The sun was shining and it was comfortably warm, in spite of the early hour. It seemed as if all the Sky Maidens had turned out to see the group off. Most of all, Lady Astraea was there.

“Are you sure about this?” one woman asked, fussing with her sleeves. “I mean, you hardly know him.”

Astraea smiled and shook her head. “Really, Larissa,” she said, chuckling, “Guntar’s a sweetheart. I’ve known him since we were children.”

“But… it’s been years since you’ve seen each other,” Larissa persisted. However, Astraea wasn’t listening. Instead, she moved over to the party and began discussing things with them.

Larissa’s brows furrowed. Why was it that they were even well enough to travel? None of them should have been able to get out of bed that morning! “Not fair,” Larissa breathed. As the fanfare signaling the group’s imminent departure began, she whirled around and headed back into the building.