Saving Sterilus

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The tale of the kingdom of Sterilus overcoming in winter, being frozen over in a day had spread far and wide. It was said a cold hearted ice king had swallowed up the kingdom and took Princess Eira as his bride. This did not sit well with King Gregory of Isglad, a kingdom not far from Sterilus. The two kingdoms were supposed to bind their aliment with the princess’s hand to the king. The king sent word to all the kingdoms within the land to help aid in recovering Sterilus and rescuing the princess.

Hence why Guibert, a brave knight with the gift of fire within him, found himself on the road traveling to the mountain pass into Sterilus. Guibert was a tall, muscular man with short black hair and dark eyes. He was quite handsome despite a broken nose and a few scars he bore from battle. He thought with his gift, he could easily defeat the ice king and any army he had. The promise of fame and fortune didn’t hurt either.

He patted his horse’s side as he tightened the scarf around his neck, baring the cold elements within the armor and layers of clothes underneath. The fire within him, just keeping himself and his horse warm. It was an unnatural cold that surrounded them, a bitter bite of wind, the ground frozen solid, making it tough for his horse to trudge through.

As he passed through an open stretch of land, a crack sounded just below them. Guibert's eyes grew wide, realizing they were standing above a frozen lake. He pulled the rains, afraid despite the cold, this ice could break at any moment. Another crack ripped from below his horse’s hoofs.

Before he could urge his horse to charge forward, his horse had another idea. It reared up, tossing him off before taking off itself. He was thrown back, first hitting the hard ice, which then it cracked and he found himself within the freezing waters.

Guibert gasped in the half frozen air, grabbing the ice trying to bring himself to shore, but the ice only broke at his attempts, causing him to only to try again. “By…. the…. Gods,” he cursed in short bursts. His body was freezing up, he could barely call upon the fire now as he made a desperate third attempt to get out.

A hand grabbed his, and pulled hard, pulling him onto a solid shore of ground and snow. Guibert gasped freezing, grateful to the one who helped him. He opened his eyes to see a soldier’s back to him, gathering firewood. “Thank you,” Guibert said, rolling to his knees. He shook with cold as he started to pull off his armor. “Did you see my horse,” he asked hopefully.

“Black and brown stallion,” the man asked, fighting to get the tinder to light. “I have it tied with mine. I thought the rider wasn’t too far, good thing I was out here too.”

“Can you get my pack,” Guibert asked. He flicked his fingers a few times but finally managed to get a spark of fire and the wood to catch. He huddled close as he dared, pulling off everything he had on. The worst thing then being wet in the winter was to get frozen, he knew that much.

The man returned from the horse and set the pack before Guibert. Now, Guibert could see him a little better, he was a seasoned soldier as well. Broad and muscular in heavy armor and furs. He had long brown hair that was tied back though some of it whispered around rough face, a thick beard wrapped his face.

Once Guibert managed to get on some dry clothes and started pulling back on his armor, he could think a little clearer. “I’m Guibert,” he told the soldier who was cooking some squirrel he had caught. “Are you trying to rescue the princess as well?”

“Aye, I heard the tale and thought I'd give it a go,” he nodded. He handed some meat to Guibert. “I’m Neil,” he added. “Perhaps it would be wise to continue together.”

Guibert nodded in agreement, as much as he didn’t want to share the fame and fortune that came with saving the princess, he had to admit if it wasn’t for Neil he would still be within the frozen pond, becoming an ice cube. “Very well, I do owe you my life,” he gave.

“I just happened to be riding close by,” Niel waved. He sat back picking at the squirrel, “You know the way?”

“I have a good idea,” Guibert replied. He pointed in the direction he had been heading before his whole episode. “The castle is just that way. I’ve been noticing it's growing colder and colder. In fact, that lake should have been frozen solid,” he said.

Neil looked back to the lake they camped near, “It is,” he pointed. “Something trying to keep us away.”

Guibert looked at the lake again. Indeed it was frozen yet again. It had only been a few minutes since he was pulled out. “There must be magic at work,” he sighed. He was starting to feel his body build back up the heat within him.

“I was thinking that too,” Neil said. He looked up at the darkening sky, “We should get some rest,” he added.

Guibert didn’t like it but he was exhausted from the fight of his life, and nodded. He added wood to the fire and curled up as close as he dared. Neil did the same on the other side, the horses between them.

Just before falling out, Guibert fell out, he hoped they would not freeze to death while sleeping.

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It was slow to get going once the sun touched the sky but once on their way. The two soldiers made their way to where Guibert thought the castle lay. Sterilus had once been a beautiful green country. Strong and powerful. When the tale started, it felt like some sort of magical ice had been surprising at first. Many doubted the tales. It wasn’t till the king of Isglad demanded that his wife-to-be be freed that the stories grew roots and those who believed.

Guibert assumed many had tried and failed. Not many carried magic within themselves. There was even something about Neil though he kept his distance, riding beside Guibert. Guibert wasn’t sure what magic he held but was in some ways grateful for the extra company. He hadn’t really wanted to take up this journey alone. Who would when you didn’t know what dangers you could face.

They came to the castle, glisling with ice just about near dust. It looked odd but beautiful in the dying light. “We should reach there by tomorrow,” Neil said, getting off his horse.

Guibert nodded in agreement. “I’ll gather some wood,” he said, tightening the cloak about him. It was starting to get even colder again.

Neil nodded, grabbing his bow and quiver and arrows, “I’ll see what I can scrounge up,” he said. He started to triage forward, when something glitter in the sky above, coming from the castle. A swarm building behind it.

“What in the name of the gods,” Guibert asked, shading his eyes. Whatever flew, glittered like the ice castle. Too late he saw what they were. Ice griffins, he had heard tales of griffins alone but ones made of ice?

Neil pulled back his bow at the nearest one as it swooped at him. Lightning streaked from his fingertips, catching with the arrow and struck the griffin, causing it to fall hard to the ground.

“Brilliant,” Guibert said, freeing his sword and igniting it with fire. He cut out at one as it came to pounced on top of him. It took a moment but once his blade struck the beast it melted. They were made completely of ice. He passed the information to Neil.

“There’s about a dozen,” Neil called, shooting lightning at two, causing them to crash into the other.

Guibert swung his sword, calling more fire to the blade as he cut down another griffin. He watched the skys, waiting for one to try to get closer. Using his fire to melt them once they did. Neil was brilliant with his lightning, firing bolts at the ones flying about, causing them to crash, destroying whatever magic that created them.

The two knights knelt in exhaustion once they took out the last. “Someone definitely wants to keep us away,” Neil said, swiping his hair out of his face.

“You think,” Guibert sighed. He pulled off one of his boots and knocked the snow and ice that had managed to get in. “I don’t think it’s safe to camp here.”

Neil nodded in agreement. “There are some trees just there,” he pointed.

Guibert nodded and pulled at his horse, climbing up. Together they rode to the shelter of trees. There Neil found some edible forage and Guilbert made a small fire to keep themselves and the horse warm in the morning. Tonight they decided to take shifts in case something came to call.

Thankfully by the dawn, nothing had. But they were tired and worn and very hungry. “Nothing out here,” Guilbert complained.

“Castle’s not far,” Neil said, climbing upon his horse. He had fed both horses the last of what they managed to find last night.

“I don’t know about you, but my magic eats up my strength,” Guilbert said. “If we must fight something like the griffins, I won’t be able to summon a whisper of flame.”

“Same here,” Neil admitted. “But I didn’t come this far to turn back around.”

Guibert watched for a moment as the knight started making his way. No, he wasn’t going to let someone else take his glory for themselves. He clicked his tongue and urged his horse forward. Joining Neil.

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The gates of Sterilus opened as the two knights approached, they opened to a great army. Neil and Guibert looked at each other. There was nothing more to describe the horrifying army than to say they looked like icy skeletons, they had a frozen look within their eyes. A tall man stepped before the army, pulling out a long thin blade of ice. He wasn’t as horrifying looking but made of ice there was a coldness to him, his white hair whipped around his narrow face.

“Turn now, or die,” he said softly. “Sterilus is mine,”

Neil and Guibert got off their horses and let them lose. “I think not,” Guibert said. He called upon what he could of his fire and blasted it at the ice king.

The king fell back, gasping as burns formed upon his icy skin. He looked angrily back at the two stubborn knights. “You’ll pay for that,” he hissed. He snapped his fingers and the army charged, as he swept away.

“Wise,” Niel said. He raised his arms, calling up the sky. It grew dark, clouds forming, a bolt of lightning struck the nearest group.

“You could have done that with the griffins,” Guibert said. He sliced through a few soldiers, still holding on the fire as long as he could.

“Takes…. Alot,” Neil muttered. He flicked his hand and another bolt struck a large group. It sent them scattering away. He then fell to his knees, breathing hard. “I don’t think I could do any more,”

Guibert nodded as he swung his sword, getting closer to Neil. The army was too much for the two of them. Neither had their horses and they were surrounded.

“Enough,” cried a voice.

The army crumpled into the snow, and the two knights looked up. Standing before the great doors of the castle was Princess Eira. She wore a snowy dress, her golden hair sparkled with ice crystals. She moved slowly down the steps, her blue eyes on the knight. “Are you two fools?”

Guibert opened his mouth to argue but nothing came. Neil too was speechless. Here they had come, risked their lives and Princess Eira had the power to end it all.

“You nearly killed my husband,” Eira continued. “My children are frightened. Why fight when you are about to die?”

“Princess,” Guibert finally managed. “King Gregory of Isgland sent us,”

“To rescue you,” Neil nodded.

“Do I look like I need rescuing,” Eira asked, raising an eyebrow at them. “I never wished to marry Gregory. He is an old fool.”

“We’ve come all this way,” Guibert sighed tiredly.

Eira snorted, “Indeed you did,” she said. She swept herself back up the stairs, becoming them. “I shouldn’t grant you hospitality.”

Two small children peeked at the knight as they entered inside the castle. They seemed to be more like Eira than the ice king. The boy had his father’s narrow features, shaggy white hair but he was flesh. Same with the girl, she, like her mother, had long blond hair and crystal eyes. Both children were no more than four.

“It’s alright,” Eira said, opening her arms. The children scurried to her and hugged her.

“Mama,” the girl squeeked. “Will papa be alright?”

“Yes, I think he will,” Eira nodded and kissed her upon the head. “Please get our guest food,” she said to a servant.

The staff too were regular people. Those who had worked with the castle before the ice took the kingdom. Not one trace of the ice warriors that had been outside. It was even warm within the walls.

“You see, I willed this to be,” Eira said, urging the children to be off. She stood and looked at the knights sternly.”I hated the idea of leaving my kingdom. I wanted something more. And so, Alban came.”

“Alban,”Guibert asked, frowning.

“The ice king,” Eira clarified. “I fell fast for him. He gave me magic and together we made the kingdom ice. I hoped it would be enough to return any who wished to come. I’ve never been happier.”

“But surely, you don’t wish to continue living walled up by ice,” Neil asked.

“I chose this,” Eira said. Food was brought in by carts, chairs provided as well. “Sit, eat and then be gone with you,” she said.

“But…,” Guibert started but Eira was gone. Only a young maid was left to tend to them. “Where does the food come from?”

“King Alban provides,” the woman said. “He is a good king, everyone within these walls are provided for. None of us starve,”

“Gregory will never believe Princess Eira's choice to freeze her own kingdom,” Neil said. He dug into the food more out of hunger than anything else.

Guibert nodded in agreement as he started to eat. “Have other’s come?”

The maid nodded, “Most quiet when they see the griffins,” she said honestly.

“We are idiots,” Neil sighed, shaking his head.

“That we are,” Guibert nodded. But he couldn’t leave the situation alone. “Where did King Alban come from?”

The maid shrugged. “He just came. He seemed to just be created,”

“And what happened to the king, Prince Hector, those not within the castle,” Neil asked. The reslation that this castle couldn’t possibly hold everyone.

“Those who wished to leave, were allowed,” the maid replied.

“Yes, but surely King Vance and the crown prince Hector would not abandon Sterilus,” Guibert pushed.

“They did,” an icy voice said. King Alban entered. He had somehow recovered from Guibert’s fire attack. “Never had I seen such fools,” he added to them.

“How did we know that the princess was not kidnaped. No one’s heard from no one,” Neil said.

“And yet, I sent every force I could to deter you,” Alban said. He touched his still scorched face. “I suppose it’s the magic you wield that fueled your determination,” he said simply.

“Others will come,” Guibert pointed out. “If there is something that we could give King Gregory, then the search could be called off.”

“Which you will have,” Eira said entering. She touched Alban’s hand as she passed him and handed Guibert a sealed scroll. “Bring that to your king,” she said. “Your horses were captured and being cared for,” she added.

“Be gone when you're done here,” Alban nodded. He took Eira’s hand and together they were gone from the room.

“Well then,” Neil snorted.

“What more can we do,” Guibert asked helplessly.

“Not much,” Niel sighed.

So, the two knights gratefully ate their fill, packed perversions and gathered their horses. They left the castle upon their horses. As the castle left their sights, glittering magically of ice, it seemed to melt completely from their vision. And with that the story of Sterilus became a tale of a princess escaping an unwanted marriage and choosing to be with a frozen king instead.

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