Polly perched on a snowy branch; her brilliant purple feathers outstretched as the red crown atop her head shimmered under the rays of the horizon. The long night would befall them soon. Her crimson eyes took in the scope of their party’s surroundings, all seemed quiet, safe even—for now at least. She had lost track of the passing days since they parted from wolf territory, but the wintry landscape told her they were in the Kingdom of Zevell. Her homeland.

She could find no joy in being here though. She was trapped in this wretched parrot’s body, and barely had hope the equally wretched spell that bewitched her could be undone. That foolish warlock—how she wished more than anything she could set him aflame. Perhaps when this was finished she would do just that. If this was ever finished anyway.

Damn it. She did not want to spend the rest of her life as a parrot. Even if the flying was a nice perk. She was Princess Polina Salvador. The future queen of the Zevell Kingdom. She had no siblings. It was up to her to carry on her family’s line. If this horrid situation didn’t get resolved the realm would dissolve into chaos and civil war. She couldn’t let that happen.

Her eyes darted below, examining her travel companions. The dark wolf Jack, still whimpering. He was useless, but it was difficult to be annoyed with him, given his condition. Then there was the dark haired witch—Jynet. Powerful, but she was definitely hiding something. Polly sensed something ominous emitting from her. Witches and warlocks—they were not to be trusted or depended upon. So, how did her Prince Claude become entangled with the golden eyed witch anyway? Sure, she knew the dashing prince was an adventurer at heart, but this was something else entirely. The witch appeared to be slightly on edge, too. She was definitely up to something.

Jynet and Prince Claude stood beside one another, conversing in hushed tones—or was it arguing? They seemed to have a way about pushing each other’s buttons. Polly could not deny the swell of jealousy growing inside of her. It was stupid, really. She was the princess. His betrothed. Jynet was a witch. A nothing. No threat at all. The witch wasn’t even that pretty. So, why, then, did she feel this way? Why must she be so consumed by green eyed monster?

“It will be dark soon,” Prince Claude announced for everyone to hear, unable to mask the slight tremble in his voice. “This should be good a place as any to camp out, right?”

Jack whimpered.

“The palace isn’t far from here,” Polly told them. “Squawk—we should keep going.”

Jynet narrowed her golden eyes at Polly. “Palace? You said we were looking for a tower.”

“Yes,” Polly said, “the spell must be performed at the warlock’s Great Snowflake Tower, but the spellcaster we seek still remains behind the palace walls.”

Jynet didn’t appear convinced. “How could you know this? How long has it been since you left?”

“He is my father’s prisoner,” Polly informed them. “I have no doubt he still rots in his cell.”

Jynet wrinkled her nose and curled her bottom lip inward. “You’ve taken him as your hostage?”

“We had no choice,” Polly said. “We need him to reverse the spell. Squawk—we can’t risk him having gone off somewhere. This is too important.”

Jynet shook her head feverishly. “But to put him in chains for a simple mistake—”

“His mistake was not simple,” Polly snapped, “it was paramount. He’s lucky we need him alive.”

Jynet clenched her fists at her sides, her dark hair fluttering in the light gust of wind. She grimaced, her golden eyes appearing flat as she stared at the place Polly was perched.

Polly titled her head, one of her wings outstretched. Was Jynet planning to throw a fireball at her or something? Why was she this enraged by the imprisonment of a mere inept warlock?

“If what you are saying is true,” Jynet began, “why would you even take off in the first place?”

“The reversal for the spell is quite dangerous,” Polly started to explain. “Only true love’s kiss could rectify the situation should it go the other way—squawk. I need Prince Claude.”

“How unfortunate for him then,” Jynet said.

“What’s unfortunate is you believing he’d prefer to be in your company,” Polly retorted.

Prince Claude cut into her line of vision, holding his arms up as if in surrender.

“There’s no reason to get so riled up. We’re all friends here.”

“We are not friends,” Jynet spat at him.

“Agreed,” Polly said. “Squawk—we are mere acquaintances at best.”

Jack whimpered. Again.

Prince Claude sighed heavily. “Fine. Whatever you say. We still need to decide here. Are we camping out or what? If we know the warlock is in the palace what’s the hurry?”

“I believe I already spoke about how paramount this issue is,” Polly said to him.

Polly looked toward Jynet. The witch practically had steam coming out of her ears. Though she couldn’t guess why that would be. What had she said now to aggravate the witch?

“Let’s just go,” Jynet said, finally. “The sooner we are done with this the better.”

If Polly could smile she would have. “Well, I am glad we can agree on this at least—squawk.”

Polly flew off her perch, and the quartet set off on their way.

Polly didn’t suspect they would encounter any danger. The palace was only a short distance away. After they reached the edge of the tree line the palace would only be just past the anchored bridge. It couldn’t come soon enough for her though.

Polly didn’t recognize the knights standing guard at the gate. One might think it a small thing, but in truth, it wasn’t. The royal family made it their business to know and be friendly to all who served them in order to ensure loyalty to the crown. Strangers could be unknown enemies. So these knights standing guard being unknown to her put her in an unsettling state of mind. She didn’t know whether she should voice her concern. She could already see Jynet scoffing at her, or worse—laughing at her. She would give the witch no satisfaction. She was probably just being paranoid anyway. Perhaps her parents had enlisted new knights while she was away.

Polly perched on Jack’s head, and he whimpered in response.

Jynet glanced at Polly side-eyed. “Why have you stopped?”

“I needed a comfortable place to sit,” Polly said to her. Though that wasn’t the truth. She needed a moment to collect her thoughts. The knights standing guard would likely question them, and she had no idea how to explain this ragtag team.

Polly beckoned Jack forward. She would have to wing it.

One of the knights, tall with blonde hair, unsheathed his sword as soon as he noticed them approaching. He glared at them with his stoic blue eyes.

“State your names and business here,” he said to them.

“I am Princess Polina Salvador—squawk. I realize in this state you must find what I am saying absurd, but if you send word to the king and queen they can confirm the situation. I have been bewitched by an inept warlock, and that is why I am in this form—squawk. There were things I needed to do to ensure my safety for the reversal of the spell, and that is why I left—squawk.”

“Yes, he’s been expecting you,” the knight said.

Polly gave a slight shake of her head. He was expecting her? Who exactly was he? There was no mention of her parents either. What was going on here?

“Squawk—If you could possibly send word to the king and queen I would—”

“Who are these companions of yours?” the knight asked, cutting her off sharply.

Polly tried to steady her breathing. The knight’s sharpness toward her had taken her aback a bit. The situation was becoming more unsettling, not to mention puzzling. Why was she being treated as if she were a stranger? An enemy even.

Polly turned her head, gesturing with one of her wings. “The dashing man over there is of course Prince Claude, my betrothed—squawk. The dark haired one is Jynet. She’s a witch.”

“He will want to meet her,” the knight commented.

There was that he again. Who was he, and why did it seem like this he was the one giving orders? Had something happened to her parents while she was away?

“If you could please get word to the king and queen so I can—”

The knight stepped aside but didn’t look at them. “He will see you now.”

Polly didn’t urge Jack forward. Something wasn’t right here. She stared ahead at the striking ice fortress she called home, but right now she could almost taste the danger that awaited them. This felt like a trap, but it was too late turn back now. That knight would not let them leave here with their lives. There was no choice. They would have to meet with the mysterious he.