The Fairy Diary Day 172 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin apologized for his curtness of yesterday and for the strain of being hurried along. He defended it as absolutely necessary. He said that time was short and instructed us along the way telling us we had to complete this mission as soon as possible for we were required to return to his castle for the next mission. 

When we came to another great oak he stopped, bowed his goodbye and disappeared after saying we had only to summon him and he will take us up immediately. 

Rumble and I were so busy talking to Merlin we hardly had said two words to Noralei. Dunfallon, however, had her all to himself and at times acted as her spokesman as we bombarded her with questions. 

Her adventures with Caywyn could fill another book. (I’ll just mention that they defeated another army of wolves and walking dead trolls.  And despatched messengers to go after the refugees beyond the human land borders on that side). 

We eagerly trudged on, for by Merlin’s account we should encounter the displaced farmers tomorrow.

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Day One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah has a bead on an explanation behind all our questions. He took me on a walk. Alone this time – across the entire cavern to the set apart place.

He posits that our movements and certain interactions with others had influenced the actions of the armies in question. In essence we kept the conflicts from escalating because the energies of one or the other was focused on us.

The Spirit has used us to hold the enemies apart until the fullness of time.

But once we were alone in the set apart place, far from listening ears, he disclosed the most harrowing details. The designs against Mawuli, he fears, will not only include his sacrifice but also some unnamable abuse.

Day One Thousand Ninety Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Of course, we did not concentrate on such topics while Sy and Elam led us out from underneath the rubble. And the rest of the day was consumed with seeking out and helping those trapped and or wounded.

Mei directed our efforts there.

Remarkably, there were injuries but no deaths. The best we can tell.

Elijah’s warning had made all the difference.

Come this morning we linked up again with Tomas. He had seen to the safety of the Supreme Commander. Who, once safe, was off and running for the front.

Then, we had time to consider our questions.

But on that matter we were inconclusive – except for our necessity of finding less conspicuous lodgings.

Again Tomas saw to that.

Day One Thousand Ninety Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Mawuli was restless. He complained to Elijah and me that he felt cooped up and wanted to go out but no one would accompany him. Instead of allowing him to do so on his own we agreed to go with him.

We took one of the guards with us, who for the most part was uncomplaining.

Mawuli retraced his route of the other day, so we saw in turn the Captain’s ship and the desalination plants.

Along the way we answered his questions about Stan and Moglen.

Then he surprised us both when he asked where the Spirit was leading us next. Before we could answer he shocked us further by stating he did not think we should leave yet.

Day One Thousand Thirty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We sensed that we are not yet released to leave Damascus. Elijah’s pupils, however, returned only to inform him that they are splitting up, some called to aid Tomas and the others in Jerusalem, and the other half of the team to look for Jezer, who is missing.

That latter bit of news upset me. And the fact that no one had any answers to my questions regarding him, only made it worse.

In addition I was left thinking why we had been sent here in the first place, while all along, as it now appears, the objects of our mission, were indeed, in the direction I had originally wanted to go.

Oh, to get from underneath my own understanding.

Day Nine Hundred Ninety Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Mawuli returned to us on foot to report that all was in readiness to receive his father’s group.

Elijah and I set out with the first section. The Purser and his family stayed behind to round up the stragglers before taking up the march.

On the way we passed the tanker truck that was returning to refill at the desert crossroads. Only Jezer and Tomas were aboard, Reuben had remained to aid his stricken townspeople.

A coterie of young men orbited Elijah asking him endless questions. My friend answered them all with patience and penetrating insight. One of the more curious reached out to touch Elijah’s staff and was shocked off his feet.

The youngster stood up with renewed respect.

Day Nine Hundred Thirty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elam squeezed the three of us into the cab beside himself, and began the long tale of the pilgrimage across sea and land of the group led by Sy and himself. A story that continued this morning by the mere dint of the wealth of detail Elam wanted to share.

And we listened with great interest, plying him with our many questions.

There was one note of sadness – Sy, the former soldier from whom Elijah removed the mark, lost his aged parents on the ocean passage.

During the times of silence I marveled at the work of the Spirit in their lives. And Jezer, to my surprise, burst forth with outright praise.

Then came our turn to share our stories.

Day Eight Hundred Sixty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have Damascus in sight. Meesa led us off the road to a ridge above its outskirts, where we have a commanding view of the road and a neighboring one to the west. We can see where each enters the city. And are in a good position to evaluate our options.

Meesa had listened to our explanations with avidity, and peppered us with questions. Before leaving she had proposed another solution by offering to affix a mark like hers upon our persons – an offer we both declined.

We shall not stoop to subterfuge, but we shall oppose Stan and his ilk face to face.

That being said, we shall stay put until we have clarity as to when and how.

Day Eight Hundred Fifty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Not only did I lack confirmation, I confessed to having more questions than before.

Along the way Elijah had confirmed my suspicion that the first snowfall had been an answer to his petition on our behalf – a provision of water for the next step in our journey along an unknown path. A highly localized suspension of the drought. Purely for our benefit.

But – hence the question. Who was responsible for the crimson snow that followed. And did they know where we were? And if so, how? Were we under surveillance?

Elijah just shrugged and said it was obvious the enemy’s goal was to thwart us, but asked me to remember that the Spirit can use that opposition to help us.

Day Eight Hundred Twenty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

His tribal home, that is. The shepherds were members of his clan. But unlike his immediate family they had not left in the Glorious appearing. They had been scoffers then, and were still. They just wanted to be left alone. So much so that they even refused the mark.

Quasimo welcomed the opportunity to answer their questions. And they were full of them. And in each instance his answers always came around again to his testimony to what he had seen and heard. But nothing he said or showed them convinced them, not even the fact that he no longer bore the mark in his person.

For all of their rough edges they were hospitable, especially to Elijah and myself.