Yushir leaned his back against the exterior wall with his arms folded over his chest. Eastwei strode out of the arch but stopped a few steps into the road.

  Yushir pushed off from the wall and examined his friend’s face. “She refused.”

  “Yes.” Eastwei turned his gaze to the south.

  “And her father?”

  “He was of little use during the last battle millions of years ago.”

  Yushir’s face fell. “I see. . .” The prince grasped his ring in his other hand and furrowed his brow. “There. . .there may be something I can do.” Eastwei turned to him with a questioning look in his eyes. The prince raised his hands in front of himself. “I cannot guarantee this will work, but when I was a young lad my nanny took me to the snowy hills past Lord Leiren’s home. Unaccustomed to the chilly weather, I became quite cold playing in the freezing waters of one of the springs. I found, however, that I could use my water magic to create ice. Mind you, the magic was not as strong as that held by Lady Shian, but I may be able to give you more strength than what her father holds.”

  “How cold did you become to gain that ability?” Eastwei questioned him.

  Yushir sheepishly smiled at his friend. “My nurse had to carry me back and I was bedridden for a fortnight with a nasty cold.” He stretched himself to his full height and puffed out his chest. “However, I would gladly forego a year’s worth of good health if it means saving Lady Roberts’ life.”

  Eastwei studied his friend for a brief time before he clapped a hand on Yushir’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

  Yushir laughed and waved a hand in front of him. “Do not thank me just yet. We must first see if my plan will even work.”

  Armed with their newfound knowledge and with a rekindling of hope, the two set out on their long journey back to the cold kingdom of the icy lord. The new day waxed and waned before they arrived at the top of the countless waterfalls where they landed on the cliffs.

  Yushir stumbled on his landing but caught himself before he fell to the hard rocky ground. He bent over and set his hands on his knees to choke on some much-needed air. “I will. . .take a long vacation. . .after this adventure.”

  Eastwei stepped forward and examined the misty scenery. Some of the heavy fog had abated and part of the towers of the fortress could be seen. He stretched out his hand and his palm was repelled by the magical barrier.

  “Very well!” Yushir straightened and lifted his chin. “Let me see what I can do.”

  He marched over to the cold river that fell over the precipice to create the waterfalls. The river tossed its spray at him as he neared the chilly banks. The darkest shadows beneath the scattered rocks hid chunks of ice.

  Yushir stopped at the edge of a large pool that swirled about. Eastwei joined him and the prince smiled at his old friend. “Whether this works or not, I will be in great need of your fire once all of this is done.”

  “I will provide it,” Eastwei promised.

  Yushir took a deep breath and plugged his nose. “Here goes nothing.”

  He took a running start and hopped into the pool. The waters were up to his neck so that his cannonball dive completely submerged him. The shockingly cold water caused him to scream underwater and he sputtered to the surface with shrieks and yowls.

  “Get me out! Get me out of here right now!”

  Eastwei offered a hand and helped his friend out of the chilly water. Yushir stumbled onto dry land, a soaked rat with an unhealthy blue hue to his skin after only that brief dive. He wrapped his arms around himself but that didn’t stop the constant quiver.

  “N-now let us see if this w-works, and quickly,” Yushir chattered as he waddled toward the barrier.

  Eastwei followed and stood back as Yushir reluctantly stretched out his stiff arms. He held his hands close together with the fingers curled to form a ball. His blue magic floated out of his shaking palms and formed a quivering ball. The surface of the orb was as bumpy as a mountain range and tall, spiky peaks of ice emerged from the frothing waters.

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  Yushir clenched his chattering teeth and flung his arms apart. Blue light burst out of his hands and the ball swelled to the size of a boulder. The prince stepped back and shoved his hands against the back of the floating orb. His magic flew at the barrier and crashed into the glassy light. The wall shuddered and cracked at the point of impact. The ball continued its push, sinking into the fissures until a large hole shattered in the barrier.

  Yushir dropped his arms and the blue light vanished, but the deed was done. An entrance had been made.

  Eastwei held up his glowing hands toward his shivering friend, but Yushir stepped away and managed a shaky smile. “N-not yet, my f-friend. We may need my suffering for Lord Wyrmir.”

  Eastwei reluctantly extinguished his flames and the two hurried inside the barrier. They flew up over the high walls and landed on the parapet overlooking the dome. Yushir leaned forward and squinted into the glass.

  “I cannot make out-”

  The glass in front of him shattered thanks to a direct strike by Eastwei’s fireball.

  “Never mind,” Yushir added as the empty courtyard was revealed to them.

  That is, it was almost empty. Lord Wyrmir stood beside the open stairway, his grim face now a picture of fury. His eyes glowed bright green in the dim light and a faint mist swirled about him. The two intruders leaped into the hole and landed neatly in front of their furious host.

  “Are you mad?” Wyrmir snapped at the pair as his hands glowed bright greenish-brown.

  “M-merely desperate to s-save our friend,” Yushir countered as he formed another ice ball between his shivering hands.

  Wyrmir flung up his hand and the rocks beneath their feet shuddered. Yushir lost his concentration as earthen mounds climbed up his legs and pinned him to the ground. Eastwei dodged them by leaping up and he flung fireballs at his friend’s bindings. The extreme heat both melted the rock and caused a puff of steam to explode out of the soaked prince, covering the area in a thick mist.

  Yushir cursed under his breath as he stepped out of the volcanic remains of his shackles. He stumbled back and tried to form an ice ball but he couldn’t form any crystals.

  At that moment, Wyrmir loomed out of the mist ahead of him like a phantom, his ghastly face twisted with ferocity. Yushir dodged a stone created by the land god but tripped over his own feet. He crashed onto his ass on the hard stones and the dark shadow of the merciless lord stretched over him.

  “You are the only madman here!” Yushir shouted at him as he tried to crawl backward. “Is the woman’s mystery worth fighting against your fellow gods?”

  Wrymir raised his hand and Yushir felt the ground tremble beneath him. “Yes.”

  The prince tensed for whatever terrible fate awaited him but a shadow flew out of the mist. Yushir watched as if in slow motion as Eastwei, his hand blazing hot, slammed his fist into Wyrmir’s cheek. The ancient god’s face twisted about and he was flung into the fog. Yushir heard the god’s body hit the ground a few times before coming to a stop.

  Without a master, the unnatural mist cleared and revealed Wyrmir’s crumpled body. He lay in a crumpled mess thirty yards from where he had stood.

  Eastwei offered his extinguished hand to his friend which Yushir gladly accepted. “You have my eternal thanks,” the prince appreciated before his gaze settled on the open stairs.

  Eastwei turned and his attention fell on the steps. Neither of them dared voice the fear they both felt in their hearts.

  That they were too late.

  Eastwei was the first to stride toward the steps and Yushir followed. They descended into the lair of the secluded god and discovered the chamber. Both of them paused on the threshold of the cavern and stared in awe at the swirling moat.

  “What in all the realms has he been doing down here?” Yushir whispered as he stepped up to the edge and peered into the murky waters. A bubble popped up and a soft moan followed, making the prince frown. “There is something wrong with this water. Very wrong.”

  Eastwei’s focus was on the still form that lay atop the table. He hurried forward and reached the board. His face was pale as he looked over Anna.

  She was breathing but her face was ghastly pale. Her arms were covered in horrible rashes and her muscles randomly twitched.

  Yushir joined him and a dark cloud settled on his brow. “What madness has he done to her?”

  Eastwei’s answer to was draw her into his arms so her head was nestled against the crook of his neck. A faint gasp escaped her and her eyes fluttered open. They were less brown and more crystalline. Her lips moved but no sound came from them.

  Yushir set a hand on her arm and shook his head. “There is no need for you to worry. You are safe now.”

  Anna closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against Eastwei. The fiery god’s wrath was extinguished as concern intervened. Together the two of them took their prize and left the cavern and the fortress, heading to home with a hollow victory.