Jeanna’s chest tightened thinking about leaving her warm secure cabin on the river barge to set off into a land of ice and danger.

Back in Kaldura, her life was built for the hot, coastal landscape. Homes were open and airy to let the breeze in, a single story on stilts, and cooking domes outside to keep the heat away from our beds. Kaldura was paradise.

But even mild Kaldurian winters could be utterly miserable. How on earth could people live with a true Lioran winter? From what she’d read, your extremities could blacken and fall off from frostbite and you could die from being out in the cold. Living like that just didn’t seem natural.

A knock on the door startled her out of her musings.

“Everything a’ite in there Miss?

We’re here”.

She opened the door to a blast of bitter cold, finding the second mate with a large bundle tucked under one arm. He shoved the bundle into her arms “here’s your kit Miss, cap’n sorted it all at the last stop as requested. Should keep your toes all in one place”, he grunted and closed the door in her face again. “Thanks” she muttered to the door.

Wrestling with the complicated layers of new gear, she finally stood sweating and ready to go, facing the door once more. Time to leave. Reminding herself what was at stake, she squared her shoulders, stepped out and walked up the steps, bracing herself for the biting misery.

….

…The sky was sparkling. The river, smooth as glass, had crystals lining the banks and trees and hills in the distance were topped with white. The deck had a light dusting of snowfall. Tilting her head back the soft little bursts of cold landed on her cheeks and eyelashes.

Still snug in her furs, the cold air and snow flakes on her exposed face was rejuvenating. Wow.

“First time in Liora then?” the captain chuckled. She nodded mutely, still staring at the white world around her. He spared a grin and a comforting squeeze to her shoulder, then walked off to continue roaring directions to his men.

She’d heard of snow of course, and Jeanna had come prepared. She’d read and all about the dangers of exposure and how to stay safe. Her Keeka told her repeatedly it was a daily grind just to live and travel with the stuff, and how lucky she was to live in a land of summer. She had all the books she could get her hands on about avoiding frostbite and exposure.

“No-one mentioned it was keelin’ magical.” she murmured to herself.

“Ah… Miss…are ya ready?

We’ve sent your bags on ahead”.

“Oh yes thanks!” Jeanna replied, snapping back to reality.

She was as ready as she could be. Time to go save her baby brother.