralei’s where she greeted Merlin with the demand that he make good on his promise and go to the canyonlands to inquire after her request for a breeding pair of dragons.
With a chuckle and nod of his head, the wizard was gone, leaving us to our parts in the developing plan.
Meribabell writes:
Tinadell has settled back into the life of a village weaver. This has upset Dunfallon who is still very much focused on agitating on behalf of Noralei and Rayjil. He simply cannot understand his complacency.
The pixie and Rumble have asked for permission and got it from the High Fairy for the use of his library here in Nonin-gal-dith to search for any records with which we can make our case before the Faerie Queen. He has set a time for all of us to meet there tomorrow to discuss their findings.
Dunfallon in particular asked me to be sure to bring Tinadell to the meeting. He seems to think we must make it known what we have all done in service to the kingdom – and more broadly – for the world. And to do so we must talk about it. All of us.
He thinks that thereby we will enlist the goodwill of fellow fairies (and pixies – as well as other peoples) to our cause.
I will certainly bring up the option of taking Cluyjil in search of Merlin at tomorrow’s meeting.
Meribabell writes:
The High Fairy met us at the gates to the capital and arranged for our chambers in one of the wings of the palace. It is the wing closest to the prison where Tinadell is being held. We thanked him for his thoughtfulness.
I asked his excellency what the reaction had been to the sudden reappearance of Tinadell after all this time. He replied it had been much as he had expected – shock followed by deep-seated anger. He will be brought before the Queen tomorrow and we will be allowed to make our case for leniency at that time.
We thought it best then to be about our preparations. Noralei and Dunfallon were allowed to descend into the dungeon to visit the prisoner. I went around to the library to search out the records on his original banishment.
There I was greeted by a grinning Rumble who had already collected the necessary documents and was putting them in order.
But the biggest surprise was the presence of Merlin – flitting here and there – humming a tune and bidding me “good day.”
And with a twinkle in his eye, the wizard proclaimed, “We are going to win this.”
Meribabell writes:
We are all safely back in Nonin-gal-dith, having come by various routes. Though they left first, Dunfallon and Cluyjil were last to arrive. And while he will not say, I do believe they made a few detours – no doubt looking for leads on our friends Noralei, Gibley, and their dragon Rayjil.
The High Fairy set Rumble to work in his library the moment they got here with a fresh list of possible objections to research. And I joined him after Merlin deposited me here. The wizard immediately turned around and made a quick trip to see Gilgorgon and convinced him to add his name to our petition. (I believe that will take care of at least three objections the Faerie Queen could have).
I left Rumble behind in the library once Dunfallon was available to accompany me to Noralei’s blacksmith shop. There I informed her sister what I knew about Noralei, and the pixie wanted her to look at the article that Rumble had constructed. I also took the opportunity to inquire after my cottage which she had so kindly offered to look after – it was fine – everything was where I had left it.
I took a few moments, for after tomorrow I do not know when I will see it again.
Meribabell writes:
It is decided. We shall all make our way to Nonin-gal-dith per the High Fairy’s wish and from there put our petition in for an audience with the Faerie Queen. His excellency foresees many objections to our request, so we will need to make up a list of what those objections might be and come up with a counter for each.
Rumble has taken his first list into the library and there with Merlin’s help will begin the process. Only one day will be allotted here. Tomorrow the High Fairy wants us to be in Nonin-gal-dith (and in his library) to complete our research, and send in the formal petition.
Dunfallon has been given the important task of transporting the object that Rumble has completed. It is in form much like the dragon training staff and thus Cluyjil should have little problem carrying it to our home village.
Rumble will accompany his excellency there. And I shall go with Merlin.
I am thankful to fill up my time helping, for when I find myself idle the fear grows within me for our missing friends.
Meribabell writes:
I had to restrain Dunfallon this morning. He wanted to go out with Cluyjil again even before the sun was up. I prevailed upon him to wait for Merlin who had sent word through the owl that he would soon call us in to review his discoveries.
Rumble heeded the cue and took him aside to encourage him to be patient. It was good to see the two friends spend the time together. He led the pixie down to the library where they combed through volumes that the owl had returned from the wizard’s study.
(Rumble had hopes for clues as to what Merlin had uncovered).
After another round of golden nectar for all, including Cluyjil, Merlin sent for us.
Solemnity cloaked the room as we claimed our seats in the wizard’s study. Instead of telling us he put the seer’s stone through its paces – image after image trotted around land after land – none of them bore back an image of our missing friends.
Dunfallon asked the question on all our minds – “Do our friends yet live?”
Merlin nodded affirmative and said, “But not in this world.”
With gravity he continued. The key is in Rayjil’s ability. He indicated the volume open in front of him. In the rarest of cases, dragons who can disappear do not just turn invisible, but are transported to another place altogether. Another world? Another reality? None can say.
The problem therefore remains – how to call them back.
Merlin looked at each of us in turn and declared that we must find that means to call Rayjil back.
Meribabell writes:
Merlin made the decision to return us to his castle. He chose Rumble and me to accompany him and allowed Dunfallon and Cluyjil to fly back on their own, the better to check once again for their friends.
Once there, the wizard pulled a few volumes from his library and then buried himself in his study.
Rumble and I wended our way up to the parapet and kept vigil, scanning the skies in the direction where Gilgorgon’s mountain lay below the horizon.
Merlin’s major domo the owl took pity on us and sent up two goblets of golden nectar – to keep up our strength and sharpen our eyesight. After the first sip I could make out the distant dots of the pixie and the dragon, flitting hither, thither, and yon across the landscape.
It seemed that as they drew closer the slower they moved.
They touched down on the parapet with the setting of the sun. That they were dispirited was plain to see.
Dunfallon took his mount down to the courtyard to see to his care. And we went down to wait in the antechamber to Merlin’s study.
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