Chapter 38: Hot and Cold

The next morning, after a calm breakfast, they packed up camp and set off for, hopefully, the last stretch of plains before the mountains. Pyewacket loped along at a brisk canter with Sigurd galloping beside them on all fours, his large tongue lolling out the side of his mouth and his ears pressed against his head. Maverick floated next to him, his tongue lolling in the same manner.

Gadd sat snoozing in his saddlebag, the sunhat pulled snugly down over his eyes. Luigi kept his eyes bolted on the base of the mountains, now only a few miles away. He grimaced slightly. The events of yesterday, plus Grym's cryptic warning, Judges' foul mood, and Loky's smug remarks had placed him in a state of temporary concerned determination. Concerned determination to not screw up by any means. He shook his head, swiping an arm across his brow. He couldn't let it get to him now. Especially since they were so close to Iceland.

They all gave a cry of surprise when Pyewacket faltered. Pyewacket gritted his teeth as he tensed his leg and balanced himself, roughly halting. His sides heaved as he looked around. Luigi gently released his death-grip on the fiery-red mane. "Are you alright?" he panted. "What was that?"

"Weegee!! De ground soft!!!" Pyewacket pressed his foot against the earth, drawing a small puddle of water from the thick sphagnum beneath his feet. Gadd grumbled groggily, grumpy at having been shaken from his nap. He looked down after adjusting his glasses. "Eh…? Swamp?" Pyewacket slowly put his foot down.

"Must be left over from that last storm," Kalliel said as Sigurd wrinkled his nose. His tail swished in agitation as he nimbly hopped over a nearby puddle to another spot of dry land. He beckoned for them.

Luigi resituated himself and took hold of Pyewacket's mane as the prince followed Sigurd. "Just take it slow, okay?"

Pyewacket hopped along the small islands, every now and then, stepping in the water. "Yow!!" He yelped. "Izza cold!!" His attention was snared as something white floated by. With a lightning quick snap, Pyewacket seized it with his tongue. He had snagged a massive chunk of ice.

"What…?" Gadd asked, raising the brim of his hat. Sigurd cocked his head, his ear twitching. A slight crumbling noise alerted him to the surrounding marshes as Pyewacket dropped the chunk of ice. He paused for a moment, feeling a rumbling in his stomach before ripping a chunk off and swallowing it whole. He belched loudly.

Sigurd's ears were still pricked for any noises. Aside from the resounding echoes of Pyewacket's belch, small crackling could be heard. His eyes focused on the chunks of ice floating in the water. The source of the noise. He turned to them and whined.

Luigi slid off of the yoshi's back. "I think I'm gonna go with you guys on foot." Sigurd whined again.

"What is it, boy?" Marius asked, sliding off of Pyewacket's back as well.

Luigi frowned as he looked around. Mist was beginning to enclose the area. He rubbed his arms. "Brrr…Let's just get a move on. Looks like we'll have to hop from 'island' to 'island.'" He nodded to Sigurd as he dug his coat from one of the packs. "Lead on, old buddy."

Sigurd snuffled and pricked his ears as he bounded off into the mists. Luigi took hold of one of the saddle straps and led Pyewacket along as they followed Sigurd as best as they could. Often times Sigurd had to reappear to check on them, startling Luigi significantly each time. It was no problem for Luigi to jump, nor to Pyewacket, whose long legs made his hopping relatively easy. Marius, however, couldn't keep up as well. Luigi paused to allow him to catch up. Marius sprang forward from his dry patch to the incline of the small hill that Luigi stood on.

"AGH!" He cried as he lost his footing on the crumbly ground. Any icy chill enveloped him as he fell with a loud splash into the water. Luigi leapt down to the edge as he floundered, spluttering.

"Gah!! Can't…swim…pbbt…too cold!" Marius yelped. Luigi seized his wrist. "C'mon!" He said as he heaved the shivering koopa from the water.

Marius shuddered. "Th-thanks…" he said, his teeth chattering. Luigi smiled as Gadd tossed him a blanket. "No prob. 'S what friends are for, right?" With Marius atop Pyewacket, bundled in a blanket to ward off the chill, the going became much quicker.

"S-sorry for s-slowing y-you down," he chattered. "I can't jump as good," he said as he steadied himself as Pyewacket made another jump.

"Don't worry, you're fine-GYAAH!" Luigi yelped as he stepped into a deep pool of frigid water. He hopped about for a moment, shaking his leg as he tried to get the feeling to return. "Not paying attention…ow, man you weren't kidding." He rubbed his foot.

Sigurd barked, and then pointed one clawed finger up at the steep mountain face in front of them.

Gadd adjusted his glasses. "Oof…we've got some work to do…"

Windbag sat on his throne at the center of the great hall, picking idly at the bandage on his arm. As soon as he had entered his own castle, his personal medics were upon him like vultures, stating that the arm that had been shattered in the fight with Judges needed to be wrapped.

He sighed heavily before ripping the corner of the bandage and unraveling it.

"Y-your majesty, p-please don't…!" The timid squire said running to him. Windbag leveled his bushy eyebrows in a scowl.

"Squire!" he barked, silencing him. "It didn't need to be wrapped in the first place." Windbag stood to his feet, shrugging off the regal fur drape from around his shoulders. He rolled his sleeve back down over his arm. "…Dunno why you all have to fuss over me…I can take care of my own damn self…" he muttered sourly to himself as he slowly strode towards the opened hall doors. He snapped his fingers and another toad servant appeared with outstretched arms to take his robe. Windbag tossed it idly at him, covering him completely in the thick fabric.

He continued onward as the toad struggled to pull the cape off of him. Windbag's squire paused and took a shaky breath as the king stopped in the open doorway, staring down the broad, high-ceilinged causeway into the late afternoon sky. The Valdyr standing guard stiffened and saluted to their king.

"K-king Windbag?" He asked as the high king began walking down the hall towards the front gate. Windbag was in a foul mood and had been since they had returned. "…" the squire wrung his hands uneasily, yet followed. Though his king certainly had become more respectable, his temper still frightened him.

"Don't take it personally, kid…" Windbag said with a heavy sigh. He stopped in the archway of the main gate and jammed his fists into his pockets. The snow swirled in drifts around him, slightly ruffling the shock of wiry, grey-streaked red hair. "I'm probably not gonna feel any better until they get here." He turned his head just so he could see the toad out of the corner of his eye. "I didn't mean to snap, lad." He said calmly.

"O-oh, no sir," The toad said with a small smile. "N-no offense taken." He relaxed knowing that his king wasn't going to aim his frustrations at him like he used to. "So…" he started, trying to somehow take his king's mind off of his troubles, "…what's going to happen now?"

"I'm not sure…" Windbag sighed again. Even with his sleeves rolled up and his coats and fur capes absent, the cold didn't seem to both him. What did he care? He was king of Iceland. He was the blizzards that raged, the snows that swirled, yet at this particular moment, he felt helpless. He sat unsure of where Luigi and the others were while darkness stirred just beyond his eastern borders.

The squire fidgeted slightly once more, shifting his coat tighter around him to ward off the chill. Windbag turned his eyes to him and opened his mouth to speak before being cut off by an eerie sound. All of the Valdyr stiffened, turning their muzzles, ears perked, to the southern mountain ranges. Windbag froze. A lone howl echoed over the forests and snow plains, eerie, yet familiar. His lip curled into a crooked smirk. "They're here!" He barked, turning on his heel and pelting full-speed down the corridor to his throne room. He snatched his fur-lined drape from the bewildered servant and drew his crystal wand from his belt.

"King Windbag, wait! What is it?" The squire gasped as he struggled to keep up with him.

The squire wasn't fast enough to keep up with him. By the time his short legs had carried him to the top of the Castle's tower, Windbag was already pointing his wand into the sky. He collapsed panting at his king's feet. Windbag was drawing a slow, small circle with his wand, causing the clouds to swirl ever so slightly. The squire shivered, "K-king Windbag…what's g-going on?" he stammered.

"The moment they cross into the mountains, Luigi and the others are under my protection. I told Sigurd to hold back and wait for them. Once they passed the checkpoint, he was to notify me," He said as he brought his hand up to his face. A glowing white orb appeared in his palm.

"I-is that…what that howl was?" The squire panted. He waited through a tight pause as the king focused on his own business.

"Mmhmm…" he finally said, raising his hand and bringing his wand down to his side. His hand trembled slightly as the light shimmered and finally burst into a thousand sparkling specks. Windbag flipped his wand in his fingers, starting up a fierce gale that whipped their coats. Snow began to fall from the bruised, heavy clouds overhead in a thick, icy sheet, coating everything in white and limiting their visibility. As Windbag raised his wand again, the wind picked up even more, whipping the snow in a stinging storm.

The squire shielded his face from the wind, squinting to see his king. "Gyaaah!!" He screamed and fell back against the wall of the parapet. Materializing out of the snow was an enormous wolf head with glowing white eyes and icy fangs. It growled loosely as Windbag stepped up onto the edge of the wall. Frost was clinging to his light beard and eyebrows; the wind stung his cheeks as he stared into the face of the Ice Spirit. It loosed another breathy growl in recognition of the one who had summoned it. The squire shrunk back as far as he could, petrified of the detached lupine face in the snow and wind.

"(You called…?)" His voice echoed on the winds in ancient Icelandic. "(Windbag King…what do you ask of me?)"

Windbag replied in his native tongue, shouting against the maelstrom of ice and snow, "(I did...We have a new master…I fear that he will be in danger without your aid.)" The ice spirit nodded, humming lowly. "(Will you grant him your power should he request it?)" Windbag asked, keeping his crystal wand pointed at the spirit.

The wolf head thought. At last he smiled an icy, toothy grin. "(I have heard the bells…I shall…now, what of your true request?)"

Windbag grinned fiercely, "(Seal my kingdom.)" The wolf closed its pearly eyes and howled, causing its ethereal face to vanish from the snow. The storm subsided enough for them to see a giant snowy wolf thunder away towards the mountains, whipping up small cyclones of snow before leaping forward and dissolving into a thick blanket of snow that flew up to the heavens and into the thick grey clouds that blanketed the land. Peals of distant thunder sounded across the kingdom as the wolf rematerialized, far out of their line of vision and pelted along the ridge of mountains, dragging with it, a line of icy storms that resembled drawing a curtain on an open window.

Pyewacket was struggling to keep his balance through the wind and snow as he followed Sigurd at a fast run. Sigurd bounded from rock to rock effortlessly. Luigi gripped the fiery mane as he struggled to stay on. Marius kept a tight grip on Luigi's coat as they pelted through the wind.

"Wh-where did this come from?!?!" Luigi exclaimed as he tried to keep Pyewacket on course.

"Weegeee!!" Pyewacket notta see nothin'!!" He exclaimed. He let out an anguished cry as he lost his footing and flapped his wings as they tumbled down a steep embankment. Maverick yipped sharply, calling for Sigurd to stop. The two white creatures backtracked and flew down the small slope to find Pyewacket sprawled on the snow, wings folded awkwardly. Luigi pushed himself up, having been thrown a fair ways while Marius released his hold on the saddle and gripped his arm. Gadd peeked out of the saddlebag, "Is everyone all right?" He called over the storm.

"I think…agh…" Marius said, barely audible. Luigi crawled to him and knelt over him, "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Maverick whirred as he nudged Marius up into a sitting position.

"My shoulder…" he managed to strain. He tried to shift his arm, only to have a shooting pain snuff his efforts. Sigurd knelt beside him and sniffed. Kalliel appeared next to Luigi. "This storm is not natural…" He muttered.

"What is it? I mean…is it good or bad?" Luigi asked as Gadd and Sigurd looked at Marius' arm.

"Good, I think…" He said, as he stood, looking to the sky. "Windbag is closing off the pass…for our protection, I believe."

"Well… don't you think he could've waited a few minutes longer?" Luigi asked. Marius gave a loud cry that cut through the howl of the wind as Sigurd popped his arm back into his shoulder. "AAaaaghhh….." Marius hissed as the pains slowly subsided. "…th-thanks…" he grimaced. His arm had been dislocated and a quick pop had set it back into place.

Luigi patted Marius on the back. "Besides," he said as he helped Pyewacket and Marius to their feet. "What was that baying for? That had to be the single creepiest thing I've ever heard," Luigi asked Sigurd. Sigurd turned and looked over his shoulder as the sound of loud thunderclaps was heard. Luigi paused, still with an arm around Marius' shoulder. They both cast each other a worried look as a tremor rumbled through the ground. Kalliel stiffened, clenching his fists as he stared off into the snowfall. Out of nowhere and thundering rapidly towards them, a massive white wolf galloped along the ridgeline, taller than any skyscraper. Luigi, Marius, Gadd, Pyewacket and Even Maverick uttered loud cries of shock and terror and fell backwards as the spirit galloped over them, bringing a forceful blizzard in its wake. Sigurd howled happily as it thundered over them, casting a quick glance over its shoulder at them as it sped away.

They all sat frozen in shock until Kalliel appeared over them and yelled over the roar of the wind, "We must find shelter, else we freeze to death!!" He and Sigurd helped the others up again and followed as Sigurd bounded away, stopping to look back at them. He barked for them to increase their pace.

Windbag stood on the parapet, watching as the blizzard spread along the far-off mountains. Though the wolf was too far away to see, he knew he was doing his job. He shook his head, loosing some flakes of ice and frost from his whiskers and hair. His clothing was coated in a fine layer of white. Turning, he addressed his squire. "Hey, I think we should get some tea. How about you go scrounge me and you up a couple of cups, huh?" He smirked. The squire nodded in disbelief of how he could be so calm after all they had just witnessed. It was almost nothing to the king.

The toad shakily climbed to his feet, wiping the frost and snow off of his face before slowly and shakily sliding down the tower steps. Windbag followed several moments later. He hopped off of the parapet and strode towards the stairwell, heels clicking on the stone as he walked. Down the winding steps he went, passing the squire mid-way. "Hurry up, boy, you're not gonna let an old fart like me beat you, huh?"

The squire groaned.

The winds whipped angrily in small cyclones of ice and snow as the group huddled inside of a cave. Sigurd stood watch outside in the wind, his mane and fur ruffling in the cold gusts. Gadd and Luigi were busying themselves with trying to light a fire from the tinder and logs that Sigurd had gouged from a nearby fir tree. Things were not going well, even with Luigi's magic, the bitter cold was extinguishing the flames just as quick as they could ignite the logs.

"This is nuts…" Gadd muttered against his chattering teeth. He rubbed his arms to ward off the chill.

"See…if Mario were here, he'd have this thing lit already…" Luigi said with a small sigh as he rubbed his hands together and formed a bright green fireball in his hands. He touched it to the logs again, focusing all of his power on making the flame hotter and bigger so the wood would catch. "He can do this much better than I can…"

Gadd merely shook his head as Maverick shivered beside Luigi. Marius scooted closer to where they knelt. He rubbed his hands together and produced a small fireball of his own. "It isn't the wind that's getting me, it's this blasted cold…"

"It would be wise to stay put until morning," Kalliel said as he helped straighten the tent poles so the shelters could be erected properly. "Like I said, this storm isn't natural. This is Windbag's doing. He's merely trying to cover our tracks and nothing more."

"Too bad his timing was off a bit," Gadd chuckled, shivering again.

"Simple miscalculation," Kalliel smiled back.

Pyewacket whimpered to himself as he lay against the wall. He was used to searing tropical heat, not the burning cold winds and icy terrain. The ache in his belly was also driving him crazy. He pushed himself up and flapped his wings before loosing an anguished roar.

"Hey, what's wrong?!" Luigi called, running over to him as he thrashed. Pyewacket coughed loudly, bringing forth another blast of hot, burning air.

"Hey!" Marius called, seeing what was about to happen. "Luigi, wait!!"

Luigi had his arms up, trying to get Pyewacket to lie down again. Pyewacket slipped on a small patch of ice and sunk to his knees before letting out a mighty jet of flame. Marius bowled into Luigi, sending them both skidding away, but saving them both from the super-heated plume of fire.

The others lowered their arms away from their faces. "What the…?" Gadd asked quietly as he observed the far cave wall, which was now bare, devoid of any ice and snow. Large black patches spotted the rock wall.

Luigi and Marius sat panting as Pyewacket shook his head and clapped his hands to his mouth. "Owowowooo!" He howled. "Hot, hot, HOT!!" His tongue darted out and scooped up large mouthfuls of snow. Sigurd merely stood back, eyes wide and confused, the very tips of his long mane singed. He snorted.

Luigi patted Marius on the shoulder with a trembling hand. "Th-thanks…"

Knowing the two of them were keeping their eyes plastered on the blue dino, Marius nodded. "Yeah…"

"Pyewacket…I didn't know you…" Marius trailed off, pointing to the scorched earth.

Pyewacket belched loudly, feeling satisfied. He sighed contentedly, the expulsion of the flame having made him feel better than ever. "Ya, ya! Alla island clan can!" His eyes widened as he clapped his paws back over his mouth and groaned.

"What is it?" Kalliel asked quietly.

"Fadda tella Pyewacket story of how yoshi burn down alla forest long-a-timeago." He shook his head sadly. "Yoshi's nottallowed to burn breath!" He covered his face with his paws.

"I didn't get a word of that," Gadd muttered into Luigi's ear.

"I think," Luigi whispered back, "that Osman banned use of fire-breathing because someone burned the forest down years ago…" He turned back to Pyewacket and grinned. "Not one wanting to be a bad influence, but their rules don't exactly apply to you anymore, you know."

"Yeah," Marius laughed. "You're free now, y'know? Do what you want." Pyewacket gaped at him. He sat for several long minutes as he contemplated what the young Hammer Bro. had said. He shook his head. "But…izza law…" He muttered doubtfully. In his mind, he felt that Marius and Luigi were right.

"Well, technically," Kalliel began, "You have been exiled. In my book, at least, that means you are free to do as you wish." He smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest. Pyewacket sat in thought for a little while longer. He finally nodded and smiled. "Yessah…Weegie right. Pyewacket izza free prince."

Gadd chuckled. "Well, yer obviously feelin' better after that little blast, why don't you try it again, see if we can't get a proper fire goin'?"

Pyewacket picked himself up and trundled over to them before flopping into a tired heap near the stack of logs. He paused for a moment.

"So how'd you do that?" Marius asked, pointing to the charred cave wall. Pyewacket grinned sheepishly and shrugged.

"Fire get so bad that…hmm…" He put a claw to his chin in thought. "Guess Pyewacket just had to-" he was cut off as he strained a bit, followed by a loud belch and a plume of flame. It was smaller than the last one, but just as hot. Pyewacket toppled over, clutching his throat. After a few moments, he sighed. The pain in his gut had finally subsided.

"Guess we'll need to work on that some," Luigi said, rubbing the spot between Pyewacket's shoulders. "Once you control it, that'll be really cool." Pyewacket's eyelids fluttered a bit as he curled into a ball near the now-merrily crackling fire that his breath had ignited. He sighed contentedly, letting his large, feathery wings drape over him in a thick blanket. Luigi and the others sat with their hands in front of them, warming themselves while Kalliel stood, arms still crossed, staring out into the raging snowstorm.

Marius stifled a huge yawn. "I think I'm gonna turn in for the night, guys." He bundled his coat around him tighter as he entered the tent. "G'night," Luigi and Gadd bade him as he disappeared. Maverick yawned too and fluttered down into Luigi's lap, where he promptly began to snore softly. The drafts from the storm outside sent a slight breeze back into their little camp, gently ruffling Luigi's hair. He rubbed his nose a bit, warding off the stinging chill. Looking down fondly at Maverick, he gently patted him on the head. The little boo had grown so much in the past weeks.

"I believe it's best that we all get some rest. Tomorrow morning would be the best time to head out," Kalliel said, floating towards the mouth of the cave. He stretched. "I'll take over the watch now. Goodnight, all."

"G'night, kiddo," Gadd said, standing up and stretching until he heard his back pop. "Ooh, lordy…" he grunted. Luigi watched as Kalliel relieved Sigurd of his post. After a few moments, he noticed Kalliel rub his arms. Luigi chuckled, gently standing with Maverick in his arms. "You're almost too big for me to carry you now, y'know?" He said, balancing him as he picked up an extra blanket and walked to the cave mouth. "Kalliel," he called. "Need this?" Kalliel slowly turned, shivering.

He chuckled bashfully, "Yeah…I think so…" His teeth began to chatter as he held out a hand for the blanket. Luigi tossed it to him, receiving a flat look as it sailed right through his body. "I'm not solid, anymore, y'know…" Kalliel chuckled at last. Luigi smirked.

"Stay warm, and take it easy. You don't need to be completely out in the wind."

Kalliel thought for a moment. "I suppose you are right," he laughed. "Though I am a ghost, temperature still affects me. Wouldn't want to catch cold…" he laughed even harder at the thought. "That would really give the professor food for thought, wouldn't it?" Luigi shared his mirth. Gadd opened the flap of the tent.

"Oh, I see…talkin' smack behind my back now, huh?"

"Sure, professor. You and me, tomorrow morning, we'll make it a contest." Kalliel grinned as Luigi fed the proverbial fire.

Gadd rolled his eyes. "You know I'll spank the crap outta you!" Gadd laughed. "Now git yer scrawny ass in here and go to bed, you're keeping everyone up." He shook his head as he reentered the large tent. "Keeping a poor old man like me from his beauty sleep."

"You're wayyy past that, trust me…" Luigi muttered, laughing as Gadd reappeared and chucked a pillow at his head. "I heard that!"

Kalliel laughed long and hard, allowing his legs to appear from his ghostly tail as he sat down on top of a nearby rock, blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Sigurd snuffled, lips curling back over his teeth merrily as he laughed a rumbling laugh.

"All right, all right, settle down. It's bed time," Luigi finally said through a chuckle as he entered the tent. "I thought we all needed rest."

Gadd mumbled something, causing a snicker from Marius, but was cut off as a small whump came from Luigi smacking him over the head with a pillow. Kalliel continued to laugh to himself, his quiet mirth drowned out by the howling winds. Sigurd gave him a thumbs up and a nod, signaling him to let him know when he wanted to switch. Kalliel nodded and smiled. "My thanks, friend. But I feel like I need to retake my duties for now." He touched his fingers to his forehead, causing the glowing mark to appear. Sigurd copied his motions, touching the silver star-shaped mark on his head before placing a hand to his chest and bowing. Such was the way his king did it; such was the sign of respect for all members of their order.

"Goodnight, Sigurd. Sleep well, may we see each other fresh on the morrow."

Luigi woke with a start the next morning at the sound of Sigurd's loud, deep barking. Kalliel's head appeared through the wall of the tent. "Luigi, come quick, we have someone here to speak with you."

"Mghm…" he groaned. He didn't want to move. What with the mound of sleeping bags and blankets, the four inside the tent were rather cozy. He sighed after Kalliel cleared his throat outside the tent. He pulled on his thick coat and exited the tent. Marius followed shortly after, doing up the buttons of his jacket as he tailed Luigi. Gadd stepped out, adjusting his glasses. There came a snort from the large black beast in front of them.

Gadd squinted through the snowy haze as a familiar man dismounted a familiar horse.

Luigi's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Professor Asimov," he greeted. The older man stared over the rim of his spectacles, smirking as his bright blue eyes twinkled beneath dark kohl-laced eyebrows.