Prologue: Decemberburg
Once upon a time in Decemberburg, Mrs. Sinterklaas was trying her best to ignore another argument. Father and son were at it again, and though she did not abide their bickering, she wanted to get her famous Cinnamon Clove Cake into the oven so that Sonny would have something to sustain him on his upcoming journey south to Normansland. Barely seventeen, he had never been away from home. In fact he had been working for Sinterklaas Industries fifty weeks per year, every year since he turned fourteen. That's what Sinterklaas children had always done, and so it goes.
Of course that's what this argument was all about. He needed a change, and exploring south was what he had dreamt of since he had been a boy. The door slammed, and Mrs. Sinterklaas heard Sonny yell "I'm going skiing, and when I get home, I'm not going back to work!"
Christopher Sinterklaas stormed into the kitchen. "This is all because of the stories you put in his head, you know."
"That's not fair Chris. He just needs to find out about the world for himself. Besides, these kids work too hard sometimes. Anyway, what mother doesn't tell her children stories?" Mrs. Sinterklaas replied.
Christopher softened a little. "I'm not saying you aren't a good mother. Just... who is supposed to take over the family business exactly? I'm 75 northern years old, for Frosty's sake."
"Well, I'm sure you'll think of something, you always do." She smirked and dropped her apron on the counter. "I think I'll turn in early tonight. The oven will shut itself off when the cake is done."
Sonny spent the next day skiing at the family owned ski resort with his friend Skylar Free. "I'm super stoked for you Sonny, your big adventure!" She insisted he check out DJ Pandamonium's Desert Disco once he got to Normansland. "It's so dope. It's intense," she kept saying. Sonny returned home that night more determined than ever to go on his trip. He arrived to find his mother packing a travel sack full of Reindeer Jerky and Clove Cake, both treats trademarked by Sinterklaas Snacks.
"I've asked your cousin Terry to take you to the border on his Sintersled. It's too far for you to go by yourself."
Sonny didn't bother arguing, since he was secretly a little afraid to travel alone anyway. Even though Terry could be somewhat annoying and dressed weirdly, he was freakishly strong and never got lost in a snowstorm. Everyone called him "Terry T". He seemed to have an uncanny knack for showing up just when you needed him, and once Sonny even thought he saw him disappear.
In the morning they got away early. All Mr. Sinterklaas had to say before he went off to the toy factory, was to warn the lads about the monitor lizard that roamed Normansland. "It's a purple people eater," he said in earnest. They thought he must be joking. They hoped so.
Mother wanted the boys to be sure they checked in on an old friend of hers named Professor Lowdon. "He's a wise man, and very powerful, though not in the same way as your father." What does that even mean? They both wondered. "Just tell him you are Lorelei's son. He'll probably know you're there before you do," she smiled. Puzzled, they climbed onto the sled and were off.