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

7. Elsa Eight Days: 6th Day

Frozen Memories – 1.8 Bridge

Hidden Past – Back Cover

"You wanted to speak to me ?" Nara asked as he stepped into the computer room.

"There appears to be a problem" DiT said

"What kind of problem ?" Nara asked nothing could get past DiT and Naras security zones.

"Alarms have been triggered, The sensors that Tiri had placed in the Arendelle server" DiT replied

"Have you told Tiri ?" Nara asked

"No, I want you to go in there and do it" DiT said "If I go in there it will mess things up worse than hoped or needed." She had a point, Nara sighed, silently opening a Darkness Corridor and disappearing into it.

Elsa Eight Days

The 6th Day

1 July 1986

Arendelle

Dawn

Idun paced in the throne room. She was unable to sleep the night before. And she did not know why. The throne room was filled with all manner of people, Mostly Arendelle nobles of the Arendelle High Council. Lead by herself and her husband, Adairon. But she didn't care. She was trying to figure out why she wasn't able to sleep a wink the last three weeks. Sure it had been seventeen years before when her daughters were lost to the sea, but she refused to stop looking for them. She never stopped looking for them, each day since returning home she devoted their vast army into searching for their girls. As she paced at the throne steps, Elsas dark silver headband in her hands. She always held onto it. At that moment it was her only link to her eldest daughter. Elsa was all she could think about.

It was seventeen years ago, june fifteenth when her daughters were swept overboard. Lost to the sea on a trip home from visiting family in the south. And yet here she was, still searching. Maybe it was truly hopeless ? But no it was not. The royal doctor stepped into the throne room and stood near the door, waiting to be called on as the elder noblemen of the council filed in to take their seats. As was the daily rutine the last seventeen years, none of the noblemen dared comment to the queen to sit or stop thinking of her lost children or worse, think of them as dead and prepare a memorial for both girls.

One noble had made a dire mistake in mentioning such a thought. That Xeir, the Crown Princess, and her infant sister Diamond, were dead. Idun had became quite livid at such a notion and nearly gut the man had her husband not stopped her. A mothers love was a very powerful thing.

And so she paced at the steps of her throne, not eveen bothering to nod or notice the nobles filing in, at one point Kai read off the nobles by their name and rank as they arrived, but over the course of the last seventeen years, such a need was not desired and only made Idun pace all the crazier. However it was the arrival of the Royal Doctor that got the Queens attention.

Idun ignored the nobles as they took their seats, some of them grumbling among themselves of wasting eighteen years and the entire army searching for the dead. Others tried to keep the grumblings quiet as they were scared of what Idun would try to do with her husband away on a trip East thanks to rumors of strange events to the southeast. Idun ignored them all, moving with grace, and intent, right to the Royal Doctor; her trusted friend. She stepped right up to the woman, and here head butler, Kai. "What is it, Kaedriana ?" Idun asked the Royal Doctor, looking to both Kaedri as most called her, and Kai

Kai spoke up, holding the poster. "I must admit your Majesty, it is a good resemblience" He said, Idun took it and looked over the handrawn image of her eldest daughter, Xeir. She nodded. "However it is quite strange. Just last eve when I was in the market at your request to meet with our informer, I for a fleeting moment, thought I saw this very young lady with a young lad. But it was dark, the sun had set and the light was waning I was unable to fully take in her features of her face to ensure I was not seeing things."

Idun looked over the poster carefully looking to Kai she said "This was made this morning was it not ? or was it yesterday morning ?" Kai was unable to answer. Then she looked thoughtful, lowering the poster that Kaedriana had made at her request "Wait, Kai, You said that you think you may have seen her ? This woman, my daughter, Xeir, Are you sure you might have seen her ?" Idun seemed ready to snatch at the first sign of good news and search into it until it proved most likely fruitless

Many of the nobles continued to grumble amongst each other; many of them looking sleep deprived, and all of them were angry. "Boy, I tell you, if these fuckin' meetings start any earlier; I'm going to have to shit halfway through the courtyard instead of in my own home." one spoke groggily, rubbing his eyes calmly.

"I agree to that," said another. "'s been seventeen fucking years... can't she just let it go?"

"Not your life she can't" piped in another, oddly coming in defense of their Queen, an older man. "She'd rather be caught trying to castrate all of us in our sleep than give up. Although... judging by how angry she's gotten the last few weeks, I can't say whether or not she's going to. Better sleep with a cup on, boys." he laughed, so did a few of the others.

A couple female nobles on the council scoffed. "Fucking pigs, the lot of them."

"This language isn't like you at all, dear."

"Yeah well? No sleep makes a woman cranky, dear." The noblewoman said with a sweet smile before her face went stern "Get over it."

Soon pretty much the entire council was just bickering back and forth over who was more tired and trying to decide why the hell they even put up with listening to the same garbage every day. They didn't have any say in what happened in the kingdom, and with the Queen so deadset on finding those girls, well, nothing was going to change any time soon. Hell, some were scared that there'd be public executions until those girls were brought back alive.

Idun heard the nobles bickering and for the moment, she ignored them, focused on Kai and Kaedriana. Softly to Kai she said "How many of these were made ?"

"At least three dozen of both Xeir and Diamond's posters were made as requested your Majesty" Kai replied, they both looked to Kaedriana

"Judging by the time of years that have passed your Highness, this is, to the best of my knowledge, your daughter Xeir, as requested I made several copies." the Royal Doctor replied calmly.

"Good, Kai, I want you to take a third of the Royal Guard and also the Captain of the Guard and search the city, go house to house, but be kind and gentle to all the residents you visit, ask them kindly if they have seen her. If they have any information, ask them to see me right away." Idun said with a firm nod "Under no circumstances am I to hear word of any of our people being wrongly accused or harmed by our soldiers, the people of our kingdom are to be treated with the utmost care and that goes triple for the elderly"

"And if we find her herself ?" Kai asked softly

"Bring her and those with her to this room without hesitation." Idun said. Kai nodded and the butler and doctor took their leave. Leaving Idun alone with the Nobles that were bickering. Her heart felt oddly lighter. Now thoughtful she turned on her heel and went back to pacing in front of her throne, now wondering if it were possible that her elder daughter was in Arendelle that very moment.

After five minutes of pacing and listening to the constant complaining Idun spoke, her voice firm, yet soft at the same time "Enough! I will not stand for this bickering among yourselves! I will find my daughters, they are alive. I know it in my heart. If any of you feel otherwise, keep it quiet, or risk deferment." Basically replacement on the grounds of insulting the queen, which was pretty much execution to some of those higher ranked nobles on the council, but it was actually a very disgraceful thing to have occur to any noble, high or low

When the room quieted at her words Idun smiled, "Very good. I have reason to believe that our days of searching are nearly over. I sent my Captain of the Guard to search the city; house to house. Gently with care. My royal doctor, Kaedriana, has drawn up these." She set the posters, one for Xeir, the other for Diamond, on the tables before her council. "Kai reported to me just now of seeing Xeir, or of one that looked like her as she were an adult after seventeen years, within the Marketplace district last night. Hence the renewed search" Murmurs flared among the nobles, of the two and a half dozen men and women comprising the high and low councils in that room; only a few of them openly complained of the early mornings. Barely sunrise and they were in session. Each day, every day, all day, At some point they might as well set up camp in the throne room, cots to sleep upon if it got too late to return home.

Murmurs that the searching would soon come to an end, that it was possible that the lost Crown Princess was in Arendelle at that very moment. One man, from the High Council ring, spoke up thoughtfully, "Your Majesty, Not to intrude, but if this turns out to be nothing more then a rumor, what will we do then ?"

"What we have done the last seventeen years Councilor, we continue searching. Not one stone will remain unturned, I will inever/i stop searching for my daughters" Idun said calmly "Elsa and Anna are both still alive, I will not give up. Even if you do." Idun turned in a full circle then, ensured that she had their undevided attention she said simply "Any questions ?" She looked carefully to each, all had gone silent. "Good, let us begin."

Five hours later, noon time, the council was dismissed for two hours.

Noon

Arendelle Marketplace District

"Yes sir, eight hundred gold pieces for this blade, that's the base price yes." Xeir was good at selling weapons, she learned from the best. "Though we also take gemstones of ruby or sapphire, or even quartz if you have it, must be flawless." She said to the man, that morning they hadd set up a proper base prise to work with. Jarius hadn't said anything of the rairty of the weapons so they did it on guess work, and Xeir guessed that since almost all of the weapons were enchanted, but very old at that, their base price had to be somewhere between five hundred and one thousand gold pieces. So they agreed to start selling at eight hundred, minimum

"Alright, here's your eight hundred gold." The man said, clearly a man ready to go on one hell of an adventure, little did Xeir or Mark know that that particular sword would end up in the hands of their worst enemy. Xeir handed over the blackblade.

The man left, Xeir counted the last two almost glasslike weapons, "Well, that's that, sold everything but these two. they look like glass, but feel weird. almost, ghostly. Mark... Mark, come on brother wake up" Xeir saw her brother seated on a barrel, almost asleep. she smacked his cheek a few times to wake him up. "Come on silly, wake up. I can't mind the shop alone you know, there's a reason Jarius sent you and I to do this together!" She said.

"Huh what ?" Mark jerked awake at his sisters smacking him in the face to wake him up. "I'm up damnit!" He yawned and stretched then stood up.

Xeir smiled and let gaze take in everything in the marketplace, since it was daylight they were abel to see quite well. The flowers, the scenery, the vendors, the people, the soldiers, the smells...

Wait, Xeirs mind backtracked a few paces.

The soldiers ?

Xeir's blissful moment was cut short as she spotted a group of men, in oddly strangely, almost mystically familar attire. Each man had a badge on his left shoulder, a badge that felt familar. As if not thinknig it her hand went to her neck, quickly lifting up her locket she stared at the symbol on the velvet cloth and looked back towards the soldiers, they were led by a butler looking man, who spoke to each vendor in turn, showing them a paper. But the closer they got to their rented stall, the more nervous Xeir became.

When the soldiers were two stalls away she spoke quietly to her brother as he stood at the stall counter going over their sales. All but two weapons were sold. "I'll meet you at our room, I'll make arrangements with the keeper to not expect us in the morning or for the rest of our original stay, cause a distraction, do whatever you have to, but do try not to harm anyone" She picked up the last two swords they were to sell and slung them onto her back. "I'll see if I cant sell these" She said and then left the stall leaving her brother to have fun with the soldiers; she did not the like the look of some of them, and the looks they threw their way made her nervous all the more

Xeir had not gotten more then ten paces past a corner from the first group of soldiers when she walked dead into the back of a pair of other Arendelle soldiers. They turned around and stared at her, she stared at them, her heart hammering. One of them pointed, recognising the cloth around her neck, the necklace containing it. "You!" he said, The other had a poster, the same poster that was being shown around town. Xeir took a half step back. Come on Mark, where's that distraction ?! Xeir thought in horror as the guard to speak pulled out a pair of black chains from his belt. "You come with us, if you come kindly we wont need these." Xeir took another half step back.

She smiled "No thanks I'm allergic to steel" She lied, so very poorly, but before the two men could say anything hell broke loose in the marketplace where the stalls were. The two guards were then distracted and Xeir took off for the nearest safe area, which turned out to be the sewer network below the kingdom. Ghostblades on her back along with her own twin swords she ran for her freedom. Those black chains made her nervous. Very scared. She scrambled into the sewer door and ducked around a corner as the two guards gave chase, but they stopped at the sweer enterance. Xeir listened at the corner, ready to run deeper, using her ice to see if she had to. "Post guards at all sewer network entries. We'll worry about what's going on in the market." Xeir peeked around the corner, one guard. She'd have to wait until dark

Oddly the sewers of Arendelle smelled better then the muledeer stables of Scala ad Caelum

In the meantime a group of soldiers had cornered Mark at his stall. The man had prooved to be quite the troublemaker. As he was then trying to tell off a guard to keep his family out of trouble after he had coldcoked one of the guards. What did he mean ? Then resisting arrest. Ok, that was where things got crazy really quickly.

Mark had a smirk on his face as he was cornered by the soldiers of Arendelle. "Now, listen here, Gents, I'm sure we can be reasonable here..." he said, his hands up slightly, palms out. There was blood on his knuckles where he had clocked the guard in the nose

"Reasonable? You insulted me, and resisted arrest!" The guard yelled out, the other guards nodded and agreed, keeping Mark cornered within the stall. "Care to tell me why you did that before I knock your teeth out?"

"Well, that reason is simple, my good man." Mark said, a cheerful, mischievous smile replacing the smirk. "I was merely making sure my Family was safe." He answered calmly. "Nothing else to it, really. She was scared, so I kept her safe by distracting you." A guard then threw a punch and Mark merely caught the arm, twisting it easilly into an elbow lock. "Ah-ah-ah! Wouldn't want to hurt me; or Scala ad Caelum would take it as an act of hostility, and no longer supply Arendelle with weapons." He said calmly before easily letting the sodlier free with no harm done to the man other then his ego was slightly bruised.

It wasn't a threat; it was true. Scala ad Caelum was neutral, but supplied weapons to nearly every country it could. However it's strict trading policies dictated that if a merchant or citizen of Scala ad Caelum happened to be hurt while in another country, trade with said country would cease immediately. Of course, war was never an option; not against a small country where even the children are deadly.

Mark then smiled and calmly offered his hands. "Besides, my job is done... you may take me to your queen." He said as the shackles, were almost immediately put on his wrists as he was to be taken towards the Throne room in the Castle.

"How did he know we were to take him to the queen and not the dungeon ?" One of the guards asked another as they started on their way from the rented merchant stall

"The queen's got it written on the poster, stupid, how'd you become a guard anyhow ?" Said the second

"Uh... I signed up for the job as a boy ?" Said the first guard. He really had forgone an educatiion of any kind to become a guard. Smart enough only to follow orders, but dumb enough to miss the finer details. The second guard Simplky faceplamed himself and dragged his hand down his face. This was gonna be a long day.

"Wait, the man said he's from Scala ad Caelum, or rather mentioned it." Said a third. It was then that Kai spoke up as he arrived to the comotion.

"Why the chains ?" The butler asked, clearly displeased with the latest turn of events.

"He nearly broke my arm was disturbing the peace!" Said the guard that tried to punch the young man, Mark, only to get into a arm lock with the guy.

"That does not mean you can slap him in chains, the Queen expressly said for no chains whatsoever. Free him and escort him to the Queen now." Kai said sternly, even the guards respected the butlers orders. And since the Queens word was always law, and if she said no shackles, then, no shackles.

Nevertheless Mark was escorted curtly and quickly to the Throne Room of the Castle. The council had been dismissed almost twenty minutes before. The guards opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Mark to enter on his own as the guard Mark had socked in the nose stepped forwards

Idun paced once more at the foot of the stairs leading up to the throne chairs. Clearly unhappy. Her gaze turned to him as he entered. The way he held himself. Turning her amber eyes to the soldier with him she asked "Who is this ?"

"This man created a bit of trouble in the Market, we nearly had a young woman matching the description upon the poster, madam, but she fled while this man caused a disturbance of the peace within the Marketplace." The guard replied. he handed over everything Mark had on him, which actually was just a bit of coin, since he was running a rented stall, he had been selling items. So the renters bill of note was also present. Along with a single longsword of black and gold steel.

"Anything else before I dismiss you Dreidan ?" Idun asked calmly

"He mentioned Warforge." The guard replied, "and also that he was protecting his family."

"How did he disturb the peace ?" Idun asked

"He insulted me, he said my nose was ugly" Came the reply, Mark snickered, it wasn't his fault the guy had a Durante nose! "With your permission I would like to try to find the woman who fled the scene"

Idun looked at Mark thoughtfully before nodding to Dreidan. You have it" She smiled then. "You may go" Idun said, her tone made it clear she did not want the soldier present while she spoke with her newly aquired guest. The man bowed and with a single word of 'highness' he turned on his heel and quickly left the room, leaving Mark with the Queen, when he clearly wanted to know who that woman was and why she fled.

As soon as the door closed Idun went and set the lock, only she could unlock it from the inside. Turning back to Mark she spoke. "My guards tell me you created quite the scene. The woman that fled, why did she flee ? I merely wished to speak with her. To find out something rather important, and yet she flees and you are arrested and brought to me." She motioned Mark to the table in the middle of the room. There were two Missing Personsposters, One of them had a dead ringer hand drawn image of Xeir, the other had a exact replication of Diamonds's face, both young women were Marks younger sisters. When Mark had taken a good look at the two drawings, Idun spoke, "The woman that fled, she looked similar to this one, yes ?"

Mark ignored the banter of the guards, and merely glanced at the butler; a mild look of curious interest on his face as he was brought to the Queen's throne room. As the doors opened, he stepped confidently and yet also carefully into the room, his eyes on Idun as she paced and then turned to face him and the the guard left, his gaze followed the Queen as she locked the door, his mouth shut as he merely observed her movements and demeanor. From the way she moved he knew he must choose his words carefully. Not only was Arendelle one of Scala ad Caelums most generous trade partners, but this WAS their Queen! One slip up could have a war on his head in an instant. At least, that's what was going through his head as she spoke to him.

"She fled during the scene because she was frightened" He said calmly. "A young woman being approached by a couple of heavilly armed guards is quite the intimidating situation, I would assume; regardless of where she came from." He added calmly, crossing his arms as he followed her to the table, looking to the posters a frown was visible on his face; a look of mild anger and of mild confusion. Mark's answer was still processing in his head when Idun spoke again.

Idun set the poster down on the table. "If that woman that managed to flee while you were arrested was in fact who I have been looking for the last eighteen years, then you might just be in luck." the Queen said thoughtfully. She turned to look over Mark carefully, "Where did you say you were from ? Surely you are not a typical weapons merchant, for the woman that I was told who had fled carried swords of unknown make. Is this true ?" The last two swords they were unable to sell were Ghostblades, almost glasslike, with a etheral pale blue hue

He ignored the first thing she said and answered her next question. "I am from Scala ad Caelum, Your Highness, and yes, it is true; she carries swords of an unknown make; she made them herself for herself." He explained calmly After a full minute of silence, Mark's curiosity and anger boiled over as he held up the two wanted posters. "Now I have a question for you, good Queen. Why are my sisters on wanted posters in your throne room ?"

"I sent my soldiers into the Marketplace to find truth to a rumor. Instead they find you and bring you to me." Idun said thoughtfully. His words rang true however. "Now, fleeing the scene causes trouble, had she stolen something ? Something that belonged to someone, or did something or someone scare her that she wanted to flee ?" Idun asked. Heavily aramed soldiers were one thing; but Idun only wanted questions answered, and she had no control over what her soldiers wore or carried as weapons.

She had started pacing as Mark explained himself. But halted, her breath caught in her throat at his question. She turned towards him choosing her words carefully she said "Your sisters ? That is impossible. I have been searching for these women, my daughters, for seventeen years now. And you say these are your sisters ?" Idun's mind was already working carefully, iif the girl that fled when this man was arrested is indeed my daughter and the soldiers had scared her; the two of them, this man and that woman,/i She thought, ithey are from Scala ad Caelum ?/i, their trading partner. Idun wouldn't dare to cut off trade with such a wonderful city either.

Idun fingered the silver headband her daughter once wore, it was the last thing Idun had from that vessel seventeen years before. The silver on black mixed with white gemstones headband glittered in her hand as she stepped closer to the table. "How do these look like your sisters ? They are my missing daughters. How do you know them ?" Was Diamond in Scala ad Caelum ? And Xeir here with him in Arendelle ?

"She fled simply because she was scared; at least, that's what I saw in her eyes and heard in her voice before she took off." He said calmly. At her bewilderment at his own question, he nodded. "They look like my sisters because they are my sisters; adopted, of course, but nontheless, my sisters." He said. "After the so-called "Bandit King" Landed his burning ship in Scala ad Caelum seventeen years ago, I led a team of boys my age to pillage it; we found them on board, and my mother adopted them immediately. Thus, they became my sisters." He explained briefly.

He then took a moment to look again at the posters, then to Idun; trying to see the resemblence. "I do see a resemblance from Xeir and you... not so much in Diamond..." Mark said. After a second or two it was his turn to pace back and forth a little before turning to her. "If you wish... I can bring Xeir to you... but we're set to leave either tonight or tomorrow morning; so your decision must be absolute, and immediate." He said, his tone, while confident, repsectful of the Queen standing before him.

For a very long moment Idun said nothing. Carefully choosing her words she finally went over to the door, unlocking it as she spoke. "Seventeen years ago I lost my daughters to rough seas. That was seventeen years, and three weeks ago." She set the lock aside and turned to face Mark. "I will come to you in Scala ad Caelum. Soon. When you return to Scala ad Caelum, dont tell anyone of you being arrested. I merely wanted to speak with you... with her, your sister... nothing more." Idun was very close to being reunited with her children. Children she never got to see grow up. But this man said the two women on the posters were his sisters.

She stepped away from the door and pulled it open as she did so. "But before you leave, there is something I think you should see to help shed some light upon a problem concerning... your sisters... and my missing daughters..." She said. She motioned for him to follow her from the throne room. She lead the way to the picture gallery hall, stopping at a picture, a painting. Showing Idun, Adairon, and two girls.

"This was painted for my eldest daughters sixth birthday. We never removed it from this spot." Idun said softly. "We were to paint a second one for her seventh, but... she and her sister were lost to the sea. A cannonade had come loose, destroyed the bed they shared, and left a gaping hole in the hull of the ship at the same time. For two days we searched, but never could find them." Idun took a deep breath and turned towards Mark "Since that day, I have searched relentlessly for my missing girls."

For a long moment there was silence. Finally Idun said as a guard stepped into view. "You are free to go. I will come to you in Scala ad Caelum to see them." She said. That meant that the two siblings were free to leave the kingdom of Arendelle for home as quickly as they could.

The guard spoke "Your Highness, Sir, the King has returned and waits for you in the Throne Room, he says it is most urgent concerning Hindaravag and the bandit enroachments to the southwest." He said

"Very well, escort this kind young man to the marketplace where you picked him up from, and recall all the guards to patrolling the streets only. Dismissed" Idun then turned on her hell and left, leaving Mark with the guard; thankfully not the same guard that Mark had insulted and nearly broke the arm of. Infact Mark couldnt recognise the guard.

-8-8-8-

The darkness of the sewers soon gave way to pale light as Elsa slogged her way through the darkness. Some areas of the sewers were knee deep, or deeper, she was lucky to find it only so far as waist deep at its deepest point. She went through all sorts of tunnels and turnbacks. Soon completely lost until she found daylight and exited out into clear sky above, but six doors in all directions. She did not know she was being followed.

There were all sorts of smells, almost everything reeked. And something of lizardlike crap was everywhere. Xeir had met one or two such creatures, they called themselves Kobolds, whatever the hell it meant. Xeir didn't care. Half dragons ? It didn't matter. Going by each door she took a strong wiff of the smells coming from each, after the third she found the most plasent smelling door and took off into that tunnel, which soon lead to stairs leading up. Which she took two at a time. Peeking around a corner she saw a well lit fireplace, a cooking pot, and some other items. What looked like a guard room. She ducked in and hid carefully among some items next to a door leading out. She saw daylight, and heard what else but cooing of a pigeion coop. Perfect!

Looking around carefully she grabbed up some paper and quickly wrote a note. Spotting a warforge pigeion she gently slid the note into the carrier and set the bird off. The note was simple 'Marion, Diamond, We've run into trouble. Please do not alert Mother or Father, speak to Jarius only. Do everything he says until we get back. I love you. Xeir'

She ducked out of sight as someone came into the room. Using the distraction she ducked into another tunnel filled with nothing more than pure darkness. Backup into the tunnel she did her best to hide the weapons on her back. Not knowing she was falling into a well planned trap.

Voices through the shadows unheard by Xeir spoke up. "She sent a letter!" cried one voice. a Kobold with a loud nasal tone. "Couldn't stop her either"

"Its fine, it is to the Masters plans. No get out of here, we'll take it from here" Came a more commanding voice as Xeir saw an imposing hooded figure dressed in similar robe coloration to Jarius.

But to Xeir it felt like wind in the tunnel as Belyrr spoke behind her. "Nymeth, grab the sword and go, I'll cover you" Belyrr caused the shadows in the tunnel to darken further, allowing Nymeth to snag the desired sword

Nymeth nodded to her sister, and melded through the shadows into the sewers just as they darkened. Without a sound she snuck up on the now confused Xeir, one foot slowly passing over the other as her hand reached out towards those swords. One was all she needed; and one was all she intended to take.

Her hands hovered over the handles of each blade, trying to decide which to take. As the shadows around her quivered, she grabbed one, loosing it from its sheath and melting away into the shadows back to Belyrr's side. Wrapping the deadly cold blade in a shadowy cloth as she spoke "Mission accomplished, let's get the fuck out of here before someone fucks up." she hissed softly as the shadows started to lighten up the sewers again; receeding back into the darkness.

-8-8-8-

Mark was returned to the stall he was earlier removed from, and looked around; closing up shop quickly and effeciantly. Taking everything and putting it back into the cart, which he made sure was properly secured before returning to the room at the inn, and waiting for his Sister to return.

Stumbling in the darkness Xeir felt someone behind her, twirling around, albiet too late as a sword of the four she carried was stolen she felt less weight on her back and started to panic. Swiftly she withdrew one of her iDuradaeden/i swords as well as one of the ghostblades. They all felt the same and looked the same. Turning carefully in a full circle as the darkness receeeded she heard whispers, but could not make anything out as she moved through the tunnel carefully, sheathing the ghost blade first beforee easily sliding the iduradaeden/i blade into its sheath she never saw that she had one of her normal swords, and one of the swords she was to sell, one of her twin iDuradaeden/i swords had been stolen.

She came to a corner and peeked around it, daylight dead ahead, which then she headed closer to carefully so as to not get jumped on as she carefully stepped forwards. Then she stopped within earshot of the guard standing at the sewer entry and listened into the converation between two guards.

"First we get orders to guard every entry and arrest anyone that comes out and take them to the queen right off. Sounds easy enough to me" Said one guard, an older fellow, apparently bored with his job, either that or he really just wanted to take a nap. Which would be a gift in disgusie because he'd been up since midnight.

"Relax, the queen said that whoever we arrest shouldn't be considered being arrested, just merely requested to see the queen as quickly as able. Nothing more to it!" Said the second. Xeir was then confused, the queen wanted to speak to her ? But why send the guards ?

A third stepped up and Xeir heard the words completely, "You two, the queen gave orders that all guards are to be on city patrol to continue asking house to house in all districts for this woman. We are to pay no attention to inns or taverns, or any businesses, and if we do meet up with this lady, we are to treat her with utmost kindess according to the Queen, if Scala ad Caelum finds out of this trouble in the market place..."

"Wait a second, did ya say Scala ad Caelum ?" Said the first guard

"Yes I did" Said the new arrival

"Well that settles it! There aint no way in hell I'm gonna arrest anyone today! If that girl that ran into the sewers at the Blackroad crossing near the market there, I aint arresting her, she might be from Scala ad Caelum, and you know the legends about that city!" The old guy was clearly nervous by the sound of it.

"Yeah" Said the second at the sewer entry, "If that girl is from Scala ad Caelum, if we even ask her to see the Queen, word gets back there, we'd be in trouble. For one thing where would we get our arrows, or swords or even armor from ? Ontop of that, have you thought how stupid it'd be to go against a city like Warforge where all the ikids/i as young as two can kill a guy with a nicely aimed shot to the stomach or lower ?" Apparently the guards were well versed in their outside cities. Scala ad Caelum was a war ready city. Everyone, even the infants as young as two, were trained daily to fight.

That meant she could easily step out of the sewers right ?

Wrong

Or so she thought, the two guards were then told to stop guarding the sewer entries across the city of Arendelle and to get onto patrols from residence to residence. Xeir waited a bit more, after ten minutes she went to the sewer entry and peeked out. Nobody in sight, and the rear courtyard of the Inn they were staying at stared directly at her

Perfect! She saw their window open, like she had left it that morning and carefully searching upwards she discovered hand and footholds and easily scampered up the wall. Sadly, her feet reeked of sewer crap. Which thankfully, or was that mercifully, did not smell as bad as red hot muledeer shit

Mark yawned before coughing a few times. What smellled like shit? Oh... He raised an eyebrow as Xeir climbed through the window. "Welcome back...tell me you're not going to be smelling like that all the way home?" He asked, a joke to be sure, and one with added with a smile and a chuckle as he stood and helped her fully through the window, closing it slightly but leaving it open for the room to air out.

He then turned to Xeir and sighed. "What's wrong? Why did you run?" He asked, concerned.

Xeir ignored her brother briefly and went to the door and looked out into the hall both ways before closing the door and barring it nd turning back "First river we find I'm going swimming, no questions asked" She said. She collapsed onto the bed

then she heard his question. "Those guards, they had this design on their shoulders; did you see it ?" She held up the locket, which really just framed the cloth she grew up almost constantly holding onto. It helped her sleep at night, it got her through the day, and one morning she freaked out when it was missing, only to get it the next day from her brother in its current form. The cloth was spread gently yet tightly across a large silver ring, framing the crocus flower pattern perfectly.

She let the necklace dangle against her chest, "When I saw this design on their shoulders of their uniforms, I got scared, I thought they might want it back, and if they were just after this, how would I get through a day, let alone a single night without this ?" That first night she slept in her brothers bed with him she had tackled him clean off his feet when he tried to touch that very same cloth. But when he presented her with it in its current locket design, instead of tackling him to the ground, she had hugged him.

She took a deep breath and let it out, "I found one of Jarius' messenger birds; I sent a note to Marion and Diamond, I told them to do whatever Jarius said and not to worry Momma or Papa in any way. What about you ? What did the soldiers want ?"

Mark nodded. "Sounds good." He agreed, chuckling as he sat on his side of the bed, turning to face her slightly before nodding slightly. "Yes, I saw it; how can I not? I almost broke one of their arms. And I did blood one of their noses" He smirked slightly, chuckling again. As she explained why she ran off, he smiled softly, nodding softly in understanding. "I see..." he said softly, his voice was soft, and understanding as well.

"The soldiers? Nothing much..." He debated if whether or not he should tell her, and then continued after the second of hesitation. "they just took me to the Queen... she wanted to see you, but you ran off." He explained. Before Elsa could say anything, he held up a hand and continued. "She said she'd find us in Scala ad Caelum apparently don't tell anyone I said that. In fact, tell no one that we ran into a little trouble." he said sternly as he went over ot the second bed.

"Now then let's get to sleep; unless you want to leave immediately? In which case we're all ready right now." he said.

"I'll sleep on the floor unless you mind wet feet" Of course it was a old in joke with her and Mark, they constantly soaked the foot of the bed as kids growing up. But what confused her was why the Queen of this place wanted to see her. She was about to ask why here when her brother kept her from speaking. "And its a good thing that she wants to see me or a bad thing, did she say why ? Those soldiers had a picture of me. How, why ? How do they know what I look like ?" It scared her

He then chuckled again. "Dear sister, wet feet are a constant with one of us; you can sleep on the bed." He said, laying down with a yawn. "I think you're better off hearing it from her when she comes to Warforge." He yawned, blinking a few times as he kicked off his boots, letting them land in front of the bed with a loud iThud/i. He got under the covers but sat up as his sister continued to speak.

But another question hit her. "What did the queen look like ? Was she like the other vendors said ?" Xeir had heard smattering of talk between groups of vendors in the marketplace; All the men and vendors spoke of Queen Idun as being a beautiful young woman haunted by a scarring event from the past she was trying to reclaim of some sort.

In fact, if it was not for the stink, the weapons, and her blonde hair, Mark could have easily mistaken Xeir for the Queen of Arendelle herself sneaking in the window! Seeing her brother staring at her she raised an eyebrow, "What ? Mark ? Are you OK, you look like you've seen a ghost"

At her next question he yet again chuckled, this time a bit awkwardly. "Well, she looked almost as if she could be your twin, only with black hair." He said, amused at the notion. "So forgive my seeing-a-ghost look." He said, turning on his side. "We should get rest, dear sister, if we are to take off before dawn." He said.

Xeir nodded, Alright, wet feet in the bed it was! It was almost constant that her feet was soaking wet when they went to bed at night. Only once did she go to bed with her feet actually bleeding like crazy aftr that endurance training earlier that year, She took her weapon harness off, it was like a backpack, her mother and her had designed it, it held her swords perfectly in a pair of low slung sheaths that held only at the crossguards of the hilts. The blades themselves had no actual sheaths. She tried to remember what was in that empty sheath though, three swords, did she sell one when away from the guards in the sewers ? Or did she lose it ? She couldn't remember. As she laid in bed she mulled over what her brother said, i'Looked like she could be your twin, only with black hair'/i Was that even possible ? Diamond was her sister, Marion was her sister, she had no other sisters.

At least, as far as she could remember.

2 July 1986

Scala ad Caelum

Midnight

A cooing outside the window of the Wolfe compound woke Diamond from sleep, all but falling out of bed she stumbled in the darkness to the window and opened it, letting the bird in but slowly woke up as she tripped over Marion's bed when stumbling away from the window. "Is it morning already ?" Diamond asked drunkenly, as the mesenger pigeon cooed on Marions bed and nested on her pillow centimenteres from crapping dead in her sisters face, "Uh Marion, you might not want to smack your pillow" They might be in their twenties, but these two girls were inseprable

Marion opened her eyes and blinked, literally falling out of her bed as she backed away quickly. She then stood up and shook her head, picking up the bird. "It's a messenger Pigeon." She said, taking the message from the carrier, and reading it. "Diamond... you're gonna wanna read this." she said, yawning in disbelief as she handed the letter to her sister. With a lazy yawn she quickly got herself dressed enough to head outside in the cold night and look decent at the same time. After Diamond had done the same, the two snuck out to head to Jarius' home, Marion knocking on the door in a rather panicked way.

The short butler, roughly, no exactly, half their height answer the door. With a raised eyebrow the Kobold smiled and motioned them to come in without a word, he then motioned them to follow, Jarius had two bedrooms in his massive home, but never had need to use either one, contantly after conversation, or rumors, or really just reading maps.

As the Kobold lead the two girls into the main living area, Jarius was standing near the massive open air window, watching the Northern Lights dance across the sky. "You know Mik, I think that was a bird I thought I saw headed for the Wolfe Compound, most intereesting dont you think ?" He never turned around but he did hear their footsteps. "Ah, visitors!" He turned around slowly, "A little bird must have told you to see me am I correct ?" Good Light in the heavens he hoped he was wrong. That he was seeing things. Why were these two coming to him ? Seeing their distraught expressions he asked calmly, tenderly. "What is the matter children ? Come sit down. Rest your feet" He motioned them to sit in any of the many chairs in the main living area.

Marion tried to speak, her mouth opening and closing a few times, but she was simply too tired. With a quick shake of her head in an effort to try and wake herself up, she handed the letter from Xeir to Jarius. "We just got this from one of your birds." she said softly, yawning again. "W-what do we do? It says not to panic, but... that's our older sister and brother out there! Sure they can handle themselves... but... still!" Marion's concerns were justified; love was the major justification, as well as experience. Mark was strong, but was slower than she was; meaning he could be easilly out manuevered. Xeir however was weaker than Mark, and didn't wear as much armor; making her a very beautiful glass cannon. Or, perhaps, a Claw cannon; as glass would shatter instantly; claw would take one or two good hits first.

Jarius took the letter and read it, it was indeed Xeirs writing, OK so she sent her sisters to him. For what ? Do exactly as told by him she wrote. Ok that explained it. "It is my doing that your sister and brother went to this kingdom, This... Arendelle it is called. What trouble they ran into is anyones guess. But this letter, she sent it to you two, and in turn she sent the two of you to me. your mother and father already know that I sent them on this little errand for me. To sell a few swords I had forgotten to take along on my last visit to that fair kingdom." Jarius said thoughtfully.

"As for what you are to do, you snuck out of your own home. I will inform your parents come dawn of what occured, feel free to rest here for as long as needed. I believe your brother and sister can work a way out. They're smart kids like yourself, Sending you to me proves that."

"Proves what ?" Diamond asked, doing her best ot stay awake like her older sister Marion, "How is sending us to you by bird notes being smart ?" Apparently Diamond had no idea that Xeir was scared of the guards and what might occur of them seeing her, or her brother. Niether of them knew that the Queen herself was coming to Warforge, in a week or so.

Marion seemed almost relieved that they were going to be allowed to rest here instead of having to walk home in the cold air. "W-we can stay here for the night? G-great! W-where..." She yawned loudly, " s-should we sleep?" she asked, her eyelids already threatening to fall over her eyes and have her pass out right there and then. Just like her brother; it seemed; all she wanted to do at this time was sleep. In fact, there were four things Marion could be seen doing throughout the average day: Sleep, eat, train, or forge. There was the occasional boy who asked her on a date, but they were either not interesting enough for her; or driven off by her father who did not approve of who had their eyes on his daughter.

"Yes you may, your sister sent you to me, either to keep you safe or to watch for their return, I told them to return directly to me upon completing their errand for me. I will speak to your parents tomorrow morning at sunrise" Jarius replied in answer to the question. "Mik will show you to your room for the rest of tonight." He smiled, seeing that Marion was ready to fall over and sleep where she stood at that moment. "Dont worry, I am sure your brother and sister are fine." If only he had some Kobolds in Arendelle at that moment he'd know why the bird was sent to Marion and Diamond and not to him as he was expecting one himself any moment. hence why he stood at the window when they arrived.

"Thank you Jarius" Diamond said as she caught her sister before Marion could hit the floor in her almost completely back asleep frame of mind at that moment. "You sure Momma and Papa wont be... uh... mad that we came to see you as told ?" Anna was worried, if their parents found out they had snuck out, how could they tell their parents ?

"I will speak to them personally, soon in fact at the sound of things, now, best follow Mik, he will aid you in anything you need" the manor belonging to Jarius was huge, and well lit at all times, two floors with mostly large rooms of all sorts of items, like a giant mesuem of sorts.

Marion seemed glad that they would be allowed to sleep in a bed in Jarius' home instead of walking smiled and bowed in thanks to Jarius before taking Diamonds's hand in hers and following Mik to a large bedroom with a king sized bed. Marion's eyes widened and she half ran, half dragged Diamond into the bed, practically throwing herself onto the soft mattress, almost falling asleep instantly.

Diamond hit the bed as she heard a knock at the door, it was Mik, asking if everything was alright, Marion, Diamond could swear snored, but she wasn't... yet... Diamond shook her head, setting her and her sisters swords and her shield, she had taken after her brother, while Xeir had taken after Marion, two swords required no shield, but lots of speed. Diamond felt safer with a sword. When morning came they'd have explinations for certain. She shook her head to Mik, assuring him that everything was fine. there was nothing needed. He instructd where the refershing room, or bathroom, was located. Like the rest of the world to the East and south of Warforg, they had modern stuff, most of the candles were gaslit. and the house had indoor plumbing too; Heck Scala ad Caelum took after a city., or rather country called Singapore in many respects... or was it a country ? Mik wasn't that well versed on other cities, the bulter ambled off somewhat drunkenly.

Jarius waited at the window a few moments longer, recieving a mesenger bird himself, a pair of notes was on its leg 'iOriginal bird sent elsewhere, someone was here recently, footsteps were in the den. nothing was desturbed aside from paper and the nests, orders ?/i' Jarius smiled, so that was how Xeir was able to send word to her sisters. Doubtless she told her sisters to ready to go after them in th case of trouble. But instead Xeir informed her sisters to seek out Jarius. He pocketed the second note; it was news of the Queens actions and the guards searching now for Xeir in the kingdom of Arendelle, Kethend was not going to be happy of this little... unfolding of her plan.

Jarius wrote a note and sent the bird back. 'iI know of who sent the first bird, orders are simple, observe and retain all actions made by the Arendelle guards, distract only if and when rquired so long as my two errand runners can complete their task and return home safely. Alert all Kobold posts along their trip route home, the sewer stench must be cleaned from Xeir before she gets more than half way to Warforge. We do not want them tracked by anyone, Jarius/i' He then shut the window and covered the curtian before sitting down on a low chair and reading up the latest news in Dragon's Digest; a cup of hot coffee within reach.

2 July 1986

Arendelle

Sunrise

Just before dawn had Xeir awake, the entire night she slept like a rock, but she woke with a start, before her brother, her mind on the swords they sold the day before. They were barely in the kingdom a day, sold all but two swords. And then that was it ? The soldiers. Well before sunrise, before the first lights of the rising sun was entering the window, Xeir was awake, and pacing in their room. Trying to figure out something; but unable to do so; She sent the bird off. Now she had to wait, either for more news, or to get home. But there was still the fact of getting cleaned up from her little sewer walkthrough as well.

Sensing an absence in the bed Mark shifted and yawned, sitting up slowly, rubbing his eyes while muttering about the morning. He then looked to Elsa as she paced back and forth. "You're up early, dear sister, the question is, why up so early... " He said, standing and stretching out his muscular body before putting on his clothes with a tired groan. "Now then, shall we head home? Or at least to a river so that you can bathe yourself?" He asked, smiling softly as he continued to stretch out ihs body, arms, shoulders, and legs.

"Couldn't sleep" Xeir replied; It was true, normally she was the last one up in the family; sometimes she got up with her brother; but most of the time the last few years she was last to waken. She threw her brothers pack at him; "Get dressed, I'll speak to the keeper downstairs that we're leaving, I'll meet you at the wagon." She said, stepping to the door Ten minutes later and they were on their way home.

Niether of them saw the the pair of eyes watching from the Castle window as they left the kingdom. Idun was making plans to pay a personal visit to a certain city.

Six hours later

Noon

Daggerfell River

The pair came upon the river, Daggerfell; Razor sharp rocks lined the west shore and the shore they were on was of sorter rock and mostly sand. But as they came to a halt on the wagon at the waterside. Xeir kicked off her stinking thin leather boots, delicately crafted thin leather boots made by their mother, the cloth was dyed to a strange shade of white, almost glittery white. but Xeir wore them produly, they protected her feet in the forge. For a long moment she was thinknig of what to do, scrub the boots in the water, or just wear them into the water ? iScrew it/i Xeir thought, hopping off the back of the wagon to get to the water. she waded out until she was well past waist deep and actually went swimming for a good hour After about thirty minutes she came up for air and saw her brother on the shore "Hey! Mark! Cold feet brother ?" The water was actually lukewarm, maybe a bit warmer

Mark merely smiled, sitting on the shore. "Not at all! But you know I can't really drive the cart if I'm still wet from swimming!" he called back to her, taking off his boots and at least wading in up to his knees before he leaned agaisnt one of the rocks. "Besides! We need to hurry home; Diamond and Marion are probably worried sick; or still asleep." He said. He hoped it'd be the latter, but the former was still a very viable option.

Sadly Xeir did not hear her brother as she had ducked under the surface and swam for a good moment or two under water before coming up for air. Absolutely drenched. She heard muffled noises under water, so thankfully she got some stuff done, mostly. She smelled cleaner. She shook her head, water sprayed in all directions as she swam to her brother on the shore and stood up, the water flowing cleanly off her body. Her makeshift dresslike clothing absolutely drenched, yet clean. "You say something Mark ?" She asked tilting her head to the side and knocking water out off her ears.

Her mind went to her sisters; would they sleep that long ? Or would they be worried sick ? It didn't matter. She felt ready to go home now. Looking to her bother she asked him "How do I look ?" still knee deep, like her brother

Mark shook his head when she came out of the water, smiling as she knocked the water out of her ears. "Thankfully, nothing of importance..." He said with a smirk, gesturing for her to follow him and get on the wagon. At her next question he looked back at her and chuckled. "Wet as ever, shall we ?" He said as he handed her a towel. "Though I think your hair kind of looks like a wet mop, dear sister; and I fear for my life in case you smack me with it." He then proceeded to laugh.

She smirked "Mark, I dont get sick remember ? I went buck naked in the last blizzard" She had caused it that last winter, she had gone out naked, but when she came back in she had the dress she currently had on at the time on. Brand new, bright icy colored too. Like she had made it out of ice directly. So expertly woven as well

He then sighed and tossed her another blanket. "I do remember, you and Marion both; though if I remember correctly. You caused that blizzard" He smirked. Oh, yes, practically the whole of Scala ad Caelum knew she had ice powers, but only the Wolfe family knew she caused that blizzard. That, and a certain pair of Dragons and their shadowlings. But that wasn't important at the moment. "Come on, get dry; I'll even help you, if you want." He smirked, pretending that his sister was a helpless princess gave him great joy; of course, he poked fun at everyone, not just her.

She gave her brother a sidelong glance and smirked. Drying off she undid her braid, her blonde hair was plastered to her back from the water. The dress formed a little bit of a train as the ice flowd from the water down her body. All the way to her feet, slowly cleaning the dress off. Even after a seven month run of wearing it, it showed no signs of wear or tear in it. it seemed brand new each day. Soon as Xeir was dry she climbed onto the wagon after putting the blanket back in its place, but unfolded so it could also dry out "Shall we brother ?" As soon as she was seated on her place on the wagon, Mark got them back on the trail home.

Niether of them saw the black Kobolds nearby watching them carefully. Kethend had sent out scouts. So far, none of Jarius' silver Kobolds had been clashed with, which allowed the two Black Kobolds to trail their prey carefully to ensure they made it back to Scala ad Caelum. Kethends plan was just getting into second gear.

-8-8-8-

"Elsa in a dress" Anna mused thoughtfully. That did not make sense. The day was a rainy one, the rain poured in sheets at times making it hard to see anything. As Anna stood in the doorway of her room, the wolfe compound was set up in several houses over a large swath of land within the city island. Each bedroom was connected by an overhang and covered walkways. Completely open to the elements. In many ways it allowed for complete access to everywhere on the property. In others it also gave total privacy and security.

Each room had a covered porch all around, which in turn was connected to each other building, including the4 main building where the master bedroom was at the back of. The main house had the dining room, living and audience hall and a bathroom and kitchen.

"Elsa does not wear dresses" Anna thought aloud as Marion stepped into view. "None of us do."

"Nobody in Scala ad Caelum wears a dress" Marion said as she stepped up to her sister calmly. Seeing her sister, Anna didnt even have to ask. "Same dream, two girls, Xeir and Diamond, and in it, Xeir and Mark, went to Arendelle." Marion grunted as Anna noded.

"Yes, same dream. Elsa does not wear a dress, I've never seen her wearing a dress. And that locket she was worried about in her dream, she doesnt have one does she ?"

"Can you remember it ?" Marion asked

"Remember what ? The locket ?" Anna asked

"The locket" Marion confirmed.

"Very little, if anything, in the dream, Xeir had a locket made around a piece of cloth. It had, two colors and a flower on it" Anna said thoughtfully as she paced briefly in front of her bedroom door.

"Elsa wanted our help finding it, if the dream is the truth, the locket must be in the house somewhere. But she wants help in finding it"" Marion said, thunder roiled briefly and caused Marion to repeat herself.

"Alright, where is Elsa now ?" Anna asked

"In her room, waiting for us" Marion replied, "Shall we ?"

A few minutes later as the two neared Elsas room, a servantae came to them. "Young masters, a woman seeks you, insists upon seeing you right away. I said I would find you and bring you to her." the young man said.

"Savant, thank you. We will see her now, I suppose Elsa can wait a bit longer until we speak to this woman" Marion said, even though Anna wanted to go and see if she could help Elsa find the locket, if it even existed outside the dream. Which she doubted highly.

Savant took the two women to the gazebo, a woman stood watching the rain her back to them both. Dressed in silver and what looked like bones of a dragon or the like upon her chest and arms, with no helmet briefly before it shifted on her face. "Lady, may I present, young Masters, Marion, and Anna Wolfe"

Tiris face shifted, seemingly so as pieces of bone and ice shifted and reformed, first forming a helmet before forming a beautiful face, long silver hair. Blind eyes. "Thank you, You may go" Tiri told the man, Savant nodded and took his leave after briefly bowing to Tiri.

As Savant left, Marion spoke. "What do you want ?" she asked Tiri rather pointedly so

"Easy, to talk to the two of you" Tiri said simply, her ice bones shifted constantly on her body as she spoke. Her jaw shattering and reforming. "Infact, it was not easy to find what island you two were on, however. Thankfully I had help"

"Who are you ?" Anna asked

"Well, If I am right in my guess, I am a princess of another kingdom seeking to speak to two people she hasnt spoken to in a year. In this case the two of you" Tiri said simply as the ice on her body, her icewraith body shifted on her arm as she reached for a twig stuck in her hair and flicked it away.

"Us ?" Marion asked

"A year ?" Anna asked

"Yes you" Tiri replied calmly. She smiled then, her face shifting seemingly serpentine then human... mostly. "Do you know where your brother is ?"

"He came home late last night, and left after breakfast this morning, havent seen him seen, he wouldnt tell me anything either about where he was yesterday, only saying he was training" Marion said

"Yes, he is training" Tiri said with a calm nod

"Training for what ?" Marion asked as Anna was trying to figure out where she had seen the woman before her, and why she looked so much like Elsa

"That is the question isnt it, Marion Wolfe ? What is your brother training for, that he hasnt trained for already." Tiri stepped past the two women and stared at the Wolfe Compound in thought. "It makes me wonder, if I could train you"

"Train for what ?" Marion repeated, stepping out into the rain and staring Tiri in the face, "What is my brother training for ? What can you train us for ?" The rain pelted against marions skin, soaking her completely as Tiri simply smiled.

"The truth" Tiri said simply. Almost smiling as Marion was confused

Anna reached over and took Tiri by the shoulder, spinning the woman to face her and holding her against a pillar holding up the gazebo rooftop. "A year ? You have been looking for us, for a year ?" She demanded

Tiri smiled again. "Do you want to know the truth, or do you want to continue living on this city island for the rest of your life ?" She asked simply. "I can train you to handle it, but you must want to handle it, to know it."

When Anna didnt respond Marion stepped up, "And you can teach us, this... truth ?"

"I can. Can you let me go ?" Tiri asked to Anna, when the woman didnt respond Tiri shattered like glass and reformed next to Marion. But there's just two questions you need to answer." She said, startling Marion, who thought the woman gone for good when she broke like glass.

With a startled chirp Marion turned and smacked Tiri across the face. "Nice slap, but not one of the two things you need to ask yourself."

"What do we ask ourselves ? Anna asked, holding a hand up to prevent Marion from going to town on Tiri. "Can you at least tell us that ?"

"Of course, the questions are simple sure, but the answers arent." Tiri smiled. "Who are you, what are you fighting for ?" The serpentine woman smiled and became fully human. "Answer these, and you are ready for the truth"

"What if we cant ?" Anna asked

Tiri looked at her thoughtfully "If you cant... well... Scala ad Caelum is your home so... I cant be of much help, if any" She said. "But" She brightened as she spoke, walking towards the exit of the compound. "When you're ready to answer those questions, or you feel you have the answer, come find me at the Sentas Green" She headed off into the rain, seemingly coming apart as she did so. Breaking into nothing and disappearing. Anna stared, looking sick, while Marion wondered why the woman felt so familiar.

Staring where Tiri had come apart in the rain, Marion asked "Why does she feel so... familiar ?"

"A year ?" Anna asked in reply. "What did she mean by a year ?"

Marion was more concerned of other things however as she suddenly remembered what their original plan for the day was to be "Oh shit, Elsa's still waiting for us, come on!" Marion picked up her sword from the gazebo table and ran into the rain heading back towards the bedrooms. Briefly leaving Anna alone to ponder what Tiri meant by a year.

"You know you wont find it. It was a dream remember ?" Rounding a corner Marion came to a fast halt and stared. The woman she had watched get rained apart into nothing, sat upon the rail ahead. Looking towards Marion, Tiri smirked. "You'd have better luck finding the coated person whose face you cant see"

Drawing her sword Marion spoke as she pointed the weapon at her. "How do you know of that ? I never could find him aside from broken glass"

"Again, when you can answer those questions, you'll know" Tiri said calmly. She held up an accusing finger and wagged it at Marion. "There's no cheating on this either, so you can forget about going to other city islands for answers" Tiri stood from the railing as Marion struck.

Blocking fast and ducking before catching Marions sword arm and easily shoving her back Tiri spoke. "Must we fight ? Or do you want to meet the coated person ?"

Marion settled into a stance and breathed hard as Tiri spoke, snarling she said "Tell me where I can find him, and maybe I can answer those questions!" She struck again, Tiri easily parried her first and second strike before catching her swordhand easily and holding her there. "Or are you afraid to fight me ?"

Tiri simply smiled thinly. "You poor child, you just dont get it, do you." Marion raised her sword and swung, aiming to behead the icewraith woman, but it didnt work, Tiri shattered, turning to water before reforming behind Marion calmly tripping the woman up. Marion lost her grip on her sword and it was in Tiris hand pointed at her. "You do not want me to fight you."

Marion breathed heavily for long moments. Tiri flicked the sword so the hilt was held towards her. Marion seemed to get the point. "I want you to teach me" She reached for the sword hilt as she stood up, but it disappeared as did Tiri. However Tiris voice echoed around her 'When you are ready, find me at the Sentas Green' there was a clack however as her sword was placed in its sheath at her hand.

Marion stared at the sheathed weapon, one second she was reaching for it, the next, Tiri disappeared into mist and her sword was in its sheath. As Marion examined the weapon Elsas bedroom door opened, Elsa stood there staring at her.

"Marion, where's Anna, I've been waiting for you two to help me find that locket. I know its in here somewhere" Elsa said. Marion took the older woman in, gone was the dress from the dream, Elsa wore the common vesture of Scala ad Caelum students. Again Tiris words rattled in Marions mind 'You know you wont find it, its just a dream remember ?'

Marion had no idea how to break it to Elsa, but she asked anyhow. "Did you ever wonder if its really just a dream ?"

"If it is, why does it feel like I had the item before ? It felt so real like it belonged to me. I think I know of where it came from too if it was a real locket. The only way to prove it, is to find it." Elsa said. "You going to help me find it or do I have to find Mark and see if he can help me find it ?" Marion kept her mouth shut and was about to say something when Elsa raised a hand "I do not want to hear it. Either help me find the locket, or I'm gonna go find Mark and keep looking for it"

Marion glared at her, then sighed. "I havent seen Mark since breakfast, and I have to go on patrol with Willis today as part of being a Guard for the city island now. Anna's lost in a daydream again and I cant make sense of it" Marion hated lying and Elsa was deadset on finding the locket.

Elsa sighed, "Oh go find a towel" the older woman said shutting her door as she stepped from her room and went past Marion in a huff. Marion watched her leave without another word before going to change clothing in her own room and heading for work.

-8-8-8-

Watching from the street as Elsa exited the Wolfe compound were two men, one dressed in a yellow and brown robe, the other dressed in a plain brown robe. "That's Elsa, she must be looking for the locket again." Mark mumbled seeing her frentic look. He moved to get into her line of sight but Haversham stopped him

"The less she knows the better." He said, Mark just gave him a dirty look. "look I know you mean well, but if she found out what you're doing, it could be dangerous, to you, to me, to her..." Mark stayed quiet as he watched Elsa disappear into the crowd. "If she really is your sister, and the love of siblings is a powerful bond as most say it is... you stick to the plan"

For long moments Mark said nothing, the two also soon disappeared into the crowded street as Marion stepped into view dressed in her Guard uniform. Mark still couldnt believe how his own sister by blood became a Guard. "So Marion is a guard now ?" Mark mused aloud

"Your sister, Wolfe, is a good woman, you can trust her, but do not tell her anything about what I am teaching you" Haversham said as Marion spotted him. But could not recognise Haversham at that moment.

"Mark, have you seen Elsa ?" Marion asked getting closer to her brother

"Yeah, she headed that way" Mark pointed down the street.

"Mother wanted to have her stay on the compound property and not leave it. But the servants said she got past them easily" Marion said. She sighed, "I think I made her upset."

"How ?" Mark asked

"I asked her that what if its just a dream ? The locket, the ship, everything. What if its just a dream and we cant find the locket to prove its real ?" Marion said, she bought an apple from a nearby vendor. Not far away a unknown woman sat in a dark robe twirling a locket around a finger.

"If I see her I'll tell her to go back home. In the mean time I got a Session, and you have Patrol ?" Mark said

Marion nodded. "That's right, I'll see you at dinner" the two siblings parted ways as Haversham returned and stood next to Mark.

"Your sister is very beautiful, Wolfe." he said

Mark nodded. "Indeed, she has grown into quite the capable young woman" the two men started walking as the robed woman paid for her meal and left the table she sat at. Walking a good dozen paces from the two and easily overhearing them both.

"But there is one thing that troubles me" Haversham said

"And that is ?" Mark looked at him

"When your sister came upon me some days ago, she sought information, I helped as best I was able. But now I am training you." Haversham said

"I thought Anna saw you ?" Mark said, did Anna really see him or was it actually Marion ? He couldnt remember.

"No, Marion did" Haversham said, well that cleared that mess up easily now didnt it ?

"I still dont follow" Mark said as the two walked along.

"I will tell you what. I keep training you, you keep learning, and when the time is right, you will follow. Until then, you train" Haversham said. He halted in the middle of the road, it was a busy merchant street. "Now, you go on ahead to the Session location. I will catch up" he motioned Mark along, and he knew better than to argue.

As soon as Mark was gone Xiaoden stepped into Havershams field of vision. "You heard it did you not ?"

"I did" Xiaoden replied, her face hidden by a shadowy hood. She held out the locket. "Is this what the girls were looking for ?" She handed it to Haversham. The old man cat nodded,

"I will see to it that this winds up in Marks pocket... somehow" The old cat said calmly, he turned towards her. "Other then relaying an item, what is going on with you ? Surely the Star Council has other plans ? Or are they fixed on waking them up as well ?"

"They assigned myself, Xinxin, and Xendras to the foursome. Soon as they are awake we make our move" Xiaoden said.

"And you ?" Haversham asked her

"I have my own worries old man, For now, let Princess Tiri handle the two girls, Anna and Marion, our job is to train Mark for the truth, and wake him up." Xiaoden replied

"And the others ?" Haversham asked

"The only one to have met any of the others was Xinxin, and he spoke with Mark only briefly before blowing something up" Xiaoden said

And Xendras ?" Haversham asked, on the Star Council, Xendras was number three, while Xiaoden was number six, and Xinxin was number seven.

"He will help Tiri with Anna and Marion, he has a plan for it as well." She said

Haversham had to smile. "So he wants to play with fate, is that it ? Very well, he may be a master of time and fate, but he is also at the whims of the Overseers but even then are no match for Her

"What about you ?" Xiaoden asked him

"What about me ?" Haversham repeated, coming to a slow halt. He smiled. "I will manage, somehow. I have my task, and you have yours, Xinxin ?"

"His task is to help keep undesireables from Scala ad Caelum." Xiaoden said, but of all three of them, Xiaoden had the most interaction, but only with Mark. Haversham only chuckled. They were going to have a lot of fun over the remaining days.

RESTORATION AT 92%