chapter one
‘Sylvie, can we please go outside together? Just for a few minutes?’ Fiske pleaded with his sister. ‘You can go, Fiske, but I have to stay here. You know this.’
‘I know, I know. Our parents left you in charge and so you need to stay inside the palace at all times to ensure you’re here when the council needs you.’ Fiske sulked with an expehaertly sigh leaving his mouth. ‘Exactly.’ Sylvie laughed as she got up from she was seated on the stairs in front of the throne. ‘I’ll just stay in my room.’ Fiske sulked, dragging his feet to the throne room’s exit. ‘Good because it is past your bedtime anyway.’ Sylvie said with a small grin. Having nothing to say anymore, Fiske left the room. He knew his sister takes her job as temporary queen of Jotunheim very seriously, but it only has been a few hours and nothing bad has happened! Surely the council wouldn’t need her help in the middle of the night, which, seeing the stars as he passed a window, Fiske realises is nearing soon.
Sylvie stayed downstairs. Her footsteps echoed off the wall as she began pacing back and forth. She wipes her hands on her pants and tugs on the sleeves of her top to ease her mind. Sylvie wouldn’t show it, but on the inside she feels terribly anxious. For at least the upcoming month she has to fulfill the role of temporary queen. And even though it is only temporary, she doesn’t want to cause a mess for her parents to clean up once they return from their travels. Understanding that her parents must visit other planets and realms for political talk doesn’t mean Sylvie is fond of being left in charge of both Jotunheim and her younger brother Fiske.
As she turned to leave the room to check on her brother, she heard the doors of the palace slam open. Sylvie was quick to hide behind the large throne just as the doors of the throne room opened. ‘Where should we look, Your Majesty?’ Sylvie heard an unknown voice. Heavy footfalls covered the room and Sylvie tried to make herself smaller behind the throne made of ice.
‘Sylvie?’
If heartbreak was a physical thing, Sylvie’s heart just shattered into a billion pieces. Shards pricking her skin. Her face dropped and she turned cold as if a bucket of the coldest water had been dumped on her.
Her little brother. Entering the room and looking around. He too noticed the foreign people, but was frozen in place. From where Sylvie was hiding, she was able to see Fiske. His eyes darted around the room, either trying to find his sister or any other source of help. Fiske slowly started backing up to the exit, but is swiftly grabbed by the Asgardian warriors.‘NO! Let me go!’ Fiske cried, trashing in the hold of the warriors as he called for help. The palace was basically deserted with only a few Jotunn guards at the doors and Sylvie to protect him. Fiske was quick to assume those of Asgard must’ve slayed all the guards if they weren't coming.
In an instant reaction when the Asgardians reached for Fiske, Sylvie moved from her hiding spot. ‘Stop!! Let him go.’ she said, stepping away from the throne to where Odin and his warriors could see her. ‘You two must be the children Laufey and Fabriauti didn’t bother to take with them on their trip,’ Odin murmured, more to himself than telling the room. ‘Princess Sylvie and Prince Fiske, if I’m not mistaken?’ Odin asked loudly, announcing their titles to the warriors and raising an eyebrow as he looked straight into Sylvie’s eyes. ‘You’d be correct.’ Sylvie said with a calmness yet rage in her voice.
Odin tapped his sword on the ground two times. Though not aware of what it meant, both royal children realised it was a battle tactic of sorts. As soon as Odin’s sword rested for more than five seconds, all Asgardians pointed their weapons in the direction of Sylvie, safe for the two people holding Fiske.
‘I’m not going down without a fight.’ Sylvie muttered under her breath before a mischievous grin played on her face.