Day 41

Today will be a very boring day. Chumblepot needs glass shards, lots of them, and poster glue. So the morning will be spent at Forgotten Glen, and in the afternoon I’ll move on to the Fairy Dragon Nest.

Lucky looks glum but perks up when I get the picnic basket out. For some reason, he thinks his carrots taste better when eaten outside. Greg watches me pack some hard boiled eggs, salad, and fruit and remarks that it isn’t enough food. It’s the same amount of food I usually eat. If I want more, I’m sure I’ll find something edible in the Glen.

He frowns and asks what about his food. What about it? We have an entire larder filled with food. There’s soup cooking in the fireplace. But there’s nothing in the basket for him to eat, he protests. I wasn’t aware that he intended to meet me for lunch. I thought he was too busy. I roll my eyes and add a man-size portion of salad, fruit and hard boiled eggs into the basket. Greg goes to the larder, grabs some fish sandwiches and throws them in as well.

Once at Forgotten Glen, I put Lucky in charge of finding poster glue while I sit and work on a list of things I’ll need to buy for the festival. New statues and street lamps will cost twenty-five thousand bolgins. New pathways, flowers, and garden décor will cost an additional eighteen-thousand bolgins. Add in the cost of grass, more trees and improving the pond and the grand total just for the Castle comes to about fifty thousand bolgins!

Lucky will need a festival hat and pendant. If at all possible, the Wingferry should be upgraded, as well as the General Store and Town Hall. That short little list adds up to another fifty thousand bolgins! I don’t even want to think about how much bolgite, obsidian, and golden oak will be needed.

Greg arrives and looks at my list. He points out that I haven’t noted anything down about Skycrystal Atriums. I frown. Nobody from there has asked for any help. I just assumed that the place had not been damaged or...Greg shakes his head and tells me the place looks like Landsong Village did when I arrived. Worse. Not only are the relics missing, the pedestals are broken and will need to be repaired.

And nobody thought to tell me this? Greg shrugs. He thought the Mayor had mentioned it when he asked me to visit the Atriums. Maybe I should go visit there tomorrow, he adds. No maybe about it.

Enough about what I still have to do. How is he doing with the tournament schedule? Greg has completed not one, but two schedules. He can’t decide which one to use. It all depends on whether he plans to enter the competitions. Now that he’s Captain, he’s not sure if it’s appropriate for him to compete.

I ask him if he’s worried about not winning and consequently losing some respect from his subordinates. He gives me a look. Okay, if that’s not the problem what is? Greg explains that the previous Captain never participated so maybe people will expect him to sit on the sidelines and give somebody else a chance to win.

I point out that the previous Captain was much older. I would imagine those who are competing want to win, but they want to win by beating the very best. Of course, we don’t really need any more trophies for the Great Hall, and we will be getting married - religiously - during the Festival so maybe he doesn’t want to tire himself out with training...

Greg interrupts me and says I needn’t worry about his stamina. Training has never interfered with his ability to...Good, I tell him. Glad to hear it. So all he has to do is decide whether he wants to compete. And if he does, make sure to tell me so I can watch. Now can we please eat lunch?

After lunch, Greg offers to take the picnic basket and all the poster glue Lucky found back to Landsong Village while Lucky and I go directly to the Fairy Dragon Nest. This time both Lucky and I look for glass shards since we need sixteen of them.

When we deliver everything to Chumblepot, he is very grateful. He needed everything for his first huge order and was worried he wouldn’t be able to complete it in time.

I’m really tired and would love to go home, but I just remembered that Triffledore wanted me to see the new artifacts he’s selling now that his store has been expanded. So Lucky and I go to Faire of Light to check them out.

A lot of the items are just plain creepy. Why would anybody want to buy skulls? I manage to find some round sapphire colored objects. Maybe I could make buttons out of them.

Lucky and I finally go home. Greg is already there busy rearranging his trophies. I’m guessing this means he’s making room for the ones he expects to win at the Yura Festival. I’m glad he decided to compete. Maybe training won’t tire him out but it might help make the time pass more quickly for him.

Day 43

Last night Greg and I had a long discussion about when to start on the improvements the Castle needs for the Yura Festival. I thought it was still too early. Greg thought that installing festival lamps and statues would boost people’s morale and assure them that there really would be a festival this year.

It might also encourage them to start their own preparations and, considering that the merchants of the kingdom usually rely on me to procure whatever it is they need, it might be a good idea to allow plenty of time to get ready.

The last point convinced me. The first thing I’m going to do this morning is give Greg the twenty-five thousand bolgins needed for those lamps and statues. Besides, it’s nice to be able to say ‘yes’ instead of ‘not yet’ to something he wants.

While Greg is busy buying and installing the castle’s decorations, Lucky and I are going up to Skycrystal Atriums to give the Peddler the obsidian, bolgite and poster glue he needs to begin repairing the first pedestal.

I still don’t understand how news travels so fast. A member of the Gnomish delegation is waiting to speak to me up at the atriums. His name is Gavin and he explains that gnomes usually don’t stay in towns but the upcoming festival and the beautiful land structure has drawn him in. He’d like help building a Fungus Hut where the gnomes can settle in.

I agree to help the gnomes build their hut. While construction is going on, I can continue helping the Paddler and Leena repair the pedestal. The Peddler has repaired the base, but he says we need some runes. Leena will know which ones.

Leena gives me a list and Lucky and I go back to Town Hall to check the storage cupboard. We have everything on hand. The Peddler uses the runes but we still need one more item, an orb to house the pedestal’s magical properties. He tells me I can find a sapphire orb in Coral Cove.

Before going to Coral Cove, I’m going home to change and get something to eat. Greg is already there having lunch, his usual stew. He’s all excited because he was able to find lamps and statues that are exactly like the ones that got destroyed by Dreadmyre.

I tell him he was so right to insist on getting the decorations now. Just the news that we’re getting ready for the festival has inspired a group of gnomes to move into Skycrystal Atriums. More residents means more revenue.

It also means more work for me. Better hurry up, eat, and change for my visit to Coral Cove to look for that orb. Lucky, of course, doesn’t need to change. His job is to guard my towel, something he can do on dry land.

Lucky doesn’t really enjoy visiting Coral Cove so it’s a good thing that I find that orb right away. Quick stop at home to freshen up after my swim and then it’s back to Skycrystal Atriums to give the orb to the Peddler.

Work is already completed on the Fungus Hut. Gavin tells me he intends for the Fungus Hut to be a place where people can gather to play Tripeaks, a game played with fungi tiles. He says he’ll show me how to play if I can find some tiles and suggests that I look for them at Skyfleet Docks.

The Peddler has finished repairing the first pedestal. Now all I have to do is find the relics. He suggests that I try looking at Skyfleet Docks. I look at Lucky. Guess we’re going to the Docks next.

Or the Forgotten Glen. The Peddler has just handed me the list of what’s needed to repair the second pedestal. It houses different magic and therefore needs different items to repair it. Bt like the first pedestal, poster glue is required, lots of it.

Lucky would prefer to visit the Docks. So would I, so that’s where we go. Finding fungi tiles is easy, but after searching for two hours, I still haven’t found the relic. Might as well return to the Atriums and play Tripeaks.

Several of the kingdom’s citizens gather to watch Gave and me play before heading out to look for some fungi tiles of their own. With the revenue it will bring in, Gavin’s fungus hut will pay for itself in no time.

Day 45

Lucky is feeling much better but the mention of the Black Bull or Skyfleet Docks makes him feel a little queasy. Too bad, because I had hoped to have another go at finding the relic the Peddler had mentioned. Hopefully somebody will have something new for me to do otherwise we will be spending the day at the Forgotten Glen looking for poster glue.

Greg doesn’t walk with me to Town Hall. Instead he heads off to the barracks to check up on Artist Myke and to spend some time training for the festival competition. And he needs to train. I had sneaked a peek while we were at Coral Cove and he’s put on a bit of weight around his waistline. Too much of that darn stew he craves.

Triffledore is waiting for me at Town Hall. He’s received word that his friend Raphael wants to start his gallery here in the Skyward Kingdom, but he’s going to need some capital, twelve thousand bolgins to be precise.

I’m somewhat surprised that Triffledore isn’t helping his friend out financially. He’s dropped hints about his wealth and I’ve already given Raphael twelve thousand bolgins for two portraits. I wonder where that money has gone to?

No matter. Kings and Queens have traditionally been patrons of the arts and in Queen Sophia’s absence it’s up to me to help provide the kingdom with some culture. I gladly give Triffledore the money so his friend can come here.

Triffledore leaves and Gobie arrives. His brother Brad would like to talk to me. I can find him in the bar at Gobholme. I ask Lucky if he’s up to a trip to snowy Gobholme. He squeaks happily. I’ll put you down for a yes, shall I, Lucky? Okay, but first I have to return home to get my cloak. Not all of us have fur coats.

Brad wants to repay me for helping to rescue Gobie. He’s heard there’s a relic inside the boarded up well just outside the bar and he has a crowbar that I can borrow to open the well. I’m not sure why he just doesn’t go open the well for me.

Looks like neither of us will be opening the well any time soon. Brad has misplaced his crowbar. We’ll have to go find it. He thinks he might have left it at Ancient Pond, a place he occasionally visits to enjoy nature. He points out the obvious: Gobholme doesn’t have much in the way of nature.

The next place Brad wants to search for the crowbar is Coral Cove. Lucky and I exchange looks. Lucky doesn’t want to get his feet, or anything else, wet. I’m not dressed for a swim and don’t think Greg will be amused to hear I visited Coral Cove with Brad.

Brad only gives a cursory glance around Coral Cove before deciding that the crowbar is not there, but he does inform me that he drops by the Cove often. I’m not sure whether to share that information with Greg.

The last place Brad suggests searching is Central Station. The crowbar isn’t there either. Instead of wasting more time looking for it, Brad suggests making a new one. Sounds good to me, but he’ll need some obsidian and bolgite which means a trip back to Town Hall.

At last Brad is finished making a new crowbar and we can return to Gobholme to open the well. I just hope there really is a relic inside it. I feel like I’ve been spending a lot of time lately looking for, but not finding any, relics.

There is a relic fragment inside the well. It looks like it could be the final piece of the Faire Vibrancy relic. I thank Brad and hurry back to Faire of Light to see if I’m correct. If I am, there will be only one more relic to restore in Faire of Light.

Yes! The Faire Vibrancy relic, which restores the vibrancy of nature and surroundings, is now complete. Once again water fills the pool and cascades over the waterfall and into the stream.

Not a bad day’s work, Lucky, if I do say so myself. I think we’ll grab a bite to eat and then go to the Forgotten Glen. You can rest there while I look for poster glue to repair that second pedestal in Skycrystal Atriums. Getting that pedestal repaired and ready for relics will be tomorrow’s project.

Day 47

Triffledore’s friend Raphael has finally arrived! He’s brought his paintings with him and wants to display them before the Yura Festival begins. Raphael has been visiting various areas of the kingdom and thinks the best place for his new gallery wold be up in the Atriums near Glennwater Springs.

Lucky and I go check out the site Raphael has chosen. It should do quite nicely and I agree to make resources and money available so that work can begin immediately. While construction is going on, I can help Ria.

Ria wants to open the flowers at the Fairy Dragon Nest as a surprise for Quinn. To do that she needs Blessed Dew. We search Mystic Copse, the Rose Garden, and Ancient Pond without finding any. Ria claims her grandfather told her where to find it but she just can’t remember. More than likely it is Seth who can’t remember where the Blessed Dew is found, and he sent Ria - and me - to all the wrong places to look.

Thank goodness Leena heard what we were looking for. She tells us that Blessed Dew can be found at Dawnshadow Lake. I needed to go there anyway to find paint brushes for Raphael.

We quickly find the Blessed Dew and the paint brushes then hurry back to Landsong Village to pick up Quinn and Mr Vanderkins before going to the Fairy Dragon Nest. Ria uses the Blessed Dew to open the flowers. Revealed is a tiny baby dragon.

Lucky wasn’t thrilled about Mr Vanderkins coming with us, but he perks up when he hears Quinn tell me that new pet accessories are available at the Squabbit Den’s store. He wants to go shopping. I guess three hats and a bow tie aren’t enough.

We can’t shop now, we have to go back to Skycrystal Atriums to give Raphael the paint brushes and to see how construction on the gallery is coming along. Lucky looks sad. Oh, all right. Let’s see if we can find something that suits you. How about a sun pendant? I think you’ll look quite dashing wearing that pendant and your pork pie hat.

Now that Lucky’s wardrobe has been augmented, we can go to the Atriums. Raphael is pleased with his new Gallery and can’t wait to get started setting up his paintings. I promise to stop by tomorrow to see how he’s settling in.

Ria has been looking at the Atrium’s pedestal which still only holds one relic fragment. She thinks she may have spotted a relic at the Fairy Dragon Nest on our earlier visit and wants to know if we could return there to look for it.

For some reason, Lucky is also anxious to go back to the Fairy Dragon Nest. The reason becomes clear when we get there. He has spotted a carrot near the baby dragon and wants it. Guess he’s completely over his tummy ache. I get the carrot for him, but tell him he can’t have it until dinner time.

Ria finds the relic fragment and is pleased that she has been able to help out. When we bring the fragment to the pedestal, I linger a while, hoping another citizen will stop by with news of another fragment.

Guess not. Better go back to Town Hall and straighten up the storage cupboard. I also need to check our supplies. We’ve been using a lot of runes and poster glue lately. I may need to restock.

Day 49

I needn’t have bothered fixing dinner last night. Greg never came home and I was too upset to eat. My feelings were all over the place. Angry about what he had said to me; remorseful about what I had said to him; worried that he didn’t come home because something dreadful had happened to him.

When he showed up to change his clothes and eat some breakfast, I was back to angry. He should have informed me he was spending the night elsewhere. Greg looked puzzled and claimed he left a note on my desk explaining he needed to sort some things out in the barracks.

Oh. I never went back to the office. I had come straight home from the Atriums. Greg isn’t listening. He’s too busy reading some notes I made last night. I had decided to ask the Mayor and Linea to audit the kingdom’s accounts. If my own husband thinks I’m dishonest, who knows what other people are thinking.

Greg looks sheepishly at me. He apologizes for what he said. He was upset when some of the soldiers made remarks about how I had allocated funds for an art gallery that nobody other than me wanted instead of spending money on things other people would enjoy.

But that’s a lie, I tell him. I hate Tripeaks, yet I helped Gavin build the Fungus Hut. I don’t drink, but I opened the bar at Gobholme. Maybe he should be present when Linea and the Mayor go over the accounts so he can see for himself all the people I’ve helped regardless of whether I would personally benefit from whatever it is they were doing with the funds.

We’re going to be late for work and today is payday. Greg promises that we will discuss anything and everything tonight. He adds that when we get to Town Hall, he will be the one to suggest that the accounts be audited.

Linea and the Mayor are shocked when Greg tells them that some people have been accusing me of acting out of self-interest rather than for the good of the kingdom. They agree to review how I have used the kingdom’s funds.

There’s a delivery coming in from the docks and the Mayor had been planning to meet with various citizens and verify their orders before accepting deliver. He asks me if I will do it instead. No problem, I assure him.

The first person on the list is Blessilda. According to the cargo manifest, she ordered a lot of moonflowers. She looks over the manifest and agrees. Next item listed looks like pet food. That must be Quinn’s order.

Lucky isn’t happy about visiting the Squabbit Den and seeing Mr Vanderkins. He’s even more unhappy when Quinn asks us to feed the animals while he goes and looks for his list. I remind him that he’s already eaten his breakfast.

Quinn eventually return with his order list. It matches what is listed on the cargo manifest. Good. That’s two down and five more to go. Next is Chumblepot.

He, too, needs to look for his list and he, too, needs me to help him out while he looks for it. There are - gasp! - nine orders that need to be completed and very few glass shards available. I will have to go get some more.

There are very few glass shards in the storage cupboard at Town Hall. Lucky and I will have to spend a good part of the day at the Fairy Dragon Nest. We better go home and pack lunch. Before doing so, I remember about the note Greg said he left me and look for it among the papers on my desk. It’s not there.

This is not the time nor the place to discuss the matter. Greg and I need to break the habit of arguing in the office where everybody can hear us. We can add the missing note to the list of things we’re going to discuss tonight.

I’m going to need close to fifty glass shards to finish up those orders. I don’t understand why Chumblepot didn’t ask for help sooner. Does he think I can make glass shards appear out of thin air? I’m the one with no magic, remember?

I continue to grumble to Lucky as we both look everywhere for enough shards. I’m sure the Mayor pulled a fast one on me. I bet he had no intention of checking the cargo manifest and had planned to dump the task on me all along.

Just as I’m getting the ninth - and last - order packaged for shipment, Chumblepot returns with his order. It matches the cargo manifest, which is good, because I’m too tired to deal with a mismatch. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to do if there’s a discrepancy.

And I’m too tired to find out. I’m also too tired to discuss anything with Greg tonight.