Caspian - The Ice King

Chapter 2

"Wake up you idiot!"

"Hmmm."

"Get up!"

"Hmmm...just a few more minutes."

Lana gritted her teeth and reached for her water canteen. Sorry, Ally, but you leave me with no choice. Lana unscrewed the cap and dumped the freezing liquid onto her friend. Alysia spluttered, kicking hay around and making a mess. Her big brown eyes narrowed and she scowled at Lana's cherubic face.

"You." Alysia muttered, fingers curling, ready to strangle the other girl.

Lana held her hands up in surrender and protested. "Woah calm down! I had to wake you! You have to get going, if you want to make it back before twilight."

Alysia's eyes widened. "Oh my goodness. Crap!" She hastily wiped herself dry, before grabbing a cloth and wrapping it tightly around her chest.

"I don't get why you always insist on looking like a man." Lana brushed her straight blond hair as Alysia quickly pulled on black tights and a black sweater.

"It's only for missions, so I can disguise myself." Alysia grabbed her pack and her trusty black ski mask. "Okay. How do I look?"

"Like a man."

"Perfect."

Alysia grinned and hugged Lana farewell. She stepped onto the porch, where a cold breeze slammed her in the face. A dense blanket of snow covered the ground for as far as she could see, and jagged icicles hung from branches. Alysia sighed. Sometimes the constant freezing weather was a downside, especially in the morning.

"Hey pretty doll, why are you hiding your treasures?" Big Billy, one of Malcom's fat, bald men leered at her.

Alysia fought the urge to vomit, and as she marched away, she flipped him off.

Malcom's rusty shack was secluded in the colossal forest, which was located along the borders of Escia and Irefas. To reach the spot, Alysia would have to walk half a day. Better get started then. After twisting her dark brown curls into a bun, she pulled her ski mask on.

And then she ran. Into the woods, the deeper she went, the warmer it became. The thick labyrinth of trees blocked out the sky as their branches danced and intertwined with each other. Birds fluttered, weaving through the leaves, their chirps echoing around the lonely forest. Dapples of sunlight illuminated the dark, muddy terrain. The atmosphere grew clammier and Alysia started to sweat buckets. She could barely breathe through her heavy clothes and had to stop to grab her canteen.

After a few chugs, she wiped her mouth and looked around, taking in her surroundings. There was no more snow in sight, and Alysia spotted in shock, a small pond. She hadn't seen real, fresh water for ages, not since the King turned Escia into a kingdom of ice. It must be the temperatures of Irefas, Alysia thought, which has melted the cold.

Alysia peered around, making sure no one was watching, before dipping her fingers into the warm water. Using what little powers she had, she made it ripple and form beautiful swirls. Malcom had forbid all of his workers to practice with water, since he himself was latent and could not control it. Closing her eyes, Alysia relished in the tiny bit of freedom.

Suddenly, the device in her pocket started buzzing.

"Hello?" A very familiar voice whispered.

"Lana?"

"Yeah. Are you done?"

"No. Why?"

"Malcom the Grump is getting impatient. He even shocked James for missing a punch."

Alysia knew Lana had a secret crush on James Hill ever since he accidentally brushed her shoulder.

She rolled her eyes. "There's still a few hours until the deadline."

"I know, I know, it's just that poor James was spasming and I got concerned and scared-"

"Calm down! James will be fine, he's a big boy," Alysia reassured Lana, thinking of the lean, tall brunette. "And I'll be back before sunset, so don't worry."

"Okay, you be careful, though," Lana said apprehensively. "I heard there's been some traitors executed around your area."

"What?!"

"Yeah, by the Ice King. You know how they say he doesn't deal lightly with betrayal."

"Oh my goodness." Alysia slowly lowered the device from her mouth. How could I have missed this? In front of her eyes were naked, rotting bodies strung up by their necks on the trees. Alysia was suddenly grateful that Lana had made her wear the protective gear. The blistering heat waves from Irefas must have scorched and burnt the vulnerable traitors alive. She could see the horrendous, peeling flesh of the corpses, but one caught her eye.

Around its left wrist was a metal device.

The same as the one on her ankle.