The Fairy Diary Day 390 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We set out on the Low-way of the dwarves without any guides, counting on an absolution from Artoxon for our departure from Bifitz’s expressed edict by the urgency of the situation. 

Dunfallon took up the lead as is his custom. He and Noralei guided us around all the hidden obstacles. 

I had written on the scroll to the High Fairy inquiring about news – any news – for it seems we have been cut off from information as to the goings on in all the lands we have been to. I particularly wondered if the dark elves had chosen a new name for their people. That led to thoughts about Hawk and his fate. Before we left, the goblins were chaining him up for transport to the shaft. 

Rumble was a quiet companion. When he did speak, I learned he had been thinking about some of the same things as me. 

His main concern above all was whether or not we can trust Artoxon. He has taken to heart the warning from Dromadil pixies via the High Fairy. And I believe – so have I.

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The Fairy Diary Day 192 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

When we look behind us at Merlin’s castle, we can more easily see the descent we have made to this lower level.  It calls to mind that we have so much further to go, now that we no longer have our goal in sight. And as we enter this wild desert land, Rumble’s map and Noralei’s compass become all the more valuable to us. 

Having never seen the like before, Noralei is fascinated by the landscape and its strange looking plants. (At least none of them are those dark monstrosities). Dunfallon took her in charge and brought her close up to some of the more interesting ones. 

Amused, Rumble and I just kept ambling along the heading he has plotted. 

All is level and straight for now. But his map shows obstacles ahead. Obstacles that from our current vantage are not visible. 

Day Eight Hundred Ten #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The haze lifted sometime overnight. And we had an unobstructed view in every direction. In the distance to the south lay the harbor that services the megapolis, choked with merchant vessels.

And signs of much activity. Commerce was in full swing, with people going about the business of business in stark contrast to the continued stillness in this central locale.

Palaces were the norm in that quarter, spread out in both directions.

We had no curiosity to head in that direction. Unless, of course, the way out of Babylon lies in that direction. But my desire is for a more direct route to Jerusalem – somewhere to the east and north of here.

We’ll have to see what obstacles there are.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We would have (and could have) traversed the underground passage in the space of the daylight hours. But we had some unforeseen obstacles and equally unforeseen discoveries, all of which decided us to remain down here for awhile.

First, our progress was impeded and slowed down by a blockage. A section of the tunnel ceiling (a floor from the structure above) had caved in and all access around was cut off. We were at the point of turning around when Elijah found an entrance into a building. We entered and by trial and error made our way up and over the obstruction.

It was all providential. Our delay meant that we encountered a band of people that needed our help.

Day Seventy Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We were blind to all the obstacles. We hadn’t seen the canyon nor the river coursing at the bottom of it. All was hidden from our view before the most recent ridge we traversed.  What wasn’t there one minute, broke into our consciousness the next.

We hadn’t sent up our drones lately, now we launched one in each direction to scout a way across.

It’s a wild, fast-moving river. Too deep to ford and not a bridge in sight. The mountain peak from its lofty height laughed at our frustration.

Looking behind us, we had a clear view of the village, and of a bridge on another road leading out from it. If only it crosses the same river.