Celestial Storm: Blazing Eye

Chapter Four: Campaign Against Plague Glacier

I awoke to the sounds of the pounding surf. Upon looking out the window, I could see that it was cloudy outside with high winds that whistled as they blew across the sea and over the guild. No rain was falling although the stormy skies suggested that rain might fall at any moment. Sighing slightly, I gathered my clothes and went down to the women's bathroom. I was less than pleased to find Vlukyn already in the bath, but she seemed either very sleepy or was still feeling ill after her fight with Flame. Irina, Murina and Tamira were also in the bath. They greeted me happily when they saw me while Vlukyn offered a wordless wave.

"Good morning," I said as I got in the bath.

"It's stormy outside," Tamira said, "I hope that we don't have any problems getting into the air. Vlukyn and I should conserve our strength for fighting the members of Plague Glacier."

"I'm sure it won't be a problem," Murina said.

"Yes, the air ships are designed to travel in stormy weather too," Irina agreed.

Vlukyn grunted incoherently. I took that to be an agreement.

"Besides, it's only a little windy," Murina and Irina said together.

"Yeah, I'm sure it will be fine," I agreed.

I soon got out of the bath and got dressed. I followed Murina and Irina to the common room with Tamira at my side. Vlukyn was walking hunched over behind me. Flame, Cynthia, Nifrael, Squirrely, Stelgun, Neldi and Gazual soon entered the common room. More of Squirrely's men came down the stairs with Sreldes and Rolof.

Murina and Irina began making and serving breakfast. To my relief, Flame and Vlukyn seemed to be getting along although that might have been more due to the fact that Vlukyn seemed indisposed than because they had forgotten their feud.

"Lucina, how would it be if I added my dexterous assistance to you while you are taking on this mission?" Nifrael asked.

"You want to come too? Sure. I'd be glad to have another person helping us out," I said.

"Ah, Lucina, you truly do have a kind and generous character. I shall make sure that I am of great help to you in return for you kind and sporting nature," Nifrael said.

"It's no big deal," I said, "Think nothing of it."

Nifrael smiled.

"I'm fired up," Flame said, "I can't wait to kick their pasty little butts!"

By time we left the guild, Vlukyn seemed to be feeling better, and she seemed as cheerful as Flame. Fryn followed along behind us and occasionally jumped around us then fell behind again. I soon realized that Fryn was falling behind to poke at the crabs that had scuttled in from the beach and were lurking around the edges of the streets.

"Hooray! Plague Glacier is going down, and we'll be getting the twelve million golen award!" Vlukyn sang as she skipped along slightly ahead of everyone else.

"We could buy a lot of cheese, milk and yogurt with twelve million golens," Fryn squeaked excitedly.

"Well, with your share at least," I said.

Fryn paused.

"How much is my share?" he asked.

"We divide twelve million golens among the eight of us," I said, "That is your share."

"I don't get it," Fryn said.

"That means you get one million five hundred thousand golens," I said.