Page 24 of The Prince and the Ice King

Naive, ignorant—but filled with wonder that made his lovely face light up like the dawn.

Jack turned away before Reardon could notice him staring. “I don’t feel the sun at all anymore.”

As Jack moved down the familiar path, Reardon detoured off the walkway into the dead grass, allowing him to get closer to Jack’s side without slipping. “That sounds awful. You never feel warmth? Ever?”

“Tell me, little prince,” Jack asked without stopping his progression down the path, “how could I, while I am made of ice?”

Reardon gave no answer but followed quietly, beginning to look around and take in the grounds.

They had exited from the side of the castle. In spring, only Jack’s path would be dead and frozen, the rest surprisingly lush with greenery that various people of the kingdom kept tidy. Over the years, more and more planting had begun. Now, even in winter, there were a few smatterings of color.

Reardon gazed fondly at the bright yellow winter jasmine that dangled like ivy along the wall. Jack was leading them along a purposeful path to look out beyond the castle, opposite the Emerald Kingdom, a view Reardon had likely never seen. There was a second gate there, not easily reached.

Jack’s castle stood atop a hill like the song said, and out that gate was the path toward what once was the rest of his kingdom. He paused as they reached it and let Reardon wander to the chilled bars that separated them from what lay outside.

“I always wondered…,” Reardon said, taking it all in—the sprawling city below that was desolate now, with collapsed houses and not even the scurry of animals, like a wasteland. “Only your castle was ever spoken of, but as grand as it is, it’s still only a court. What became of your people? Your original people?”

Jack stayed on the path, for if he drew closer to Reardon, he’d inevitably lean out toward his empty legacy, and he did not wish to endanger the young prince.

Yet.

“Some left before I was cursed. The rest after. Beyond the city, farther down the hill, you can see the start of the Mystic Valley. Some went there. Some to Emerald. Some beyond to lands unknown. No one stayed behind but my inner circle. We had many years alone before the story of the first sacrifice you heard last night.”

“He wasn’t really a sacrifice.”

“No, but he was the beginning.”

“And what of before then?” Reardon insisted

Jack held his head high, the shape of it formed together with his crown feeling forever heavy, but he did not answer.

“You’re not going to tell me what the curse is, are you? Not without effort.”

“You can see what itis, little prince.” Jack gestured at himself with one of his massive hands and at the trail of ice behind them. “But come now, we barely know each other to be spilling such intimate secrets.” With a grin, he moved on, expecting Reardon to follow, which he did, and brought them around the side of the castle toward the front courtyard.

“You said some of your people escaped to the Mystic Valley,” Reardon said, falling in beside Jack again, “but the elves have been gone from there for centuries. It’s as abandoned as your city and farms.”

“Is it?” Jack tilted his head, and when Reardon’s brow furrowed, he laughed coldly but didn’t elaborate.

Pushing forward, they reached the true garden of the center courtyard that had been well-kept by the people of the castle, though the fountain held no water this time of year. Reardon looked at it with as much awe as he had the flowers, but Jack steered away from it to bring them closer to the gate, where theothergarden existed as upright sentinels to ward off any who entered uninvited.

Reardon’s posture changed immediately, seeing the multitude of frozen figures like the thief Jack had shattered in front of him.

“More unlucky cutthroats who didn’t realize where they were. And some who did, sent here like the others, but they chose to not belong.”

“Barclay said the same, that some of the criminals sent here deserved it.” While Reardon held himself more stiffly among so much glaring death, he walked unafraid through the statues, almost touching one before he pulled back.

“Does that assuage your guilt?” Jack asked.

“No.”

Jack waited for Reardon to return to his side before continuing. He had to make him understand. “You’ve heard the story of our first offering, now hear the truth of our first death.”

Watching the way Reardon’s face paled further, Jack moved on down the path to the other side of the castle. His garden was not merely the guards past his gate but also figures lining the walkway along the right side, since it better faced the Emerald Kingdom.

“She was a sacrifice, you see, after nearly a decade of people wronged, only hoping to find sanctuary. She tried to swindle me.Me. Swore allegiance, acted the part, and then, once she had gained our trust, she attempted to make off with trinkets she thought would fetch a nice price in other lands and fled.

“On her way out of the castle, she stabbed a young elf gifted with beautiful magic who tried to stop her. He didn’t survive. The thief didn’t get far, however.

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