The Kingdom of Burning Ice

Welcome Home, Lost One

Frostine

A scraping sound woke me up. Blinking dazedly, I looked around myself and remembered what had happened. Aunt Sedha. The witch. I jerked upright and bit back a scream as pain shot through the left side of my hîp. Once again she had pushed me in the höle in the ground, after trying to possible kill me and wanting to steal my destiny and giving it to her daughter. Whatever that meant!

The scraping sound came again and I opened my eyes to focus as I wondered where it was coming from. It came again and again. “Who is there?” I asked. My fingers clamped on my wrist when it burned still. I didn’t know what they did to me. But I was feeling so weak. “Anybody there?” I asked, wondering if the magical thing that had happened to me would happen again.

But in answer I heard a low growl. I swallowed and peered into the darkness surrounding me, then all of a sudden, out of nowhere the mud wall was broken from the middle, with bricks splintering about as a huge wolf stepped inside the small hôle I was in.

At first I was so scared to see the wolf but then as he neared and tilted his head down, I recognised him. “Trench!” I whispered. “What happened to you... Oh, thank God, you are alive.” I said as I hugged his big wolf body to me. He nuzzled my neck and then stepped back.

I watched as a few moments later, he dropped down and turned into a human boy. “Oh...” I gasped in awe.

“Listen, Frostine, you have to come with me.” He said, taking my hand in his.

I did my best to not look down at him. He was náked! “Where?” I asked.

“The king’s men are here to take me with them. The king sent them so I’d be safe in the kingdom with my kind.”

“Your kind?” I questioned, not understanding.

“Yes. There are many like me in the kingdom.”

“You mean, men who turn to wolf?” I asked in wonderment and surprise.

“Women too. And not just wolves, but humans too and witches and every other kind.” He explained hurriedly as he looked through the höle in the wall he had made. “You should come with me. You’ll be safe in the kingdom. Your aunt won’t be able to hurt you. The king keeps his people safe and well. He is very powerful and yet kind.”

“How do you know all that?” I asked, my eyes peering into the darkness behind him.

“There was a witch who helped me in the forest and she told me everything, she was the one who sent a message to the king to help me.”

“Oh.” I thought back to the witch Aunt Sedha killed, probably she was the witch who had helped Trench. I felt sorry for the old witch.

“Now. Hurry. The men are waiting for me.” Trench said, grabbing my shoulder.

“But, will they allow me?” I asked. “You just said they are here for you.”

He nodded. “I know. And I have a plan.” He took my hand. “Are you ready to leave these monsters behind?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He walked out of the höle and we walked a small distance before he stopped. It was like an underground route. He dragged a cart out of the shadows and there was a wooden box on top of it. He said, “You have to hide in there, Frostine. I told the men that I have things to bring with me, so you could also come hidden in there.”

“You think it will work. What if they check it?” I questioned, worrying my bottom lip. I wanted to go so badly, to escape this place and Aunt Sedha and her cruel daughter, but I didn’t want to get my best friend in trouble.

“It has to work and I’m not going without you.” Trench said.

I gave him a smile and nodded. “Then, let’s do it.” I watched as he opened the box and motioned for me to get in. I was already accustomed to living in dark and small spaces so it wasn’t that awful looking, the only thing I was scared of was being found out and not being able to get away. I stepped into the box and curled in myself. “Thank you, Trench. You are a good friend.” I said to him as he put the lid back on the box, enclosing me in the dark with only a few slits between the wood that allowed me to breathe and peer out, but it wasn’t helpful as everything was shrouded in darkness.

After a few seconds the cart started to move and I prayed to whoever god was listening that we reach our destination safe. And that the king was as kind as the witch described.

.

It was days and countless times of sneaking out of the box and getting back in without the king’s guards knowing that they carried another passenger with them that we reached the kingdom.

I heard Trench talking to the guards. “Thank you very much for your escort. I’ll be able to find my way on my own now.”

“Good, lad. Now make sure to pay a visit to the king.” One of the men said.

“And don’t forget to take his blessings.” Another man added.

“And you know how to pledge fealty to the king, right?” Someone else asked.

“Fealty? Pledge?” Trent murmured in confusion.

“It’s okay, we will tell you. When you walk into the throne hall, you bow down to the king on one knee and then a servant would come and place a glass in front of you. You have to cut your palm and fill it with your blood and serve it to the king and promise your loyalty.”

I sucked in a bréath. Was it really necessary? Do I have to do it too?

“In return the King will provide you his protection and a place in his kingdom.”

“You won’t have to be afraid of anything with King’s protection.”

“You will do it, boy?” One of the men asked.

“Of course, I will.” Trench agreed. The men murmured their wishes and affirmation before I heard their footsteps fading away. A few moments later, I heard Trench’s voice as he asked, “You okay, Frostine?”

“Yes.” I answered.

“Okay, I am going to take the cart near the trees so you could come out. Okay?”

“Okay.”

After a few minutes, the cart stopped and Trench pulled the lid off the box, allowing the fresh air and sunshine to fall upon me. I blinked my eyes open adjusting to the sunlight. I met my friend’s eyes and smiled wide. He helped me out and said, “We made it!”

I hugged him. “Yes! Thank you so much, Trench. You saved me from Aunt Sedha.” I turned around noticing the small cottages lining neatly on either side of the pebbled road that lead to the huge castle. “Oh my Lord... Is that...?”

“Yes, Frostine. It’s the Ice Kingdom.”

“The Ice kingdom.” I said in a whisper, noticing the white and pale blue bricks that made the castle, blue dome of the castle reaching high up in the sky, almost touching the clouds. My eyes strayed to its left and widened to see a similar castle that stood proud with the Ice one, but it’s bricks were yellow and orange. “Is that also a part of Ice Kingdom?” I asked.

Trench shrugged. “I don’t know much.” He turned to me, and held out his hand. “But we will learn together.”

“Yes!” We started to walk but my legs faltered. “Wait!” I said, stopping him. Trench looked back at me. I don’t think we should be seen together like this.” I swallowed as I said, “You yourself said that they were to bring only you, if they see me with you they’ll understand that you had smuggled me in.”

Trench brows troubled and he asked uncertainly. “Then what should we do?”

I slipped my hand from his as I said, “You should go. And I’ll go the other way. When someone stops me or asks me anything I’ll say what’s true.” I shrugged. “At least, half of it, I’ll tell them that I need a place to stay safe from my horrible family.”

“That woman isn’t your family, you know that right?” Trench asked.

I nodded. “I know but somehow I ended up with her and I think she took something from me and gave it to her daughter.”

 “Then we should change your name, if she comes looking for you.”

“What do you suggest?” I asked.

“I don't know, you decide.”

“How is Raina?”

He smiled. “It means queen.”

I pulled down my lips. “Everyone knows I’m no queen.”

Trench chucked me under the chin. “No one knew I was a wolf. May be for all you know you will be a queen one day.”

“You are saying that because I’m your friend.”

Trench’s face transformed as he looked at me with concern as he said, “Yes. I am your friend so if something happens and you need my help then you’ll tell me.”

“Yes. And if what you’ve learned about the king that he’s kind and honorable then we won’t have to be scared. I will just tell him my plight and he’d understand.” I said. “Or tell him that my name is Raina and he'll make me his Queen.” He laughed and I nudged him away from me. “Go on, then. I’ll see you in that big castle.” If they let me in.

I watched as Trench walked away down the pebbled road, when he reached the wide open area where the water fell in a fountain arch without anything under it to collect the falling water but yet still the ground was dry, he turned and waved his hand in farewell. I smiled and did the same. Then, I started walking. I wasn’t even halfway to the same fountain that Trench passed when a door of one of the cottages opened and a hunched figure clad in black stepped out. I stopped short.

“Don’t stop. Come forward.” I swallowed and looked around, wondering if I should run. The gnarly hand stretched out and the old lady said, “I am here to help you, lost one.”

Something urged me to move forward. When I was within the old lady’s reach, she grabbed my wrist in a tight grasp and ushered me inside the cottage. “What are you doing? Leave me!” I said, now afraid of unknown.

“Don’t be scared. I said I am here to help.” The old lady said as she pulled me to a small bench and pushed me to sit on it.

“I don’t need your help.” I said as I started to stand up.

She flipped the hood of her black gown and I saw her face, half white and half yellow. I blinked at what I was seeing, it felt like I have seen her before. “Then, how do you plan to go inside the castle. They don’t allow strangers unless they have learned all the facts.” Eyes wide, I stared at her. But she continued, “And you don’t even know about your birth or family or your destiny.”

 “You say that like you know it.”

Her teeth flashed and she said, “I might.” I sat down at that and she nodded pleasantly and said, “Now, I can only help with certain things...” I watched as she rummaged through the shelves on the opposite wall. Everywhere in the cottage were candles illuminated and the shelves were filled with small glass tinctures. “Ah... This will help.” She picked three small vials and came to me. She held up the first vial as she said, “To disguise you.” Second vial. “To let only the honest of them see you.” Third vial. “To unravel your bound fate.”

I blinked up at her, not understanding any of it. But I stayed put, thinking if she could help me then it’d be better than sneaking around on my own. I watched as she picked two candles from the shelf and sat them down on the floor. She made a circle around the candles with the salt and then picked up a bowl. She dropped two drops from each vial and then held the bowl on top of the flames.

And then she started chanting.

She was a witch!

She held out her hand to me. I watched her warily. “Give me your hand, it’ll work faster.”

I placed my hand in her and then the twin flames burned higher, almost engulfing the bowl and holding it in the air without support with their force.

When the old witch stopped chanting the spell, she released my hand and the fire shimmered down. “How do you know about that?” I said. Even I had learned about it just recently. Somehow fire was my friend, it seems.

The old witch smiled. Her yellow side kind and on her white side a tear slipped from her eye. “I know everything, lost one. Now drink this. A welcome home gift from me.” I swallowed and took the bowl from her. With my eyes closed, I poured the small sip into my mouth. I didn’t feel any different but the old witch laughed. “It will do.” I looked at her in confusion. She said, “Just wait a few seconds, you will see.”

And then it happened. With a shriek I stood up and watched as my cream colored frock slowly transformed into brown breeches and cream shirt. And my long hair shrunk until they were around my ear. My eyes instantly filled with tears. “What did you do!?”

The old lady patted my shoulder softly. “Don’t worry, lost one. They are not gone. Just hidden.” I looked at her in sadness. I loved my hair. “I have hidden them so no one looks at the beauty you are. Only the most honest and loyal to both the kingdoms would see what hides behind your disguise. Only the true soul would be curious to know what you hide behind these man’s attire.”

“You mean, my hair are still long?” I asked not hiding the hopefulness in my voice.

She smiled. “Yes, they are. You always loved your hair. Didn’t you?”

“I know you. I have seen you in my dreams. You are the oldest witch, Atelia.” I grabbed her hands as I remembered and asked, “Did you save me that time with that fire ball and ice?”

She shook her head. “No. I didn’t.” She patted my cheek. “But, you’ll learn.” She motioned to the door. “Now go on, the first person who asks about you, tell him that you’re the nephew to the king’s valet and you wish to go to him.”

“But I’m not.” I said.

“He doesn’t know that and he will believe whatever you say to him. So don’t waste your words and do as I say. You’ll always be safe where I’m sending you.”

I nodded my head. “Thank you, Atelia."

“Always my pleasure.” She said with a bow of her head.

A. Gupta