Frozen Memories - 1-8 Bridge

by Xeir Zith

Hidden Past - Back Cover. Hidden Past remake! This is entirely overhauled with missing dialog added to inital scenes with expansions and spelling fixes to the original writing from Hidden Past. In Bridge we see exactly what happens between Frozen Memories and War of the North - Frozen Memories. Xeir dreams and Elsa lives in a simulated city. Light works, Jarius writes Xeir sleeps

6. Elsa Eight Days: 5th Day

Frozen memories – 1.8 Bridge

Hidden Past – Back Cover

The computer beeped, Nara stepped through the door and found Dit smiling at the computer screen. "They have made amazing progress. You felt them didnt you ?" Nara said nothing. "No matter, we are nearly where we want to be."

"That Jarius is really something, isnt he ?" Nara finally spoke, saying at that moment nothing of feeling Diamond or the others.

"Yes, by speaking with Haversham, and Marion finding out more of Shadow Mist Sect, it put their hearts in contact with our own. People are starting to remember them now. When they wake up, it will be as if they had gone away for a year" DiT said simply. "Now we must act, first I want you to remove a few key elements from the simulated town. The sooner the better"

DiT turned to Nara, "And you ? Are the holes in your memory beginning to fill in ?"

He nodded. "yes, the haze is starting to clear"

"Good, we have work to continue doing." DiT then said

"More Shadowlings ?" Nara asked

"No, worse. You know what to do" Nara said nothing and disappeared into a portal of darkness.

Elsa Eight Days

The 5th Day

11 days later

29 June 1986

Scala ad Caelum

Dusk

Steam hissed from a halberd head as Elsa laid it in the water trough. The last week and a half were a blur for her. She had made her mothers sword out of the rarest possible metal. And even took a day to herself in the woods north of the core of the city island of Scala ad Caelum to test the swords carefully. The strange glasslike steel never lost its sharp edge, sharper than anything she could ever make again, and she knew it.

Like all the weapons requested in the order, the halberds were the nastiest looking things she'd ever made. And yet, they were the order, and she asked no questions of why such a nasty spiked up polearm head. And, like the rest, she touched her ice coated fingers to it, ice danced along the edge of th halberd head and made it glow with an unearthly hue.

"This is it, the last one of the order." She said, she spotted her journal, her brother kept it safe when she forged the iDuradaeden/i swords, he'd made his forge so insanely hot that she pretty much killed the heat from the thing when she put the two beautiful swords into it. Only moments after she had taken the swords out, and cooled them in the water, which disappeared as the heat had done. She and everyone else in her family stared for a moment at the suddenly relit forge that belonged to her brother; the heat was not as intense as it was when she put her swords into it, but once again, every single coal was white with heat

Marcus took the blade and smiled. "Good work, Xeir. Now then; I believe you need to make up for this week and a half; you haven't taken any time to train with your new blades." he said, smiling, and patting her shoulder with his free hand. "I'll go inform our client that his order has been completed. You go and grab Mark, and start training." He said calmly. Mark, however, was already waiting for Xeir outside of the Smithy, his Sword sheathed at his hip, and his shield on his left arm.

"Alright, I think that is a good idea. I need a break from the Forge anyhow." And in truth, Xeir wanted a break from the forges, train with her brother, heck go somewhere and train with her brother she could do too. She went over to her two iDuradaeden/i blades, her mothers drawing made perfectly balanced for her hands, and she could not use just one blade at a time, she had to use both. It was how she designed them. Other people, like her brother, she let him, and her mother try the swords out, they found them oddly unbalanced, but when she held them, they were iperfect/i

Stupidly sharp, glittery like clear glass, xeir had gone overnight on her own to test her swords, and test them she did, A few snowbears, a snow wolf or two, a moose or six, even some dead trees fell swiftly from her swords. And yet, there was no chipping, no dulling, hell, no blood from the animals she slew, and brought back to the city for a meal the next few days for that matter.

She found herself wondering as she picked up her swords from the cloth rack on the counter behind the counter next to her journal; even after forging the swords she kept that journal, writing daily in it like she always had. Her writing, Kudzul runes, was in a strange almost flowing manner. Whereas her brother and siblings it was more blocky. But it didn't matter. Picking up both blades she never did figure out how to make a proper sheath for both swords. Somehow she felt that if they were in a sheath, they wouldn't have their proper shining beauty. So she started drawing a way for that to work, how to carry the blades.

The weirdest thing she knew, was that she had in fact cut herself a few times, she felt it when each blade had struck her legs or arms on accident, and yet, it only bruised briefly before going away as if nothing happened

She stepped out of the smithy and spotted her brother. She carried both swords, well, dragged them sort of, their shining tips leaving little trails of ice on the stonefloor that soon quickly faded away.

"Ready, dear sister?" He asked her, a smirk on his face as he turned and led her to the training grounds, where he again turned to face her and took a deep stance, drawing his sword and holding his shield at the ready; a stern expression on his face.

She got into a ready stance. One sword, her left, leading, held along her left arm the blade edge facing out, the other, her right sword, in a similar fashion, though held slightly lower as her left was more in a raised defensive pose. "Are you ?" She asked her brother. Without waiting for his ansnwer, her right blade darted forwards, going low, towards his shield, while her left came across from the left

Mark didn't intend to answer Xeir's question, and as she lunged forward with her blades, he found an opening in her otherwise flawless movements, and with his shield easilly blocking her right blade, and his own razor sharp blade deflecting her left blade, he raised his leg to push-kick towards her stomach, using the motions of his arms going outwards to deflect her blades to help gain momentum for his leg to land a more powerful kick to her stomach, is foot pointed forward, and his toes up to kick with the ball of his foot.

Spinning as he kicked at her, he brought his shield around for one hell of a powerful bash towards Xeir's torso as well, his sword-arm following quickly behind for a slash towards her left arm near the elbow. iStrange/i he thought, his eyebrows furrowed as he went though his movements. iShe's moving a lot faster than normal; I will have to compensate./i And compensate he did, hunkering down into a lower, more grounded stance and staying close to Elsa, not allowing her to pick up too much speed or power for her strikes, while he was well suited for this sort of close-combat, and he knew that she knew it. Now it was up to Xeir to change the tide of the battle, which was currently in Mark's favor.

She was expecting both blocks her brother gave her, but she improvised when he brought up his foot she jumped upwards lightly, using his foot, and his own strength, as a springboard, jumping up and over him in a summersault, her swords spinning about, her hilts aiming towards his shoulders, As he spun under her she did her best to match his movement, using the shield bash she span on her feet, as if she were simply dancing, her twin swords amazingly light and so well balanced she danced with her brother. Their swords and shield clashing to the sounds of ringing metal.

Like normal however, even with just the two of them, the pair attracted quite the amount of attention. Over the many years they grew up, the private one on one lessons between siblings, Mark and Xeir drew onlookers of their own age group. And sometimes, they joined into a massive battle royale. This however was not the case as Xeir and Mark were alone, their swords dancing and sparking, but on hers no signs of damage could be seen, with each spark of their swords meeting bits of metal flaked off her brothers blade. But there was no sign of damage to her own weapons.

Mark could hear the shards of metal shredding off of his blade and it somewhat annoyed him; but then again, he knew how sharp those iDuradaeden/i blades were, so it didn't surprise him. Luckily his shield was holding up just fine. As Xeir increased the ferocity of her attacks, he had to take a shorter, more manueverable stance in order to keep up, using his shield as best as he could as well as his blade. The match had become quite the stalemate, however Xeir seemed to be quickly gaining the upper hand as shards of Mark's sword continued to chip off from impact with her blades.

As her brother settled into a more grounded stance she went at him again, quicker, faster, calmer, Both swords a whirlwind of motion and speed, and pure beauty. A light whistling came from both blades as they span and parried and struck. Just like when she forged both swords within the Family Vault, Elsa used them as if she were forging them once again, but they were forged, and no cold was needed or wanted. In fact the two worked up quite a sweat by time the dinner bell rang

Right when the bell rang for dinner for the pair did they halt, Elsa's left blade centimeters from her brothers nose, and her right holding his shield from bashing into her side. Both were breathing heavily, soaked in sweat, that on Elsa merely flaked into harmless icicles.

As the dinner bell rang, Mark noticed how much of an upper hand Elsa had. His own blade was too far away to stop hers, and he was leaning back to much to be able to even try to counter; and his stance was wide again.

All day the two had trained, she had finished the last weapon of the order that morning, spending nearly eleven days in the Forge, even sleeping in there, making the blades to order. And finally, after training with her brother after so many days, she felt as if she had trained with him nonstop for the last eleven days. Seeing how close she was to cutting her brothers nose she smirked "Hungry ?"

He huffed hard as she slowly retracted her blade, catching his breath quickly before answering her question. "Perhaps; just not for your blade." He said

Finally he bowed as he sheathed his chipped and dammaged sword before smiling. "Good match. You've taught me that I need to make even stronger blades." As was custom for people their age, they would tell their opponent what they had learned from the match, that way it was ensured that both parties benefited from the training.

Xeir smiled at his words, quickly rertracting her left blade she held her hand to her brother to help him up. "I learned something from you too brother" She said, "You taught me to improvise. I was not expecting you to use your feet!" She had no idea he planned to move her back, she just improvised as best she could; and it worked. So not only did her brother learn he needed to make stronger blades, but she learned never to forget that some opponents used more then just swords, most enemies, she'd face would fight rather dirty.

With one last heavy breath he entered the Wolfe residence, holding the door open for xeir before closing it behind them, and going to his room to place his shield and sword down before heading to the dining hall, sitting at the table with an audible grunt.

She stepped in before her brother, both of the young adults were soaked in sweat from their day in the grass training with their swords, well, her swords mostly. His sword she could have sworn looked ready to fall apart if her own blades touched it again!

Setting her twin swords against the table edge their mother looked at them. "What did you two do ? Dance in the creek again ?" Sometimes the pair did their one on one sessions on the rocks at the North Creek. The North Creek was one of many waterways and canals in the island city, mostly in a means to ensure the best possible footing in battle as no battlefield will be the same.

"Maybe they just need to stay outside ?" Diamond piped up; at twenty two years old, and just as skilled with a sword and shield as her brother, Diamond had grown into a beautiful whitehaired woman; Charity took great pride in her family she was almost laughing at her youngest daughters words. She was smiling, but not yet laughing; but Xeir could tell her mother wanted to giggle.

"Its OK Momma, Mark and I trained, Papa said to, I finished the order this morning, so with nothing else to do, Papa said to train with Mark" She might have been twenty five, but Xeir was so used to calling her mother and father 'Momma' and 'Papa' So if Marcus said to train with Mark, then who could Charity blame ? "So I... we... did as Papa instructed."

"And in doing so you missed lunch. Stableduty" Charity said sternly to them both, which meant, right as they were done eating, no time to clean up before bed, they had to finish eating and head to the Stable Master Jarius Kaerth; Who was already quite angered over the sheer heat Mark had produced over a week before

Xeir stared at her mother. Stableduty ? Seriously ? That was like, the worst, evenmore so after her brother pretty much torching the center blocks just to keep his forge hot for three days! Muledeer shit seriously reeked when heated! Besides, Xeir barely went in there to begin with. So, missing lunch meant heavy duty work like normal. She nodded, accepting her punishment; which meant that before bed they'd both stink to high heaven.

Mark stayed quiet as Elsa talked to their mother, and frowned as the punishment was made known. Truth be told, he had trained with Xeir so long that day because he didn't want to do stable duty! It seemed his plan didn't work... With a heavy sigh he began to eat his dinner, of course, thanking his mother for the meal first before digging in. As usual there was a variety of meats on the table all cooked to different degrees, as well as plenty of veggies and fruit and everything else a healthy family would need to continue to function physically. Mark always liked his meat a bit on the raw side, so he chose the huge slab of meat that looked as though Charity had merely branded it and then set it on the table, plopping it down on his plate before beginning to eat.

-8-8-8-

Mark had pulled the collar of his shirt above his nose while shoveling the stall he was assigned to clean out. He figured that he would at least smell more of his own sweat than Muledeer shit, and he would figure correctly, as he was already half way done cleaning out his second stall. Of course...the stables were huge; both him and Xeir had at least 6 more stalls to clean out ibefore/i bed-time! "Good fucking shit does this suck. Tell me why we were chosen for Stable Duty again this week, Xeir ?" Mark called over to his sister, who was working in the stall across from his.

At first Xeir didn't answer her brother, at least, not right away. She was almost done with her second stall of the cleaning process, they still had another half dozen each, and they both already cleaned one apiece! Xeir tried to stay as far as she could from any of the Muledeer stables in the island city of Scala ad Caelum as much as she possessibly could. Another forkful of muledeer shit was raised into a barrow, Elsa could easily see the heat still in the stuff as smoke drifted from it, it stank worse than she was used to! She'd made for herself, out of her ice, a mask of sorts to filter out the smell, but it did very little good if any at all. Her eyes watered from the sheer heat that still raidated from the crap.

Finally after the last forkload she spoke "I think it was your forge, and my forging the iDuradaeden/i swords" She said, the heat from her brothers forge had pretty much burned everyone from their homes in a three block raidus from his forge, the place was stupidly hot. And yet, it once more burned, but much more controlled, not as firey, nor was the raw heat so widespread. "I spent three days in the vault, those swords, I could see them when I forged them, before I forged them. When I first picked those ingots of that strange cool to the touch glasslike steel as a child all those years ago, I could see them finished; So I think it is because of just that. The heat from the forge, and the cold from my swords. the time spent to make the blaes, and heat your forge. Ugh... yuck, I'll be right back" She shut up then and took the filled wheelbarrow outside to the pile, Jarius Kaerth was not exactly happy, but thankfully he had a kiln to dry out the muledeer shit into more burnable scentless logs.

Upon returning she got back to work without a word as Jarius himself was in the stable at that moment inspecting their work so far. It was nearly full dark, the sun had set nearly an hour before.

Jarius' bright crystal blue eyes took in everything carefully. The Brass Dragon elder liked what he saw of the cleaning progress, only Charity knew his true linage, as well as Marcus and Bashain. But nobody else knew, they all called him Jarius the Muledeer Keeper; he oversaw all the stables, and what was more, cared for each muledeer, and with the last week's terrible heat, he'd pretty much closed that particular stable until it was properly cleaned out. "You two keep this up" He said, pointing to the two now very clean stalls, "And I'll inform your mother of your good work in the morning, hopefully you'll be out of here before too late. your mother made it clear that she wants you both home and in bed by moonrise" Basically midnigtht, but at the rate they were going, it was going to take possibly all night!

Xeir said nothing but noded to him, Jarius knew something she did not. Just like her mother. With a satisfied nod the Brass Dragon turned and left the stables, but he said before he left "Tomorrow morning I'll be bringing back the muledeer that once stayed here, I'd like your help in bringing them inside, around noonmeal tomorrow." Soon as he was gone, she let out a relieved sigh, their level of work was what he sought. Perfect. they could get done well before moonrise.

As Xeir finished cleaning her stall, Mark did too, his shirt doing a better job, it seemed, of keeping the smell out of his face than the mask she had tried to conjure up. He took the wheelbarrow he had filled and brought it outside as well, listening to his sister's words. Again he ask himself the question: What the hell were you thinking Father ? Letting Elsa forge those swords now ? Of all times ? Couldn't she had done it later in the week ? So that way this shit didn't smell as bad ? He saw Jarius as he exited the stables with the wheelbarrow and nodded respectfully. Mark had to wonder was it timed just right or qwas there something else going on for Elsa to get her twin swords as she did ?

Mark couldn't pinpoint it, but he had a feeling about Jarius, like he was hiding something. Then again, Mark began to feel that way about even himself; and that made him question many people, even his parents, to some degree. He never voiced his concerns, however. Who was he to question other people when he wasn't even sure of himself? That was a lesson Marcus had taught him as a boy, and one that he frequently made a point of repeating to all of his children, Mark, Xeir, Diamond, and Marion. Occasionally, when he could, he'd try and teach it to some of the other children around the town.

"Moonrise? Oh jeeze... Looks like we gotta go double time, Xeir." Mark sighed, his shoulders drooping slightly.

So it was that Mark and Xeir somehow manages to clean out the last six stalls each of them were assigned with an hour to spare before they needed to be home. Mark's muscles were sore; a feeling he had not felt for a long time. Then again, different kinds of work elicits different kinds of feelings from the body. With a heavy breath, mist rising from his mouth from the cold air around them, Mark let his shirt drop from his nose; since the inside of the stables smelled much better with all the shit gone.

"Head on home, Xeir. I'll let Jarius know we're done." He said, nodding to his sister before heading towards the humble little home that Jarius called his and giving a good knock on the door, wating for him to appear in the doorway.

Jarius was expecting Mark to come knocking at his door, but not so quickly. An hour before moonrise and the knock came, Opening the door the gentlemans gentleman, Mike most called the short guy, a good butler, but kinda quirky opened the door. Seeing who it was after looking WAY up with his gaze he nodded and motioned for Mark to follow him. the home was not huge like the Wolfe compound, nor was it as large as the Center Courtyard of the city. However, it was filled with all sorts of items unseen to the known world. Strange technology, old wonderous items. Even small vials lined shelves in places

Mark was surprised that Mike answered the door; hell, he didn't even know Jarius had a butler, let alone one so short.

The butler lead Mark right to a study and a moment after bidding him to wait outside, Jarius called Mark inside "I was not expecting you for another hour. From the smell of things, you and your sister have done as exepcted if not better ?" Jarius never smiled, he was a no nonsense type of man, and expected only the very best. It was rare that Mark or even Xeir had do to stable duty, as it was, it was the harshest possible punishment that Charity could give the two siblings, what with the sheer heat that Mark had produced alone.

As he was led to Jarius, he smirked at the comment. "Mother told us to be home before Moonrise; so, we finished earlier. Elsa's heading back now. I just came to tell you that we are done, and that I bid you a good night." He said respectfully. He then sighed. "I also wish to appologize for heating up my forge so hot, and promise to never do it again; the forge itself can't handle that kind of heat again anyway." He admitted, a joking smile on his face. He then cleared his throat and then nodded. "Elsa and I will be here again to help you put the Muledeer back in their stalls, as requested. I"ll make sure of it." he said sternly.

Jarius smiled and nodded "I will inspect the stalls come morning. In the mean time, get yourself to bed. Your apology is accepted. I understand it was not completely your doing, your mother and I spoke over things and came to an agreement. You and your sister have filled your end of the bargain, half way. Tomorrow at noonmeal I'll send for you and your sister to help put the Muledeer in their proper stalls." Jarius said standing up and stepping over to Mark. He handed him a envelope. "When you get home, make sure this is given to your sister" Inside was a few gemstones, there was an equal number for both of them.

"Is there anything else? Or may I go?" he asked. If there was nothing else needed, he would leave, and head home, getting himself ready for bed.

Jarius smiled and shook his head. "At this moment, no, nothing else. However" He picked up a brown envelope. "This is payment in advance of a order of you both I will have need for soon." Jarius said. He hadn't been in Scala ad Caelum for very long before Xeir started growing up with her sister. He knew things about the ice magic gifted girl. Things that seemed. well.. off. "Mike will see you to the door, I will send him for you tomorrow at noonmeal." he said.

-8-8-8-

Xeir stripped down to a soft nightgown and climbed into bed after ensurning her twin iduradaeden/i swords were under the pillow within reach. Ever since forging them she'd slept with them in bed. But she couldn't sleep, she reeked of muledeer shit; iMother is going to kill us tomorrow/i She thought, dreading how the morning would play out. If they were lucky, their mother would only have them wash their blankets carefully, if not so lucky, she'd send them out with only their swords and no extra clothing for a night away from Scala ad Caelum. Which would suck greatly because of the sheer stink on their skin

Mark waited for a while before nudging Xeir since they did share the same bed. He never did really understand why Xeir insisted upon sleeping with him, but he didn't really question it, either. "Hey...wanna try and sneak out? Try and clean this shit off of us?" He asked calmly, and in a hushed whisper so that Charity would not hear them.

Xeir sat up as her brother spoke, giving him a sidelong glance her eyes sparkled as if with snowflakes again at his words. Remembering the past, the Snowgies, well, the more recent Snowgies were more mature in the sense of they didn't bounce around crazily, besides she was ill to begin with hence why they showed up in their room that morning three weeks before!

"'Cause, I dunno 'bout you, but I can't sleep while we smell like shit." He said, getting out of the bed and stretching out his arms quickly.

"If mother heard you say that" She murmured softly, but nodded. Grabbing up her sword belt and a towel or two from the dresser she went to the window and cracked it open, using her ice to dull the sound as she also carried her swords in a ice blue cloth she'd conjured when she forged them in the vault.

Mark smirked at the mention of their mother hearing him. "I've learned the limits to Mother's hearing." He boasted before getting himself ready as well. Grabbing himself a towel as well as his shield, as his sword was about to fall apart from his combat with Xeir the day before.

Slipping through the open window without a sound she heard all sorts of noises, crkitcs mostly. Strange ticklike creatures the size of a praying mantis, but they made loud good music at night, better then the hornfrogs, those things were huge, and gross, and loud. Soon as Mark joined her at the window she noticed the envelope on the nightstand, "What's that ? Is that from Stablekeeper Kaerth ?" She asked giving a soft nod towards the white paper item. Inside was ten gems, four rubies, four sapphire, and two quartz, five each, they'd get equal number of all three gems once it was evenly split up.

He then stopped as Xeir noticed the envelope. "Payment for a future job from Jarius; but he didn't tell me anything about the job, he only just said to give half to you." He said, nodding softly. "That makes 5 for each of us." He added softly before hopping out the window.

"Now come on! You want to get clean, don't you?" He smirked, holding the window open for Xeir to get through. Once outside, they'd head over to the bathhouses closest to the Wolfe Compound; if they used their own baths, it would alert Charity that something was up... not that her children leaving in the middle of the night wasn't obvious enough.

The bathhouses were small, but useable, and unisex as families often came to bathe together; a bonding technique parents used for shy children to get to know other people, and come out of their shells; quite literally, in a sense. With a tired sigh, Mark stripped down, and went into the actual baths, followed by Xeir. Without another word or sound, the door closed, the water turned on.

Meanwhile...

The sounds of a window opening reached Charity's ears as she laid in bed, She knew wthe kids were done with their stableduty for Jarius, just by the smell alone, but hearing their bedroom window open, if that was what window that opened, made her sit up in bed. "Maracus, wake up! I think the kids snuck out" She was listening in the dark carefully for footsteps, and heard a pair of feet sneaking off.

Marcus merely turned over in his sleep. "When you smell as badly as they do, can you blame them? Honestly, you must remember stable duty as a young girl, right? Don't try to tell me you didn't sneak off to the bath houses with all the other kids, too." He laughed softly. He then yawned and sat up. "But, if it'll make you sleep better, you can go and scold them." He patted her shoulder before rolling over again to fall back to sleep.

Charity smiled, "True, dear, that is true. And don't bring that up, mother knew how bad I sounded, and smelled after moving that crap as a child" In truth, the muledeer shit had gotten well into Charity's sinuses, to the point of making her violently sick, which thankfully did not pass to Marion or Mark, and thankfully not Diamond or Xeir had the ailment either. She laid back in bed, "I'll worry about it in the morning, the worst I can do is send them out of warforge for the next day and night as it is" Charity used Marcus' still well muscled left arm as a pillow as she curled up next to him under the covers, moments later and they were once more asleep

30 June 1986

Scala ad Caelum

Noon

The last of the Muledeer were inside their proper stalls, the night before did good for the two. Jarius noticed that both seemed cleaner as well as moe properly attired for something, as if ready to travel. He said nothing of either but motioned them to follow him. A few meters from the stables was a small shed. Going inside he returned with a armful of weapons ewrapped in strange colored cloth. "The envelope I gave you last night is advance half of what is to come upon return here. These need to be sold, at their base price or whatever price you can manage to gain for these swords. If you ask anything over their base price, you keep the surplus as personal profit, while I get the rest upon return here. Take as long as you need." Jarius said

Xeir opened one of the two items, findiing a dozen or so hilts of ancient swords still strong and durable. Nothing like her twin blades. She had both pairs. Steel and iDuradaeden/i both. She nodded seeing the weapons, they were old yet held up well enough. Base prices for such rare weapons was high indeed "I recommend you go to a city a day from here to the northwest, its a city called Arendelle. if you were to leave Scala ad Caelum now by ship to the farthest city island closest to shore, you will be there by noonmeal tomorrow. And you can sell the swords there. From what I have seen and witnessed it is a very nice location, and full of merchants ready to buy rare weapons" In truth he wanted to know more about a certain rumor. And if his theory was correct, then he was sure to find out more of what DiT was planning.

Mark sighed as he looked at the swords, tapping them with his fingers as if to test if they were real. "Arendelle?" he tilted his head slightly, as if considering it. "Yeah, sounds easy enough to get a profit from there. Maybe we can find some material tough enough to form a sheath for Xeir's swords, too." He said, glancing to his sister as he took part of the weapons and put them in a cart that belonged to the Wolfe family. In there also was about a weeks worth of food, just to be safe, the same amount of water, and some sleeping bags, of course. The cart was pulled by some of the finest Muledeer in Scala ad Caelum, but they werent Jarius's. In fact, Mark didn't actually know whose they were; he didn't care about Muledeer; only about weapons.

"Take 'em to Arendelle, sell 'em for a profit, give said profit to you, keep the surplus for ourselves. Easy enough; let's go, Xeir. Mother and Father, and of course our sisters, will wish to know about our little job." He said, smiling, patting her back before nodding in farewell to Jarius.

Xeir nodded and picked up the second bundle of weapons, ancient swords, even if not magical, were quite expesive. As she went to the wagon and climbed onto its back to place the bundle of swords upon it, Jarius spoke, "While the two of you speak with your parents of this errand that I am paying you for, I will hook up the muledeer for you. When you return come straight to my home for the rest of the payment for this task" He said

Xeir nodded again, it was time to face the music, but she wondered about this place, this Arendelle. Why had she never heard of it before ? Why did it sound so familar ? It was weird but she said nothing of it, hopping off the wagon she nodded ot her brother "So, who tells mother first ? You or me ?" She cast a glance to Jarius, he'd paid just the two of them for this venture, so Marion and Diamond wouldn't be happy either to not come along. They started for their home when Xeir spoke up again

"Wait, forget who tells mother, what about our sisters ? Who tells them ?" Xeir knew the two wanted to travel, like Milia did with her birth mother. Always wanted to explore the wider world. "You know they want to travel, the farthest they've gone is a half day north of here. To the northern side of the City Island" Who to tell their younger sisters, who indeed

Mark paused and stopped for a second at Xeir's questions, thinking it through. "I'm sure that our sisters will listen to you better than they will to me... after all, you've protected them more in our Sessions." He said, turning to face her. "I'll tell mom and dad; and probably take the brunt of Mother's wrath as she scolds us about leaving the house in the middle of the night." he laughed, turning to face the door to the Wolfe Compound, and opening it, walking inside.

Mark was right, of course, about their mother venting her disappointment about leaving the house in the middle of the night; but nontheless approved the journey while Marcus sighed and sipped at his coffee. He felt like he was getting too old for this shit; though he was in his early forties. With a final hug and kiss goodbye, Mark left the coumpound and hopped onto the cart, waiting for Xeir to come back from telling the girls that they couldn't come along.

Oh sure leave me to get hurt, geez, thanks Mark Xeir thought darkly rolling her eyes as he went inside, she didn't haveto worry of looking for her sisters as they all but tackled her off her feet, they'd shadowed them to Jarius and overheard it all, and they were clearly unhappy. Diamond of course wondered what this town, or city, or whatever it was, called Arendelle was even about and how it even existed and they didn't know, to which Xeir could not answer. But she did say she wouldn't be too long, as it was only a day northwest of Scala ad Caelum by Muledeer Finally she told both girls careful instructions. "If Mark and I aren't back in three weeks, come after us. Regardless of what mother says alright ?" Both girls nodded, they knew what to do. They'd done such battles in the past before, hostage rescue type scenarios were fun.

Five minutes later and hearing her mother and Mark chatting Xeir met up with her brother on the cart and they started off. It was a long ride. and only two pairs of eyes watched them, already counting the days were Diamond and Marion.

Outside Scala ad Caelum

"This isn't good, the two are going" Belyrr grumbled. this wasn't good at all. Somehow they had overlooked something. Something in the plan was overlooked, which was not good, and it made Belyrr nervous.

"Where are they headed is the question" Came Kethends voice from a shard of a glass mirror held in Belyrrs hand

Taztan spoke up. "Jarius is here" He said as tactly as he possibly could. knowing full well the hate his Masters had of that Ancient Brass

Kethend swore for a good minute at the name, and hearing he was in Warforge. Finally somewhat calm she said "Steal one of her swords at the first chance when they reach their destination. Do not use it, hide it somewhere in the area of Arendelle and wait for my command to present it to the King, our puppet Princeling is almost ready for his first task"

"Yes ma'am!" Taztan replied, leaving Belyrr to bear the brunt of the next set of orders, which were actually not that heavy, follow Elsa and Mark to their destination, and watch and wait to steal the sword, one of the two blades, and render Elsa defenseless. Kethend had observed through her various shadows how Elsa used her swords, how they were balanced, she never used just one blade, always holding both, using them both in perfect sync with each other.

After a few more words, Belyrr put the mirror shard away; that was that. She took in their camp, just above the road and out of sight, but not out of sound they had watched Elsa and her brother leave warforge after seeing Jarius in the vast city. That Brass was a dangerous one, They had already come across several of his Kobold groups in the woods to the west and south, but there was nothing to the north or east; which meant trouble, even with a legion of Shadowlings behind them, they'd still not prevail against the Brass Dragon, Jarius Kaerth and his vast army of Kobolds under his command. Looking to her sister she said "We got new orders. We follow those two to where they end up, and steal one of those glass swords the woman carries, and then hide it in the city they end up in until further instruction; have they moved from their camp ?"

Nymeth visibly flinched from the sound of rage from Kethend's voice when she swore for that good minute; she hated the sound of all of that Draconian swearing. Not only could not understand it, but it rang in her mind, and made her feel empty inside, and completely worthless to her Masters cause. She then listened to orders and sighed as her sister put the shard away. "A pity that we will most likely end up killing them." she said, talking about Diamond, Xeir, Mark, and Marion. "They grew up so wonderfully; quite the beautiful women and handsome man they've grown up to be. I would have liked one as a pet." She said, a frown visible on her face. "Do you think if we pull off this job well enough, Queen Kethend will let me keep one of them as a pet?" She looked with an absolutely evil tinge to her sister Belyrr, and smirked.

She then sighed and shifted her weight to one hip. "Yes, they've begun moving; they'll be passing us within the hour." she said. "I suggest we pack up and start hiding; anywhere where we don't have to deal with those awful Kobolds! One of them attacked me the other day!" she said. In all honesty, it hadn't attacked her; merely spotted her for a brief second and blinked. But, of course, Nymeth had to play the innocent damsel in distress; her newest hobby just to annoy Masor, who, at the moment, was helping with the corruption process of Hans down south.

Corruption was a slow, painful process if done patiently. Luckily, all of the pain so far has been labeled as "Nothing but growing pains" and was ignored. Now that Hans was almost fully grown; if not fully grown already; the pain would need to be explained if it didn't stop. If done quickly, however, corruption can leave a person emotionally, mentally, and physically drained, broken, and empty; A complete and utter slave to whomever corrupted them; though with only a few weeks to live.

"You always liked humans as pets; but these four are dangerous and important to the Queens plans" Within a few moments they broke camp, which wasn't much really, just a firepit of shadowfire, and then no tents or anything else. "You heard the Queen, we steal one of the swords Elsa carries, that you saw who she and here younger sister fight, the swords are balanced in such a manner that they both must be used at the same time, never just one handed alone." Belyrr said

"Best case scenario we do the job right and all goes to plan, Jarius falls to the Queens swords and we can rout his kobolds! Worst case scenario we end up in the deep pits" Belyrr said, at first excited of a possible promotion and death of an ancient Brass Dragon like Jarius, to being forlorn and annoyed at the thought of ending up in the Pit

Taztan scampered into view "Kobolds on the west side of the road, can't go that way. We'll have to paralelle them as far as the bridge then follow a few steps behind" He said. He wondered why he was with these two, they made him nervous. Possibly too nervous.

"Well, they make such interesting pets!" Nymeth said. "A lot of potential if they're diciplined correctly, and of course kept where they cannot escape or cause trouble." She mused. "Of course; that last human I had didn't work out too well. He insulted Master Draco...didn't end well for him. Of course, he did plan it..." She sighed, shrugging. "I dunno what to do, dear sister~! If only someone could vouch for me and get me another human pet!" She said, looking helplessly to Belyrr.

After a minute or two, she stopped, and sighed. "I'll just get one myself eventually." she said finally as Taztan scampered up. "Very well, prepare to move out, and stay out of sight; those two can each take on a least five people a hundred pounds heavier than they are; which says alot considering all they do is fight eachother to train." Nymeth explained, melting her body into shadowy mist to trail Elsa and mark unseen.

Without a word Taztan disappeared into the shadows while Belyrr rolled her eyes "I'll see what I can do" She said putting out the shadowfire with a wave of her hand, moments later they hid as the cart hauled by two white Muledeer trotted past quite quickly, it was nearing dinner, if past there. Whateve these two were doing, they wanted to do it in a hurry.

As they passed Belyrr spoke, "Taztan, meet up with Masor, we'll follow those two; from the direction their going, they're headed for Arendelle, we'll meet you and Masor back here with our puppet" Hans had been slowly corrupted for the last eighteen years since he was a infant. The youngest of thirteen boys, he was always overlooked, the runt of the litter so to speak, He wanted what his father had, respect, but he was given none by his brothers, nor his brothers wives, hell his own betrothed, Sonya, thought him crazy at times. But Hans plotted to take over. And soon he had many men loyal to him in his fathers army.

"Right, we'll set up camp with him inside the week, good luck!" Taztan said, disappearing once more into a shadow to aid Masor. whom he actually was less nervous around. Leaving Belyrr and Nymeth to snatch a very powerful sword from its creator

Nymeth glanced to her sister and smiled. "This should be easy. All we gotta do is stay hiddin until they reach Arendelle. Once they're all set up; we'll steal that sword." she explained softly, not wanting to alert either Xeir or Mark.

-8-8-8-

In the Southern Isles things were going to plan nicely Masor stayed nearby Hans, occaionally whispering lies to him that he would believe. "They don't care for you." His voice would echo, making it seem as though Hans was thinking it anyway while a shadow tendril slowly filled his body with Dark Draconian Magic from Draco himself. "You deserve a throne! They deserve to serve you!" these lies were filled with all of the pent up hatred Masor had for Nymeth and Belyrr; and everything in general, and it was channeled into Hans' hate for his current situation.

"You hate them. They don't deserve the throne. No one does! Only you!" the whispers continued; only to stop as Hans' anger was about to boil over; tempting him and leaving him to simmer in his own emotions. Draco chose Masor for this job for this specific reason; his ability to manipulate through sublimation and coersion. The reward? Draco's personal favor for any number of jobs; which meant a promotion; making him equal to Nymeth. God how he hated her.

"Submit to your emotions, Hans. You know it's the right thing to do."

Taztan appeared in the shadows, observing as motioned to remain quiet by his Master who watched as well, finally as Hans calmly, yet swiftly left the room, his mind already plotting how to overthrow his own father for treating him so badly, which was mostly true and partly fake as Hans did most of it himself through Masor and Dracos teaching did Taztan speak. "The girls have their mission from the Queen, we're moving quicker though, Jarius is in Warforge, and he;s got Koblds all over the west and south roads, its only a matter of time until he's got the west and north roads to and from Warforge covered in Kobold campments." Taztan was nervous in giving such information, but still, it was his job.

"You did good with finding that Brass Dragon in Scala ad Caelum, Taztan" Came a calm voice, the voice belonged to Kethend who had watched everything, her puppet was coming along perfect! But with Jarius confirmed to be in Scala ad Caelum, she had to work twice as fast now before it came apart, Taztan never looked up as Kethend never said their names outright when giving them orders, or complimenting them either. It made him nervous. "The poison is almost completed, I say almost as it needs one more day or so befor it reaches full potency, The Queen Regent of Arendelle, Marei, the mother of Queen Idun and her sister Princess Tiri is my target. Masor will take Hans, our... friend... to Scala ad Caelum to aquire weapons for his men. The two of you will act as his lieutenants while there. You are to ensure the deal goes smoothly. Pay whatever price is requested of Scala ad Caelum's smiths without question or haggling. They normally give weapons without question of where the money comes from anyway" Kethend said

"In the mean time I will go to Arendelle myself and poison the Queen Regent on my own, and also show myself to Adairon, that twisted Blackren had his heart turned into love when he fell for that sickening Silver wretched spawn." Her plan was to wait until Xeir had come of age, twenty years to be exact, but Jarius in town, sending them to Arendelle. It moved her plan too quickly forwards. Which made her nervous. It was clear she was unhappy. When she heard that Jarius, their elder by a million years, was in Warforge, to say she was unhappy, was an understatement, Kethend was livid

Masor didn't say a word as Taztan and Kethend spoke, he merely stared at the door Hans had left through, a sickening smile on his face. He was having too much fun with his job at the moment. As Kethend left them to head for Arendelle, Masor started to chuckle; soon breaking into a maniacle cackle as he gripped his face as if to try and contain his laughter. For a full five minutes he cackled like this before falling silent and turning to Taztan. "Well then, Taztan. Let us get our suits ready. We have to look official if we are to be Lieutenants for the army of the Southern Isles." He said, chuckling again.

Draco stood by Kethend, his calm aura flooding the throneroom they were currently in as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Kethend, calm yourself, please." He spoke softly, calmly, and slowly. "Jarius' presence is an annoyance; but he is accelerating our plan; I would think that you would happy about that. I do know how much you love everything coming together quickly." He said. After a few moments of silence he spoke again. "You get some rest, or get the legions training their drills. I will see what I can do about that fool of a Brass Dragon." He said, patting her shoulders before vanishing within the shadows immediately.

Kethend watched as the Shadowlings left, let them have their fun. She had travel arrangements to make. She sighed turning to Draco before he left, "That Brass and I are not on speaking terms after the last plan of mine fell through because of his meddling in his love of conversation and lore." She growled, here silver gown shimmering as she changed it a bit to fit an Arendellian visitor noble. She sighed when he patted her shoulder, turning her silver gaze to him she tried to smile, but was unable to as she watched him go, yes, she was normally happy of her plans working out better, going faster, but Jarius had means to turn things on a dime and screw up a carefully laid tapistry she'd paint or weave.

-8-8-8-

As Jarius walked back into his yard, and therefore his house, Draco materalised to greet him, leaning back against the wall just on the inside of the front door. "Good afternoon, Jarius." He said calmly, staring at the Brass Dragon with a calm, cold, calculating eye. "Tell me; what brings you back to Warforge so soon? I wasn't expecting this for at least another month." Draco said, inspecting his nails as if he had nothing else to care about.

Jarius entered his home and closed the door behind him, locking the door as he was sure of no visitors. He heard Dracos voice behind him and smiled. "Ah, so the Lord of Shadows decides to pay a visit to his own elder ? What is the occasion ?" Jarius asked, giving Draco a somewhat sarcasm filled look from his bright eyes, "Scala ad Caelum is my home, its always been my home, why else would I not be here ?" He said stepping through the hall, ignoring the tendrils of shadows that Draco had around him as he moved about the vast house.

Going to a table he poured from a pot of hot water some tea into two cups. "What surprises me, Draco, is that you yourself, pay me a visit at such a time, I truly now wonder, what is the occasion ? Why pay me a visit after so many generations ?" He took a cup he'd poured and took a sip, turning to face Draco again, "I have seen nations rise and fall, and have talked with leaders and followers, and yet, here you are, in my own home. What is on your mind... old friend ?" He kept a calm face over the entire thing. Draco had yet to find his art room.

Draco smiled and followed Jarius to the table, sitting across from him and taking a cup of tea for himself. "Well, for one; we are old friends, so perhaps I came to catch up with you and see how you fare ?" He raised his cup of tea before taking a sip, placing it down on the coaster before sighing. "Unfortunately, old friend, I am not here for a friendly chat; no, I am here because your mere presence has... let us say, angered, my wife. I'm sure you remember my beloved Kethend?" he asked, taking another sip of tea as he crossed one leg over his knee, sighing again.

Of course... angered was an extreme understatement. "Y'see... she has this little plan; I won't go into specifics, but your appearance has sped it up drastically, and she wasn't ready for it in the least." He admitted. As he spoke, the Shadows quivered a little before returning to normal; there was no need to try and intimidate Jarius; it wouldn't work anyway. "She's appreciate it if you didn't interact with the Wolfe family, or their two adopted girls." He added calmly, taking another sip of tea. Eac h sip, it was incredibly good tea.

"Now then; since business is out of the way; How have you been these last few centuries? I don't care about my spy intel, knowing you; it's all probably wrong anyway." He laughed softly, the shadows quivering again as if in terror.

Jarius sipped his tea, raising his own cup in a toast to his old friend, "Kethend you say ? Ahhh yes, I remember, it was about five hundred or so years ago, the Brackwater Crossing wars some called it. That was her doing wasn't it ? Never seen a woman so livid before in my life let me tell you. You're lucky she doesn't take her anger out on you." He said, recalling how Kethend had nearly wiped out both sides of the conflict with her dragon magic alone at the time. He sighed at the memory, taking another sip of tea he said. "She's plotting anew I take it ? hence why you're here. Well, Scala ad Caelum is and always has been my home. Though when elders are chosen here I stay out of it, I oversee the Muledeer stables across the city." he said

Draco laughed softly. "Her? Take her anger out on me? Not likely. She tried that once; didn't end well for her." He said. "I made her spend a week in what I like to call 'The Pits'" he laughed again. "She never did it again." his voice turned grim as he finished his tea. "Anew? No, she's always plotting something or another. Actually, she's been plotting this for the past decade or two, I believe." He said.

"But you say my presence here has sped her plan up again ? Was it mere action on my part or something of my Kobolds ? Ah, no matter now, as far as Kthend plans she sometimes overlooks things, I do as well in my travels, why, just last month alone I forgot some important items to sell, so I sent those items with the two elder child of the Wolfe family, good kids. I had them clean the stables last night, boy did it need it too, let me tell you. Muledeer shit stinks when its heated up wrong" Though normally the Muledeer crap was later compressed into logs for burning in the forrges, it was scentless at that point.

He refilled his cup, "As for how I've been, I've been well, at least until that Bridgewater incident down south, Haven't been able to go back to that place for a long time since then. Something about my firewood smelling like it came from a horses ass you know. Dont get me wrong, working with muledeer is one thing, horses, quite another. Horses make better dinner fare" Jarius said, everything for small talk. Jarius had no idea that Draco was actually helping Kethend by speaking to Jarius in the first place. Plus Draco had no idea what Jarius really was doing there.

Jarius sat back in his low chair. "So, Kethend wants me to stay away from the Wolfe family, its a good family, I had to figure out how to get the stables cleaned in the first place, and besides, those two kids work as good as any team I've ever seen, compared to us, or even the elders here, they're still Wyrmlings, they not even Younglings yet." Jarius said, it was true, to a Brass Dragon, a Wyrmling was considered a Wyrmling until it reached age thirty, then it was a youngling. Jarius then smiled. A soft chuckle escaped his lips "I wouldn't worry about them kids. After what they did two weeks ago, all that heat." He waved a dismissive hand, "Its not worth worrying over those two. For all intents and purposes, those two are the ones that made the most damage here in the last two weeks alone! Small wonder the Wolfe Forges are still standing with that insane heat they produced twelve days ago! So I sent them off from the city, to get them out of here for as long as possible so we can restructure the areas damaged by the heat that boy produced in his forge; and if they make a little money, then all's good."

That said he asked Draco the same question "So my old friend, What's news with you after so many centuries ?" Jarius then refilled Dracos tea.

Draco then listened carefully and shrugged. "The only reason why her plan was sped up was because she wasn't planning the kids to be sent to Arendelle for at least another year or two." He explained. "And, well, you get my point, I'm sure." he cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair, relaxing slightly. "It's not that any of them pose a threat do us phsyically; it's just that if our little plan doesn't go according to plan, it'll be... " Draco searched carefully for his next word. "rather catastrophic."

"What about me? Well, let's see. Of course, you know my dark powers have grown stronger; that's no surprise. I've got my own army of Shadowlings that can match any army; except your army of kobolds; which kind of annoys me." He said, an air of friendly rivalry in his tone. Jarius simply smiled "I'm quite sure there isn't much else to tell you, really. My life hasn't otherwise changed much in the last ...oh... what five hundred years or so since we last met was it ?" He shrugged and nodded in thanks as Jarius refilled Draco's cup of tea, taking a sip of it. "I mean, of course, I've got some new tricks up my sleeves for just about any occasion, but you don't really need to know them; after all, I have no intention of bringing hostilities into this conversation." Draco sighed and shrugged again, switching legs so that the other one was over his other knee now.

With another sip of his tea he sat up straight. "Unless you wish to know anything specific, I suppose I will take my leave." the Shadow Dragon needed to make sure Kethend wasn't tearing apart his castle, or trying to murder some of her own kobolds.

"Of course, of course, anything to have a friendly chat like old times Old Friend, I've not anger towards you or Kethend whatsoever. I do miss our conversations, last one you and I had was about oh... about six hundred years ago yes, I remember, At least I think I remmeber, I might be thinking of the Battle of Dragonbridge," Jarius looked thoughtful as he spoke, "Was that Dragonbridge or Blackrock ? Ah, no matter. Its been so long converesations seem to meld into one!" It was clear age was starting to have an affect on Jarius mind, or at least his memory.

Jarius then smiled and waved off any worry Draco had. "Look, the worse damage those wyrmlings can do is burn Arendelle completely to the ground, or maybe freeze it solid, either one; either way the kids did so much damage here by sheer heat alone. perfect heat was attained at the Wolfe forges twelve days ago. Hottest its ever been and that girl was able to withstand it without a problem. Nobody could explain it." Jarius said thoughtfully. He listened quietly as Draco said of what Kethend had to go through, didn't feel sorry for her in the least, Even though he loved conversation, and history, he sometimes saw fit to put others in their place, and he nodded thoughtfully as Draco explained how he punished Kethend for a week in 'the pits' and that afterwards she never did it again.

"Oh, Kobolds are less reliable then I'd like them to be, you think muledeer shit stinks when hot ? Kobold shit is worse, that stuff comes out hot. That and they mess up campments way to quickly" In truth he was rambling, his Kebolds were quite effiecent and he liked them that way. Though it was also true, kobold shit was warm when they went to the crapper anyhow. He set his empty cup on the tray on the table next to Dracos empty cup and stood, nodding, "It was good to see you again, old friend, I am glad that you came to see me after so long. Do take care of Kethend." He said, he meant it, for all both of them knew, Draco was her anchor, the only means to keep her calm or sane.

Draco shrugged. "I belive it was Blackrock; Dragonbridge is a name I'm unfamiliar with." He said. He then chuckled and reached across the table, patting Jarius's shoulder. "Your age is beginning to get to you, old friend." He said calmly, standing and finishing the last of his then laughed at what the old Brass Dragon said those two could do, and tilted his head in a sort of sideways nod. "Yes, they certainly could do that. But I hope for their sake that they don't. Not only will Kehtend not be too happy, but, neither will any allies of Arendelle, and Arendelle itself if it survives." He laughed again.

Draco smirked at Jarius' talk of Kobolds, and chuckled. He then shook hands with Jarius and gave him a nod of respect. "Indeed it was good to see you; I'd been meaning to do it anyway; just never could get away. And don't you worry about Kethend. I have do that enough as it is." He let out one last joke before turning and stepping into the shadows, vanishing from Jarius' home, and reappearing by Kethend, switching his tone to serious.

-8-8-8-

"It is done. He shouldn't interfere any more." He said, knowing exactly what to say to calm her down when she needed to be calmed down.

Kethend smiled as she stood in front of a glass wall of a mirror, "oh good. his actions, sending the elder princess away, to Arendelle of all places accelerates my plan. Yes I want it to go quickly, but I also want it to run smoothly, his actions provide a bumpy road to travel upon. Nymeth and Belyrr will steal one of her glass swords and hide it in the kingdom. In the meantime, our puppet from here will provide us with the means to ensure the absolute destruction of Arendelle, and when this is all over, I will be queen of Arendelle, and you will be my King!" She grazed his neck then briefly with a kiss.

"I'm on my way to Arendelle by ship; ensure that our puppet human here makes to to Warforge with Taztan and Masor, he must arrive in Warforge at the same time the Queen of Arendelle does" She said, The two headed for the docks and from there Kethend boarded a vessel and the ship set sail moments later.

1 July 1987

Arendelle Marketplace

Sunrise

"So this is Arendelle" Xeir said softly as Mark directed their muledeer into the market and came to a halt, she took it all in like a sponge. Stepping from the cart she picked up a dark blue snowflake embroidered cloth that held her swords and put it on her back. "We passed an inn, and a stables, I'll take the swords we're to sell and get us a room at that inn over there, Dancing Mug, interesting name. I'll meet you inside" She said. Taking up both bundles of swords shee went towards the inn and stepped inside.

The Dancing Mug Inn and Tavern was a moshpit in the commons room, but Elsa nevertheless stepped up to the counter, "One room, for two" She said to the innkeeper

The man looked at her, taking in here strong yet beautiful features. And never bothering to ask he said "One room, for you and one other ? Might I inquire of who that other will be expected and who the other is ?"

"You may" Elsa replied, "My brother, he will have the Scala ad Caelum crest upon his shield as well as the anvil and hammer of the Wolfe upon his shield. You will direct him and only him, to the room you have available and about to give me. Any questions ?"

"I'm sorry but you said I had only one room available I was to give you but I was not made aware of your arrival, you see, we're full up." The innkeeper said, without missing a beat gaving him a steeled look Xeir simply raised an eyebrow, causing him to blanch slightly but then nod, "Oh yes I remember, we do have a room available. the last guest left just this morning!" He passed over the key then said "Might I inquire of how long you plan to stay ?"

"We were informed to remain here in Arendelle before returning home for twenty one days, so we'd like the room for twenty nights, tongiht, to day twenty, we plan to leave first thing on day twenty one before sunrise. Perhaps even before midnight." Elsa said in reply, the keeper then instructed where the room was; she thanked the keeper and headed up the stairs to the room given. Unlocking the door and stepping inside she set the bundles of swords on the table in the outer room, the bedroom deeper into the rented room.

It was an hour to full dark, too late to begin selling weapons. Which was fine for Elsa, a soft bed, just large enough for her slender two meter frame, and also that of her brother to sleep in. Moments later her joined her. Niether of them knew the rumor that just started with her arrival.

Had the Lost Crown Princess truly returned to her kingdom; if she had, where was her sister ? Where had she been the last seventeen years ?

-8-8-8-

Elsa's eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright in bed. Dawn was breaking, and yet she had a very viuvid dream again. Mark however was not present, they didnt share a room like thy had in the dream, but she was sure by the sounds of things outside her door that he too was woken up from the dream. The dream was so incredibly real. It was impossible wasnt it ? Only Marion had been allowed to leave Scala ad Caelum for another nearby city island, so why did they ? Why did the dream have her, apparently it had to be herself, and Mark going to the kingdom called, Arendelle ?

But another question tormented her. Who was Jarius ? Why was he so important ? The man in the dark coat, Draco was his name right ? Elsa remembered that much at least. She tried to make sense of a few more things. In the dream, her name was Xeir, and Annas name was Diamond. Idun was queen, and things were getting out of hand in Arendelle ? Had they truly gone there ? Mark was upset he didnt find anything in the Book of Records though. Was it really all just a dream ?

If it was a dream why did it feel so real ? If it was a dream, what was not the dream ? Was her life just a dream world she lived in ? Elsa stared at the ceiling for a moment or so longer and then got out of bed. There was only three more days of summer left, and the last Session was over. Which meant that they had three days to themselves before the fall Sessions were to begin. Three days to themselves. Maybe they could find out about the dreams ? With that thought in her head, Elsa got dressed in her typical Scala ad Caelum robes. Her blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail at the base of her head. Happy with her appearance she left her room.

She found Mark at the gazebo, calm and clearly lost in thought. He also looked rather tired. "Did not sleep well ?" Elsa asked him

"I could ask the same of you" Mark replied as she sat down on a low chair. "You had the same dream didnt you ? Like thel ast few weeks, somehow its like it happened, I mean, I found our record of arrival here at the docks on this city island. But I couldnt find anything after it. I am at my wits end"

"Well, we apparently went to Arendelle, sold weapons. But why for the life of me cant I figure out where I had seen the man, Jarius before ?" Elsa said

"You saw him too in the dream huh ?" Mark asked, Elsa nodded. "The guy owned the stables in Scala ad Caelum. But the stables disapepared last year in the spring. So when we left and came back gto Scala ad Caelum, the stables were gone., but we still used a muledeer to leave ? It doesnt make sense" Mark took a deep breath then let it out slowly.

For long moments the two ate breakfast quietly before Mark finished first. Setting his fork on the table in the bowl he ate from he stood up. "I'm gonna take a walk, see if I cant figure out things while walking, I have to return the Book of Arrivals back to the Keeper at the hall of Stories." He looked to her. "Where do we meet later ?"

"I'll find you" Elsa told him, Mark nodded and left. Leaving her alone as Sapp stepped into view. Stepping aside as Mark lumbered past her at full steam apparently.

"Is this seat taken ?" Sapp asked, Eldsa shook her head, allowing the other woman to sit down. Seeing how her cousin was acting Sapp spoke up. "Father went off again, left me alone when he took Kiyo with him, he said it was important"

"Uncle Nathan has ability to leave Scala ad Caelum ?" Elsa asked, Sapp nodded. The two women ate in silence for a bit longer before Elsa took her leave, Sapp shortly left the Gazebo and wandered the W0olfe compound.

-8-8-8-

Across the city Island Mark saw something he would have rather not, he turned and snuck into a coal grainery and threw up. When he could finally focus he saw a man standing before him. Dressed in ornate robes of a ranking offical of Scala ad Caelum. It took less than a minute for Mark to recognise Haversham. "You ?" He struggled to his feet and tried to run as the man grabbed a nearby axe handle and held Mark fast in the coal grainery.

"We have unfinished business" The old man replied calmly

"Unfinished business ? Marion saw you, I didnt, so why would we have any business ?" Mark said lifting the axe handle and finding himself thrust against the wall of the coal grainery by Haversham, for an old man he was strong.

"I watched you for three months, I could have killed you at any time. But I didnt. It is not why I am here!" Haversham held Mark fast against the wall. Mark breathed hard as Haversham calmed down. "Yes, I saw your sister. She is beautiful" he said.

"I am not sure she is my sister anymore. At least not since..." Mark struggled against the axe handle.

"You started having strange dreams" Haversham calmly stated, it was true.

Giving Haversham a confused look. "Are you here to kill me ?" Mark asked "Because if you are, that's great, you killing me can get me off this place. I want off Scala ad Caelum. Three times I have tried and each time I failed. This must be hell I am living in!" Mark pushed agasinst Haversham and he dropped the axe handle to the ground, though still held it.

"You dont even know what hell is. I lost fingers in this war. I lost family. My people, my lands. And my son was murdered!" The axe handle was in Marks face, causing the young man to back up a half step.

"If you wanted me to save him, I'm sorry, but you got the wrong guy." Mark said, he could not recollect where Haverdsham was from, or ever meeting his family

"But you tried to." Haversham said calmly, he lowered the axe handle slightly, "In all my life, in all the wars I had been through. I had never seen anything like it" He tapped Marks head gently with the axe handle. "That's why I chose you."

"Choose me ? What for ?" Mark was confused. Out of nowhere he saw a scene of Elsa getting married to a man he couldnt recognise, and it made him sick. And then Haversham showed up out of nowhere.

"This war, all wars, whats happening here in Scala ad Caelum, it is as old as time" Haversham, said. "Rich men getting richer, men in power taking more power from the blood of innocents, yours, mine, my sons" He gave Mark a careful look. "And I want to stop it, and I cannot do it alone"

Mark just looked at him. "We're just two men, what can we do ?" he asked confused. "I want to get off this city island and explore the nearby city islands. But I cant, I'm stuck here, and having fdreams that went to... to Arendelle!" Mark said disheartened by the truth that Haversham spoke

The old man laughed softly. Letting out a deep breath he said simply. "You are only powerless, if you believe you are powerless." Mark thought over his words carefully. Then looked at him, there was an ewlight in the younger mans eyes. Haversham chuckled. "Follow me, Wolfe." he said simply before heading off. Mark followed a few steps behind the older man.

After a few minutes in the twisting backalleys of Scala ad Caelum, Mark and Haversham exited out onto a dock. "Why me ? I'm just a Wolfe, you called me that yourself. So why me ? Huh ? I'm a guy, stuck on this city island, where can I go ?"

"Ask yourself two questions, Who are you, and where is my heart leading me" Haversham said calmly as he turned briefly to him. "When you are able to answer both of those questions, you can leave Scala ad Caelum. Until then, you train. Here."

Mark then had a good hard look at where they had finally arrived at. Water, dirty and murky to his left, and old rotted out dock. Rotting ships left abandoned. "An old harbor" Mark said aloud as if in shock as Haversham headed for a mostly intact ship. Mark then realised what Haversham had said, "Train ? Wait wait wait. What do you mean train ? I grew up training, and the Sessions all my life. What do you mean by train ? Train me for what ?"

"The truth" Haversham said, he patted Mark on the shoulder and the two headed into the mostly intact ship. What Mark found inside made his mind gbo blank in wonderment. Lines of black and white light stretched as far as the eye could see before forming not the inside of a abandoned ship, but the inside of a computer server rack.

-8-8-8-

The computer beeped. DiT smiled. "Is that supposed to happen ?" Nara asked calmly

"Jarius is going to wake up Mark properly by giving him the lost memories, having Mark meet Haversham as he did however I do not condone, but it is effiecent and gets the job done." DiT said in answer to the question

"Jarius is interesting" Nara said.

"Jarius was not born like other Nothings. He is... special" DiT said simply

"But whose Nothing is he ?" Nara asked

"I could tell you, but then, even I do not know. Jarius was not born like other Nothings, like Elsa and Marion." DiT replied

"When they wake up, our alliance is done" Nara confirmed,

"Yes, it is as we agreed, but Haversham, through Jarius is waking up Mark. Tiri will wake up Anna and Diamond. We will worry of waking up Xeir as planned." DiT said.

"Fine" Even though Nara hated it, he hoped in his heart he was doing the right thing. "What's the plan ?"

"Leave Diamond and Anna to Tiri, remove any further Shadowlings from the database, and then, let me worry of the rest. Get back in there and finish the job. Ensure that only the named four Shadowlings are present with their army units alone. And ensure that Jarius has his next task." DiT said

Nara said nothing, activating a portal he disappeared into the simulation of his home city.

-8-8-8-

Elsa came to a parkland and stopped, this was where her brothers trail had ended. The place was not overly crowded yet there were people around. "Looking for someone ?" Came a calm voice. Elsa turned to find the owner seated nearby. The man was dressed in a dark coat, its hood pulled over his head covering his face in shadows. "If you are, you found someone."

"Do I know you ?" Elsa asked the man

"Possibly, but I'm going to go with, most likely no you dont know me" The hooded man replied. Light give me strength Nara thought, he hated having to do this kind of thing. The hooded man pointed at Elsa. "However, that does not mean I do not know you, lady Wolfe"

"How do you know my name ?" Elsa asked him, giving the man a pointed look, the coated man faked being scared and seemed to cower briefly.

"Oh, so you think I am some kind of stalker huh ?" Nara asked her acting as if about to be struck.

"Uh no, I... uhm." Elsa faltered, her confidence shattered by the mans actions, and partly by his words.

"Ah relax, I can tell you're looking for someone, but you found me instead" Nara told her as he waved her off calmly.

Elsa just looked at him confused.

"So" the hooded man hunched forwards, elbows on his knees, "Who exactly were you looking for ?"

"My brother" Elsa said simply. It seemed to confuse the hooded man as he titled his head slightly. "What is it ?"

"You have a brother ?" The hooded man asked

"Yes, an older brother, his name is Mark, two younger sisters, Marion and Anna. Why am I talking to you I should be finding him." Elsa said turning away.

She took one step to leave but it was the hooded mans words that stopped her. "You wont find him, at least, not on this city island." She turned towards him a dark energy in her eyes. "Hey, relax, you're among friends here" He waved her off while flinching slightly.

"Where is my brother ?" Elsa asked him.

Time seemed to slow, he hoped whatever DiT had planned would happen soon. A few dozen meters away an explosion occurred. Sending people, and rockwork flying. Yes it was a simulated town, but even then.

"What happened ?!" Elsa screamed as the hood man stood there.

"I'm dying and you're asking me riddles ?!" He smacked at her and pushed her aside and started off to help those injured. "Shut up!" he told her before Elsa could say anything. "I hope this was your plan" Nara thought

"If it was not, then you would have to answer her question, this is just the destraction you need" Came the reply of DiT

"Yeah, but an explosion ? You want to damage the place is that it ?" Nara asked

"What is damaged ?" Came DiT's voice calmly as time caught up to Elsa

But she couldnt say anything, not that she wanted to. Someone other then her siblings, or her parents or cousins or extended family had touched her! Slightly in shock at the movements of the hooded man Elsa could only fume in anger beriefly before she realised what she had said. Her anger forgotten, she realised that the hooded man had said "I'm dying and you're asking me riddles ?!" Had she asked him a riddle ? That thought in her mind she walked over to him as he saw to an injured townsgoer.

"Excuse me, hooded one" Elsa said calmly, her compsure and anger in check, in fact why was she mad ? It didnt matter

"Yeah, Princess ?" The hooded man asked as another man passed him a bandage to apply to a injury, he never looked towards her

"Did I ask you a riddle ?" Elsa asked him

Within the shadows of his hood, Nara smiled. But he said simply. "Mhm, I dont have an answer just yet though, keep a lookout, maybe I will before summers over, have a good dinner" He waved her off. Things seemed to be settled there for the moment asnd allowed her to leave.

But she left with a question on her heart. And confusion in her mind, and all thoughts of anger forgotten

RESTORATION AT 81%