The Fairy Diary Day 534 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It has been a momentous day. And we were all witness to it. I must say that it began with the view of the sunrise from my chamber window this morning. It warmed my heart with its beauty. I took it as a favorable portent for the day. 

The prisoner was brought in encumbered as yesterday. (And it seemed to me more downcast than before). However, instead of placing him in the cage, the chains came off and he was caused to stand before the Faerie Queen on her throne. 

First Her Majesty ordered Tinadell’s gag removed. Then she announced that his banishment was lifted… but replaced with one restricting him to the confines of Nonin-gal-dith until such times when his services were required. 

We learned later that the High Fairy had negotiated the release of Tinadell, very much along the guidelines outlined by Merlin. 

He was given into our care and we were ordered to leave immediately for Nonin-gal-dith. Noralei, however, set out for the repository to retrieve Rayjil and will rejoin us afterwards. I asked the High Fairy to accompany her to ensure there would be no problems with the Caretaker. 

Thus, Tinadell had his first taste of freedom on the road to Nonin-gal-dith in the company of Rumble, Dunfallon, and myself. For now we talked about everything but what it might be that he would be called upon to do. 

Advertisement

The Fairy Diary Day 439 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The discussion among Merlin, the High Fairy, and Gilgorgon dragged on interminably. Clearly by his loud protestations the dwarf king was not happy with what the other two were advising him to do in regards to Artoxon. They want him to halt any further attempts to defeat and capture his enemy. 

Rumble and I kept company with Gnoston apart from their place of contention. We were both surprised at our friend’s attitude towards this issue. He agreed wholeheartedly with Gilgorgon’s position and against that of the wizard and his excellency. And I do not think it due to a belief on his part that he must do so as their prisoner. Strange to say he does stand against his own sovereign. And he declared that so do most of Artoxon’s subjects. 

I for one marveled at how well the dwarves of this kingdom had masked their true feelings about their king all the times in the past we had been with them. 

In the end I prevailed upon Merlin and the High Fairy to give an audience to Gnoston before any final decision was reached. 

The Fairy Diary Day 385 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Rumble and I questioned a half dozen goblin witnesses who had been in other parties out looking for the whereabouts of the dragon. Adding the locations of their prior sightings to Rumble’s map revealed that either one dragon was very active, or there were more than one. 

I was of the opinion that one was the correct number. But that also meant that this goblin camp must be at the center of a honeycomb of passageways. 

Dunfallon and Noralei had gone out with another party of dragon hunters, back down to whence we came – to check more thoroughly the passage discovered by our pixie. 

They returned with a prisoner – a tall elf we recognized as our former ‘shipmate’ Hawk. When caught he had been carrying a saddle and bridle for a dragon. 

I jotted a note to the High Fairy and summoned Merlin.

The Fairy Diary Day 85 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We have passed through two large pixie burrows this side of the road so far. It has slowed us considerably. What with all the curiosity generated by our presence, that is, fairies traveling with pixies, but even more so in regard to the Wisp. 

We would have been merrily on our way if not for an elderly pixie who recognized our prisoner. Willie returned his greeting and launched into a full throated plea for rescue. 

Thankfully the guards took control of the situation and brought us through without harm. 

After that I instructed the guards to keep to the pixie pathways and avoid the villages.

The Fairy Diary Day 83 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The Wisp renewed his demands to be released when we set out this morning. By turns imperious command or abject groveling. We made no effort to reason with him. And tried our best to ignore him. 

The guards sent along by Nailbiter were curious and asked lots of questions about our prisoner. I did my best, but it was the testimony of Dunfallon that fully convinced them that their pity would be misplaced in his regard. 

So, the guards turned their attention to reports of human bands traveling the roads paralleling the border and kept us well out of sight to chance encounters.

Pixies have a marvelous system of hidden trails and tunnels. I am much impressed.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It’s just the three of us now. But with Tomas constantly on the move, for all practical purposes, it is just Elijah and myself. And because the guards outnumber us every way we turn, I can’t help but feel a prisoner even though we can go anywhere we please.

Paramount to me is the timing for our departure. Elijah is less concerned. He is preoccupied with being ready to counter whatever designs Moglen and Stan have in store for us.

He thinks that as soon as they have the situation in hand as regards the army of the North, they will again turn their focus on this city.

Strange, it propels me to pray for those who aren’t with us.

Day One Thousand Eleven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

All remained mute as Quasimo set us on the path out of the city. Jezer and Tomas stayed behind with a promise to catch up soon. They saw to the needs of the traitor to sustain him until such time as he can break his bonds.

And to take care of the problem, as they framed it, of the tanker truck.

On the rise outside of the city, Reuben fell in beside me and shared something gleaned from the prisoner. If we can believe his tale, he had been sent to investigate the explosion. They, the world government, had no idea who was responsible.

From the top I saw the tanker truck on the goat tracks far to the south.

Day Nine Hundred Seventy Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Off to our right a fire burned the night through. We kept walking longer than usual, able to do so by its far reaching illumination. Elijah and I, our thoughts filled with concern for Tomas, had one dominant thought between us – we wanted to get to the rendezvous point as soon as possible.

And we did.

But being early only meant we had longer to wait. A plus to Elijah’s way of thinking. He settled into a time of rest, of focus, of communion with the Spirit. It was an effort, but I followed his example soon after.

And that is how Tomas found us. He was early also. He had rushed lest we worry he had been taken prisoner.

Day Seven Hundred Eighty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The leader of the tribunal was more than solicitous. He was unceasingly apologetic, the focus of his groveling directed towards the Captain.

All along the way, he put the blame squarely on the hunter groups, and their leader in particular.

Once inside the courthouse it was as though he was on trial. And Elijah the judge.

Our leader stated our demand simply, then led us away, leaving the tribune to comply.

The rest of the day was a whirl of activity, followed by peaceful rest.

I awoke this morning excited for the day ahead.

True to his promise the city judge delivered his prisoner to us. The Raj brother P whom we had lost at the gateway to the East.

Day Seven Hundred Eighty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The city guards remembered the Captain from the day before and immediately took him into custody. And they took us too because we were with him.

We were held over night in a cramped cell, over small for one prisoner, much less three.

The Captain was upset with himself for our predicament and it took both of us to calm his spirit.

They dragged us out mid morning, hungry and needing sleep, and stood us before a five man tribunal.

Their interrogation was perfunctory. Only one spoke, the rest were silent in agreement.

Elijah and I were cut loose, but they kept the Captain for his was a second offense.

Back at our host village we sought the Spirit’s help.