The Song of the Keepers

Chapter 36 Nameless Steel

I set Ranen's jet, Dragonfury, down at the private airstrip within the palace grounds.

"You can leave it here on the runway, there are servants assigned to park and refuel it after every flight."
Ranen informed me, unbuckling his seat belt.

I followed his leave, motioning for our three Sentinels to follow behind us. Ranen pressed a few buttons on a keypad and the exterior door opened, as two servants rolled a steel staircase into place for us to exit the plane. As I stepped out into the fresh air, the first thing I noticed was the temperature difference. While there was a dusting of snow on the ground, it was a good forty degrees warmer here than it had been up in the mountains.

"I hardly even need a jacket here."

"And you wondered why I was freezing my butt off at the Citadel?"
Ranen remarked with a chuckle.

"Well, I could get used to this."
I replied, unzipping my jacket.

At the base of the stairs a familiar fellow was waiting for us, an unreadable expression on his olive-toned face.

"Ilian! It was a successful mission, my friend."
Ranen announced.

"So I see."
Ilian replied evenly.

"The King has requested for you to meet with him, the moment you returned."

"Before I've had a chance to settle my new head of the royal guard in?"
Ranen asked irritably.

"I'm sure I'll survive without the grand tour. Don't keep your father waiting."
I urged him.

Ranen scowled but nodded his agreement anyhow.

"Very well, Ilian, please show Astrid to her quarters, and see that these three are given rooms nearby as well."
He instructed, motioning to the Sentinels.

"Yes, your highness."

"I'll see you all in a bit after I deal with his royal majesty."
Ranen promised, still scowling.

He then marched off across the tarmac, his long black coat billowing out behind him.

"It's nice to see you again Ilian."
I said politely after an awkward moment of silence.

"I wish I could say the same of you."
Ilian replied, lips downturned.

He turned on his heel and strode off without another word. I stared at his back for a moment before hoisting my bag over my shoulder and hurrying after him.

What's his problem??

The mid-morning sun glinted off the golden flecks in the stones that made up the path leading to the Palace. The lack of trees seemed disturbing to me after having grown accustomed to the overabundance of pines surrounding the Citadel. I could see now, why Ranen's home had been named the Winter Palace as we approached. It seemed to stand out more in the frosty landscape than it ever had in all of summer's glory. With next to none of the lovely plants and flowers competing for your attention now, the palace stood regal and proud, reflecting the sun's rays off its golden roof and casting an array of sparkling shadows across the snow-dusted lawn. In the summer it had looked like something from a children's fairy tale, but in winter's cold light, it seemed like it could have belonged to the Snow Queen herself.

Ilian brought us in through a back entrance where I instantly felt the need to strip off my layers. The heating system apparently worked quite well, a great deal better than the Citadels. Ilian waited in a huffy silence until I was ready to continue. We padded across the ornamental carpets decorating the halls, that probably cost more than my entire house back in Bel Rea, and up a spiraling staircase to the second floor. A few more twists and turns brought us to a long corridor with several mahogany doors.