WATCHERS IN THE SKY
Mr Hodson, the wizard that had given Tim his mysterious book to decipher, if he could, listened patiently to the youngsters excited hypothesis about who Charles Ramsey might be.
"It's a novel idea Tim" he said "but it makes no sense to me, you could try seeking him out, perhaps the Elven List Keeper might be helpful?
I cannot see any possible connection between that book and the Barrier although I can see why you might be misled by what appears to be the deepest magic. Certainly whatever it is was way beyond my comprehension but I gave it to you because I suspect that what appears to be a mix of alchemical secrets and deepest magic may not be anything of the kind.
I have no reason for my suspicion but I am convinced that what you have is some kind of technical manual for a form of mechanical artifice that is far in advance of our knowledge."
"Yes! Exactly why I think it may be something to do with the Barrier. Who or what else could have created such a powerful spell?"
"I think you are forgetting the presence of the Watchers. They seldom interfere with our lives but theirs is a constant watch especially in the land of the fey that the Barrier protects. I think you should seek out the wisdom of the elves the List Keeper is the one that can call up the past records."
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MEDIATION MANUAL - INTRODUCTION
Never under estimate the abilities of your human charges!
They have no idea that we keep them under constant surveillance and yet they seem to have the notion that something does, hence the plethora of superstitions regarding their gods.
Its a feature of their beliefs that these supernatural beings are in constant conflict just as they themselves are. So our presence may have given rise to such beliefs because the conflict between Command, the Masters and we the Mediators who are charged with maintaining the planetary balance, can certainly be inferred if not detected.
These are intelligent beings never let that be overlooked, they are capable of detecting the inevitable anomalies that occur when we intervene. It is ironic but inevitable that Commands heavy handed interference has given rise to their concept of an evil presence.
This is why if all your work is not to be for nothing, that you learn to isolate our superiors from your direct actions on the humans behalf. The Masters cannot accept responsibility for necessary decisions that is why you have been entrusted with the power that Command reserves for itself.
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'The trouble with being omnipotent is that those so gifted seldom if ever consider the possibility that they have acted rashly. As far as they are concerned their every action is correct whatever the consequences because they are the Command.
It might be possible to modify any such rash decisions if it was possible to object to them but Command is an artificial intelligence which will brook no interference from inferiors.
A constant outcry from the Mediators empowered to act on behalf of Command gave rise to the Masters as an intermediate executive level but they are unable or unwilling to accept responsibility for decisions we may ask them for guidance with.
So all things considered we the Mediators have to act as we think best and to do so in a way that doesn't place any doubts in our Masters minds.
Remember it is always easier to seek forgiveness than to obtain permission because such an action will inevitably be passed on by the Masters to Command which will always deny permission.'
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It was certainly an odd collection of information, advice and all kinds of odd scraps, but useful thought Tim as he patiently worked carefully through it. Who was it for, though? Sometimes the odd phrasing sounded although it was meant for a foreign visitor from some distant land judging by how much was unfamiliar to him.
It was almost like some intermediary handbook meant to accompany Charles journal but the source was known to him whereas Charles mysterious book had turned up at Mr Hodson's home without his having any knowledge of the source.
Of course just because the compendium had been given to him by the printer he'd once worked for didn't mean that worthy had any idea of its provenance. It seemed to Tim that something was trying to tell him what he should be doing.
After all the years he'd had to learn what he could from his books, he'd benefited a great deal. He'd started out as a toy makers apprentice but now that he was a recognized craftsman in his own right with his own shop, he had the use of tools and techniques far in advance of others of the craft.
Since he had no competitors his trade secrets remained exclusive but it was the two books that had provided the lessons he'd learned from in making his own tools. One of these days I must try and reach the elves again, he thought. It would be good to see if his dwarven friends were still keeping the laundry he'd built for them in good working order.
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