Ice in Flames

Chapter One

Chapter One: An Adventure Awaits


        It was hard to leave home. I didn't want to leave Kirimi and my mother or father. I didn't want to leave my luxuries. And I certainly didn't want to brave a world that I couldn't see. But instead I kept walking.


My ice kingdom passed by and I marveled at the streets I'd played on as a child, danced on as a pretend ballerina. The old folk with long ears I'd stared after as I walked, and those who stared back, knowing one day I would be the queen to rule over them.


I was sure they were confused why I wasn't home, in my castle, and instead walking the streets. And I wanted to stop and explain to them, but it didn't. I kept walking the cold white brick streets.


In this nation we had no trees. We had ice mountains, snow and rivers. If you dared walk into our mountains, you might venture to see a waterfall. I'd seen one tree once in my entire life, when I visited the earth kingdom, to discuss busyness they had with my parents.


The streets of my kingdom progressed down from wealthy to poor, and then out of the water nation.
The houses progressively got smaller, the shops and markets became greater, and the ice road swerved around, leading off to side streets and different roads.


I enjoyed walking out of my nation, not because I was leaving but because I got to see parts of it I'd never seen before, people that I'd never spoken a word to, but they knew my name. It was fun and exciting. I loved walking through, I was able to keep my black hood down, and just walk around, greet people, smile at them lovingly, to let them know I cared about my people, my nation.


I walked for a very long, time, and eventually the sun set, and our great planet jupiter came to rule the sky, as it always did at the same time. I marvled at it and the sky with clouds hovering out in our atmosphere. Jupiter blessed our great water nation with everything it needs for our people - for our planet - to survive, and we loved great jupiter for that. As all light began to fade behind the mountains, it was soon dark. I knew I'd have to sleep and leave in a local inn. It wouldn't be long before anyone in the castle found out I was missing. I found a close one, just before it closed for the night, and ducked inside. The old man running the inn watched me walk in and marveled at me. "Hello, princess Anastatia. How can I help you?" He asked in a tattered and worn voice.


"Hello sir." I smiled as I stepped up to the counter. "I'll be needing a room. What are your prices?"


"Oh! Oh no-no." The man said, waving me off. "The princess won't be needing to pay anything out of her pocket."


"Oh really? That is wonderfull thank you!" I lightly cheered, hoping to show as much compassion as possible. "But," I began, "I'll be needing you to keep my stay out of reach from anyone ears for a few days. I'll pay you any amount of money for that good sir." I finished, staring him in the eyes and sliding him three silver coins on the counter.


All of our nations had the same currency for money. Most poor folk, like farmers, quilt makers, butchers, traded their services, but those who had no service to offer the other traded small coins of metal, iron, and copper. Only rich people had silver coins, and royalties had gold, the highest coin value there was. I did have quite a few gold coins in my pouch, but it was mostly silver, and a bit of copper. "Oh princess!" The old man huffed. "That is much too much coin for me!" He pushed back two of my silver coins.


"As you wish sir, ill pay any price to keep my staying her a secret, only for a few days." I told him sincerly.


"Three silver coins won't be necessary! One will get us through half of our life time here dear!" He explained, while taking a key off the wall and pocketing my coin. He led me up a bick staircase, and into a birck room. The bed most was wooden under a old matress, and there was a desk lamp, and a large window to the right. "I hope you enjoy your stay!" He told me, leaving me the key, and shutting the door.