Noa was going in the carriage.
His head looking down.
Inside, this happened very fast.
Why did my father suddenly become so cold, or is it because of my brother?
With such thoughts he walked on that road.
Coachman: Prince, they are not sending you to death, I thought your father loves you.
Noa: I am no longer prince, call me by my name.
Coachman: Okay, N..Noa.
Noa: I don't know what happened to my father, suddenly behaving like this is not natural.
Coachman: I also think so, they used to call you the emperor's favorite, it was not a secret that the queen and our king loved you very much, but today's event shocked me.
Noa: I also did not expect.
Thus, after seven days of long road they arrived at the northern border fortress.
In front of the gate, dragon soldiers.
— Stop, who are you?
Coachman: We are from the central palace, ordered to bring here the former prince Noa.
Soldiers came near the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looking at Noa said:
— Are you that fallen prince?
They checked the carriage.
Soldier: You may enter.
The gate creaked open, the carriage slowly passed inside. Noa raised his head and for the first time saw the fortress of the northern border.
Inside the cold air was even sharper. The walls of the fortress were covered with snow as if made from ice, from the high towers black smoke was rising into the sky. In every corner torches were burning, but their flame could not fight against the cold.
The yard was wide, but cold. On the ground snow lay thick, on it hundreds of horse traces could be seen. Soldiers lined up and trained, their shouts filled the whole yard. Some trained with swords, some struck giant wooden mannequins, others sharpened their knives in the freezing wind.
Noa stopped his eyes on them. These people were different. In their eyes there was no mercy, on their faces no smile. They lived far from the empire, only for war.
When the carriage stopped, a thick armored officer approached. His armor was of black iron, on his shoulder a dragon engraving was carved. His gaze was icy and heavy.
— So you are Noa, former prince, — he said in a hard voice. — Now this place is your home. Forget the splendor of the palace. Here only the strong live, the weak are buried in snow.
His words spread over the yard. Soldiers stopped training and looked at Noa. In their eyes not only surprise, but also mockery was present. Some whispered and laughed:
— Look, the emperor's darling came…
— How long will he endure in this cold place?
Noa kept silent. His heart began to beat fast, but he held his head high.
The inner buildings of the fortress were dark and cold. When he entered the great hall, the ceilings were high, the walls built from icy stone. On the walls hung old weapons, rusted shields, in the unlit fireplaces wind was howling.
Everything looked heavy, cold and wild. Here there were no golden columns of the palace, no silk curtains. Only war, blood and ice ruled.
Noa thought inside:
"So, this is my new world. I must learn to live here. If I cannot endure — I am nothing."
As he went deeper inside the fortress, the cold and heaviness grew stronger. Narrow corridors were built of hard stone, from the ceilings drops of ice fell onto the floor. The wind howled through the cracks of the windows, filling the rooms with an evil spirit.
On both sides of the corridors soldiers stood. Their eyes followed Noa, in their gaze cold mockery and suspicion was reflected. Passing before them was like passing through the ranks of enemies.
At one moment the officer stopped and opened a heavy door. Behind the door was a small, dark room. The walls were bare stone, on the floor lay an old wool carpet. In the corner was an iron bed, beside it a bone-cold blanket was thrown. The table and chair were simple, poorer even than rooms for servants.
— This is your place, — said the officer in a cold tone. — The title of prince or former heir means nothing here. Now you are one of the soldiers. You will eat bread equal with them, you will train equal with them. Whoever is weak — in the morning will not wake up alive.
Noa stayed silent. He stepped into the cold room, around him there was no splendor. But in the depth of his heart something was burning — not honor or power, but determination.
He put his palm on the table. The wood was cold, but this cold could not break him. He remembered his mother's seal. When he held it in his hand, warmth seemed to flow into his heart.
At that moment outside the sound of a horn rang. The footsteps of soldiers filled the yard. The voice of the officer was heard:
— All newcomers, starting from morning will go out to training! On the northern border only the strong stay alive!
Noa looked out from the window. Snow was falling, the wind was howling. This place was merciless, as if created to test people. But inside he whispered:
"I will not break. I will defeat this cold. Because my path begins here."