I ducked into the vast hall, it’s ceiling dominated by a chandelier of impossible size. It cast its light through the myriad facets of crystal that hung effortlessly in the air. How it was suspended, I could not tell, though I would not doubt it was a manifestation of the Snow Queen's vast dominance over the frigid elements of snow and ice.

A stern frown greeting my entrance, accompanied by piercing eyes that gazed daggers at my approach. I returned General Sammei's look with a subservient bow of my head. Though I doubt she recognized my face, I had seen her lead the forces of Crystalys in the battle of Sienna Falls. Although she casually slouched against the wall, her trim body was tensed for immediate action if the need arose. Polished black boots shone brightly under heavy cloth pants. A leather jerkin, just as painstakingly polished, was visible beneath a heavy black cloak, its edge scant inches from the floor. Her silky black hair was bound up by two thin sticks in the shape of silver icicles. The streaks of red in her locks accented the severity of her expression. The handle of the legendary Frozen Edge that had lead countless warriors to battle, peeked out from above her right shoulder, a menacing reminder of her reputation. I could see a belt knife strapped to her thigh, in easy reach. Even though very few weapons were visible, I was certain a deadly arsenal was stowed away in various places. Though she commanded the legions of Crystalys, many said they would rather fight off every soldier in the kingdom then duel this woman. I had no doubt that even her hair accessories could kill a man from several yards away. She was nearly my equal in height, her almond eyes still focused critically on me.

The Snow Queen, whose back had been to the double doors when I had entered, now turned to see what caused her general to scowl. Upon seeing her face for the first time, it was all I could do to keep my colorful juggling balls in the air. The name Ella had brought nations to their knees, and caused uneasiness in the most hardy of soldiers. Rumors abounded about her appearance, since the Snow Queen had rarely left her fortress since she began to rule. The stories spanned everything, ranging from a withered old hag to a monster of ice to a girl, her face frozen in emotionless youth. None of them could even come close. The light from the overhead chandelier reflected off of her light blue gown, dazzling my eyes. Her face was not withered or frozen, but nonplussed yet inquisitive, with a small smile teasing at the edges of her mouth. Her soft brown hair was bound up with a simple crown. The glint of a turquoise gem flashed in the light as it dangled on her forehead. This was not any gem, but rather, the Sixth Shard. It was that crystal that augmented her elemental abilities to awe inspiring strength.

"You!" Queen Ella exclaimed, "You must be the jester. Jester Pollo, correct?"

She clasped her hands together. Her liquid blue eyes showed amusement but also, deep inside, a flash of a hidden pain. Gazing over to her second in command, she noticed that Sammei's predatory gaze had not left me.

"Up from the South and through the snow. I have arrived to start the show," I piped, hiding my juggling balls within my voluminous sleeves with a quick flick of the wrist, "But I wonder. Why is this great castle so barren?"

The Snow Queen opened her mouth to answer, but it was Sammei's voice that rang through the air.

"Our Lady's forces are gathered and await her word to drive a crushing blow to the people of the South," the general snapped, her body suddenly rigid and at attention, "I foresee victories for Crystalys and suffering for the Aeroians!"

"Foresight is a gift sometimes blind, even when sung in a rhyme" I replied, as Sammei's hand went instinctively to her belt knife, "A hasty attack on the south lands would mean great losses on both sides, something neither kingdoms can afford. If I may be so bold..."

Sammei opened her mouth angrily to retort, but Queen Ella silenced it with an upraised hand

"Please," she said quietly, "Go on."

I swallowed hard to rid myself of the lump that had grown in my throat.

"My liege," I began, "My travels have taken me quite recently from the South lands. Not only is it a wretched place scoured by torrential winds, but many complications arise will a full scale attack. Not only would the Blizzardin Borderlands cause much grief to your troops’ passage, but the Aeroians expect an attack. You are the closest to their borders and they have studied your techniques. An offensive siege always gives edge to the defenders. You may outmatch them in numbers and skill, but even at the best, your forces will suffer great losses, and your only reward will be a paltry desert!"

The general was seething with cold rage, her thumb running back and forth across the edge of her belt knife. Her gaze had gotten more deadly, if that was possible, and I was certain it was the queen's presence only that held her back. Queen Ella, her lips pursed in contemplation, gazed upward at her chandelier. "What, then, do you suggest is a proper course of action? I cannot let our troops sit and wait for our enemies to make their move."

Taking a deep breath, now more confident of myself, I continued. "By no means, my liege. I only suggest you set your gaze west, to the Hydronians"

"Never!" General Sammei blurted out, "The Slushish Borderlands are more than 3 days ride from here. The supplies needed are more than tripled! How can this possibly be a better alternative?"

"Supplies can be easily replaced, General," I retorted, "Men cannot. Not only are the Hydronian's forces separated, but they are the least likely to ever be attacked, beyond Crystalys." Many of the kingdoms’ armies have attempted to siege this fortress, that I knew well. Certainly, many of the mounds I had passed upon my arrival were the burial sites of doomed soldiers, the ever falling snow burying their battlegrounds forever. "Upon acquisition of the Western Sea area, the Hydronians have had all the water they could ever desire to aid their legions. They've dug a trench around their central kingdom, known as the Water Wall, and no army has been able to penetrate its defense."

"What makes you think that we will succeed where all others have failed," Ella said, her brow raised questioningly.

"Of all the elemental magics, yours is the most akin to the Hydronians. Many of their techniques can by foiled by simply freezing them. Your army can penetrate the vast Water Wall, surprising the Hydronians with a raid they could not have predicted."

The Snow Queen blessed me with a smile that seemed to warm the room. Sammei still looked discontent, but with a few whispered words from her Lady, she was off and running. As she opened the door to leave, Javanelle came tumbling into the room. She gathered herself up off the floor as gracefully as possible and murmured excuses. The Snow Queen just giggled a bit and smiled at her.

"Javanelle, will you please escort our guest, Master Pollo, to his room," Queen Ella said with a wave of her hand. I bowed out of the Queen's presence as Javanelle nodded and lead me out of the Royal Hall.

A small sigh escaped me as I followed on the Staff Sergeant's heels through more twisting corridors, each just as elaborately carved as the last. This move had been a daring one, but the dice had already been tossed. It was true that Hydronia's power was perhaps the greatest in the realm. A move by Crystalys could be just what the realm needs to stabilize again. Still, too many outcomes could fall from this decision, and the dice were still rolling. The Queen was harder to read that most I had encountered, her cool resolve was not what I had expected and I was still reeling from her surprising appearance. She still had not come out with why she had summoned me here, but I was not one to ask unnecessary questions. She was obviously a competent leader and powerful elementalist, but her goals were still unclear. There were still too many unknowns to go frolicking into danger.

Javanelle's cheery voice broke through my musings. "Here it is!" she exclaimed.

I was so tired from the journey and my encounter with the queen that I pushed past her, shoving the door open with my right hand. Javanelle cried for me to wait with a voice sharp with alarm, but it was far too late. My heart froze up as I heard the sound of a knife whistling through the air.

Luckily, years of work in the traveling show had taught me that even the best of marksman miss their target. Quick reflexes separated the talented entertainers from the dead ones. I ducked swiftly, the small bells on my hat jingling in the dagger's wake. The knife bit deep into the packed snow walls as Javanelle let out a sigh. The door had fully opened to reveal a battle hardened face, twisted with a cold determination that doubtlessly was seen often on the battlefield. Thick dark hair hung in greasy spikes on his forehead and spilled down over his shoulders. His bare chest was covered with a vast assortment of scars, some still aggravated red, slashes that crisscrossed hard muscle. His brow was knit, and gaze murderous.

Javanelle leapt out in front of me, waving her arms about as if to fend off another attack, though I doubted there would be one coming.

"Major General Luciano, this is Our Lady's guest. He didn't know!"

At the sight of the Staff Sergeant, the Major's face broke out into a wide, jackal like grin. The murderous glare fled his eyes and he rose to his feet, snatching off Javanelle's helm. Even when pleased, this Luciano was intimidating, towering above the shorter solider. He fondly tousled her hair with his knuckles, like an older brother. Javanelle deftly snatched his wrist, twisting the great man about. They continued to tussle for several minutes until Luciano had the woman pinned to the floor.

Soldiers, I mused, I will never understand their ways

"Master Pollo, this is Major General Luciano. Luc, this is Master Pollo," Javanelle introduced breathlessly, still exhausted from the scuffle. My hand was engulfed in the Major's firm grip, "You two will be bunking together. This barracks houses all of the Queen's armies and since we have yet to go to war, it is quite full."

It was only then that I got the first glance at my accommodations. The snow packed walls were adorned with every bladed weapon imaginable, each gleaming with newly sharpened edges. No doubt Luciano was proficient in all of their use. Next to Sammei herself, Luciano's fame was well known throughout the realms. A terror to come across on the field of battle for sure, his tenacity was almost bordering on insanity. The stories, no doubt mostly hearsay, was that Luciano would wear a crimson garment, so that when he was wounded in battle, his enemies could not tell how deeply. It was said that he slew the Gaian Seal Guard in the siege of Faer'ean Dell, a fight that lasted from sunup till sundown. Legends say that was the first day the sun ever set scarlet. From the looks of his scars, some of these tales might be true.

Javanelle exited quickly, murmuring something about us getting acquainted. The Major sat on the edge of one of the two simple cots that furnished our quarters and proffered me a stool.

"Sorry about the whole knife incident," Luciano said with that jackal like smile, "I'm used to the constant threat of death and I tend to overreact when I don't have full warning. So you're a jester, huh? Tell me a joke!"

I let out perhaps an overly exasperated sigh. I cleared my throat and then began:

"There were three kingdoms on the shores of a lake. There was an island in the middle of this lake, which the kingdoms had been fighting over for many ages. Finally, the three kings decided that they would send their knights out to duel, and the winner would take the island.

The night before the battle, the knights and their squires pitched camp and readied themselves for the fight. The first kingdom had eight knights and each knight had three squires in their entourage, all of whom were busily polishing armor, brushing horses and cooking food. The second kingdom had fifteen knights and each knight had eight squires, who were doing the same. At the camp of the third kingdom, there was only one knight, with his one gangly looking squire. This squire took a large cooking pot and hung it from a looped rope in a tall tree. While he did this, the knight cooked his own food and polished his own armor. At midnight, a boulder beast appeared. The three kingdoms combined their knights in order to fight it off. Though they vanquished it, all of them died in the attempt.

When the hour of the duel had came, the three kingdoms sent their squires out to fight in the knights stead. The battle raged and when the dust cleared, the only person left was the sickly squire from the third kingdom, having defeated the squires from the other two kingdoms."

Luciano was looking confused, but I was in my element. I stood up for the punch line.

"The moral of this tale is...the squire of the high pot and noose is equal to the sum of the squires of the other two sides!"

Luciano laughed a deep laugh, nearly a growl in his throat that seemed to reverberate outwards. Then suddenly he stopped.

"I don't get it" the major said, scratching the back of his head.

Crestfallen, I slumped into the other cot, mumbling that I would explain it later. Before I could find a comfortable position, there was a knock on the door. Javanelle had returned.

"The Queen requests your presence in her chambers immediately. I am to escort you there."

My head began to calculate every event that could be cause for such a meeting, as it always did. None of them were good.