Light filtered through the cracks in the wall and hit Jack's pillow. He moaned and shifted, trying to cover his eyes. He opened his bleary eyes and peered around the room. The room was prim and neat, each bed made and the sheets folded. No one else was in the room.

Jack jumped out of bed. How had he slept in? He wasn't on great terms with Sanderson, but someone should have woken him up. He groped desperately through the shelf underneath his bed. Stick wa going to be furious if he was late. He brought out a spare uniform, and gave it a sniff before pulling it on. Having five sets of identical clothing made it much easier to get dressed in the morning, though it was harder to tell which clothes were clean.

Jack stumbled down the stairs and into the yard. None of the usual drill lines were formed; even Erika was nowhere to be seen. Jack stumbled over to a guard who was leaning against the wall.

"Where is everybody?"

The guard glanced at Jack, he laughed slightly. "Are you kidding?" At Jack's confused expression the guard laughed again, "Today's the market. Yah know, everybody gets the day off."

"Really!?"

"My god you didn't know?" The guard shook his head, "you're definitely not from around here."

"You could say that," Jack said. "Thanks man."

"My pleasure."

Jack gave a sarcastic salute and wandered away. What was he going to do on market day? He had no family to visit and no money to spend. The wind swept across the yard and blew through Jack's hair. He shooed it away. He loved the wind, but people would get suspicous if he was surrounded by a frisky breeze. The wind huffed and pushed him, almost lifting him off the ground. He smiled; maybe there was something he wanted to try.

The wind felt his excitement and chased him across the yard. He practically sprinted through the town, dodging the vendors and jumping the stands that swarmed the streets. The previously bright cityhad gained a new glow. The energy from the cheerful crowds flooded the streets beinging roses to everyone's cheeks. The wind ran through the crowd beside him, stealing flowers and swirling girl's dresses. Jack broke out from the town and dashed into the forest. Sure the market was cheerful, but Jack was in the mood for somethin else.

He left the forest and took off into the trees. The wind followed Jack, racing through the trees besides him. He ran until the shouts from the town faded and he stood completely alone.

The wind fed off his excitement and swept around him. The trees surrounding him all but bent in two.

"Come on wind!" The wind roared and threw him into the air.

Jack screamed in joy. He'd missed flying far more than he'd realized. The trees faded into a green shag carpet and the houses, even the castle, turned into toys. Jack dropped and then gently rose again, only to dive into a mad corkscrew. The wind followed him, executing all manner of expert maneuvers.

Jack hovered, savoring the feeling off fresh air on his skin. The temperature was far more comfortable, than in the suffocating heat of the town. A whiff of salt darted across his face triggering another grin. There was nothing quite like playing in the ocean: the mist dusting his face while he swerved to avoid the crashing waves.

"Wind, take me to the sea!"

Nothing happened.

Jack frowned, perhaps the wind hadn't understood. "Come on wind! Let's go play in the sea."

The wind pulled him farther and farther inland. Jack frowned. There were some strong downsides to playing with a sentient wind. Jack looked around him, noticing the mountain peaks that stretched through the clouds. The wind started to bring him down, passing through layers of clouds.

"Look I'm sorry." Jack wasn't sure what he was apologizing for. Why had the wind stopped playing? Had Jack done something? "I'll make it up to you. If you don't want to play anymore that's fine, just bring me back to town."

The wind's course didn't alter.

Jack tried to relax. Maybe if he gave off a calm, nonthreatening aura the wind would let him go.

The wind did and immediately Jack realized how foolish that wish was.

As he hurtled downward, he squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for his inevitable fate. Fortunately his misery was brought to a close in a few short seconds. He slid slightly as he landed, bumping into what he presumed to be a railing. The wind butted him cautiously, examining him to ensure he wasn't injured. Apparently the wind hadn't been trying to kill him.

Jack stood up and scanned his surroundings. An unconscious word slipped from his lips.

"Ice."

Jack was standing on a balcony made entirely of ice. It would have been perfect, were it not for the gaping hole on one side. He peered over into the dark cavern that fell away underneath him. If the wind had dropped him just slightly to the right, Jack would've been a pancake. He shook his head and entered the castle.

His breath caught. Ice swept up from all sides orming gorgeous wall and decorataions. It had all the beauty of winter with the serenity of architecture. His eyes fell to the floor and he winced. Sure, this room due had all the signs of perfection, but it was marred by the heap of broken ice on the floor. From the larger shards he saw, it must have been some sort of decoration. He picked his way across the room. This must be Elsa's castle. Sure it wasn't a kingdom, but it was still incredible.

Ahead of him someone emerged from the shadows, a towering mass of snow and ice. It blinked at Jackand for a moment iciclyles bristle on its spine. But when Jack made no move towards it, the creature decided he was harmless and settled back against the wall. "You must be the army." The sun struck the tiny tiara perched on the giant snowman's head and Jack snorted. "Ferocious."

Jack wandered through the door on the other side of the room. He inspected it the room, then hurried to the next doorway eager to see more of the castle. He lost himself in the maze of rooms, each one a tiny present he could open and inspect. Some had intricate furniture, covered with lacy, frosty cloth. Other's contained chandeliers, potted ice plants and grand pianos. He even found a room the contained a miniature of the entire city. The people in it were having a lively market day that put the real city to shame.

He raced out of the last room and ran down the stairs, excited to inspect the last floor. He saw a beautiful hall, with a fountain so pristine it amde the rest ofthe castle look dirty. He slid around the edge of the hall, searching for adjacent rooms. The only door he found led outside. His smile slipped away, leaving only sore cheeks.

Jack leaned against the door. His movements no longer frenzied and energetic. He shouldn't have rushed through the rooms. He started back towards the rooms, but ended up back at the door. He could examine them in greater detail later, for now the surprise was gone.

A thought crossed his mind and Jack's smile returned. He'd never seen the castle in full. He pushed open the gigantic front doors and rushed down the stair case, taking a moment to admire the fine craftsmanship of each step.

When he reached the bottom, he paused for a moment, before turning slowly around. The beuty of the castle washed over him and he stumbled, falling to his knees. All his years making blizzards and snow days seemed fleeting and unimportant compared to the majesty before him. Why had he wasted all that time?

A image of Elsa drifted into his mind. She sat ramrod straight, only allowing herself a tiny smile. He glanced back at the castle. How had she done this?

…..

The guards sagged against the wall. One cleaned his nails with a knife, while the other practiced catching a tiny pebble. They were forced to miss market day to stand guard over some lousy prison. Elsa wished she could dismiss them. They doubtless wanted to run away and visit their children or buy flowers for the girls they wished to someone had to stand guard.

They barely registered as Elsa walked past. She nodded and received only half hearted 'ya muhjesty's in return. Their manners made a certain other guard look like a prince.

She galnced down the four corridors that branched away from her. She was looking for cell 341. Persumabely that would be located in the third corridor. She braethed through her mouth, trying to avod the unique perfume the priosn offered and turned into the corridor

She scanned the cells by the flickering torchlight. She liked to think that the empty cells were a testimont to a well run kingdom with a low crime rate, not lazy guards. She tried not to think of teh nnchalant attitudes of the guards se had just passed and focused on the contents of the cells. The two occupants she did see were curled upaway from her, sparing only a glance for their queen.

She came to cell 341 and peered inside. The only inhabitant was a pile of rags. She frowned; had the Baard gotten the cell number wrong? It was a shame to come here for nothing. Maybe someone else would know the prisoner she was looking for. She could go talk to the other prisoners she'd seen and if that failed, maybe the guards would know something.

The pile of rags moved, making her musing obsolete.

"I must be accused of somethig terrible." The pile of cloth parted to show a man's face, "I can't beleive that every prisoner receives a royal guest." He bowed his head, "it's such a pleasure to see your majesty in person. I'd offer you tea and crumpets, but I'm afraid I've run out."

Elsa realized her mouth had fallen open. She snapped it shut and hoped the torchlight would hide the odd expression. "Your brother came and addressed the court. He says that you're innocent, so I came to hear your case."

"I stole the bread."

Elsa's mouth returned to it's guppy state. She locked it shut, fastening a quenly expression of her face. "I don' t think you understad we're considering letting you go. All you have to do is plead your innocence."

His laugh was cold and hard. "Justice is so much more understanding when you have friend in high places. I stole that bread. If someone else is going to spend three months in jail for theft, I shouldn't get to stroll out just because you go all weak in the knees when you see a toddler with big eyes."

"I was genuinely considering that you were innocent. I'm sorry my caring bothered you. it's clear I've made a mistake; you are a common theif."

He laughed again. There as no humor in that sound. "I may have stolen bread, but of the two of us, you've stolen far more."

"Excuse you!?" This was the last time Elsa tried to be nice. Perhaps she was a softy.

"How am I supposed to buy bread when you put ridiculous taxes on it? The way I see it, when I buy one loaf I'm already paying for two, so I might as well take the next one."

"That's not how it works!"

"Please, you just want money to line your coafers and get plenty of pretty dresses and golden accssories so you can get all dolled up and parade among the poor prisoners. I'm sorry if I don't jump to kiss your feet."

"I'm not taking the money," Elsa clenched her fists. "Seekren is in the middle of a drought. I needed the taxes to ensure that we could lower the price of shipping for food and other necessary comodities. I was helping people."

"And while you're nurturing Seekren back to health people in you very city are starving. It's not helping if you take food out of someone's mouth to feed someone else."

"I'm doing the best I can. I don't want anybody to starve, but the best I can do is minimize the casualties." Even though the shadow wasn't there Elsa could almost hear his laughter.

The prisoners real laughter mirrored the imagnined one. "If I was in charge I guarentee I could find a more efficient way to ship grain."

"Then get out of jail and prove it."

"I don't want to." He lounged against the wall, "I want to stay here."

"And if I command you to be free?"

"Then you'll prove that you're the stuck up queen I know you to be."

Elsa huffed. She wanted to leave. She wanted to let him rot in the cold and the dark, but everytime she stealed herself to go, she saw the little boy begging her to help his brother. She whealed around and leaned agaist the bars, "What about your brother? He needs you."

The smirk disappeared from his face, replaced by pain. "My aunt and uncle will take him in. He's better off with them."

She knew that pain, "You're wrong." She turned away, "I'll be back in a week, think about the offer."

She left the man sitting on the dungeon floor, with only shadows and rats for company.