Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice

Chapter 21: Containment Breach

Outside Aurora Keep, two Ice Sentries were flanking the main entrance to the castle, keeping a watchful eye over the frozen field around them and making sure there were no intruders. Growing bored quickly, they attempted to make small talk with each other. 

"So, uhhh.....did you ever get that promotion to Ice Captain?" the first guard asked. 

The second minion shook his head. "Nope, not yet. Alpin's decided to put my bar exam on hold while he deals with the defect." 

"Yeah, umm.....about her....are you sure we're built to take on the strongest Mage Aspect ever conceived by the Ascendant? Did you not see her musical number in the Grand Terminus the other day? She practically put the entire courtyard on ice!" 

"I'm sure everything will be fine. She's nearsighted in both eyes, anyway.....practically a blind woman walking. As long as we strike first, there'll be nothing to worry about." 

The first guard tapped his earpiece and listened to a transmission from their superior. "Nope, no sign of her yet, Your Majesty," he reported to the Frost King. "Umm.....sire? Sire, you're breaking up. I can barely hear you. Your audio's skipping frequently." 

From the second guard's point of view, all he could hear was high-pitched gibberish coming from the other end of the first goon's device. 

"Is, uhhh.....is everything okay there?" 

"Yeah. Frost King Alpin's just constantly interrupting himself because he keeps having to take out his own grunts." 

".....Did you just say Alpin's been killing his own men?" 

"Yeah....the King loves to establish his authority the moment he enters a room....you know how it is." 

"I guess....." The second guard paused briefly. "So.....what'd you have for breakfast?" 

"Plate of ice chips." 

"Again?" 

"Alpin says if we eat anything else, our bodies won't be able to process it. Won't even let us have anything cooked because he worries it'll 'burn our insides' or something like that." 

".....We're doing the right thing, right?" the second one asked. "Alpin and Coldsnap used to have such a good teacher-and-student relationship, once upon a time." 

But the first sentry brushed it off. "That was years ago, bud. Now, they're at odds. He's given us orders to destroy her on sight, and that's just what we intend to do. After all....we're loyal to the Frost King first and foremost. We follow any of his orders, even if it means hurting people." 

".....Can't say I feel too good about it," the second guard replied. "But.....oh, well. I want to stay on Alpin's good side so I don't get killed." 

"Yeah, me too." 

Their conversation was cut short when Coldsnap dropped down from the castle wall above and impaled her ice sword straight through the skull of the second lookout, killing him instantly. The first one raised his own blade and attempted to strike her, but Keena ambushed him from behind and used both of her arms---plus her staff---to strangulate him and cut off his air circulation; he died within seconds as well. 

Firebird and Leo walked out from their hiding spots behind the entrance stairs and approached them.

"Nice job, you two!" Firebird commended. "You didn't even need us for that one!" 

Leo gave a thumbs-up. "Yeah, that was great! Can't wait to see what the inside of this place looks like. I know Firebird's visited this place regularly, but I've never been."