The Lost Princess in The Shifting Sands: The Lost Princess Saga, #2

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. But 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 she knows. 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?

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Cantonfield Publishing
• Release date: Mar 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497788602

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

Don’t Miss out on book three!

'The Lost Princess in Destiny’s Call'

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 lifted his hand to caress her face. A great light blinded them for a moment and Annabeth went limp. At the same time Ryan could feel a crackling at his feet and pinpoint stings on his skin through his pants. He looked down, and to his horror he saw a creeping blue energy enveloping his legs. Like weirdly animated spider webs, 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 where they’d been captured.

The sensation was like being swept away by the currents of a raging river, only he had never traveled at this speed. The rush was so blinding he could barely open his eyes, but what little he could see astounded him. The trees, waterways, and grasslands flowed past him and quickly gave way to snow and ice. He couldn’t see objects so much as colors rushing underneath him. Disconcerted, he asked himself, ’What’s happened?’ and, ‘Is Annabeth okay?’ She had become his first concern. But now, a cold, dark pressure enveloped him, forcing him to close his eyes, and he 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, scattering small snowflakes all around. He blinked his eyes and brushed a thin veil of snowflakes from his face. Ryan tried to stand, but his body was too cold to make any quick movements. 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, just the way ice would look if someone made it into a thirty-foot wall. The prison cell floor, for that's what he assumed it was, felt firm, like frozen rocks piled together, bonded 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. Lying on ice, in an obviously freezing cell should lead to hypothermia, but besides a few aches and bruises, he felt fine. Unable to find an answer, he turned his attention to 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 was halted 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, compelling Ryan to follow her, So many questions. Good questions, but you'll find out soon enough. Do you really imagine you 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 reminded him to be aware of his surroundings. Nezla pulled him with her staff, sliding him 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 drawn along by 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 gently floating down each stair, he was 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 awestruck at its expanse but nevertheless 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 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 pulled majestically apart, revealing a cathedral sized throne room. Still using her magical force, Nezla dragged Ryan through the doors, 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 he saw shapes lining the path he was being dragged. Tall and proud, they looked like the shapes that he had seen in the cavern before, Ice People.

At the end of this path was a throne fit for a giant. In fact, as Ryan's vision became more clear, he saw the throne move. He became aware that the throne was not a chair, but a person, an Ice Person. He was huge! ‘This must be the Chieftain,’ he thought. To either side of the great Ice Chieftain stood the former evil King and Queen who had captured and imprisoned Annabeth. Ryan snarled when we saw them and with a grace and power he didn't know he had, launched himself at the King, who should have fallen in defeat, strangled by the strength of Ryan’s furious grip. Unfortunately, the force field was still in place and Nezla's power bounced him back onto the ground. Ryan fell on his back, but immediately got back up, ready for a fight and willing to bide his time. A resounding laughter filled the room.

You have such spirit in you. My children did well to bring you to me. Yes, you will be quite useful to us, won't you Prince Ryan? The Great Ice Chieftain said.

Ryan only stared at him. He wouldn't give him an inch.

The Ice Chieftain leaned forward slightly and nodded his head, Yes, spirit indeed. You may not know your role in the coming battle but you will play it perfectly. I wonder if knowing your fate makes this more difficult? He sat back in complete relaxation, "In any case, you will help us reclaim the Middle Kingdom and Southern Lands for