The Fallen Ice (Starting March 15, 2016)

Chapter 3

The hammering was thunderous and sudden, making Colton almost slip out of his chair. Had he fallen to slumber in the middle of a report? 

Colton was assigned to figure out where any rebel camp could be hidden but being as he had just arrived back that dawn from the east war and his encounter with the princess in the woods, he never got the chance to give himself an idea of the region. The war had given him many slumber-less nights, and whenever he got a chance of sleep it would always result in him awaking drowned in sweat, breathing heavy and blood covering more than just his hands. 

Given the circumstances, it was no surprises to Colton that he had drowsed in the middle of work. He was just grateful to the gods that there was no blood shed this time. 

The hammering echoed through the halls again and nonce Colton got up from his seat and went to the door. This noise was not normal for late twilight in a large, heavily guarded palace. With a hand of the hilt of his blade, the guard stalked out of his study and into the long dark hall. 

The crescent moon in the darkened sky was the only light that poured into the halls that night. The moons beams shot out shadows of all kinds on the grey halls. 

An unsteady breath was taken by the guard as he listened to everything closely, but the only thing that could be heard was his own footsteps on the carpeted floor. He should call back up, but he didn't. He liked working alone, he was never one to sit around and wait either. That was what almost got him killed in the east war a few weeks ago. 

Is Krystal alright? 

Colton's eyes darted the whole corridor not missing one shadow that went by. Then there was a deep hollow growl somewhere behind him. Unleashing his weapon, the guard turned around at the speed of lightning, only to see a dark figure of something non human slip behind a corner. 

Monsters have not been seen for decades since the war of eternal fire. Could the shadow have been one of the monsters told of in legends?

"No, I am being witless." Colton told himself, but still gripped onto his bade until his knuckles went white. 

There was a roar coming from down the hall where the figure had disappeared. It made Colton jump into action and run towards the noise before think anything through. 

Colton came to the entrance to Krystal's chambers, where at the door he saw a dark figure hunched over. The figure was the height of the door and big enough to run over one of the houses in the village below. 

Colton spun his sword in his hand and got ready to face whatever it was that was going to harm the princess. It was his job to die for her and he was willing. For Krystal he would do anything to save her like she had so many years ago. 

The guard took a step forward and the beast looked over its shoulder to Colton. The beast's red eyes lock with Colton's, and with a growl, the monster dissolved through the door. 

"Krystal!" Colton yelled as he sprinted into her dorm. 

Colton barged in and ran to the couch. The sheets were gone and no one sat in it anymore. He then ran to her bed but no one appeared there either. The window was opened, letting in cold night air and blowing in the white curtains. He searched the whole place before realizing something that made him hear his heart in his ears and a pain shoot in his chest. Krystal was gone. 

He burst out of the princess' chamber just as one of his soon to be men walks by, his hand on his weapon, head high, eyes searching every inch of the area around him, just like he was ordered. 

Colton stepped in front of the guard. 

The guard saw Colton's troubled eyes and stopped to ask. "Guard Astra, what are you doing in the princess' chambers?"