The Kingdom of Burning Ice

The King Is Nakéd!

Frostine

I walked down the cobbled lane, passing the small cottages on either side of me. Few soldiers were pacing back and forth near the arched entrance in front of the open yard with the invisible fountain. When I neared, one of them stopped me. “Halt!”

I froze.

I stayed very still as two guards broke from the crowd and came to me. They looked down at me with speculation. One of them took my small bag from me and looked into it. I felt my face heating up in embarrassment, as I knew there wasn’t much inside it. Just a few clothes and a few old things I had collected over the years.

Another guard motioned for me to hold my hands out and then started to pat my body. I jerked back. He barked, “You can’t go in if you carry a weapon.”

“I don’t have a weapon!” I cried.

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything another man came from behind. All the guards turned to him and bowed. This man was old, he was wearing a nice velvet red overcoat. He asked, “Who are you, boy?”

At first I frowned. Why would he call me a boy. And then I remembered. I rubbed a hand down on my shirt and repeated the words the old witch had told me to say, “I am the nephew to the king’s valet and I wish to go to him.”

The man nodded and then dismissed the guards. “Let the poor boy pass, he couldn’t harm a fly let alone our king.”

I wrinkled my nose. Do I really look so harmless? I followed the old man in red, as I passed the fountain I couldn’t help but let my fingers capture a few drops. They instantly froze on my fingers. Shocked, I looked down at them. The old man had stopped and was watching me, so after he saw my surprise he said, “It’s the Ice kingdom, boy. And this fountain has been god gifted.”

I nodded my head and ascended the stairs behind him. The big doors in a semi arch opened and two girls bowed as we entered. My eyes rounded at the palatial site in front of me. It was so big and so beautiful. I imagined where the king must hold his court.

“You can go upstairs and take a left,” The old man’s words pulled my attention to him. “The fourth door is the king’s, you’ll find your uncle there.”

I blinked at him and then quickly nodded. After a beat, I bowed to him as I remembered the guards doing. He made a hmm sound and then left me there. My eyes darted around the big hall, it was empty except the guards standing at every window like statues and the two girls that were on the door. I made my way toward the spiralling stairs leading up. Following the old man’s direction, I turned left and came to stand in front of the fourth door. It was a dark blue door with a golden handle and a golden crown on it.

I lifted my hand to knock, but I paused as I wondered if the king was inside. What if he got displeased that I had disturbed him. But I didn’t have any other choice, the old witch had said I’ll always be safe where she’s sending me, so... I knocked on the wooden door.

A few moments passed and my feet itched to run away before the door opened and King found me standing in front of his suite. But before I could do as my mind screamed and make a run for the main doors, the door in front of me opened and a man that looked to be in his mid forties looked down at me. When his eyes fell on me they widened and he jerked back like some invisible force pushed him. “Who are you?” He asked, looking behind me and then inside the room before he pulled me in and then closed the door.

I swallowed. He looked like he had seen a miracle. “I... I am Frost.” I said and cringed, as didn’t I decide to use a false name.

“Frost.” He said. “You are too pretty to be a boy.” He observed.

I nodded as I didn’t know what to say. Atelia had said the most honest man would be able to see me. I said, “The old witch, Atelia, sent me here. She said that you’d help me.”

“Atelia sent you here?” He questioned and when I nodded, he said, “There must be a reason she wants to help you. Tell me, why?”

“I am running from my cruel guardian. She wants to kill me.” I answered him truthfully.

His face filled with horror. “Why would someone want to kill a pretty, little boy like you?”

I scowled at him. “I am not little.” I said, crossing my hands across my chest. And wondered if he was really honest because he could see my prettiness.

“But you are.” Then he asked, “How old are you?”

“I am eighteen.” I said proudly.

He nodded. “Just a boy.”

“Are you going to help me or not?” I questioned, not liking him calling me boy again and again.

He looked thoughtful as he said, “I would have to think of a way.”

I inched closer to him as I asked, “Why are you in here? Isn’t this the king’s room?”

He turned to me and his eyes softened. “It is.”

“Does he know that you are in his room?” I asked as I looked at the light blue walls, there was a rug near the four poster bed and a fire burned in the hearth. “Won’t he be angry at you?”

“He knows and I’m allowed in his rooms. I am his manservant.” The old man replied.

“How would you help me?”

“I will find a place for you—” He said but then shook his head and I thought he had changed his mind. But he continued with, “No. I think it’d be better if you stay close, Frost.”

I didn’t understand. But before I could ask him anything else, a loud bellow came from the other side of the room. The walls seemed to shake at the voice that boomed, “Rahat, where are you?”

Eyes wide I stared at the man standing in front of me. “Is that the king?” I whispered.

He nodded. “I have to go and attend to him.” He said, “Don’t go anywhere. Stay. I shall be back in a few minutes.”

I watched as he turned around, walked to the white door and pushed it open before disappearing inside another room and left me alone.

I looked at my surroundings. It was so different from the house I had lived with Aunt Sedha, and I had mostly lived in that dark höle but this place was so beautiful. Looking at the huge bed I wondered if I will get to sleep in a bed in the kingdom. My eyes caught on a small chaise near the fireplace. I dragged my feet to it, put down my bag as I settled down. Minutes passed as I waited for Rahat and I started to feel exhausted after my journey cramped in the box. And the comforting warmth inside this room, with the soft chaise that I was sitting on... It was too much temptation and I didn’t realise when I curled up on the chaise and rested my head on my bag and closed my eyes. And soon I was fast asleep.

Kenneth

I heard the soft sneak of the door and felt Rahat, my manservant, entering the bathroom. He was one of my loyal subjects, he had served my father and now he was serving me. I had turned him into a wolf when he had tried to save me at the expense of his own life. He had been always there since I lost my parents and he knew very much how much I hated to be patient.

“What took you so long?” I questioned, my voice coming out sharp and deep. I couldn’t help it, anger changed my voice. But Rahat didn’t mind as he knew my peculiar habits.

“Nothing, your highness. I was preparing your clothes.” He replied as he came to stand behind me.

“Are you getting old on me, Rahat?” I asked, sliding up so he could clean my back.

“No, your highness.” He answered. One hard, coarse palm settled on my shoulder as other rubbed a soapy wet rag down my back. “I received a message from my grandmother.”

“What did the old witch say this time?” I wondered aloud, as much as I knew Atelia, she's always conspiring with the fates. It was fortunate that she always thought the best for both the kingdoms.

“Nothing important, your highness.”

“I want to know.” I demanded as he came to stand beside me and took my arm to wash.

“Well... Your highness, it seems I have a nephew who’s in danger and has come to me for help.” Rahat replied, his eyes focused on his task as he moved to my other side and started to clean my other arm.

“Hmm...” I leaned back, letting my head rest at the lip of the tub. “What have you decided? Would you help him?” I questioned, closing my eyes as the warm water lapped at my body.

“I would love to, if your highness give me permission to.”

I waved my hand. “Of course you should help me. You don't need my permission for it, he's your nephew after all.”

A pleasant hum came from my manservant, letting me know that my decision has pleased him. I felt my own lips twitch, Rahat was a good man, his nephew was lucky to come here.

Twenty minutes later, I stepped out of the tub and waited for Rahat to finish drying me off. I walked to the door when Rahat called out, “Your highness, your robe is in the bathroom.” But until then I had pulled the door to my room open and I stilled on the threshold as I felt another presence in my room. My ears registered another heartbeat, calm and steady. I turned my head and there on the chaise near the fireplace I found my query. The trespasser.

I walked to the sleeping figure. As I drew closer I realised, he was just a little boy. But something about him looked strange. I heard the hurried footsteps coming from behind me. “Your highness...” Rahat breathed heavily.

“I presume, this is your nephew, Rahat.” I said. Not voicing the fact that he hadn’t mentioned that his nephew wasn’t just in my kingdom but in my suite.

“Yes, your highness.” I felt the hesitation in his voice and I turned to him. “I’d like for him to remain close to me. If you’ll allow it, may he assist me in serving you?”

I looked back at the sleeping boy. He looked too small and weak to let him go around the kingdom, other soldiers would send him packing by the end of the day. I nodded. “You may.”

I heard the relieved exhale of Rahat. And he stepped back, saying, “If your highness will turn around, I’ll finish dressing you.”

I ignored him as I watched the boy’s heavily lashed eyes flutter and then he blinked them open. I tilted my head to the side as stark green eyes stared at me. A moment later his eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he suddenly sat up on the chaise. Pulling his legs up, he wrapped his arms around them and closed his eyes tightly.

“What’s wrong with him?” I questioned.

Rahat cleared his throat. “I think he is afraid of you king?”

“Why?” I questioned.

I felt more than I saw Rahat’s shrug. I focused back on this strange little boy and asked, “Are you afraid of me, boy?”

In answer there was a low murmur and a shake of his head. “Look at your king, and answer.” Rahat said.

Slowly, he lifted his head and then peeled his eyes open just barely and then he didn’t look at me but at Rahat as he squeaked out, “But the King is náked!”

I couldn’t help it. I threw my head back and laughed. “Have you never seen a náked man before, young one?” I questioned, still amused.

He shook his head vehemently. I turned around and said to Rahat, “He is in need of learning too many things, Rahat. Make sure he does.”

“Yes, your highness.”

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A. Gupta