Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice

Chapter 24: Alpin's Chilly Reception

Coldsnap's group soon arrived in a much darker, cavernous, enclosed area that somewhat resembled the Stonemount Gorge, except with a lot less lighting. The walls, floors, and ceilings were still laced with ice, but there were now several jail cells on either side of the narrow hallway, most of them empty.

Firebird took out one of her knives and activated it, using it as a "torch" to allow the rest of the crew to find their way around the place.

".....This was hiding underneath Alpin's throne?" the female fire mage muttered in disbelief. "I can see why he keeps it concealed."

"I'm against this place," Keena chimed in. "It's so....unsettling and sterile. Who knows what he keeps down here?"

She gasped as she passed by a cell that had a skeleton sitting at a table next to a bowl of food that obviously hadn't been touched for years. The only respite from the horror was that it appeared to be self-aware, holding a sign that said "I AM DEAD" in all caps.

She gulped nervously, then began rushing ahead to keep up with the others.

"Anyone see Geode?" Coldsnap asked.

"Maybe he's somewhere there?" Leo suggested, pointing to a large blast door labeled "RESERVED".

The icy heroine opened the door and led the rest of her team through. For the most part, it resembled all of the other cages in the main part of the basement floor, except for one minor difference.

In the last cell on the right sat the Earth Sect mage Geode, slumping miserably against the wall and flicking a pebble for entertainment.

Once Coldsnap, Firebird, Leo, and Keena approached the cell, he initially looked at them with a glimmer of hope, but it quickly faded to pessimism.

"Another one of Alpin's lackeys, hmmm?" he asked dismissively.

"Wait, what? No, I'm not....." Coldsnap began, but she eventually realized that Geode had associated her with Alpin because she was from the Ice Sect and she was wearing a suit with pieces of armor that appeared to have a frozen appearance to them. Understanding his suspicion, she opted for a more patient approach.

"I'm not like him. Trust me," she continued gently. "My friends and I are here to save you."

Geode tilted his head curiously. "And how do I know you're not like the others?"

The heroine bent down on one knee. "Hey.....turn towards me, and take a good look. Do you recognize me at all?"

The Earth Sect mage studied her face for several seconds, then gasped as his eyes lit up. "Coldsnap?!"

"Yep, it's me! Former student of Alpin and the most powerful mage of the Ice Sect. And....you don't have to worry about my relation to the Frost King. I've officially cut ties with him," she informed. "This is my team; Firebird, Leo, and Keena!"

Geode examined them closely. "Two fire, one water, and one ice? I suppose I should be thankful that this castle hasn't turned into a melted mess already," he snarked. "Regardless....I'm happy to get out of here. It's been a few days, and I miss my dad."

Firebird approached. "Fear not; we've been extra careful about that."

She swiftly cut apart the bars to Geode's prison with her daggers, and scooped the Earth Sect mage onto her back.

"Wheeee!" Geode exclaimed with glee.

"You having fun back there?" Firebird chuckled.

The earth mage nodded.