THE ICE PALACE

 When you go into the Ice Palace the first thing you see in the ice encrusted first chamber are these statues of kings. They’re about twice as big as you are and sitting on thrones made of ice. The floor here is slick with ice and the color of a white sky about to snow. You can’t see yourself in it. There’s a door between the kings all frozen over with a sheet of thick ice. It’s formed a thick crust and you can barely see the cracks where the door fits to the icy walls. You can see your breath steaming out from your scarf. But when you draw the golden scepter with the ruby at the end and swing it like a club at the door the gout of bright fire that pours out makes the ice give way in slabs of ice that slide to the floor leaving streaks of cold water that run underneath your feet, making the floor even more slippery. The door is decorated with gold traceries that form symbols you’ve seen before, in the other palaces. The door opens inwards when you push it with your palm, and you can find yourself in the long hallway covered in dark ice which shines like crystal and glass in your cool light pouring from the lamp fixed to your belt.