Three days later, Drifa found herself alone on the tundra, her body throbbing with the desire to transform. She imagined summertime and fought the change with all her might. Slowly, she brought Frey's amulet out from under her coat and lowered her scarf, bringing the amulet to her mouth.

"Please, Sun King, I beg you to listen." Her lips brushed against metal as she spoke. "I have a message about your son. Can you hear me?"

She pulled the amulet away from her face and peered up at the sky in dismay. What did she expect? She had no idea how to use this thing. Frey had never said a word about it.

She pressed it to her lips again and kissed the sun's center. "I have something for you. A gift. If you'll just listen."

The wind howled around her. She wondered if she'd be able to hear his answer over it if it ever came. She stood there, shivering through her many layers, her face turned up to the dark expanse of sky. Should she give up? Her skin prickled. The ice called to her, begging her to join with it. She stood as still as she could, clutching the amulet, nearly dropping it when she realized it had begun to glimmer.

She held it up to the sky, her hands circling its edges as the glow intensified. Drifa turned away, unable to look at its brilliance, as though the little sun amulet was the actual sun in the sky.

And then it was.

She brought her hands down, hugging the amulet to her chest. The dazzling sun shone down from a blue sky onto a world that looked so much like that of her idyllic picnic, she gasped in surprise.

So warm. She pulled off layers of wool from her hands, her head, her feet. She shed what she could and then took in more of the landscape, wondering where she should go from here. She was in a pleasant country with rolling hills and stone fences dividing grassy meadows from planted fields. Off to the left were rows of vines heavy with grapes and to the right, not far from where she stood, a well-tended garden leading up to a formidable-looking house. People clearly lived here, but there was no one in sight.

Uncertain, Drifa turned onto the garden path. Perhaps someone in the house would know where she could find the Sun King. Flowers of every color, hummingbirds hovering near a vine with bell-shaped blossoms, a pond filled with lily pads and koi--it took all her determination not to stop and admire everything she saw.

The house grew as she approached it. She felt as tiny as a ladybug by the time she reached the marble pillars standing as sentinels on either side of a towering door. Before she had a chance to lift its heavy knocker, the door slid open. A man with golden eyes showed her in. She took him for a servant; he said nothing to her despite her inquiries, but merely showed her in past the vestibule and down a long hall. At the very end of it was a room as white as the wintery world she was from. Inside it, every surface glowed with a heat she had felt only while holding Frey's hand.

The room was empty save for two cushions as white as the floor they rested upon. Still silent, he gestured for her to sit. Drifa did so, peering curiously at the man as he positioned himself on the pillow across from her, long legs folded under him. She stared at his eyes, at the shape of his lips, at the upright way he held himself. Drifa's palms began to sweat, her breath quickened. This was no servant.

He nodded slowly. It was the only invitation to speak that she would receive. "I am here on behalf of the winter wisps. A... a mistake was made and as a result, your son was brought to our land. He's there now." She paused, studying his face for signs of acknowledgement or concern. None came.

"You see, he's sick and, well... his presence there has caused some problems. There is a risk of us all dying. As you can imagine, this would upset the balance between Life and Death. We have a role to play...."

"What is it that you want from me?" Drifa jumped at his words, spoken in a manner that was both stiff and volatile at the same time. "My son made his choice, Wisp. That is done and can't be undone."

"No, I know. I know that... sir. It's just that the winter wisps are suffering, your son is suffering, and I thought you'd be able to help."

"You said you had a gift for me, yet I see nothing that would justify my time talking to you much less my helping you." He stood up and walked towards the room's entrance. "You may return to that wretched world of yours now."

"Wait! I do have something for you. Something you'll want." Drifa swallowed, her resolve overshadowing her fear. "I can give you a taste now, but you can't have more unless... unless you strip away your son's powers."

He stopped and turned on her, his golden eyes pools of fire. "You mean turn him mortal? Why would I do that?"

"Because he defied you. He rejected the path you laid out for him. He doesn't deserve to be a god any more so why let him be? If he were no longer a god, my world would no longer suffer from his presence. Balance would be restored and my people would be in your debt. I would be in your debt." Drifa rose and took a step, then another towards him.

"And why would I want you in my debt?"

She grabbed onto his arm. Before he had a chance to push her off, his eyes opened wide; the fires cooled. He stumbled towards her, then leaned against the wall.

Drifa stood on the side of a mountain, sweat on her brow from a mid-summer hike. A patch of snow preserved by the mountain's shadow looked so refreshing, she couldn't help but step onto it. Walking to its center, she discovered Frey's father laying with his arms outstretched against the snow, a smile of contentment softening his harsh features.

"This," she patted the snow beside him. "This is why you want me in your debt. This is why you'll do as I ask."

"Whatever you desire, Wisp." He whispered to her. "Just give me more."