The Fairy Diary Day 139 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Rumble slipped away last night and I caught him returning in the morning. I was upset with him at first, but he won me over with his explanation. 

He had traveled back to where the dead troll lay. The body had not yet turned to stone. So he repositioned it to add to the defenses of the outpost. And as a final touch he covered the whole with daisies. 

Caywyn overheard the explanation and heartily approved. 

The whole matter held us up and got us off to a late start. But instead of an hindrance it proved to be very fortunate. For Dunfallon says it kept us from falling in with a band of trolls that passed the trail before we arrived on that section. 

Their passage was marked by a horrible stench from some refuse they left behind. Noralei and Rumble cleaned it up before we passed on. 

Caywyn was impressed. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 138 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our departure did not go unchallenged. Caywyn thought that by restricting any activity on the side from which we exited, we would not draw attention to ourselves. Instead a live troll was waiting for us when we emerged. Only the fact that he was more surprised than we were, saved us. 

The troll was slow to attack and misstepped when he did, falling headlong backwards, splitting his head wide open. 

Caywyn checked the vicinity and finding no further opposition, quickly led us away from the outpost. He kept us out of sight for the rest of the day following a stream in a canyon that he says is far from the main road and the camps of the troll army.

The Fairy Diary Day 135 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Caywyn is a prince of a man. And not just in character. He is distantly related to the Nimrood family – and thus minor royalty and loyal to them. 

If I were to call on a human to represent my interests I could not do better than this Captain of the Guard from Azhnastria. 

And so say all of us. 

We passed the day under his tutelage. He explained the recent history of this human kingdom and how that colors the task before us of traveling to the capital. The troll army which devastated the area we have crossed so far has broken through into the plains beyond this outpost and is threatening Azhnastria. 

And there are whispers that they lie in wait for such as us.

The Fairy Diary Day 134 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I made the decision to go into the outpost alone. My friends remained outside and observed. 

I kept to the road and approached slowly, doing my best to be non threatening. (I left my bow and quiver with Rumble. Though I admit given my size I probably could not scare anyone).

Soon all eyes were on me. I could feel it. The guards at the gate allowed me to come right up to them. 

The one in charge knelt and asked me, “Would you happen to be the fairy named Meribabell?”

I barely squeaked out a “Yes,” so great was my surprise. 

And he added with a grin, “Then where are your companions?”

Such was my introduction to the Captain of Nimrood’s personal guard, Caywyn, and soon his introduction to all of us, as I brought my friends in at his invitation.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Sy woke us in the early morning with a report that explosions could be heard coming from the direction of Babylon. As we strained to see over the horizon we could make out the glow from the same. Then the many camps far below on the plain stirred to life.

We watched with interest the goings on throughout the day.

Moglen’s outpost on these heights packed up and descended down to the redoubt.

Another group operating from the redoubt, labored all the daylight hours, and succeeded in carrying the crate half way up to the high place.

Before the sun set Reuben and his team arrived, guided by Sy’s men sent down for that purpose.

Elijah and I made ready.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

There were many roving patrols we had to dodge up on these heights above the altar. And we had to set up even further back as Moglen had positioned an outpost where we hid when last we were here.

After we were in place, we sent Tomas back down the trail. From the hills on the way here we had spotted Sy’s group emerge out of the village into the wilderness. He will meet up with them and lead them up to this position.

Elijah and I made a quick trip down for a closer look. We saw that all its stone work appears to be back in place. But as of yet no golden idol.

Five days to go.

Day One Thousand Seventeen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Since we had not arrived at the third relay point before halting last night, I asked Reuben to make a quick reconnaissance. What looked deceptively close higher up he had found to be much further away. Quasimo was at a loss for he does not remember it being more than one day’s journey distant from the second.

And a thornier problem had intruded.

Another outpost had been set up on the direct route.

He and Quasimo put their heads together and came up with another route.

And that is how we came to backtrack up the hill and down its other side. From there we have paralleled our intended path to keep hidden from the observation of the enemy’s outpost.

Day One Thousand Thirteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

His message delivered, Elijah’s pupil took  leave and returned to his prime assignment.

Before we left this morning, Quasimo found the hothead’s mangled body at the base of the nearby cliff. All we know for sure is the dead man’s link to the traitor, that fact supplied by visions given to the first twelve. And can only guess that his actions were all an act put on to throw off suspicion.

I shudder to think we were leading him back to the hiding place.

Another messenger appeared on our path. This one for Quasimo. He brought a warning for us to change our route to circumvent a new outpost keeping a watch in that quarter.

And an increase of patrols.