She ignores that obvious gross comment and silently follows him.

He went to another part of the courtyard, where frozen statues littered the snowy landscape, making it eerie and surreal. Some stood straight and proud, some were twisted in abject fear, arms and limbs thrown up to protect themselves. Looking at some of their features, they looked so real and lifelike. The Queen of Winter has a creepy sense of style. Rowan paused in front of one statue, covered in a layer of smoky ice, its features barely distinguishable through the opaque seal. This wasn't a statue at all. A human stared out of his ice prison, mouth open in a scream of terror, one hand flung out before him. His blue eyes, wide and staring, gazed down at Isiea. Then he blinked.

She looks away from the statues, seemingly unfazed.

" Exactly. "

The human blinked again, his terrified gaze beseeching hers. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something but the ice rendered him immobile, frozen and helpless.

"Brilliant, isn't it?" said Rowan, gazing at the statue in admiration. "Mab's punishment for those who disappoint her. They can see, feel and hear everything that goes on around them, so they're fully aware of what's happened to them. Their hearts beat, their brains function, but they don't age. They're suspended in time forever."



"Okay, then."

,, Interesting. ,, She sounds extremely disinterested.

Rowan smirked. "Do you want to hear the entertaining part?" He didn't wait for an answer before he said, "their noses and mouths are full of ice. But they still keep trying to breathe. It's like theyre suffocating for eternity."

,, Hm. ,, She still sounds disinterested, but very slightly less so.

Then he turned the full brunt of his icy gaze on her. "So, Princess," he continued, making himself comfortable at the base of the statue. "Tell me something, if you would." Pulling an apple out of nowhere, he bit into it, smiling at her all the while. "I hear you and Ash traveled all the way to the Iron Kings realm and back. Or so he claims. What do you think of my dear little brother?"

,, Hes alright, I guess. ,, She shrugs.