Child of Winter: The Aurora Chronicles, #1

Prologue

In houses all around the world, imaginations run wild as little boys and girls dream of what magical lands lie out there. Girls wonder what it would be like to be a Princess, and boys wonder what it would be like to be a Prince. In fact, the scenario seems to occur a lot like this.

There is no such thing!

It was almost a protest from the little boy’s lips as he frowned from on top of his bed. Across the room, his sister sat looking wistfully out of her window at the colorful sky shining off in the distance past the city, through the trees and fields, and over the mountains. She looked back at her brother briefly.

Why not?

Because, he protested. Everyone knows that the King is the real ruler of magical lands. There can’t be a Queen without a King.

Well, there can’t be a King without a Queen, she countered.

Sure, there can!

No, she said with amusement. He wouldn’t be able to survive without her.

Her brother hopped off the bed, landing light on his feet. He danced around the room as if he were having a sword fight with an invisible foe. A Queen can’t last without King. A King can fight.

The girl pushed away from the window with a challenge in her eyes. Girls can fight just as well as boys.

In seconds, they were wrestling around on the floor; partially in fun, but partially in competition. The door to the bedroom flew open.

Elise! Jacob! You two are supposed to be in bed. Their father stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips; a stern look on his face. The two kids jumped up and ran to their beds. They pulled the covers up to their chins with angelic smiles on their faces.

What were you two arguing about anyway? Their father said tucking them in.

Kings, Jacob said.

And Queens, Elise spoke up. Magical lands.

And magical creatures.

I see, their father said.

Do you think they exist? Elise asked.

He smiled. I do, and I believe that somewhere out there, there are children just like you, who are growing up to be Queens and Kings themselves.

Can you tell us a story about them! Jacob asked. Please?! Tell us a story!

Yeah! Elise agreed. She sat up in bed as if knowing that he would indeed succumb to their wishes. Their father narrowed his eyes.

I do have a story, but I don't think that it's something you should hear before bed. You might have nightmares.

I won't have nightmares, Jacob said. I'm not a girl.

Hey! His sister pouted. I won't have nightmares either!

Fine, their father pulled up the reading chair from a corner of the room. I will tell you a story. Kings, Queens, Princesses, and magic. And this story, my children—is true.

The children listened closely as the story began.

"The creation of land Arktika was from the combination of the powers of two great Gods—Lampo and Jaa. Lampo was a God of strength, ingenuity, and wit. The light that shone from him could make the weakest strong, the clumsiest stealthy, and the one with the least ability to build and create with ease. His sister was Jaa, a God of wisdom, courage, and inspiration. She could make the foolish wise, the fearful brave, and those lacking direction, the enlightenment and ability to lead others. With their light, they created a land that radiated with all these abilities and gifts for all creatures to enjoy. There was peaceful harmony and wonderful co-existence. Lampo and Jaa were so happy with what they created that they built a barrier between Arktika and the rest of the worlds around.

The rest of the worlds? Elise asked.

Yes. Arktika is just one of thousands of worlds created by Gods of many planets like ours. Lampo and Jaa decided that Earth would be a good place to plant Arktika, but they could not risk anyone knowing about the magic of this place. Therefore, they built a barrier and only true born can live is this place or survive there. To all else, Arktika just appears as colorful lights. We know them as the Aurora Borealis.

You mean the Northern Lights? Jacob said looking towards the window.

Hush, Jacob. Tell us more, father!

"As I said, Arktika was perfect and Lampo and Jaa ruled well. They created a magical lake called the Lake of Prophecy to help them rule fairly, together, without any bias. They would go to it together, and they would ask the Prophecy questions and seek its guidance. Whatever answers it yielded, they followed. One day, the Lake revealed a prophecy that they couldn’t believe. It showed a darkness hovering over the land, war breaking out among the people, and fire destroying all of Arktika. It also showed a woman coming into Arktika from outside of the barrier. Nothing had ever happened like that before, and they both dismissed this prophecy. One day, Lampo came across a woman on one of his surveys over the land. She was laying on the ground and barely breathing. He took her back to the palace he shared with Jaa and nursed her back to health. She was said to have been a beautiful creature, and Lampo fell in love with her. Jaa, however, sensed something wrong about the woman and warned her brother that he needed to get rid of her. He wouldn't. The woman stayed with them for many months. Then Jaa found out that the woman was from beyond the barrier, and not only that, but Lampo had gone outside of the barrier with her several times. She confronted him about this, but something had changed in Lampo. A darkness had come over him, too. He told Jaa that he intended for the woman to be his Queen. He wanted to change the way they ruled and create a bigger empire to rule over more than Arktika. Jaa refused these ideas, and soon, fighting began to grow between the two of them. Word spread through Arktika that the brother and sister war for Arktika had begun. Lampo drew many to his side by promising that he wanted to make them a greater people and that Jaa