Erstonia was just as cold as its climate, and it was not just about the snow, it was its people, their energies and aura, the empty streets and silence as they rode through the city heading toward the castle which sat right in the middle of the kingdom. They could not help the chill that climbed up their spines, feeling like they had just entered a plagued city.“Where are the people?” Syrana could not help but ask as the city held no sign of life within it, not even clothes hanging out on the wires to dry.“In their homes, away from the cold.” Replied an Erstonian soldier. He had the reins of the horse Syrana and Iris shared in his hand as he led them through the city.“It looks like a deserted place, it’s dead.” Xanth pointed out and a soldier close to him sent him a chilling glare. He scoffed.“Better than the place you come from, I bet,” he said and spat.Xanth shook his head and turned his attention from the soldier, then under his breath, said. “Not even close.”Iris was still p

The room they were ushered in was extremely large, almost as large as the throne room, and was three stories above the ground. Four king-sized beds occupied spaces underneath four large windows, all well arranged, the largest window, having no bed beneath it, over-looked the courtyard. Syrana and Queen Vixra stood in front of the window, looking out and past the courtyard, from here Syrana could see the cold streets of the city, it was a clear reminder of where they were, of the kingdom they were in and it was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the castle.“You had dropped her off in Dragonsbane, in hopes that she would be able to live and grow as a normal girl,” Vixra turned to look at Syrana with pity in her eyes. “Instead, you had unknowingly put her right where she would be found by him. She never got the love of her own mother.”Syrana blinked once and lowered her gaze. Her breathing was even and calm but her heart ached, she had never been this desperate for anything more than to

“Some friend you have, Syrana.” Iris said as she watched the Khione pace the room. “Really the best.”“Cool it down, Iris.” Xanth said to her, he stood with his back resting against the window bars and his arms crossed. “Nobody knew it would go down this way. One positive thing though; we are out of the blizzard out there.”“Yeah?” Iris faced him now. “And of what good is that if we cannot get to do what we had come here for in the first place? Should I remind you that Ryder is out there on his way to sacrifice your newly discovered cousin?” she rolled her eyes and in a low voice added; “Frankly, I could only care less about that.”Xanth groaned and moved away from the window, he was getting tired of having to listen to Iris and he just wished Syrana could make her go to sleep again.“The room is not sealed off by magic.” Kye spoke and everyone turned to face him, not finding any importance in what he had just said.“And…?” Iris asked.“And we can make our escape out of here.” he said

He had called this place Erstonia and had explained that it was the only kingdom to have survived the bitter cold of the north, but as they walked through the cold and empty streets of the city, she wondered if this was what he had meant by “survived”.The place was deserted, cold, quiet, having no sign of life and it sent chills up her spine, causing the hairs on her body to stand on their ends as goose bumps spread across her arms and legs.“People live here,” he suddenly said like he had been reading her mind. “They just stay indoors most of the time where it is warmer.”“It doesn’t seem like anywhere could be warm enough in this kingdom,” Lyra said honestly.“Then you should see the castle, that would help change the way you see things around here.”It was a long walk to the castle but Lyra didn’t feel tired at all. She could not help but feel like the kingdom was a small one if they could walk from the city’s outskirts to the castle in mere minutes.“How large is the kingdom?”“Y

Ryder led the group as their horses came to a stop in front of the city, tucked away by the mountains and buried in the snow.“We cannot go in there, Ryder,” Borox said to him, his horse bobbed its head continuously, unable to keep still. “That is the city of Beor, within it is the Erstonian castle where the witch and the wizard live.”Ryder took a long look at the city. “I am yet to see a place where I cannot get into, even if I am not allowed or invited,” he said and urged his horse forward into the city. “I will see what this witch and wizard has to say to that.”The city was cold, desolate, and quiet. It bothered Borox and his group of men but it didn’t seem to faze Ryder as he rode on with determination. He could sense that they were not alone and that they were being watched, but they were not being attacked. At least not yet.“Be on your guard,” he said to the men behind him. “We are not alone out here.”* * * * * * *Royn pushed the large doors open and rushed into