Book

Ice Kingdom:

Liam walks across the dewy grass toward the stables. In his hand is a bright red apple; he took it from the kitchens on his way to the gardens. Pushing the wooden doors of the stables open with a significant force, Liam enters. As it is early in the morning, there are few workers around, including Nicholas, the stable master. He is tending to a horse in the first stall.

“Nicholas, I came to check on the Pegasus. How is the morning going for you?” says Liam in a quiet voice as the animals are just waking up.

“Prince Liam, she is well. I will show you around shortly. The morning is pleasant, sir,” says Nicholas.

Liam watches from afar as Nicholas finishes brushing the horse's hair into straight, soft locks. Nicholas closes the first stall and motions Liam to follow him to the back of the stable. They pass horses stirring into the new day. Upon reaching the end, Liam sees the Pegasus from a few days ago. She looks full of health now, her leg is all healed up. The white pearl coat of her body looks majestic in the morning rays that come through the stable windows.

“She's ready to be taken back?” says Liam.

“Yes, we have some workers taking her back this weekend,” says Nicholas.

“May I come along?” says Liam.

“Of course, your highness. We leave from the stables at dawn tomorrow. It will be a one-day trip,” says Nicholas.

“Much appreciated Nicholas. I will be here tomorrow,” says Liam.

Liam heads out of the stables and into the dining room for breakfast. He arrived early, so the kitchen servant quickly prepared a meal. Taking his time to eat, he finishes his plate as his brother arrives for breakfast.

“You woke up early, hungry?” says Jensen.

“I checked on the Pegasus. I'll take her back to the mountains this weekend,” says Liam.

“We must arrange a sword practice before you leave,” says Jensen.

“Now after breakfast?” says Liam, clenching his fist in front of him.

“It's settled, then I'll see you in the practice grounds in twenty minutes,” says Jensen, who continues to eat.

Liam grabs the hilt of the sword, one of his favorites, from the stand. Jensen is waiting in the center of the circular stone pavement surrounded by grass. After strapping on safety padding around his body: chest, arms, and thighs, Liam enters the circle ring.

“I won't go easy,” says Jensen, putting his sword at attention.

“As well,” says Liam through his tight mouth.

Jensen takes the first lunge forward swiftly, touching Liam's arm. They go back to their starting position. In the next three minutes, their swords connect with one another as they step forward and side to side. One to step outside the ring of pavement is out of boundaries. Jensen steps outside the pavement when Liam strikes his chest and then his left side consecutively.

As Liam and Jensen walk back to the center, a servant walks up to talk to Jensen.

“They need us at the council room,” says Jensen.

“Let's finish another time,” says Liam, taking Jensen's sword to put it on the stand.

Voices permeate through the crack in the door.

Walking behind his brother, Jensen, Liam enters through the small wooden door into the council room. It is in the center of the castle. Around an oval table are men in fine suits seated talking to one another; among them is Kyiv. The men are the Ice Kingdom's council members.

“Jensen and Liam come in. We have important matters to go over,” says Kyiv.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” says Jensen, nodding toward the council members.

“Good afternoon,” says Liam, following the example of his brother.

Liam takes a seat on the left side of Jensen, as Kyiv is on Jensen's right. A scribe prepares to take notes on the meeting parchment in front of him.

“Today's meeting is to let the council members know Jensen has accepted to hold the crown of Ice Kingdom in a week's time. We have much to prepare,” says Kyiv.

All eyes turn to Jensen. Liam knew that sooner than later, they would ask his brother to lead the Ice Kingdom, but Liam didn't expect it to be so quickly. Council members applaud Jensen.

“It is a great honor to lead after my mother and father,” says Jensen.

Liam listens to the rest of the meeting, which consists of Kyiv delegating tasks for the crowning.

In the evening, Liam hears a knock outside his room. It is the seamstress to measure him.

“Come in,” says Liam.

“This will take a while, your highness,” says the seamstress.

Liam stands still as she pins the surrounding fabric, taking measurements. He has his arms spread out wide for minutes. A knot forms on top of his back, then the seamstress informs Liam they are all done.

Climbing in between his sheets early, Liam recites a prayer his mother used to say before bed about laying down. He asks for safe travels into the mountains and for Jensen's crowning to go well next week.

Meeting Nicholas at the stable, Liam slings a pack behind his back. Workers are taking the Pegasus out of the stable, pulling on ropes attached to the animal. The light of the morning has not shown yet on the horizon. They will take one large carriage up half the way into the mountains, and then walk the rest of the way. It takes a while to encourage the Pegasus next to the carriage. The main horses pull the carriage, labor is their job at the castle. Finally, they are ready to travel to the ice mountains. Liam sits in the carriage, very aware of his weight. He knows the terrain is rough for the horses.

The road is bumpy aboard the carriage, so he grabs onto the sides of the wood frames. The trees are gray trunks full of white and blue leaves that shimmer in the sun – hence its name ice mountain. It slopes upwards to a peak where snow falls year-round. Pegasus lives near the top of the mountain.

Reaching the end of the carriage trail, Liam climbs down. Two of the workers remain behind with the carriage and horses. The rest of the two men and Liam walk with the Pegasus into the upper reaches of the mountain.

The Pegasus seems nervous and excited as it clops its feet fast in place and slightly ruffles its wings. The men walk to the place they had found the Pegasus- a natural hot spring. It is one Kilometer away from the end of the trail. Treading through the icy ground, they reach the hot springs. The plan is to release the Pegasus at the location.

The workers take restraints from the animal and move away for her to give her space. Liam watches as the Pegasus takes in her surroundings. Out of the edge of the trees poke out two other Pegasus, their female Pegasus walks toward the two Pegasus and into the woods. Gone beyond the blue and white leaves and gray trunks is any trace of the Pegasus, they return to the castle by late evening.

Blinking his eyelids, Liam can't sleep. Pulling his sheets off, he puts on his slippers. Gently, he crosses his room; the stone floors make a swish-swish sound against his slippers. He heads out of his room with no direction in mind.

The hallways sound quiet with an echo of bumps at night, sending chills up Liam's arm.

Liam reaches the painting of his parents in the main hall. No servants or guards stop him on the way. He stares into the painting's lines in the moonlight. Mother and father, I miss you dearly, think Liam. He wishes he knew more about their trip. At that moment, he remembers a memory.

“With this book, I will always be with you,” said his mother when she touched a fairy tale book. Queen Valeria read to a younger Liam and Jensen. Can it be?

Taking long strides to the library, Liam pulls out the fairy tale book from the shelf. At first glance, it looks intact. Upon inspection, there are extra papers stuck inside the book. Liam gasps. This is what he was looking for. He reads the papers next to a window. Liam must leave for the Fire Kingdom to find the lost princess.