The Lost Princess in Desert's Embrace

By Josh Kilen

About The Lost Princess in Desert’s Embrace

Annabeth needs to rescue her love, Ryan, from the evil Ice People in the North. first she must travel south and enlist the help of the mysterious Desert Tribes. They will test her limits, mind, body, and soul, making her question everything. Only by holding on to the true power of love can she make it through. But what if love’s power has been scorched away?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Josh Kilen
• Release date: Oct 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301150236

Josh Kilen

Josh began writing books at age 8 and hasn't stopped telling stories. He has written more than 30 books across several genres, from children's books to business non-fiction.  

Book preview

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The Lost Princess in Desert's Embrace

Published By Josh Kilen at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Josh Kilen

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

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The Lost Princess in Desert's Embrace

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Episode 1

The golden power of the stone intensified, and both Princess Annabeth and Prince Ryan of Altersia felt something coming. Ryan leaned forward and kissed Annabeth gently on the lips. I love you, he said as he brought his hand to caress her face. A great light blinded them for a moment and Annabeth went limp in his hands. At the same time Ryan could feel a crackling at his feet and pin point stings on his skin through his pants. He looked down and to his horror he saw a creeping blue energy enveloping his legs. It crawled up his body.

Unconscious, Annabeth floated to the floor and involuntarily let go of Ryan's hands. As soon as the connection between them was broken, the energy surged up Ryan’s body and he felt himself pulled away from Annabeth and the dungeon chamber.

The sensation was like being carried away on a fast moving river, only he had never traveled at this speed. The speed was so blinding he could barely open his eyes, but what little he could see astounded him. The trees, rivers, and grasslands flowed past him and quickly gave way to snow and ice. He couldn’t see object so much as colors rushing underneath him. None of this made sense. What happened? He thought to himself, Is Annabeth okay? She had become his first concern. A cold, dark pressure enveloped him, forcing him to close his eyes, and remembered nothing more of the journey.

Ryan awoke to bleak light streaming from a small hole at the top of a thirty foot ice wall. An angry wind blew through the window, tossing small snowflakes all over. He blinked his eyes and brushed scattered snowflakes from his face. Ryan tried to stand but he got up too quickly and his body was too cold to make a lot of movement at once. He fell back onto the cold rock floor, puffs of small snow billowing out as he crashed back down. He took a moment to fully appreciate the situation he was in.

He saw the window and turned his head to take in the rest of the room. Each wall was thirty feet high, set in a square shape, each side being about 12 feet in length. The walls themselves were a translucent color, the way ice would look if someone made it into a thirty foot wall. The prison cell floor, that's what he assumed it was, felt firm, like frozen rocks piled together, glued together by ice and dirt. On the far wall was a steel door, solid and imposing. Ryan rolled gently onto his elbow and reached out to touch the wall. His fingers slipped over the smooth surface. Yup, ice. I have a bad feeling I know where I am.

He groaned as he lifted himself up from the floor, taking his time and moving in stages. After several minutes of maneuvering, he was on two feet and stretching out his limbs. Everything hurt, whether his injuries came from the extreme cold or the nearly instantaneous travel, he couldn't decide. It struck him as odd that he wasn't shivering. Laying on ice, in an obviously freezing cell should lead to hypothermia in his experience. Besides a few aches and bruises, he felt fine. Unable to find an answer, he busied himself with trying to escape. As he was inspecting the wall for handholds, and failing to find even one on the smooth surface, the steel door opened behind him.

Nezla the Ice Witch who had betrayed him in the castle dungeon, stood at the prison entrance, holding a clear ice staff. Ryan stumbled toward her, a fierce growl in his throat. You! You'll pay for this. He said. Her face a mask of calm, Nezla tilted her staff toward Ryan, making a small circular motion, and Ryan stopped in his tracks. He struggled against the invisible force, but could not make any headway.

Nezla chuckled to herself, It's no use 'Prince'. You are in my realm again, and I have no need to hide my true power this time. Unfortunately they don't want you harmed so you will have to come with me, one way or another.

Ryan glared at the Ice Witch, Who wants me? Why unharmed?

Nezla waived him off, pulling the staff closer to her, bringing Ryan with her, So many questions. Good questions, but you'll find out soon enough. Do you really have a choice in the matter?

Ryan stayed silent, but seeing the Ice Witch invigorated him. He was alert now and his years of training taught him to be aware of his surroundings. Nezla pulled him with her staff through the door and into a narrow corridor. Just like his cell, the floor was made of rock and the walls looked to be solid ice. A faint glow emanated from the walls, and Ryan wondered where the source of the light came from. He made no move to walk, content to be pulled along be the power of the Ice Witch's staff.

Nezla sighed, It might be easier for you if you walked on your own.

Ryan held his chin up defiantly, And help you? Never.

She shrugged, Have it your way. As they came to a stair, Ryan noticed the steep descent. Instead of floating down each stair, he dropped off every step, landing hard on his feet, each landing jarring him over and over. Despite being uncomfortable, Ryan crossed his arms and didn't make a move. He refused to let the Ice Witch have her way. Nezla looked behind her and sneered as Ryan 'fell' down another step.

The end of the stairs led to a gigantic cavern, larger than Ryan had ever seen before. At first he was awe struck at its expanse but quickly surveyed the situation. The soft glow of the narrow corridor barely penetrated into the cave, but as his vision improved, Ryan concentrated his vision across the murky cavern. On the other side of the cave, he could see movement, people emerging from the walls. He squinted his eyes, and saw their forms, which looked familiar. Then it hit him.

The Ice People, he whispered.

Nezla stopped and turned to him, Yes, they are waking. Come along. She said.

She pulled Ryan up another set of stairs, this time even more jarring for the Prince, but he still refused to walk on his own. After several minutes of being dragged through more narrow corridors, they came to a large set of doors. Nezla stopped and waved her hand in an intricate pattern, while making a strange humming sound. The doors opened slowly.

Prepare yourself, the Chieftain awaits you.

Episode 2

The large doors took their time pulling apart, revealing a cathedral sized throne room. Nezla dragged Ryan through the doors with her magical force and Ryan blinked hard as a bright light hit his face. The throne room was bathed in a bright light, streaming from the roof, covering every surface with brilliance. The Prince opened his eyes a slit, peeking at this new surroundings. Slowly his eyes became used to the abundance of light and