Chapter Twenty Four

Tension Part I

Author's note: From this point on, chapters will be broken up. I realize that 3000 words (which is my minimum standard per chapter, some reaches 4000 and some even 5000) can be a little heavy going. The Battle of Srevnjor consisted of 5243 words! So, I'm going to break up my chapters into an average of 1500 words, maximum maybe 2000. We'll see how it goes, shall we?

ELSA

"Excellent." Ingrid took the rolled up map carefully in both hands. "You've done well, Elsa. Tell me, how did it feel to lead the Elemental Sorcerers?"

Elsa remained silent, avoiding eye contact with her captor. Janus stood beside her silently as well. Apparently he had just returned from his own private mission that Ingrid had assigned him. Looks like business is picking up for the League.

"It doesn't matter. I have what I need." Ingrid glanced at Janus. "Did you eliminate the target?"

"Yes, Mistress." Janus said, hidden behind his mask.

"Who?" Elsa shot a suspicious look at Ingrid. A wave of anxiety swept over her.

"Tobias," Ingrid's lips curled. "I figured that he was the rat who sold us out."

"So you got your best mercenary to get rid of him?" A part of Elsa relaxed a little, knowing that Anna was still safe. But it did make her feel horrible because someone else still got killed.

"I do hate loose ends," Ingrid coughed. "I should have done this a long time ago after he had served his purpose in testing you." She turned back to Janus. "Anything else?"

"Actually, yes." Janus started slowly, his voice low. "In Arendelle, I overheard Tobias telling the Warriors your plans. He knew about your quest to find the Eternal King, and he told them about it."

"What?" Ingrid's voice grew louder with rising rage. "You let Tobias tell the Warriors about my plans?"

"By the time I broke into the prison, Tobias had already revealed everything to them. I'm sorry." Janus lowered his head.

A foreboding silence. "You fool." Ingrid started quietly. "You incompetent fool!" Her voice rose to a terrifying screech in the span of those three words and her eyes were wild with rage. "I gave you one job. One job! To shut the traitor up for good. And you let him tell our enemies my greatest secret?"

"I was too late."

"Yes, you were." Ingrid snarled. "Once again, your incompetence has jeopardized my plans. I warned you about that, remember? You insufferable gutter trash. I should have left you in Bruvesqk. Get out of my sight. I will deal with you later."

"My mistress, I-"

"OUT!" Ingrid screamed, her blood boiling. Dropping to a knee, she wheezed violently.

Janus looked like he wanted to go to her aid, but then hesitated and turned to leave, obeying her command.

As the mercenary left and she slowly regained her composure, she drew herself up and shot an acidic glance at Elsa. "Did you run into any resistance in Srevnjor?"

Elsa bit her lip. "Yes."

"The Warriors again?" Ingrid hissed dangerously.

"They tried to stop us."

"And your sister?"

"She was with them."

"And I trust you adhered to our agreement?"

"What other choice did I have?" Elsa stewed, her voice indignant.

Placing the map on the table, Ingrid turned her attention back to Elsa. "I promised that Anna would remain unharmed, and I've held true to my word, haven't I?"

"You should tell that to Deirdre."

"And what did she do?"

"She almost fried my sister!" Elsa cried. "My sister!"

"Ahh, Deirdre," Ingrid chuckled humourlessly. "I guess it's like they say. 'A child who was not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth'."

"And what does that mean?"

"Never mind."

"Look, my sister almost died tonight! That wasn't part of the deal!"

"Your mission," Ingrid said sharply. "Was to get the map. I tasked you to lead the League. If your subordinates defied you, that's hardly my fault now, is it? It's your job as the Pilgrim's Apprentice to keep them in line."

Elsa sullenly glared at her. "So what happens now?"

"Not tonight." Ingrid sat down weakly. "I will send for the Elemental Sorcerers tomorrow. Now that I have the map, I have my own work cut out for me."

Without another word, Elsa turned to go. She was sick of everything. The League, the Pilgrim, having to keep up the facade in front of her loved ones. She returned to the indoor training area where only a couple of sorcerers remained, all spread out in the great hall. Among them were the Elemental Sorcerers, waiting by the benches for further instructions from the Pilgrim.

"So what's next?" Jade asked.

"Nothing." Elsa said. "We're done for the night. She'll call for us in the morning."

"Right then," Deirdre got up. "It's been a blast."

"Hold on," Elsa placed a hand on Deirdre's shoulder. "You and I aren't done here."

"What do you want?" Deirdre hissed, shrugging off Elsa's hand. "You got to be the Pilgrim's Apprentice. You led the League tonight. What more do you want from me?"

"You defied orders and almost killed my sister tonight." Elsa tried to keep her temper from rising.

"Haven't you heard? When you join the League, you leave your past behind. Your parents, your sister, everyone you ever cared about. They're gone." Deirdre snarled. "Maybe you didn't get the memo."

"You almost killed my sister!" Elsa raised her voice.

"Guys-" Jade looked uncomfortable, and so did Jordan.

"That's what you get when you join up with the League. No prisoners. No witnesses. But you broke our code." Deirdre retorted unflinchingly. "And for that alone, I could have you ratted out to the Pilgrim. I wonder what she'll say when she learns that her apprentice isn't following League tradition."

"I'm tired of you making things difficult. Just because you didn't become the Pilgrim's Apprentice doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone!"

"No. Just you." Deirdre clenched her fists, which glowed red hot. "You took everything from me."

"So all this, this is just a competition to you." Elsa's hands grew cold, and snow whirled around her wrists. "And because of that, my sister was almost killed tonight!"

"Sisters are overrated. Get over it." Deirdre snorted and a fiery ball moved towards Elsa.

Elsa raised her own hand, and a cold stream of ice met the fiery ball in mid-air. Both attacks were quelled, a puddle of water forming on the ground.

"Elsa! Deirdre!"

"I've just about had enough of your attitude." Elsa strengthened her stance, her feet apart and prepared for a fight which seemed extremely likely at this point. By this time, the commotion had gathered a small crowd out of all those who were still in the training hall. Amongst them were people she knew, like Holli, Vonco and Cova among others.

"I've never done anything to you, and yet you've done nothing but antagonize me every chance you got. And now you're itching for a fight?" Elsa said.

"Maybe I am. Maybe I just hate your guts, plain and simple." Deirdre hissed, raising both hands.

Elsa dropped low as flames licked out above her, and she promptly froze the ground which Deirdre stood on. As the fiery sorceress skidded and lost her balance, Elsa got up and formed two blocks of ice around Deirdre's feet, anchoring her to the ice as she fell back first on the ground. Deirdre hit the ice heavily and growled furiously. The ice around her melted into a large puddle of water almost instantly, and Elsa could feel a massive heat wave hit her, causing perspiration to flow down her face.

Now free, the angry sorceress picked herself up from the ground, both hands poised and ready for another attack. Elsa braced herself, ready for a showdown. Maybe it was time to see which Elemental Sorceress' magic was stronger. Fire? Or ice?