6 Deal with Desert
These days, the Barrier serves the purpose of Penal colony to all of the thousand kingdoms continent. It was supposed to be an honorable occupation, yet, only Winterland people volunteered to serve at the Barrier freely.
If she believes her visions to be true, then her cousin survived the ordeal no other man ever had, and is currently preparing to travel the world.
Sasha decided to place her trust in her visions.
She stood outside, facing the sharp decline right in front of the window. The snow makes the land look flat, however, Sasha knew it to be an incline and window shade to lower level.
The moment you step on it, you will fall to your death. There is a certain thrill to standing here, in front of the open window, where death could find her with 'oh so easily'.
She waved her hand, and the snow in front of her swirled and formed an ice rose. Sasha felt the tiredness wash over herself with just this much effort.
It has been thousands of years since Winterchilds were able to control ice as they were rumored to be. Her ordeal with the dragon killer had made her more than a soul master.
Now, she, the one least expected to follow in the footsteps of her family, has awakened the most elusive power in their family tree.
'Thud' …
That's another whale brought by Moon snow.
This one feels bigger than an Orca. Sasha turned around to check on the yard and Moon snow.
By now, they have more than enough blubber to keep windcastle lighted throughout the winter and more.
All the same, Sasha let the dragon hunt for more.
For, they have no idea how long this winter is going to last.
The dragon may as well collect enough food to feed a kingdom.
The dragon caught five whales today. If she didn't know better, Sasha would think the dragon is preparing to lay eggs and incubate them, at the speed it's collecting food.
Given Moonsnow doesn't like fighting, Sasha has taken to flying on the dragon to survey the land, to figure out locations where winter farming could be done.
After all, in winter, the most important thing is food.
While the mountain kingdom had enough food stored due to It's declaration of neutrality in the last war, it's still not enough to keep the entirety of winterland fed.
She has finished only half the survey of the land. Only one hot spring was found, and it's on the border of the northern estuary, which is half as big as the kingdom of mountains.
This one is impossible to be developed into farmland.
The estuary contained as many hidden dangers as it did the benefits. The estuary is crawling with alligators, and when MoonSnow is bored of fish, it brought alligators, at the behest of Sasha.
It bashed them with it's tail to kill the alligator, then threw the alligator to the skinners who fleanse the whale.
First time, when the dragon threw an alligator in the middle of them, the skinners did not understand what to do at all. They stared at the dragon, trembling in fear.
Then, one of the younger boys had an idea, and he immediately started skinning the alligator.
When the skinner started skinning the alligator, the dragon left to bring a flat stone. The dragon lit up the stone with its fiery breath, then the skinner laid the skinned alligator on the flat stone.
The dragon happily cooked the skinless alligator, and ate it in a single bite. The dragon has had the time of its life since it left the Fire empire.
Meanwhile, Sasha consulted all over the winterland, and collected the seeds of crops that could be grown in winter.
She realized not all of these seeds could be farmed at once, but most could be.
It's best she starts isolating the winter crops earlier than later, especially in the water kingdom and desert kingdom.
Water kingdom was destroyed so much because of the war of seasons, as they called the war between king Raul Winterchild and king Jaffra Hawthorn.
There were no seeds for most crops in the water kingdom. The fertile land of the water kingdom sat ploughed and empty.
She had a feeling that this winter would be the worst ever in history.
Desert kingdom never quite feels the winter, and if their usual summer crops are affected by winter, they will lose an entire year's worth of food supply.
That must be prevented, no matter what. In the continent, only desert kingdoms could sell their surplus food to winterland currently. Thus, they must have a successful harvest.
Sasha's inner monologue ended when a servant showed up with a message.
"My lady. Princess Sera Summer has woken up." The healer came to inform her.
Princess Sera was pregnant when she arrived at windcastle.
Sasha had the guilty feeling that it's probably because of the fright caused by her wolf Sera miscarried. In that case, she has the most responsibility for this unfortunate accident.
Sasha walked to the patient wing.
Princess Sera looked far too small in the giant bed full of furs.
The room is stiflingly hot for herself, but for princess sera, even this might be barely warm enough. After all, she's from the desert, and Sasha heard sometimes the desert sun is so hot, you can cook without fire.
"Your grace! My condolences for your loss." Sasha said sombrely.
She truly felt sorry.
Sera shook her head.
"Do not blame yourself, your grace. This child and I are not destined to meet." Sera answered graciously.
Sasha could see she truly meant that.
" The child is not the only loss I am sorry about." Sasha said directly.
She was not as dumb as she once was. No matter how she looked at it, the child is Prince Arthur's.
Sasha assumes the child is going to be the leverage desert kingdom holds to push for Sera to be queen of the fire empire. Arthur was heir to his uncle Viser, the emperor of the fire empire.
Dahlia Drakon was co-ruler of the fire empire with her brother, Viser.
Dahlia is younger than Arthur despite being his aunt. Worse yet, she is more powerful, and had quite a good chance of outliving Arthur.
Even so, the Desert kingdom could still push for Sera to be queen, given Dahlia is barren. If nothing else, Sera will be one of the co-rulers, along with Dahlia.
Especially so, if Arthur conquers the continent. Of course, the Desert kingdom will give him all the help he needs in the process.
At least, that's how the plan looked at the moment to Sasha.
"I am not destined to be with the father of the child either." Sera summer answered, understanding Sasha's train of thought.
Sera's decision has it's own logic. Desert kingdom's assist to prince Arthur was based on a few assumptions.
Most important of assumption was that both Summer and Winter land were weak from War of seasons, which was fought for five years. This war concluded but two years ago when Flayers betrayed king Raul Winterchild.
However, a dragon in hand of Sasha Winterchild and onset of winter changes these assumption drastically. Fighting in winter in Winterland is a surefire recipe for annihilation. Sera is not that stupid.
The Desert kingdom has decided to pull it's hand out of the alliance with Drakon family. Or at least that's the pitch Sera is selling to Sasha.
Sasha has no idea how much influence Sera has. Sera's thoughts may not be Desert king's thoughts.
"Thank you princess Sera. However, I must ask, what will be your father's opinion about this ? " Sasha asked.
After all, though a princess, Sera does not command any of the men. Her father Triton has complete control of the desert kingdom.
" You have I in your hands. My father has no choice but to take that into account when acting." Princess Sera offered.
The meaning is ' you are holding me hostage. My father has no choice but to sit back.'
"Indeed. Princess Sera! I extend the hospitality of Windcastle for you indefinitely. Harsh winter of the Winterland is no time to undertake a long trip on the sea. I hope your stay here will be as comfortable as you wish for it to be. If you have any needs, any at all, do not hesitate to ask. You are our honored guest. " Sasha assured Princess Sera.
The subtext is clear. 'Though you are a hostage, it's more for insurance. So, just stay here without acting out, we both will be better for it' is the message.
Princess Sera accepted graciously.
"Thank you, your grace. I only wish I could send a message to my father. The faster I assure them of my good health, the better it is for all of us." Sera said, looking at Sasha.
Now is the time to prove her words.
Sasha accepted and provided her with the writing tools, and a pigeon for the capital of desert kingdom Golden Sand city, left the room.
Sasha returned to her floor length window, with the steep window shade in front of it.
she let her soul fly out once more.
A small moth flew into the sick room. It laid down on the bed pole watching the letter Sera summers is writing.
Sasha Winterchild watched silently as Sera wrote her letter.
Her vision is divided.
Sasha the moth moved slowly, struggling to not stumble and fall down on her face.
Sera started writing her letter.
