Frozen Memories – 1.8 Bridge
Hidden Past – Back Cover
Ingrid – Meet Again/Kiyori's Last Stand
Chapter 5: Starlight Exodus
24 January 2058
Arendelle Hovertrain Hub
International Connections District
Sunrise
The Hovertrain hub was recently constructed under the orders of Kiyori, who was now inspecting the structure as the trains came and went with barely a sound. Just enough so infact, that the structure was perfected. Everything was built ontop of the hovertrain lines. The lines themselves were built at ground level and went out to sea.
A hovertrain was headed in towards the district from far away. The International District was similar to the Galaisa District, insofar that it was multicultured. To the point where it actually was a rival of the aforementioned district.
Several offices had taken up residence above or within the structre. However it was two people, a man and a woman, who had the High Priests attention. They were easy to spot because of the black and white pattern of the womans hair. Altan was easy to spot in a crowd of zebras. Sharka however, not so much with his dark dreadlocked hair.
However it was their outlandish clothing that told everyone who they were. "trouble" most people thought. However the two were expecting visitors and supplies. The rest of their party to be exact.
"I see even the elegance of the District cannot keep out the prattle" Kiyori said upon sight of the two across the hovertrain tracks from him. "Who are they ?"
Deacon Dice, along with Captain Sax, and a guy named Major Jem, were with the High Priest and his bodyguard Manfredd.
"They recently took residence within the Taelieon District, sir." Sax replied simply
"That does not answer my question, Captain" Kiyori said, giving the man a dirty look. Kiyori turned to Manfredd beside him. "Manny, I want you to do me a favor, go with Captain Sax, and find out who they are. And why they look like that. I will stay here with Major Jem and Deacon Dice." He told the massive bodyguard
Manny was confused but agreed. Orders were orders. "Yes sir" He said, turning and with Sax, the two disappeared into a throng of people.
"Any idea who they are ? They seem oddly familiar." Kiyori said to Dice
Dice knew who Sharka was, but had no idea of the woman. "Him I have seen before, he was recently in the Arena District a few months ago" He said pointing out Sharker. "I no idea of the woman however. I have never seen her before. Anyone with a hairstyle like that is easy to recognise. But I do not know her"
Unlike the rest of the Council, Dice, otherwise known as Xice, was ordered by Xeirn to work with the High Priest for as long as possible. Or at least as long as the charade could be maintained. The last thing anyone wanted was the man to try and learn to control the Never.
"So we have a recent Arena member, and a unknown woman. Have you heard from Lady Waterlight ?" Kiyori asked as he and Jem spotted the hovertrain coming in. Apparently it was also stopping at the platform the two members of the Kopekh were waiting at.
"I have, she has been requested at her place of residence. She is quite busy." Replied Dice. An obvious lie, but it was also told to him directly from Waterlight herself. Her home, The Silver Palace of Light, was where she was recalled to, mostly because of events with the Eagle Empire.
"And the winged woman ? Has she been found ?" Kiyori asked, meaning Spike,
"She has, and every time we send our men, they return either in bodybags or badly wounded" Dice replied. Turned out Spike and her brothers were making rather good on their warning to the High Priest. Every squad he sent to question them came back dead or badly mutilated.
"I see, alright, that winged woman has won this round, have the squads back off, for now, we'll worry about the woman later. In the meantime, we'll worry of the influx of travelers from across the world now seeing us." Kiyori said to Dice
"You have heard the news ?" Dice then asked
"About Equator City ?" Kiyori asked him
"No, other news, about events in Oslo, and the East." Dice told him in reply as he explained the recent events in China, the Middle East and also the remains of Africa. The City of Voi had become apparently an important shrine zone.
"China is the least of my worries right now" Kiyori mumbled. He turned, and was then followed out by Jem and Dice. Manny had his job.
Taelieon District
Moments later
"It appears we are expected" Manfredd said simply as he and Captain Sax had arrived at the first gate of the border between districts of Arendelle. The Taelieon District was basically a gaint three floored warehouse with dozens of interlinked levels and homes as a confusing maze all in it as well.
There were two members of the Kopekh at that gate. Aruchii and Nekhii. Both of whom, along with their sister, Kara, had been saved by Xeir from the models. However, thanks to Kara's spying duty, they knew to expect the High Priests bodyguard. They also knew, thanks to Kara, to expect Captain Sax.
"It would appear so." Sax replied as the gate slid open, the first man tyhey saw, Nekhii, waved at them.
"Come in, though you're welcome to leave because I am not sure if the boss'll let you both leave." Nekhii said
"How exactly do you mean ?" Sax asked, Manny stayed quiet, letting Sax doing the talking.
"The boss said simply to keep you two busy while we do our jobs. But he never said to let you guys return to where you came from. So if you'd rather stay outside the borders and be able to leave as you like, that's fine with me" Nekhii told them
"However" Sax started to say before another voice broke in
"Backup boss wants to see them" It was a womans voice, Sax and Manny turned to look at the owner of the voice, beautiful dark hair highlighted in green and blue and red stepped into view. "We'll let the boss's second decide." She said to the two at the gate. Kara smirked. "Come in, dont make us drag you. Besides, your fellow there looks like a gentleman."
Manny did not speak, but he did smile softly and stepped into the barrier. Sax sighed, he did not like where this was going, but he followed Manfredds lead. Even though Manny wanted Sax to do the talking, Manny would take the lead on movement.
And so that meant that both of them were now at the mercy of the Kopekh.
And yet the deeper they went into the district, the more houses they saw that looked well kept and lived in. enough so that it was more of a city within a city. The rooftop of the district was not a typical cement and stone rooftop either. But instead it was a glass and many skylights to let as much light as possible into the structures below.
The road they walked on was also well kept. And they came t oa halt at a structure that looked like a house carved out of steel and white stone. Yet filled with life. A single man was standing at the steps t othe structure.
To say Taichar wasnt happy was an understatement, so when he saw the High Priests bodyguard he briefly started at the man in slight shock at his stoic yet also humble solid black appearance. It was not often a solid black Tigris was seen, especially among the Kopekh.
However it was the fact that Manny was the bodyguard of the High Priest that had his anger aimed at the large mancat. "Of all the people looking into us, I was not sure I heard right when I was told it was you" Taichar said upon sight of Manfredd
"You were expecting us ?" Sax spoke up before Manny could speak.
"Yes, our leaders werent just idliy in the International District waiting for a hovertrain to stop in" Taichar said to them. "We knew they were being watched, they knew they were being watched. Now you show up here"
"Yes, because we were told to come here" Sax replied.
"I know who he is, and I know who you are" Taichar said pointing at Manny, then at Sax. "So you can spare me the lies, Captain Sax, of the Honor Guard. Princess Anna speaks so very highly of you. I am glad to see you live up to her priase. Currently of course I have yet to see you in any real action, and yet you appear how she spoke of you."
"Where is Princess Anna ?" Sax then asked, turning the conversation to what Taichar had initally brought up, the other man smiled, and yet was not the least bit unnerved by the fact that Sax asked where the Princess was.
"Oh, the Kopekh have been caring for her, its our job after all." Taichar replied, "It has been for generations."
"The Princess of Arendelle is not in charge of the kingdom, why continue to protect her ?" Sax asked, Manfredd remained quiet, yet he was also thinking. The High Priest wanted him to find out more about who the black and white tabby woman and the dark tabby man were.
"We protect the royal family, it is our duty, and you should know it too. A guest in the castle, who has now left to his own home one should hope. Was recently searching for her, to kill her" Taichar said to Sax, meaning Hans. Sax had no reply.
Manfredd was the next to speak up. "Who were the two tabbies ?" He then asked out of the blue, all Tigris could see one anothers feline form easily.
"I can answer that" Kara spoke up before Taichar could ask who Manfredd meant. "The two Tabbies you are referring to, one of them is a dark tabby, brown and black, the other, black and white ?" Kara asked to Manfredd, Manny nodded. "Though so, the black and white tabby is the wife of our leader. The darker tabby is our leader."
Kara crossed her arms, the dark calico Tigris had a smirk on her face as she watched the reaction on Manfredds face. "Let me guess, the High Priest wanted to know more about who we were ?"
"Yes" Manfredd replied, it was the truth, but there was somethig else.
"Is something wrong ?" Kara asked him. Manfredd shook his head. Though his expression said otherwise, Kara did not press him for answers. She turned to Taichar. "These two were sent by the High Priest, the man wanted to know more about Sharka and Altan."
"And you just gave them their names, Kara" Taichar retorted to her. Which made the woman smirk at him.
"Xeir saved my ass, and my brothers asses, and yet you dont think these two can be trusted ? Captain Sax is an Assassin, or had you forgotten that ?" Kara said to him. Taichar stared at her. He was not informed by anyone that Xeir had saved some of their members. "If that is all, I think we can let these two go. I think we can trust them. The big guy for sure. I think he is a softy. I like him" Karas green eyes shined as she spoke. Manny had a blank confused look on his face at her words.
"You like anyone that can be trusted." Taichar replied under his breath. He sighed. "Alright fine, since Kara trusts you, and has confirmed that you are indeed an Assassin, Captain Sax, you are free to go if you wish. You'll just need one of us to guide you to the border so you wont get lost. I've been here nearly a year and I still get lost myself."
A few more things were descussed before Sax and Manfredd were able to leave. However the lasting glance given from Manfredd to Kara told the woman everything she needed to know. And after they had left, she followed them at a distance.
Greensky District
Broken Arm tavern
A few moments later
Diana sat at the table within the tavern, lost in thought, and yet awake enough to focus on both food and planning. "Good morning" She said upon seeing Xeir the woman joined her at table. "Have you eaten yet ? I was about to order lunch."
"I have not, I skipped breakfast. Things are speeding up. I sense trouble" Xeir replied. She never took out the shard, Diamond never knew she had one. At least up until that minute.
"I think I know where a Star Shard is" She said. Xeir looked at her.
"Tell me more" Xeir said. Setting her elbows on the table, holding her face in her hands as she looked intently at Diamond
"If I am right, both of our shards should be able to tell us where the last one is" Diamond smirked at Xeirs shocked expression
"How in Mother's Name did you know I have a shard ?" Xeir asked her.
"I can feel it ? My own shard is getting warmer then it should be, and it only gets warm like this when another shard is close by. Like it is trying to connect with it." Diamond replied.
Xeir stared hard at her. Then smiled. "Alright, I admit it, yes, I have a star shard. Been restless all morning and could barely sleep last night."
"You think it is because of a star shard or something else ?" Diamond asked her as she drank what appeared to be a coffee, but it looked, and smelled, like roofing tar.
"Maybe. Tiri didnt know either, not that I could rouse her, she sleeps like she is dead." Xeir replied
"So, you are hungry, and yet also tired. So why not do this, I'll order a meal for us to share. You eat it, and then I'll send Tiri was it ? Looking for the shard ? How does that sound to you ?" Diamond suggested
Xeir thought a moment then nodded. "It sounds alright to me. Where is a menu ?" Diamond handed her one, Xeir went through it and found a meal she liked the look of. She tapped the menu to show it to Diamond, who also nodded. Chicken with three kinds of cheese, a fine wine, and what had to be something similar to a dip of some kind.
A few moments later and their meal was delivered.
Twenty minutes later, and Xeir and Diamond entered Xeirs home gate. Miyagi had long since begun to reside with Haversham to keep an eye on Atert to ensure her safety, twice the High Priests men had tried, and both times failed, to extract the woman. And not because of her size either.
Tiri was pacing as Xeir arrived with Diamond, a chitter was briefly traded between the two, Icewraith and dragon. Finally Xeir nodded. Tiri smirked. "Snuck out huh ?"
"Could say that, but look who I brought home" Xeir replied, indicating to Diamond who smirked
"Hi Tiri"Diamond said in greeting.
"Hi Diamond, long time no see." Tiri replied, she looked at Xeir, "Lets get you into bed and let me worry about the day, alright ?" Xeir nodded, and with Diamond and Tiris help, was pretty much lead to the bedroom and allowed to get ready on her own for bed before passing out to sleep.
"She really was restless last night," Diamond mumbled softly as she saw the state and condition Xeir was in.
"She was indeed" Tiri replied, the two then stepped out of the structure and Tiri closed the door behind her. "Xeir kept tossing and turning all night long, I doubt she even slept if at all"
"She looked a wreck when she came to the tavern my uncle owns" Diamond said, Tiri looked at her confused. "I mean Marions uncle, my body's uncle, the guy named Arm Hawkthorne."
"Ah yes I remember, Broken Arm Tavern, good food there, pretty good wine too" Tiri replied
"Uncle says hello by the way" Diamond replied with a smirk.
Tiri knew what the smirk meant. "Remind me that the next time I see him I'll pay for my food personally. I got the money now."
Diamond shook her head "Its not that, uncle said that your being unable to come back to the tavern anymore is now lifted, he says you're welcomed back after what you did to the High Priests thugs. Everyone is much happier and most of the normal people that go there actually miss you showing up" She explained
"I see" Tiri replied, the icewraith sighed as they walked through the hall to the main part of the courtyard house. "So aside from helping my soul go to bed, what brought you here ?" Tiri then asked her
Diamond withdrew the pink star shard. "This did, its been warm all day since meeting up with Xeir, almost always warm when I am with Mark or Irie as well" She held out the pink shard for Tiri to examin.
"Yes, Xeir has one, but its red, nothing like this one though. You say that Mark has one now too ?" Tiri asked her while nodding and confirming that Xeir also had a shard
"Yes, and so does Blackmane." Diamond said
Tiri did some fast math in her head, broke her brain and tried again. "Alright, You have one, Xeir has one, that's two, You said then that Mark has one and a lady named Irie has one, that's four."
Diamond nodded. "And then Marks aunt, a woman named Blackmane, also has one. So that makes it five." She said
"Five shards, and from what I heard told to Xeir by a guy named Miyagi a few days ago, was to find another one, of green." Tiri said with a nod of agreement.
"That makes six in total" Diamond said
"Six different shards, maybe that is why Xeir couldnt sleep last night ? Maybe the shard she has was trying to tell her something, and she tried to sleep instead, only it never worked ?" Tiri thought aloud
"Its possible, but there is also the possiblty that Xeirs shard was trying to alert her to another shard nearby ?" Diamond replied and added her own thought while she was at it.
"I like your thinking. But I think it might be right. Its possible the last shard, if there are indeed exactly six shards in total. Is somewhere. Do you think your shard could tell you ?" Tiri said
"Let me try, one sec" Diamond looked at her shard, as if trying to figure out how to activate the thing. After a minute Diamond sighed. "I cant get it to work"
Tiri thought a second then held out a hand. "May I ?" She asked, Diamond thought carefully before passing the shard to her friend. Tiri took the shard and carefully looked it over. It was about he size of her ring finger in length, but about as thick as her thumb.
As the Icewraith was examining the shard, it activated. Showing a map of Arendelle. "Whoa, its never done this before, occasionally it will trigger a memory corridor and a brief memory for me to see, but nothing like this" Diamond said upon seeing the active map
"Look" Tiri said, "Is that the new district ? You know the International one or such ?" She pointed to a circled item, the circle was spinning in three different directions and was two different colors. "I think that is the other shards location." Tiri said
Diamond looked at the location marked on the map generated by her shard. "A traveling caravan has the last shard ?" Diamond asked
"Looks like it" Tiri replied, she held the shard for Diamond to take back, the hologram it conjurd floated for a moment longer. "I think I can track the new shard thanks to that one." Tiri turned to Diamond, a smile on her face. "Wanna go shopping ?"
"I thought you would never ask." Diamond replied, She turned to the closed door of Xeirs bedroom. "Is she going to be alright ?" Tiri smirked and nodded, the two women then left the courtyard house, leaving Xeir in the care of her Sparrows. The two women were going to have a grand day in the International District for sure. The new Hovertrain hub was going to be rather active that evening.
Tiri had to like Hovertrains though. And hoverbikes, anything that could go fast and let her shatter at will without taking damage to others in the process made her happy.
Entering the hub of course would be another matter entirely, because apparently one had to be with a valid method of entry, such as a id or ticket stub of waiting for transpoation to arrive to greet people or be part of the loading and unloading crew.
And given where the crystal pointed out the other shard was located. Well, that allowed both Tiri and Diamond to ignore the hovertrain area entirely and head for the third floor of the ten floored structure.
Hovertrain Hub
Bazaar Level
Diamond and Tiri wandered up the steps and entered into the massive multileveled bazaar Tiri had only been to the site while it was under construction, back when Elsa was still around. But seeing it like it was for the first time in person made her whistle softly. "Well what do you know, they actually made it work"
"What you didnt think the blueprints were solid ?" Diamond asked her
"Nope, too fragile to pile onto, truth be told" Tiri said, it was her way of thinking, if the blueprints could hold her weight, then the structure could be solid to hold her weight. It made Diamond snicker.
The two wandered through the crowd then. "So what do we do ?" Diamond asked after they had passed a few shops, taking in what was being sold and by whom. There was a guy selling weapons, swords, knives, guns too. Even what looked like a really wicked compound bow that Diamond knew she was going to want.
The two women talked to the shop owner as Diamond inspected the bow carefully. "I'll take it, how much ?" Diamond said to him. Once the guy told her his normal asking price she looked upset, but he smiled.
"Look, you're the first person to ask about that bow, I think its cursed, nobody wants it or anything near it." The owner said, "I'll tell you what, you can take that bow, and any arrows you need, But, you owe me a favor for it, best bargian you'll get. Agreed ?"
Diamond thought a moment, then nodded. "Alright, but it depends entirely on the favor, I'm already married." She told the man. Who simply shook his head, that was not what he meant in any manner. But he told her that he'd get in contact with her when he needed her help to call in that favor. So Diamond left Naratas contact information with the man. "When you need me, contact this man, he is my husband, and he will redirect you to me, or where I am at the time"
"Agreed" The owner said, he allowed Diamond to take any supplies she needed. In this case a handful of very strong dark wood arrows. And then the two left.
As they walked further Diamond threaed the bow across her back, the front of it crossing her chest neartly. "I'm going to need you to do me a favor" Tiri said, she was tracking where the Shard was.
"Tell me you found the shard ?" Diamond replied as she put the quiver of arrows on her belt.
"I did, but you're not gonna like where it is" Tiri replied, she nodded at the third level of the ten floored structure. "Its up in there, looks like a two level shop. Sells mostly trinkets and the like."
"So ?" Diamond asked, what could be so bad about a trinket shop ?
"I'm gonna need you to distract the shop keeper on duty. I just looked at it with Dragon Vision; there is only one person in the place. When we go in I want you to distract the guy, I'll shatter out of view of anyone and follow you in, as soon as you got the guy distracted, I'll search while shattered for the shard. Agreed ?" Tiri said
"Why do I feel like I am gonna regret this ?" Diamond asked her. Tiri just snickered in answer
Arendelle
International District
Bazaar Level 3
Oldlane Trinkets Shoppe
"I am not even gonna ask what the owner of this store was drinking when they named the place" Diamond mumbled, Tiri chittered in laughter as she broke apart and slithered along unseen upon the ground as Diamond headed for the door.
Based on the window display alone, Oldlane Trinkets dealt in everything from antiques to technology to stuff Diamond could only dream about. Mostly if one dreamed about her husband dancing with a boombox the size of Mt Everys strapped to his ears. Which Nara had done at least once before at their wedding reception now that Diamond really thought about it. Diamond was never letting him live it down either.
The store was filled and organised like a hunting goods store, shit was everywhere, no real asiles were laid out, the counter was in the middle of the store, and for a brief moment, Diamond thought she had entered a mall novelty shop named Five Topics.
Half of the room was in the dark, backlit by blacklights, sparking balls and those funny static globes one could buy for cheap. Lava lamps also danced nearby as Diamond looked around, Tiri had slithered unseen around the displays and when the voice broke in.
"Can I help you ?" Tiri went stiff and made herself look like a static ball base as Diamond turned to the owner of the voice, an older looking man. "Are you in the market for some Oldlane trinkets ?"
"Yes actually" Diamond said, she had to think up a viable lie, but actually wanted to know how much the crystals in the nearby display case were as she had spotted the door to the second floor office above and to the left of the shop owner. "These crystals look new"
"Yes, received them this morning, I just put them onto display. Had a recent delivery from the Silk Road arrive today and have been going through it" The owner replied.
Tiri sighed in silent relief, the shop owner was then quite distracted, she slithered silently and quickly up the support beam and to the door, solidifying inside the office. The door was shut, so that meant that as long as Diamond could keep the owner distracted, Tiri could find what she sought.
As she scanned the room a soft green pulse flickered off a nearby desk. A stack of papers were on the surface next to what looked to be a fairly old computer, and yet it also looked similar in appearance at the very least to certain items as well.
Tiri had to smirk, even with the newer technology across the world, Arendelle was still on the low tech end of things. Moving to the desk she picked up the glowing box. Inside it was the green star shard she sought. She had no idea of its color, she only knew that Xeir had a red one, and Diamond had a pink one, she had no idea that Mark had a blue one, Irie had a purple one, and that Blackmane had the silver one.
All she knew was that the star shard wanted her to find it. So seeing it was the item inside the box giving the glow upon the surface of the desk and its papers stacked on it. Tiri smirked and opened it. Seeing stars briefly as she touched the green shard of crystal.
The stars were clear and bright, the sky above glittered with light and energies unseen in thousands of years. Tiri found herself shedding a tear briefly at the memory of her and Xeir flying among the stars doing missions for their mother.
But that was the least of the worries at that moment. Stars flew past as Tiri simply walked among the starfield carefully. Stars and clouds of space debris danced past her as if she were walking amid a hologram.
Time seemed to bend backwards around a certain point. Tiri found that she could move time forwards and backwards, cause items to age backwards to be unbuilt, or to age forwards to be destroyed. Or to age something back far enough to see what occurred for the star to be shattered into six pieces.
"You are sure it must be done ?" A voice asked, Tiri saw a man dressed in a black robe, similar to a martial training instructor she had learned from
We are. Came the reply from an unseen item that looked more like a floating globe of energy.
"Very well" The man replied.
You do not like your task ? Came the question
"I made the Formation to aid the leadership of Arendelle in controling its fate." The man said
And yet, the Formation is proving to be strong enough to control the fate of the Earth. Said the orb of energy
"Yes" The man replied, "Something unlooked for and yet something to be expected. When I created the Formation it was to aid Arendelle, simply to aid the royal family to alter or work with fate when needed. Not control the fate of the free world directly." The man was upset.
So destroy it ? Came the thought
"No" The man replied
No ? Asked the energy
"If I were to destroy what I worked so hard to create, it would destroy me in the process." The man replied
So what should be done ? Asked the orb
"I will shatter one of the stars in the formation. Doing so will cause it to become erratic, broken, failing from the start" The man said in reply.
You are learning more then we can teach. Do as you say, but be careful in what you do next. Others will seek the Formation. Others gifted from Them. The Orb warned
"The Precoursors, Those Who Came Before. The Isu, the people you regarded as technological geniuses only to fall to a war with humanity and dragons. While you sat on your fat asses and watched!" The man replied in a upset tone
The orb floated there silent, then it briefly expanded in anger DO NOT TEST US STARMASTER, It warned before calming down. Your task is just about to begin
"Is it ?" Starmaster replied
It is. Shatter a star to create the weakness. Give a clue somehow, somewhere on how to fix it. The orb said to him.
"Very well, I think I know what to put the clues into." He replied to the energy that danced and then disappeared.
Tiri found herself suddenly reeling forwards in time as she watched the events occur around her. All sorts of images danced upon the stars. That was the clue the man left on how to repair the Formation. The stars formed designs in the sky. Therefore it was only natural to use the stars as a clue!
Tiri briefly saw an image of a bridge to nowhere. But she had no idea where she had seen such a bridge before. If that.
The image faded, Tiri was alone in the office of the Oldlane Trinkets shop. She quickly shattered and slithered off to wait between shops while Diamond actually bought something inside. Reforming into her human form, Tiri changed her outfit with her ice magic and appeared in a more or less modest Hanfu stiled dress with a low belt line at her hip instead of just below her breasts.
Diamond exited the shop and met up with her. "Did you get it ?" Diamond asked, her own shard pulsed pnik while Tiri smiled and raised the green one into view.
"Yup!" Tiri said, "it triggered a memory when I touched it, I was in space too, saw it all. A guy named Starmaster, he made the formation to help the Arendelle royalty control the kingdoms fate in the future. But he never expected the device to be so powerful it could also alter or direct the fate of the Earth itself."
"Why the shards ? Did it tell you why ?" Diamond asked as the two women started walking down the row of shops in the bazaar.
"Starmaster wanted to give the formation a weakness, make it broken for a reason. Perhaps he wanted to ensure that the device would not work for certain people and could only work for the Royals ?" Tiri replied as the two walked.
"Anything else ?" Diamond asked her they stopped to grab a snack from a food vendor
"Yeah, it had some ideas of where to look for answers about the Formation, or how to stop it, or to counter it." Tiri said to her.
"Really, how ?" Diamond looked at her confused, her shard never gave her any clues and Mark refused to speak about what he saw.
"Tonight is going to be a clear night, right ?" Tiri asked. A strange question
"Yeah, last I saw the weather report it was to be a clear night." Diamond nodded in reply. "Why ?"
"Then there you have it. Our first clue, the night sky. If we can find a sop that has a chart of the known sky at night." Tiri mused simply, Diamond just gawked at her confused
"You mean a planetarium ? The night sky is how we fix this issue ?" Diamond asked her completely confused.
"Exactly. I know it seems odd, but still, work with me here. Think about it. The night sky, stars that we can see from Earth, they make all sorts of designs. What if those designs are the answer to how to counter, or control the Formation that Mark said is damaged ?" Tiri asked
"The stars we see at night, a weakness from the start, this does not make any sense whatsoever, you know that right ?" Diamond said as the two stepped across a bridge to a different row of shops in the structure. "I mean think about it. The guy didnt expect the formation to be so powerful to alter the fate of the Earth itself right ?" Tiri nodded.
"So that means that whoever controls the Formation right now, is not the right person. Meaning if we want to, we can destroy it." Tiri said
"At what cost ?" Diamond asked her as she ate a slider
"How do you mean ?" Tiri replied as she scarfed a bag of chips
"We destroy or take control fo the Formation, at what cost do we control it, our lives, or souls, the world itself, everything we hold dear ? What cost will have to be paid in order to use it ?" Diamond explained her question
"I did not think of it that way, but it was clear Starmaster was more upset to damage even so much as one star. But he shattered one, scattered the shards across the Earth. Over time they moved back into Arendelle. Where they had been shattered in the first place" Tiri said
"So we look at the stars tonight. Make notes, then what ?" Diamond asked
"Tomorrow we wake up, and figure out what we saw, or at least see what we saw." Tiri replied
That was as good a plan as any. The two women continued shopping and then left the bazaar.
Arendelle
Pine District
Library, first floor
Records Room
Mark was once more in the records room of the Pine District Library, nobody on staff minded much if he was present, but they did expect for him to keep things tidy, with him was Altun, and she was helping him try to figure out a few things that he thought about the last month.
"Its gotta be here" Mark grumbled. He set the book back on the shelf and picked up another leafing through it, all it had was records of land ownership transfers, dates of birth, and weddings performed.
"What has to be here ? What are we even looking for ?" Altun asked him.
"So this is where Master Wolfe goes when unable to find things he seeks, huh ?" a odd voice spoke from the doorway. Mark turned to regard the speaker.
A tall man with long silver hair stood there. "Jarius ?" Mark asked upon sight of the man. Then he recognised him.
"Wrong guess." Nara smirked.
"Fuck you too" Mark grunted as he put the book back.
"No thanks, I'm married" Nara said, Mark looked at him, Nara on the inside was internally kicking himself senseless and yet he looked calm.
Mark regarded the Force Dragon for a minute, then smirked, "Didnt think you were the married type. You a widower too ?" Mark kicked himself in the head for asking such a question, he hated that term even after so long.
He had been awake since august and he was still pissed off on the terminology used. He had no idea that Xeir was alive, Elsa was gone sure, but Xeir was in the kingdom.
"Nah, the wife's still quite young." Nara replied with a smug grin on his face
"Ahuh, so what brings you here ?" Mark asked him while picking up another book
"Looking for you actually, Blackmane said that someone was coming to the kingdom today or tomorrow, more like returning, and she wanted your help in finding the person, She thinks they got lost" Nara explained.
"Really ? Who ?" Mark asked him
"Blackmane only said to look for her arrival in any of the outlaying districts. In this case, follow the dead, you'll find her, that's how Blackmane worded it." Nara replied t ohim.
Mark raised an eyebrow, as did Altun. "Anything else from Aunt Blackie ?" Mark then asked, using his nickname for his aunt.
"Yes, dinner is at six tonight, dont be late, or Asami gets to play momma cat for the night with you as her kitten." Nara replied, he then looked confused at what he just said. "I dont think that Blackmane wanted me to tell the threat, but it works."
Altun smirked as Mark looked briefly horrified at the mere thought of being his cousins kitten again. "It does work, Aunt Blackie is rather to the point when it comes to threats and warnings like that." Mark replied once he had calmed a bit.
"See you at dinner then." Nara said, making a hasty retreat stage left. Mark sighed, this was a long day. It wasnt even sunrise yet and he was being threatened with kitten time.
"I take it your Aunt is a Tigris too ?" Altun said as she opened a book, the year on it read 1953
"Yeah, magical as well, tends to use kitten time as a punishment when I was growing up" Mark replied with a amused grunt, "Long story short, I hated it as a kid."
"Sounds like a good punishment" Altun said, "I might have to do that with my kids, they're old enough for it to count I think." Mark gave her a funny look. "What I'm a mom and my kids are getting into shit they shouldnt."
"Are you magical enough to do it though ?" Mark asked
"Not really no" Altun replied.
"Then there you go, if you got the magic for it, then yeah it makes for good timeouts. Otherwise its an empty threat. though if you want I think I could ask Aunt Blackmane to teach you the spell" Mark said in passing, Altun started laughing.
"It is alright, Mark, my kids are adults now anyhow." Altun told him, the idea of turning her adult children of Nekhii, Aruchii, and Kara into kittens for a time out or even family time really brought her to laughter,
"I see." Mark said, he pointed to the book, "Anything in it ?"
"Nothing of a star formation, but there is something of a riddle posed to the Royal family." Altun said.
"A riddle ? Boy those are fun." Mark retorted. He hated riddles. And Starmaster tried to give him a brain killer of a riddle. Mark sighed, "Alright, lay it on me."
Altun started reading "'When the night is clear look to the stars, if you see the bridge keep walking, the stars shall be your guide, the big one and the little one will point you astray, but do not trust the shooter or the twins, look instead to the X and its angle, north, south, east, west, spinward is best.'" Altun read.
Mark seemed to shut off right in front of her. "OK, that was one killer of a riddle. "When nights are clear, look to the stars... Alright that makes a bit of sense. Anything else ?"
"No" Altun shook her head, she went a few pages, then a few more, into the book. "I cant find anything else on it, just that riddle, all sorts of people couldnt figure it out."
"Spinward is best..." Mar mumbled. Did that mean the way the stars moved at night ? Everything was moving, or so school taught him. So therefore it made sense didnt it ? "We follow the spin of the stars at night. How ?"
"Its still dark outside right now, I'll check this book out for the moment and we can look deeper into it." Altun said
The two left the library and went into the dark nearby alley and looked up at the sky. "There" Mark said,. He pointed, he saw the stars forming the little dipper, then the big dipper.
"I see the big and little dippers, but they will only lead us the wrong way." Altun replied
"Ignore the shooter and the twins, must mean stagatarius, or however the guy had his constellation spelled. Ignore the twins, Gemni sisters." Mark said, he started searching for the X design made of the stars.
"Look for the X and its angle, north south, east west, spinward is best" Altun recited. The spotted it, and then as the two watched, the X started to move, as if spinning counter clockwise.
"Look!" Mark hissed, he pointed at the sky above, the stars had begun to spin to the left and to the right, counter clockwise, then clockwise, then once more counter clockwise.
"The hell is going on ?" Altun mumbled. "This reminds me of that event back in Mongolia when Altan and I were training one night a few years ago, the stars started spinning, just like this!" Altun explained to Mark
The stars were spinning, north and south, then east and west. Spinward was the best.
The last line of the poem was locked in Marks mind, "Alright, somethings up, come on, lets go back to the Marketplace den, maybe my aunt has some answers. I hope." Mark said
Altun handed him the book. "Take this, I will go back to my husband, Taichar, we had a vistor yesterday, big brute of a man and also Captain Sax. Taichar was less then pleased that the big cat showed up. But was rather straightforward with Sax." She said
"You were visited by the High Priests bodyguard ?" Mark asked her. Once she had detailed what Manny looked like, he nodded. He figured as much.
Then it clicked for them both
"Its being used!" Altun realised, there was only one person who had access to the Star Formation as it was
"The Formation, if it is being used the stars would react to it, The High Priest is trying to control it, or repair it in some way." Mark said as he looked back to the slowly dawning sky
"So if he is using it, it would affect the stars in the sky right this second." Altun said softly in thought.
"And we have to find a way to counter it. Otherwise people begin to question what is going on. Come on, Aunt Blackmane will know what to do." Mark said to her.
"What about the woman you're to find at some point today ?" Altun asked as the two started for the Marketplace den, heading for a Hovertrain station, then from there for the Marketplace District.
"I'll worry about finding her after I speak to Aunt Blackmane, she and Aunt Vaeyuko might have answers, if Kiyori is trying to control or repair the Formation, the stars are reacting to him doing just that. Unless its something else." Mark said in reply
"Something else, as in us finding the book and the riddle, or someone training like Altan and I did when we noticed it happening ?" Altun said to him
"What were you and your sister doing in terms of trainning ? Sparring together, meditating, shadowboxing, self martial arts movements ?" Mark asked her as the hovertrain headed off.
"We were doing the self martial arts stances, personal practises side by side. Altan noticed the movement of the stars, so we knew something was going on, but we hadnt seen it since" Altun replied to him. Mark looked impressed. "What ?"
"For a brown Tabby Tigris, you look good." Mark replied, he was not interested in her, but he did notice her markings. And now he got a good hard look at them. "I am going to guess Altan is similar to you ?"
"She is my older sister, but instead of a brown tabby, she is black and white" Altun replied, "Her hair style even shows it too.". Mark had to smile at how Altun described her sister. Similar to Atert, only not as stacked but still quite beautiful.
But she was also Sharkas wife, which made her second in command of the Kopekh directly and could be in Sharkas place when needed.
So Mark decided to think sensible and asked. "How is Anna doing with you guys again ?"
"Much better, truth be told, once she recovered in the hotel with Sapphire, the woman brought her back to us. She is safest there" Altun replied. Mark merely smiled, perfect, his worries were over.
For now.
Arendelle
Prince Complex
Palace District
A few moments later
"That is the first time I have ever really followed a police van when I wasnt arrested." Tiri said thoughtfully.
"Its the first time I've followed one when not being chased by more of them." Diamond replied, as Marion she went on many a merry ride through London with the whole London Police Department searching for her. Of course they never did catch up to her. Ever.
"So who warrants the armored truck to transport them ?" Tiri asked as they watched from the rooftop that overlooked the jail front yard. The gate slid closed by the time they had gotten to the roof which then allowed for them to simply watch from the rooftop.
"Someone important, or stupid, or just dangerous enough to need the extra strength ?" Diamond offered various answers.
"Or maybe it could be Shade ?" Tiri asked in reply as through her shard of ice bones watched as Shade was roughly hauled out of the truck and stood on her feet. A beaten mess. Her nose was broken and bleeding, blood was on her face and neck.
"Shade ? Whats she doing here ? She's supposed to be with Xeibo and Auji in China helping Auji's mothers family clean it of Templars" Diamond replied giving Tiri a confused look
Tiri shook her head, "No that's Shade, and boy does she look pissed." Tiri told her, she offered the icicle shard to Diamond to view through. "Look for yourself."
"Yup, you're right, that is Shade, and she is pissed alright." Diamond confirmed. She lowered the shard and handed it back to Tiri. "But what is she doing back in Arendelle already ? China shouldnt be freed from Templar influence this soon. Should at least be until June at the soonest."
"Maybe we could ask her ?" Tiri supplied thought question.
Diamond smirked at Tiri, "You thinking what I am thinking ?"
"Yeah, but we dont have a live chicken or bottle of vodka" Tiri replied
Diamond just looked at her. "Vodka ? For the portal spell ?" She asked
"No, for me to feel better after opening a tear in reality to go somewhere else" Tiri replied. Diamond smirked.
"We wont be going far" Diamond said to her.
"So ? Its still ripping as hole in reality." Tiri said, she then explained what she knew of the dangers of destroying reality, and the reactions of the common people. "Then again" Tiri mused. "This is Arendelle and the High Priest makes really spooky models and I am an Icewraith and there's a Snowman walking down the street straight towards those two guys at the jail gate... Wait..." Tiri pointed to where Olaf was skipping down the street in front of the jail and then realised what she just said and both she and Diamond stared as Olaf skipped along the street and stopped directly before the stunned thugs.
"HI I'M OLAF AND I LIKE WARM HUGS!" He shrieked in their faces. Both soldiers just stood and stared dumbly at him.
Tiri had to wonder how reality just let Olaf live without any harm to befall him. With the two at the gate utterly distracted. Olaf allowed Tiri and Diamond to easily get to ground level and look around.
"Did you know that the jailhouse door the letters can be rearranged to say "Ale Haus ?" Olaf said, again the two soldiers traded confused looks, never noticing Tiri and Diamond step into view.
Soundlessly the two soldiers were easily knocked out. Olaf continued on with his information dump. "Did you know that suddenly hitting the ground like you just did can result in a cuncussion ?"
Whatever he said next was ignored as soldiers spotted the two women entering the protected area. Their own men knocked out, and a snowman wandering away.
"You there! Halt!" Said a soldier, he aimed his pistol at the pair. "You are in a restricted area. Turn around and go back the way you came."
"Restricted ? In what way ?" Tiri asked cutely. She was already guaging the skills of these soldiers, each one trained she could tell, carefully by the jail staff, unlike the common thugs employed as guards outside the jail proper. "Restricted for me, or maybe restricted in the sense that we're to be here, but you arent ?"
Several of the soldiers turned from Shade, leaving only two of them guarding her while the rest pointed their weapons at the two women.
"Is it also possible that you're treating a prisoner so badly that she needs medical aid ?" Diamond spoke up, seeing the extent of Shades injuries. Buying her friend some time.
"What do you know about our prisoners and how we treat them ?" The soldier in charge asked, he got right in Diamonds face, the woman didnt even flinch, though his breath was sure to curl her hair later.
"I am just saying that her nose is bleeding, her arms look broken and if you had to ask me, I'd say you're all fired for how the prisoner was treated on your watch" Diamond told the man, bluntly so, to his face. "Now, if you will kindly get the fuck out of my way I can see about making sure she is in healthy shape before you lock her up and forget about her like you did to the rest of your prisoners"
"Why you!" The soldier got as far as those two words before Diamond reacted, moving incredibly fast she whacked the captain on the top of the head, blood splurted from the whack and the man went down.
Shade saw them arrive and had to smile, seeing Xeir, or at least who she thought was Xeir, and Diamond working together again. She spat out the blood that had built up in her mouth. Her hands were cuffed, and yet even then she acted as if a prisoner, but with the calvary there, the act was dropped as soon as the first soldier hit the ground.
Both women smirked, Shade chose then to reveal her skills. Shifting her body slightly she jumproped backwards, her cuffed hands grabbing for the nearest officer and nailing the man in the throat. The soldier dropped like a sack of weat, the other soldier tried to fight Shade only to get hit, his neck snapped and the cufs holding Shade were broken off her wrists neatly.
The second truck pulled into the jail yard as Tiri and Diamond along with Shade made short work of the initial group. Shade hated being without her weapons, and since the truck she was brought to the jail in was not carring her weapons. She spotted the second truck.
The soldiers piled out and Shade smirked. "Take care of them for me, leave me a few. I got some shopping to do" She said to Diamond.
"Sure, we'll try to leave a few." Diamond replied, Tiri chittered something and turned herself into a sword of ice, and let Diamond use her as a weapon in addition to a golden bo staff.
Within moments the glass reenforced armor of the soldiers was broken, a few of them were on the ground dead or dying, or in this case just knocked out. Diamond flung the bo staff and it span about, whacking hither as it span around as if someone unseen was using it. Beating the senses out of several soldiers before returning to Diamonds hand.
Shade ducked behind the first jail truck, and headed for the new arrival, the soldiers were focused on Diamond and Tiri and were trying to fight the two women as Shade stepped to the truck and wrenched the side door from the thing. Using it briefly as a shield she defended herselkf from a few shots before flinging it at the soldiers.
Some dove out of its path, one didnt, and found himself dead against the other armored truck, stuck in place by the flung door.
Shade reached into the doorway she had made and reached for her chainwhip. With her seemingly distracted a soldier grabbed her and pulled her out of the car. Shade reacted and smashed the man in the face, sending him flying before diving through the car and grabbing her chainwhip.
Kicking the other door aside, Shade was armed and ready to fight. Flicking her wrist, she launched the whip, impaled a man in the sholder and yanked him back, catching him and stomping him into oblivion.
Diamond had no idea that she had just been saved by Shades attack. Flicking out her bow she looked as if expecting to knock out a guy, only to not see anyone and he was flung backwards before she could hit the man. What the ? "Ah, I see you are still ontop of whip work huh ?" Diamond said
"Could say that" Shade replied, flicking about and using her body to gain speed and launched another attack. The whip had two daggers on either end of it. The chain was made of duradaeden, which meant that not even bullets or bombs could break it.
Another soldier went down.
Shade had to stare briefly as she saw Tiri, who she thought was Xeir break apart and transform into a sword again, used by Diamond to fight off the remaining soldiers.
When the soldiers were gone, the three women caught their breath. Tiri by that point had returned to a humanlike appearance. Shade began winding up her chainwhip. "I have never seen anyone do what you can do, Xeir" She said to Tiri
"What ?" Tiri asked, "Oh right, about that. I'm not Xeir, but I know where she lives. Do you want to see her ?" Tiri explained
"Its a long story" Diamond said when Shade looked at her confused. "But to summarise it." she motioned for Tiri to tell a short version of the tale
"When Xeir died she cast out her soul, leaving behind her body, which became me." Tiri explained, She smiled, ice dancing upon her body like tiny tindreils of bones and shards of icelike bones. "I'm Tiri. Its a pleasure to see you again, Shade."
"You know me as Diamond" Diamond replied, "I'd love to extend this reunion, but I think we need to leave before more soldiers swarm the place again." Diamond said
"I agree, I know where we can go, come on" Tiri activated a portal spell, the three women disappeared into it.
Less then a minute after they had left, a squad of soldiers arrived and found the ravaged dead. "Spread out and search, we got a prisoner lose it looks like" One of the soldiers said, one of the Honor Guard by the look of his colors. The soldiers scattered to their duties.
Aerendelle
Yaeko District
Moments later
The portal broke open and allowed three women to step out of it. Tiri spotted Tie not far away and called to her "Is Xeir still in or did she sneak out again ?"
"She said she was still feeling tired, so I left her in her room." Tie replied, Xeir liked to sleep at weird hours. The last two days alone had Xeir up all night long exploring the kingdom and setting prisoners free from their models.
"Any guests we should be aware of ?" Tiri asked then.
"Only that Lady Xeir said to try and find Lady Atert before too long. Shall I have Zen set the table for a few extra ? Lady Diamond ?" Tie said, Die was still counting the money that Xeir and Tiri had recovered from the High Priests sex traficking ring.
"I plan to have dinner at home with Nara, unless I can get his sorry butt here without attracting attention.' Diamond said, she thought a brief moment then nodded. "Tie, please have Zen add two more seats to the table tonight." She said
"Yes ma'am." Tie then turned to Shade. Having no idea who the Light Dragon was.
Tiri smiled, "This is Shade, a good friend of ours. We had a bit of fun at the police department in the kingdom and we might need some healing magic. Have you been able to contact any Doves or should we try for Kanwar ?"
"I'll be fine, but yes, please inform I will stay for dinner." Shade said to Tie, the Sparrow nodded and left with the notice to Zen. Tiri on the other hand shattered and reformed into a serphentine creature and lead the way to Xeirs room. Diamond however went in search of her husband.
Tiri and Shade entered Xeirs bedroom after Tiri knocked, Xeir allowed them to come in, she laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling. This was going to be a long day for sure.
Seeing her, Shade smiled, "Cant sleep ?" Tiri asked however, to which Xeir threw a pillow at her. Causing her to shatter like a glass statue "I'll take that as a no" the pile of ice said from the floor before putting the pillow back.
"That's creepy" Shade said as she pointed at Tiri's pile of ice
"Its normal for something like her" Xeir said, she stood up from the bed and smiled, taking Shade into a hug. "Its good to see you again Shade. Welcome to Arendelle"
"What's left of it" Tiri chirped, only to get smacked with a pillow again. "OW" Tiri slithered her icey pile onto the new pillow.
"When did you arrive ?" Xeir asked
"Just now, Tiri, was it ?" Shade said, the ice pile chirped a correct, "And Diamond saved me from a human jail shortly after I got here." Shade explained "I got seprated from a friend named Georgina, her son Auji, and his wife Xeibo."
"Xeibo's got married huh ?" Xeir asked, she knew the Silver Dragon, Kanwars daughter., quite a little girl when they first met. Wasnt even near adult hood the last Xeir remembered when she had become Elsa. "Never thought that would happen so soon. Auji you say ?"
Shade smiled and nodded. "Yes, they are quite happy together. Georgina's father, the cuirrent Emperor of China, who is only Emperor in name, presided over their wedding last summer."
Xeir took in Shade's beaten form. "You look like hell" She said calmly with the slightest hint of a smirk
"You look no better" Shade replied, her face void of seemingly any emotion, and yet her voice told Xeir everything she needed to know, Inside, Shade was laughing hystrically.
"Lets get you cleaned up, the bathroom is in there, feel free to use whats in there to shower with." Xeir said to Shade, allowing her freedom to use the shower as she saw fit.
"Thanks, but I will be alright once I get my hair cleaned of blood." Shade replied, the offer of a hot shower was too good to pass up, so Shade relented and accepted the offer.
As Shade got cleaned up, that allowed Xeir to trade some more barbs with Tiri, and also find out more of what was going on. "Olaf distracted the thugs for you ? I had wondered where he had gotten off to"
"Yeah, he is oddly informative too. I didnt know he had a internet link" Tiri chirped in reply. "Diamond and I were able to free Shade before things went to shit. The soldiers in the jail area were better trained, it was harder to take them all down." She said
"Shade looks a wreck, surely she was fought with before getting arrested." Xeir mused.
"I never got to ask why she was arrested or what happened to her" Tiri admitted, "Things were just really moving so quickly there just wasnt the chance."
"There will be soon" Xeir replied calmly.
A few moments passed and Shade came back to the main room and found Tiri still piled on her pillow, her serphentine head resting as if asleep. Xeir however stood at the open door, the snowfall outside seemed to not come through the doorway, and the heat did not escape.
"The view here is nice" Shade said upon sight of it
"It is, one of the best during the summer, so I recall." Xeir said in reply
Shade stepped up next to Xeir as Tiri snored. "How long have you been here ? In Arendelle, as Xeir ?" She asked the other Dragon.
"It will be a year, in August. I think ?" Xeir replied, "It's complicated, but the fact is, I am indeed back, and awake."
"All that time asleep ? Your own mother has been missing too" Shade replied in thought.
"You plan to stay for dinner I hope ?" Xeir said, after a brief snicker, sleeping for so long, but in the dream world able to see and touch everything. Now that her memories as Elsa and as Xeir had properly remerged, the time as Elsa was forgotten.
"I do yes, I had Tie ask for the table to include me. Diamond said she was going to get her husband. I assume she meant Nara ?" Shade replied with a nod.
"Yes, Diamond and Nara are still married, even when Diamond was a human girl named Marion." Xeir said with a nod in return. The two went to the table and sat down as Zen brought out some snacks. "Though I wonder, why are you in Arendelle ? Arent you to be Georgina's backup ?"
"I was, but Georgina, Auji's mother, said my use had reached its end, China is Templar free, as was the mission. So Xeibo asked me to go with Georgina here instead." Shade explained
"So why look like you were in hell ?" Xeir asked her
"I looked at some muckymuck funny, he had me arrested, I resisted, they called in backup. Then when we got to the jail Tiri and Diamond broke me out." Shade gave Xeir a brief summary of what had happened. "What about you ? Still not good at cooking ?"
"You had to mention that huh ? Yeah, still cant cook to save my life." Xeir said, she sighed, Shade poured two drinks for them both. "Tomorrow I go to Oslo, Blackmane said her older sister Silvermane was tracking a package, they think its a Apple of Eden"
"It could be, but it also could be something else entirely" Shade said simply. "Best be careful tomorrow."
"I leave for Oslo tomorrow to meet up with Silvermane in Oslo, we then await the package to arrive. However long that might be with customs" Xeir smirked thinking of how she could drive the elder Elisar crazy.
"In the mean time we eat dinner. Correct ?" Shade said to her
"Yes, eat dinner, and catch up on memories lost." Xeir replied, Tiri chittered something of more people arriving as Zen brought out the food. Just as Zen set out the meal, Nara and Diamond arrived.
"Oh" Nara said upon seeing Shade, "You were right, dear. Guess that's twenty I owe you"
"No, that's something else you owe her" Tiri corrected, only to get gently punched in the shoulder.. The group of friends and family sat at the table to eat.
Stories were traded, thoughts were also spoken aloud. And at the end of it all. It became clear that this family was tight nit. So much so that when Xeir brought up going to Oslo, the fact that Tiri was remaining in Arendelle to act as her made everyone execept Shade worried.
"What ?" Tiri asked, her mouth dropping open, her jaw quite literally falling off her face and landing in her soup.
"Tiri, pick up your jaw before your soup gets cold" Xeir scolded the icewraith.
"Yeah but me acting as you ? You're not as loony as I can be" Tiri said
"That might be true, but like me, you cant cook worth shit either." Xeir told her.
Tiri looked like a deer in the headlights. "Oh, she cant cook either can she ?" Diamond mused, Tiri gave the woman a dirty look.
Before she could reply however Shade spoke up. "For what its worth, I will remain here if you do not mind it. I can keep Tiri company, and if needed provide a body for her to utilise." Shade had seen how Tiri formed a suit of transparent yet incredibly light armor on Diamond during their fight in the jail yard.
"That works for me" Tiri said, she had to ask Shade later what bra size she was, Diamond was just right, so was Xeir, Tiri was worried that Shade might be too big.
"Its settled then, Shade, you are more then welcome to stay here with Tiri" Xeir said, it saved a lot of having to find a body truth be told. Shade could wear Tiri alike a suit of unseen armor. And Tiri could use Shade to get around where and when needed.
The rest of the evening passed in merriment and friendship as the family soon was seated in the main room with drinks talking over strange evnets in the kingdom, and moreso how people had forgotten Xeir, or how Xeir was even remembered in the first place.
"In the Galaisa District alkone the people there have been praising Xeir for getting rid of the High Priests soldiers" Nara had said.
At the end of September there had been a huge fight in the Galasia District's massive open air mall and fleamarket, Xeir barely got away from that in one piece. But she had since learned further on how to fight large groups like that
All she did however was smile at the look Shade gave her.