Blood and Ice

"Everyone get inside quickly!" Alexander said. Every one filed into James' and Sarah's house. James looked a little shocked to see so many people in the house.

"James, I do apologise for the inconvenience but we were attacked and we need to recover before heading back." Alexander said.

"It's not a problem, but where's Lucifer?"

"He was captured by the light raiders after Alexandria wounded Gabriel."

Damien said, "Alexander we need to head back to the castle. If the light raiders discover were all gone they will take over the castle again, and that is something we don't need right now!

Alexander nodded and I said, "I think that James and Sarah should come with us as the light raiders might attack them."

Alexander said, "No, I think that you should stay here with them."

"Now that my father has been taken I'm in charge and James and Sara are coming with us! Damien and I will come back to get the people we've recruited. We need to leave now!"

Alexander said, "Very well, I won't argue with you, your highness. You are right."

We all got ready to leave. Peter hugged me and said "Don't worry we'll get your father back."

I nodded. We left the house. I put on my black cloak to hide who I was. The council surrounded me. James and Sarah were behind them. We set off at a fast pace. We didn't stop, except to feed and water the horses and ourselves, until we reached the castle.

When we got our horses to the stable I said to the men, "I want you all in the council room as soon as possible. Peter could you come with me please." Peter nodded.

I went to my room and found flash on my bed. She jumped off the bed and jumped on me.

"Lex are you okay?"

"My fathers just been kidnapped how do you think I feel?" I asked with tears in my eyes. He gave me a hug and a kiss.

"It will be okay Lex we'll get him back!"

"I know, but we will have to fight to get him back!"

As I said this he hugged me tighter.

"We will fight with all of our strength!" Peter said.

I nodded and threw my cloak on the bed. Flash immediately jumped on it.

Peter held my hand as we walked to the council room. No one was there yet. I sat were my father usually sat and Peter sat next to me. It was a while before the rest of the council came in. Alexander was the last one to arrive. He sat next to Peter.

"Could you tell me first what happened, Alexander?"

He nodded. "When we got there the light raiders were furious that you wounded Gabriel. They were concentrating on getting you. Since the light raiders were surprised they didn't fight, they seemed to just scatter. We got away with little injury. When I turned round they had your father bound and gagged. It appeared that he had been knocked out, some how. We chased after them but they sped ahead of us and we didn't want to leave you unattended."

I nodded and asked Peter, "You do realise what this is, don't you Peter?"

Peter looked puzzled.

"The vision I had a while ago about the fight in the execution arena remember?"

"But I thought you said that it was Jason that fought you, but he's dead." Peter said.

"Yes, but the event hasn't changed obviously. I knew that my father would be kidnapped at some point. The question is what do we do now?"

Alexander spoke "We need to find out where he is. They might want to make a deal with us."

"The only thing they want is me! Gabriel offered me to join them but I told him where to stick it."

Everyone laughed.

Peter said, "Maybe we could use this to our advantage make them think that you're one of them again."

"No, that won't work this time as they want me to be killed. Anyway, they wouldn't trust me anyway."

"She has a point, but what ever we do it must be soon! They may try and execute your father. However, I think that we should leave the question until tomorrow. We need to rest and think about this with fresh, clear, minds. We can convene tomorrow and discuss this in more detail."

I nodded. All, but Peter, left. He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Peter, where are James and Sarah?"

"They have been settled in a room and they've been looked after." There was a knock, they looked at the door.

"Yes!"

A guard entered. "Your highness I apologise for the interruption but Alexander told me to come to you."

"What is the problem?"

"A fight has broken out in the kitchen and we can't separate them. Could you possibly come down and separate them?"

"Very well!"

I stood up and followed the guard out and down to the kitchen there were two woman fighting like two cats.

I shouted, "What the hell is going on here?" they stopped immediately.

"Well?"

One of the women spoke up. "It's nothing your highness, just a small disagreement."

"You call fighting a small disagreement? Let me make this clear. If I hear of any more fighting you will both be sent to the dungeons until my father returns to deal with you. Do I make my self clear?"

they both nodded.

I turned, "is there anything else you need my help with?", I asked the guard.

"No your highness, thank you for helping."

I nodded. "I'm going up to my room to lie down Peter."

"Okay, I'll be up soon Lex."

I turned and headed up to my room. I was playing with flash when Peter came in with a tray of food and a cup of wolf's blood. He sat next to me.

"Thanks Peter.", I said as I took a long drink of wolf blood. "I take it that I will have to deal with everything now that father isn't here."

"I'm afraid so Lex. Only someone with royal blood can take over the throne, even if it's only temporary. Don't worry, it won't be for long." He slid his arm around my waist and kissed me.

When he did, I felt the twinge again. I was walking down a dimly lit corridor. I had a flaming torch in my hand. "He's down here?" I looked around and saw Peter and Alexander. We walked down the corridor. We came to a stone door that was locked. It had strange markings on the door. The markings included two snakes circling a black orb.

I asked, "How do we open it?"

"I have no idea I've never seen these markings before", Alexander said.

"Lex?" Peter said while shaking me from my vision.

"What did you see?"

"We found where father was, but we couldn't open the door. I need to go to the library. I need to find the markings I saw on the door. If I don't we won't get father back."

Peter nodded. We headed to the library.

"What, exactly, are we looking for Lex?"

I drew the symbol for him. "This is what were looking for. Look in the light raiders books because in my vision I think we were in their dungeons."

Peter nodded.

I grab a handful of books and brought them to the table and started to look through them. It was near dawn when Alexander came in to the library.

"There you are, your highness. I went to look for you in your room but you weren't there why are you here?"

"I had a vision last night and if we don't find this symbol we won't be able to get my father back. So Peter and I started looking for it."

Alexander asked, "Have you had any sleep?"

"I can't sleep until we find this. It's the key to finding my father."

"Very well, I will have some food and the rest of the council sent up."

I nodded.

The food came shortly after Alexander left. For which I was glad. The rest of the council arrived about an hour after that. I was glad for their help.

Michael asked, "What does it look like your highness?"

I showed them all what it looked like. None of them recognised it.

"Why don't you go and get some sleep Lex?" Peter asked.

"I can't sleep not until I find it."

"Look, with you as tired as you are; you won't be any help to your father. Go and get some rest. I will call you if we find anything I promise."

"Thank you Peter, I don't like the idea of leaving, but we have been up all night and we're both exhausted. You should get some sleep as well.

I went to bed and fell asleep right away. It seemed as if I had just closed my eyes when I was nudged awake by Peter.

"What's going on? Did you find something?"

"We're not sure. We need you to come and look."

I nodded. I quickly dressed and almost ran to the library.

"Let me see what you found."

Michael handed me a book. They had found it!

"That's it! Where did you find it?"

Michael said, "It was in the very old books. We were lucky to find it."

I read the page that had the symbol from my vision. It said,

"There are many legends in our kingdom but none more mysterious than the legends of the orbs. These mystical orbs can only be touched by royal blood and if they ever fell into the hands of the light raiders great tragedy would befall our clan."

I turned to Michael. "Do you have any idea what this has to do with father?"

"I don't know. I've heard of this legend, but what it has to do with your father I don't know."

"Maybe it has to do with royal blood.", Peter said.

"Maybe but why would they have a door that only I could open? Doesn't that seem suspicious to you?"

Alexander suggested a thought. "It might have some importance if they had him on our grounds. Is it possible that the battle is just a distraction to draw us out so they can take the castle back?"

"It's very possible. Is there any where that only the royal family can enter?", I asked.

They all looked at each other.

"What?", I asked.

Alexander said, "There is a place that only a member of the royal family can enter!"

"So what's the problem?"

"Only your father knows where it is.", Alexander said.

"That is a problem, but there must be a record of it somewhere, yes?"

"It might be in the royal family archives. But if we do find it we can not enter. It's forbidden!", Michael said.

"We will discuss that if we find it."

They all nodded. Alexander went to the back of the library and came back with an armful of papers.

"These are the royal family archives. There are more but these are the more recent ones. I think they date from when your mother and father ascended to the throne to just before the attack when we lost the castle.", Alexander said.

I asked, "Do you have ones a bit further back?"

"Yes, just one moment your highness."

I sat down next to Peter and looked through the papers. One in particular caught my eye. It said,

"His majesty passed away today. Melissa and I will be installed as king and queen today. We have been trying for a child for nearly a year now. I'm starting to loose hope that we can have a child."

It was an entry from my father. I read on.

"We will be burying Melissa's father tomorrow. Only royal family members can enter the burial chambers, and only a royal family member can open the door."

I looked up from it.

"Alexander where is the royal family burial chamber?"

Alexander came from the back of the library.

"Have you found something?"

"Yeah, but I'm not sure if it's what we're looking for."

"It's located at the border of our land. I can take you there if you like."

"Yes, we may find the answer we're looking for."

"Okay, ready yourself and I will take you there."

"Very well, while I'm away Michael you're in charge."

They all nodded.

I went to my room and got my cloak. Peter came in and asked, "Are you okay?".

"I'm fine, I just want my father back!"

Peter nodded, "Be safe", he said as he gave me a kiss and a tight hug. We went down to the stables. Alexander was already on his horse. Spirit was ready for me. I mounted him, said goodbye to Peter, and we set off.

I followed Alexander we started to go through forest we slowed to a walk.

"What do you hope to find at in the burial chambers?"

"Hopefully an answer to the meaning of that symbol and how the door should be opened. Because no one seems to know what this symbol is for and we need to know how to open that stone door to get my father back."

"I've never seen the symbol before and it's never been discussed at council as far as I know."

"Do you think my father was hiding something from us?"

"I don't honestly know. Even he may have not known about this since he's technically not royalty and your mother may not have told him. We're almost there."

We stopped at a clearing in the forest there were large black gates. We dismounted and walked over to them. They were locked.

"Alexander, do you know how to open them?"

"I took the key from your father's room. Please don't tell him, okay?"

I laughed. As he opened the gates we heard the thunder of horse hoof coming from behind us Alexander threw me in and locked the gate after me "run and hide I will deal with who ever comes no arguments."

I didn't want to argue with him. I ran and looked for a place to hide. There was no where except behind the headstones. I found the largest one and hid behind it. I listened for any noise. There was the thunder of hoofs the clash of swords then, "Bloody hell Peter, I could have killed you. I thought you were one of the light raiders."

There was laughter. "Lex it's okay, you can come out.", Peter said.

I stood up and Alexander opened the gates again I ran over to Peter and hugged him. "Don't do that again Peter! Alexander could have killed you. Anyway, were are the burial chambers?"

"It's over here.", Alexander said. We followed him. He led us to the top of the graveyard. There was a small door. Alexander opened it, took a torch from inside, lit it, and handed it to me.

"I'm sorry, but we're not allowed to go in. It's against tradition!"

"But, I want you to come with me if father says anything I'll tell him that I told you to come with me."

"Very well, we will come with you."

I went in first. Torches lined a small corridor we walked down the corridor we reached the door from my vision.

"This is the door from my vision. But how do we open it?"

Peter and Alexander looked at each other.

Peter said, "I don't know can you remember what the book said about the orbs?"

"It said something about royal blood, but I can't remember anything else."

"Maybe a drop of you're blood will open it. Here take this."

Alexander handed me a small dagger. I cut my palm with it.

"What now?"

"Try putting you're blood on the orb.", Alexander said.

I nodded I squeezed some blood from the cut and pressed my palm against the black orb. I stood back, it started to glow and the door slid away. Peter took his shirt and ripped it a little and tied it around my hand to help stop the bleeding.

"Thanks Peter!"

I went in through the door. The corridor was lined with stone coffins with the same markings as the door.

"Which one is my grandfather?"

"I'm not sure, keep moving.", Alexander said.

The corridor seemed to go on forever. The coffins had strange markings on them. Suddenly there was a rush of freezing air that extinguished our torches. I moved forward colliding with a stone door.

"Ouch!"

Peter asked, "Lex! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Peter, can you get a torch so I can see were am going?"

There was silence for a few minutes then Peter and Alexander appeared with torches. Peter helped me up. This door was the same as the last one. I unbound my hand and squeezed a little blood the door. It opened like the last one.

I stepped through, and when I did the door shut behind me!

Alexander shouted through the door, "Alexandria are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Go back and wait for me." The door had opened up to a large circular room with a stone coffin in the middle. I walked up to it and I saw markings on it that were identical to those on the door. There was no name on the coffin, so I slid the lid off. I was covered in dust. After the dust settled in the coffin laid a skeleton with a shield across the chest with a gold wolf engraved on it. I lifted the shield.

"This has to be my grandfather." I said to my self. In his hand there was a paper. I took it from his hand it read.

"To my granddaughter,

I knew you would find me one day. It is a shame that I could never see you grow up. Your father is being held at the light raiders execution grounds deep within the dungeons. To get to the dungeons you must go to the light raider's execution grounds. The second page of this note shows a shortcut that will save you an hour's climb. the shortcut comes out just above their fortifications. The light raiders do not seem to know about this path since it's entrance is not easy to discern. Unlike the path that the light raiders use you will find that horses can traverse this path. It should take you about two hours to get there from the castle. This was the last vision I had. I know you will have the same gift that I have if you are reading this. Good luck! Never give up hope! With deepest love

Your grandfather."

His sword was also in the coffin with him. It was longer and stronger than that of my mothers. I picked it up and strapped it to my waist. I replaced the coffin lid and opened the door. I made my way up to the entrance. Alexander and Peter were waiting for me.

Alexander asked, "Alexandria are you all right? What happened?"

"I found my grandfather! He was expecting me to find him and he left me a letter and map leading us to my father. We need to get back to council."

They both nodded. I strapped my grandfather's shield to my back and mounted Spirit. We set off for the castle. It only took us an hour to get back. Michael met us in the stables.

"Michael, please gather the council as quickly as you can."

"Yes you're highness."

I went straight to the council room and waited for the council members. Everyone filed in. Peter sat next to me.

"Did anything happen when I was away?"

"Yes! This arrived for you, your highness." Michael said as he handed me a letter.

The letter said:

"If you want to bargain for your father I will meet you at the cross path at midday five days from now. Gabriel"

"It's a trap! I know that they won't bring him. But, send a note that we'll be there. I want Alexander and a few men to distract Gabriel and his raiders while Peter, Damien, Michael, and I will go and find my father. I know where he is, but we need the light raiders distracted for as long as possible. Can you do that Alexander?"

"I will do my best your highness."

"That's all I can ask. Thank you!

"There is one other thing that needs to be done. I need to send a message to my new army. I will write it and use the royal seal to indicate its authenticity. I would like James and Sara to deliver it for me. I want them to leave in one hour! Now, let's all go to bed we need to be up early tomorrow."

They nodded and left. Peter came up to my room with me.

"Lex how do you know where your father is?"

"My grandfather left me a letter and a map telling me where he is. It was the last vision he had. Now, let's go to bed."

That night I slept well knowing that we would be getting my father back.

The morning of the fifth day I woke before Peter. Flash was yapping, as usual, to get food.

"Peter get up. We have to go.", I said tapping him on the head. He woke with a start.

"Okay, okay, I'm up! No need to shout."

I had finished getting the armour that the light raiders had given me, on when Peter finally got up out of bed.

"My, my you look dangerous. Remind me never to get on you're bad side."

"If you don't hurry up and get ready to go you will be on my bad side! You've got ten minutes. If you're not down in the stables I'll be coming to find you and it won't be pretty." I said with a chuckle.

I left for the stables. Alexander and the rest of the council were waiting.

"Do you all know what you have to do?"

Alexander said, "We do you're highness."

"Very well, I want you to leave half an hour after we start out. That will give us the best chance of avoiding Gabriel's main force."