The Icy Quest

Chapter 14

A few minutes later, a servant entered the library. "The queen will see you now," the servant informed Pagoniá. Pagoniá stood up quickly.

"Please take me to her immediately," Pagoniá requested urgently.

"Of course your Highness," the servant responded with a bow. "Please follow me." Pagoniá followed him down the halls until they reached the archway leading to the queen's chambers. The servant opened the door for Pagoniá, and she walked purposefully into the room.

"I am assuming you aren't here for just a mother daughter talk," the queen predicted, noting Pagoniá's tense posture.

"Actually, I wanted to discuss something important with you. Are you aware that the ice people used to have a powerful weapon that enabled them to win wars?" Pagoniá inquired.

"Of course I am. I am familiar with all of our history. However, that particular weapon was lost many generations ago. Why do you ask?" the queen queried with a smoothly lifted brow.

"I think I have an idea about where it might be. I would like your permission to take Pozhar and Tilepátheia with me to attempt to find it," Pagoniá declared.

"Where do you think it is?" the queen asked, almost imperceptibly tilting her head.

"I believe it is in Antarctica," Pagoniá informed her.

"What has led you to this conclusion?" the queen asked, clearly curious where this conversation was heading. Pagoniá quickly explained the details of their discovery.

"That is definitely a very interesting theory, one that bears further investigation. I will send an adult team to look into the matter, but unfortunately, I cannot grant your request to go on the mission. This situation is too important to be handled by kids. I sincerely doubt any of you know how to navigate your way to Antarctica. Furthermore, the arctic territory is very dangerous. I have done everything I could to protect you since birth. I would have to be very foolish to risk your life at this point," the queen proclaimed.

"But...," Pagoniá started to object.

"No buts," the queen interrupted. "This is not an adventure novel. I thank you for your contribution, but the rest of this mission needs to be left to the adults," the queen stated firmly. Having been clearly dismissed, Pagoniá returned to the library with her face downcast.

"Get your stuff. We need to start packing," Tilepátheia announced.

"But... She said we can't go," Pagoniá objected, wrinkling her brow.

"You think I don't know that? I can read your mind, remember. And anyway, I don't care a fig whether or not she is okay with us going. I didn't expect her to let us go. The point is, we are going to sneak aboard whatever transportation the adults are using," Tilepátheia explained in a harsh whisper, attempting not to be overheard.

"Won't the queen be really mad?" Pagoniá pointed out, sounding hesitant and concerned.

"So?" Tilepátheia asked with her hands planted firmly on her hips. "And besides, she won't be mad when we return with the weapon and kick the fire people's butt."

"Well.... I guess I've never really known her as a mother anyway, so if she disowns me, I haven't lost that much," Pagoniá relented.

"I'm coming too," Pozhar interjected even though no one was paying him any attention.

After they had all returned to their rooms, Pagoniá walked decisively over to her closet and started packing clothes. She specifically chose the outfits that would allow her to move freely, rejecting the ones that would be restrictive. When she had accomplished the task to her satisfaction, she sat down heavily on the bed. Minutes later, Tilepátheia burst in.

"What are we going to do about food?" Pagoniá asked wearily, realizing the extent of the preparations they needed to make.

"I have that covered. Don't worry about it. You just need to work on your powers," Tilepátheia assured her.

"Why?" Pagoniá inquired.

"Antarctica is mostly ice, of course. You need to work on your ability to control that ice. We're going to need your powers, so just do it," Tilepátheia commanded grumpily.

Pagoniá straightened her shoulders and got to work.

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They are going behind the queen's back. And she was wrong. It definitely is an adventure novel. Comments and votes, please!