"Are you sure it's fine? My Lord, I can accompany you and keep you safe without those creatures noticing me." Baba Voss was a very versatile warrior, but he could be easily detected by polar bears.
Haldor, who was dressed in leather armor beneath a high-quality black fur tunic, shook his head. "I'm not going to risk you being discovered and ruining my deal with the bears. We need this alliance to keep growing until the day of my appointment."
Azazel watched all the humans around him vigilantly, not allowing anyone to mount him without his rider's command.
Lucian understood that Haldor needed to make this journey alone, but he still handed him a wool bag containing a magical powder and warned him, "If you need to fight, don't forget to eat this. It will give you greater control over magic, and you will be able to fight much better."
"I got it, thanks," said Haldor, taking the wool bag.
At that moment, seated on his mount, he put on his coat and a scarf to cover his face and protect him from freezing too quickly. "Alright, Azazel, let's get out of here."
"Fly!"
Roarrr!!!
Azazel was large enough to fly with Haldor without any problem. However, he was still small considering how much he would grow.
In this white world, everything seemed terrifying, but Haldor had stopped feeling fear.
It was as if he truly believed he could not be hurt. The connection between him and his dragon made him believe this.
From his point of view, this place was identical to the Arctic, a remote part of the world where ghosts wander the cold ground, a place with vast territories that humans still dare not tread frequently, and where beasts survive conditions that even humans cannot endure.
Everyone knows the whole world depends on the Arctic, but for obvious reasons, it is also known as the most unprotected place on the planet.
Each year, the ice increases and the cold grows stronger, but it also depends on the time of year to maintain these temperatures. When winter arrives, it is as if a dead silence invades all the surroundings of this white world.
Cold-blooded animals face the low temperatures by becoming inactive, leaving the snowy surroundings completely deserted.
All the animals, especially the rare ones that are difficult to find, disappear without a trace. Humans, especially, do not dare to tread these places at this time of year, let alone any other time.
But also, especially for those animals that didn't gather enough food to survive, it becomes a time for hunting.
"We're looking for white bears, Azazel; don't attack them." Haldor's voice was lost among the noise of the snow, the howling wind, and the flapping of his dragon's wings.
Roarrr!!!
Fear is only in the mind; when one faces the unknown, it is normal to feel fear, but Haldor had left all that behind.
They were looking for an ice palace; it should be connected to a mountain, but he had no idea where it was.
But at that moment, after searching for the armored bears for more than ten minutes, Azazel saw something.
When Azazel's wings flapped forcefully and he dove, the speed increased exponentially, and Haldor could only hold tightly to the saddle. The experience of flying on a dragon was extremely exhilarating, a challenge, and a swirl of contained emotions.
For Haldor's first flight, he thought he was doing well.
This was similar to driving a car, maybe not directly, but Haldor thought about where he wanted to go, and his dragon seemed to have a sixth sense, moving exactly where he wanted to go.
"We must not be seen as enemies, Azazel." Haldor feared being attacked as soon as he entered the armored bears' field of vision. It wasn't apparent, but these bears could attack with their cannon-like weapons from an extremely high altitude, and it was threatening as they would be in danger if that impact hit them.
The armored bears guarding the castle noticed the blue spot descending from the sky in their direction and could not help but send a signal of alert.
"Dragon, bring the celestial cannons."
"Inform the King we are under attack."
"There is no time to prepare for the first charge; we must hide from the first attack."
The colossal armored bears moving between the ice wall fortifications entered chaos, and in less time than they could have imagined, Azazel descended from the sky, creating a massive curtain of snow and air.
Boom!!!
A thunderous noise shook the walls, stirred the snow hills, and made all the armored bears freeze.
At that moment, the armored bears stood on two legs, and after the snow curtain became less dense, everyone could see Haldor standing on Azazel's wing.
His gaze was analyzing any circumstances where his life could be in danger, but now it seemed everyone had reached a mutual understanding not to attack.
After all, dragons are among the most powerful beasts in the world, along with giant turtles. No armored bear would seek a fight with a dragon unless necessary.
"I intend to speak with your Lord; send my message: Haldor Mondragon wishes to see him. I am the current Lord of the Shadow Tower, and I come in peace," Haldor said, trying to be respectful but never bending his authority.
The armored bears were silent, one in particular about to take the message to their Lord, when suddenly a thunderous shout reached Haldor's location: "Who dares to invade my kingdom?"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The footsteps of the approaching armored bear were fast; he was a king after all, and a fight would not be awaited on the battlefield where his people were fighting.
But when he reached the palace gate, what he found was a dragon, and his rider was not attacking his people.
"It seems there's no need to send my message, Lord; my visit is not at all offensive." Haldor showed authority but was understanding with such an exorbitant bear.
Lorek Byrnison, Lord of Svalbard, looked Haldor directly in the eyes without fearing his dragon and, with an authoritative, deep, and threatening voice, asked, "You come with a dragon to the gate of my kingdom, cause a commotion, and you're telling me you come in peace?"
Rrrr!!!
Azazel growled, sensing Lorek's threatening presence, who was not at all friendly, understandably so, knowing he was only protecting his interests.
"We have a misunderstanding. As you can see, I cannot cross all this ice, especially with this weather, to come to this meeting. I did not think celestial bears were so discourteous." Haldor walked towards Lorek without any fear while being followed by his dragon.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Lorek understood the game Haldor was playing and warned him, "Your dragon does not intimidate me, young human."
"My intention was never to intimidate your majesty. Would you be so kind as to grant me an audience?" Haldor asked once again, genuinely interested in having a closer conversation with this enormous white bear.
"Your dragon cannot enter. If you want an audience, you must be alone." Lorek thought Haldor would turn back after setting this condition, but he was very wrong.
"I have no problem with that. Haldor needs to hunt, so he will not be here during our conversation."
Lorek frowned, not expecting this response at all. But seeing a young human with such bravery and confidence, he had no choice but to accept this audience. "Follow me; I hope for your sake that what you want to talk about is important enough, or the last thing you'll receive from us will be courtesy."
"I'm sure you won't regret it, your majesty. We'll have a very good conversation," Haldor said as he entered the cold palace walls.
The armored bears along the way looked at Haldor threateningly. Azazel, who was far away, didn't want to leave, but under the absolute orders of his rider, he had no choice but to flap his wings and fly away.
Along the way, Lorek said, "I thought southern dragons didn't dare cross the great wall."
"I'm from the north; my dragon was also born in the north."
"I see."
Haldor felt this palace was too large. After all, this place was not meant for humans to inhabit.
Soon they reached the royal hall, a place that certainly had nothing to envy from human palaces.
Upon entering the hall, one perceives an atmosphere of serenity and grandeur. The ice walls, translucent and radiant, rise toward the ceiling in imposing arches, reflecting and refracting light in a kaleidoscope of cool colors. The floor, polished to shine like a mirror, is made of perfectly aligned ice blocks, giving the sensation of walking on glass.
While Haldor appreciated this place, Lorek arrived at his throne.
At the end of the hall stood that monumental throne, carved directly from a large block of ice. This throne was for the leader of the bears, with high backs and elaborate decorations symbolizing his authority and power.
"I am Lorek Byrnison, a panserbjorn, as humans recognize me, and king of Svalbard. Now tell me, who are you and why are you here?" Lorek asked, staring fixedly at Haldor, who, to the bears, seemed diminutive.
Around the hall was Lorek's royal guard, all interested in knowing what a weak human boy was doing here.
Haldor stared at Lorek and, in simple words, said, "I am Haldor Mondragon, Lord of the Shadow Tower and future prince of Frostgard. I am here to form an alliance with the armored bears because..."
"What do you have to say?"
"A long war is approaching, and this will involve everyone in the far north."