Frozen Memories - 1.8 Bridge
Hidden Past - Back Cover
Xeir - Awakening
Chapter Two - Internal Fate
Outskirts of Arendelle
Midafternoon
Someone was calling her name
Who ?
Who was saying her name ?
"Xeir!" Said someone, someone she felt she recognised. "Xeir wake up!" it sounded like that of a woman.
Xeir slowly opened her eyes, her pupiles took a moment to focus as she blinked sleepily and looked towards the owner of the voice. A woman stood there, her body crawling with mystical energies as she looked like a ghost.
Xeir sat up in the bed when she recognised the projection of the woman. "Tiri ?"
"Finally you're awake! I was thinking you chose not to wake up" Tiri's projection said. Xeir smirked.
Sitting on the bed, Xeir stretched, her silver scales rippled briefly across her skin before returning to undamaged fair skin on her arms and torso. Her dress shifted form into a more combat style. Nearly identical to that of Scala ad Caelum in the dream world. But more draconic in nature as well. A truly combat ready outfit.
"You look good" Tiri said through her projection.
"Thank you, now, why are you... ghostly like ?" Xeir asked.
"You might have to break me out of the jail" Tiri smirked, Xeir laughed.
"You in jail ? How in the hell did you end up there ?" Xeir asked as she stood from the bed, her bones cracking slightly, she stumbled briefly before getting her bearings, it felt slightly odd, hadnt she died ? Oh right she remembered, she had cased out her soul, her body became Tiri. Was that how she recognised Tiri ?
"Long story short, the High Priest thought I was you" Tiri said. Xeir looked at her, the two of them looked nothing alike now. "Well, Elsa, the former Queen of Arendelle" Tiri corrected herself.
"I was a queen ?" Xeir asked as she walked around the white walled room. Getting her strength in her les back and stretching long rested muscles to get them back into shape.
"Your Nothing was. Dont you remember, casting me aside, and casting out your soul onto a Mortal to be reborn ?" Tiri said as she watched her. Xeir briefly felt the pain of the memories. Then remembered easily running a kingdom.
She waved a hand and the memories faded. "That does not matter now, where am I ?" Xeir asked
"Currently in a old crumbling structure on the outside, though it is well kept on the inside, of a manor house in the outskirts of Arendelle" Tiri told her as Xeir continued pacing around the room getting her strength in her muscles back. "Quite honestly I was scared you wouldnt wake up. But once I felt you become whole and the promise DiT made to me, I knew it was time to try and waken you myself"
"DiT ?" Xeir asked, completely confused, she felt anger towards that name, but she herself personally had no idea who DiT was. Xeir felt her strength reach its peak, her stomach growled, Xeir then realised she hadnt eaten anything other then in the dreams. "Never mind all that, when I leave this place what am I to expect outside ?"
"A man will meet up with you, you'll know him on sight." Tiri said, her projection wavered. "I have to leave you the jailer is coming." Tiris image faded as Xeir nodded towards her. Tiri knew Xeir was going to come to her rescue.
Going to the door Xeir paused briefly, looking back to where Tiris projection once floated in the air, sighing and shaking her head the woman turned and opened the door, heading into a rather well designed and kept clean hall. Following the hallway Xeirs memories resurfaced. Some were pleasant, some were not. But all of them hurt. The memories she remembered, memories of growing up in Arendelle, hidden within a closed castle. Finally being freed by her sister. And freeing the kingdom as a whole.
As she exited the crumbling manor a man waited for her. She recognised him right off, and he too in turn recognised her. He spoke first as she neared him. "Its good to see that Tiri told the truth. You are awake." The man said, his green eyes shined brightly, Naratas was ready for his main plan. "Did Tiri tell you everything or am I to clue you in ?"
"She only told me that I would be meeting up with, well, you." Xeir said as she came to a halt before Naratas, the two embraced. "Its been too long Nara, how have you been keeping up ?"
"Not too good, after you were reborn, things happened." Nara sounded depressed. Xeir simply nodded, she knew how smitten Diamond was when she and Nara met.
"Where is Diamond ?" Xeir then asked, clearly hitting a sore point for him.
"Well, she was asleep, like you were, but she woke up. She had help thanks to Tiri and the Star Council. I was hoping she would wait for me out here, but by time I got here, she was gone." Nara said
"Dont worry, Nara, I am sure Diamond is nearby." Xeir said to him. The two broke apart from their hug.
"Walk with me" Nara said, "I will explain on the way of what we're up against." Xeir smiled and the two dragons began their walk towards the Broken Arm Tavern. "So, welcome to Galasia District. For the last year alone it has become the haunt of orphans from all over the kingdom, you wont find more diversity anywhere else in the kingdom. And for that reason, the Assassins that are still in the kingdom, our friends, make it their home."
As they walked Xeir took in the the road they were on, it was packed with people. Xeir smirked. "I would like to see where" She said
"My plan exactly" Nara replied as the two walked along the crowded streets of Arendelle's Galasia District. "The Assassins that we have left are most eager to meet the reborn daughter of Light"
Xeir turned her gaze to him. "Oh ? Does everyone in this city know I am here already ?"
"Well, your Templar tussel in Egypt and battle with Kethend in the skies above did not go unnoticed. It was merely a matter of time before you arrived in the city you apparently once called home" Nara said
"When I cast out my soul, violence was so far from my mind. I sought wisdom, peace." Xeir said as they walked up a flight of stairs, through a small fountain park, and down another flight of stairs before turning left.
"Not realising you forgot your knowledge of self control over your magic abilities ?" Nara snickered
"No, I presumed as much, what I did not expect was the extremes my father would go to keep my Nothing in control." Xeir said
"Very troubling no ?" Nara said as they rounded a corner. "A year ago, Templar precense in this district was minimal. A small faction insisting on putting a new queen on the throne, against the Council you appointed" They went up another flight of low stairs. "But now they're growing in number, day by day. And with High Priest Kiyori growing in power, its only a matter of time before Xercine abdicates the throne entirely"
"Are there no others to take his place ?" Xeir asked as the two came to a slow halt in the edge of a small parkland area.
"Not just one, but he had named two possible successors, one of them a Wolfe woman named Sapphire, the other, a woman named Samantha. Both of Arendelle. But trust me, if anyone should run this kingdom, its Elsas own sister, Anna. But the soldiers dont follow her orders, they follow Kiyoris orders. And that man is evil." Nara said. "But its always the way things work with the council, when Xercine coughs, the nobles draw their swords"
"So between the High Priest and the Templars, you must be pretty busy" Xeir said. Not knowing they were being targeted by a sniper.
"Xeir, I barely have time to get a decent meal" Nara said, he was about to say more when a bullet broke apart a clay pot. Drawing a throwing knife he threw it, the sniper collapsed dead as a dozen Templar soldiers filled the small square just ahead. Xeir made to get into a fight. Nara held her back. "No no, watch"
As they watched, the dozen Templar soldiers halted ready to fight, as a half dozen other soldiers, Honor Guard, Xeir recognised them as Sword Corps soldiers by the mere coloration of their armor, appeared out of nowhere ready to fight. How she knew them t obe Sword Corps soldiers she couldnt explain if asked
"The Templars are dead! As are you!" One of the Honor Guard soldiers said, the Templars broke rank and scattered as the Honor Guard swiftly made short work of the ambush site.
Nara and Xeir turned and continued on their path. "Come, this way" Nara said leading the way deeper down a packed street and took a left, turning and stepped through a doorway before taking two steps down into a large dining place. It was the back entery to the Broken Arm Tavern. The main way looked out on a larger more open road. The backway was a good way to sneak in lately.
Upon finding their table in a back room, Nara noted who was there. A woman dressed in white; by the look of her hairpiece alone she was a Spider And two other women whom Nara couldnt hope to recognise. Both dressed in Assassin coloration but normal, clothing for Arendelle design. Finally there were two men, both of whom Nara recognised as informants inside the Palace. "Lady Xeir, here are your compatriots."
Xeir smiled seeing the men and women seated at the table. "It is good to see friends among enemies."
"And here we were never hoping to see you cry. And here you are crying" One of the men said, the mans name was Turk Geraldine. The son of a midwife, but skilled in advising and leading troops. Xercine used Turk as his mouth and in a manner a herald. Turk was quite loved by the kingdom as a whole.
"I will try not to make a habit of it" Xeir said with a gentle nod.
Nara smirked "Alright guys listen up, on our way here we were ambushed by the High Priests men. The Honor Guard managed to drive them away, but for now" Nara clapped his hands. "Turk, get some soldiers to sweep the district, ensure that the High Priests men are not present within it whatsoever, Jem, grab your guys and head to the Kreen District, rumor was Princess Anna was sighted there. Better her where it is safer than where it is not. If she is in the Kreen District, assign some of your men to guard and send word back to us"
The group left the table, leaving only the white dressed dark haired woman seated and drinking what had to be a coffee or the like. Upon taking a seat, Nara took a seat and then introduced the two. "Xeir, this is Fuiu, one of the Keepers in the Kreen District. Its no secret the kingdom is suffering a lack of food and supplies because of things in the Kreen District"
"He's right, we Spiders within the Kreen District are forced to store food, ensure it wont spoil then under cover of both night and access to the sewer network below the kingdom we have to move the food and store it. When a district was under control of certain parties it was safely hidden away and unseen. Wherein when said district changed hands, the food would be moved just before the control changeover occured" Fuiu said.
"That explains why the kingdom is half starved at this moment. Do you know where the food is stored ?" Xeir asked to the other woman
Fuiu nodded. "I do. But there is a problem"
"Explain" Xeir said
"The other spiders are taking orders from a gang called TheDragonWatch." Fuiui said, Nara smirked. Xeir snickered. "what ?"
"No matter, TheDragonWatch is a pushover if you do it right we can topple them and get them out of Arendelle" Xeir said
"So whats the plan ?" Nara asked
"At this moment, I plan to eat, and you two can refresh me on the all the shit that I missed the last thrity three years thanks to Kethend killing me" Xeir said, Nara smirked and a nearby servant brought out platters of food. Xeir hadnt eaten in a year since the dreamstate and similar needs had occurred within a bed she couldnt wake up from until that morning.
-8-8-8-
Mark stepped into a merchant stall. The guy working the place barely noticed him if at all as he headed for the back of it. A womans voice was heard complaining about carrying supplies when the other guy just sat around lazy as a fuck could be. Mark had to smile seeing the young girl, his cousin by adoption of course, the only child of Vaeyuko, Irie. The black eyed blue haired beauty stuggled past Mark, who without his hood up, or for that matter even on, she briefly didnt recognise until his scent smashed into her nose like a freight train on meth.
Nearly dropping what she was carrying had her cousin not helped her by taking half the stuff she was moving she spoke softly in Arabic. "Mark ? What are you doing here ? If the High Priest finds out you're here."
"He wont, is Aunt Blackmane home ? Or did something happen I need to know about ?" Mark said
"She's inside the house still, rarely comes out. The High Priests bonsai trees are dangerous and she fears their magical reach is getting stronger. Soon she wont leave her bathroom I am sure of it" Irie said calmly. Almost too calmly actually as if she were fighting shell shock of the most extreme levels. Of course she tried not to let Mark notice her shell shocked demeanor, yet he noticed right off just by speaking to her, she had a vacant expression as if in a constant daze, presumably left alone, and now Blackmane as she said it herself, was scared enough to hide in the bathroom ?
So as the stuff was set down where it was to be placed, Mark grabbed his cousin and dragged her into a side alley away from prying eyes, and thankfully no bonsai trees in sight. "Irie, what is going on ? Whats gotten into you ?"
Irie took a deep breath and took Mark deeper into the alley. Finally holding her cousin against a wall she stared at him hard. "I saw it happen, the bonsai trees, Mom, she angered the High Priest, threatened to undo everything he planned because puzzles were made to be solved. So he, well. He imprisoned her in one of his bonsai models. Shrank her down to pretty much an ant in size, then teleported her to a bonsai."
Mark raised an eyebrow, that was what Blackmane was scared of ? "So why stare at nothing as if you're on autopilot ?" Mark asked her
"Because my mother was pretty much killed directly in front of me, that's why!" Irie all but screamed in his face before calming down. "I want to try and get back at the High Priest for taking mother from me, from aunt Blackmane, from everyone. He said that if she could figure out any puzzle, if she could figure out the Bonsai puzzle and break herself free, she'd return to normal size as if she were never shrunk"
"So that's how he does it. Not only can his green leaves spell teleport people to different locations, but also shrink and imprison them in the bonsai models he's created" Mark mused. Then he saw how his cousin was, just trying to mentally envision someone getting taken prisoner of a bonsai model made him wish it on nobody whatsoever. He shook his head. "Irie, dont worry, Aunt Vaeyuko can figure out any puzzle, she can figure out her own freedom from this one too. Dont worry."
"There is only two ways she can get free of the Bonsai, the first is like you said, she can figure out the puzzle to get her freedom, but its already been nearly a year now. The only other option is to kill High Priest Kiyori. But Aunt Blackmane refuses to even so much as let her face be seen" Irie said, so if Blackmane refused, that left Irie to hunt or at least try to get down the High Priests daily outside the castle habits. And that wasnt easy in the slightest.
"I do not understand how Aunt Blackmane could worry" Mark mused. Blackmane was a natural source of magic due to her birth and bloodline alone, so wouldnt her magic be enough of a guard against the High Priest ? "Nevermind that, I'll talk to her" Mark said "Elsa is coming back, we all are, and the High Priest will fall, I promise you that much."
"Elsa is coming home ?" Irie repeated confused. "Can her magic break Kiyori's Bonsais ?"
"No idea, I just know thanks to some friends he wants to speak to me. I just havent the time to do so." Mark replied
"Do not speak or go near the man!" Irie all but shrieked at her cousin. It was clear she was scared, and broken, seeing one they loved all their life get shrunk to a fraction of an inch right before their eyes was a very truamatising experience, extreme levels of shell shock was clearly evident in Iries current demeanor.
"Will you calm down, I'm told he just wants to talk, what bad can it do ?" Mark replied in a confused yet concerned tone.
"That's what mother said, and look what happened, she got trapped in one of those bonsai models. When she first got shrunk, she screamed and her body contracted, she was tiny I couldnt see her. Then, she was in the model of a gazebo nearby to here. It scared me, Aunt Blackmane is scared to show her face too because she saw what happened to her own sister, my mother is that mans prisoner and you want to talk to the guy ? Are you suicidal ?" Irie was upset at that point, but she had explained what happened
"The worse that can happen is me getting trapped on one of those models, best case scenario I get a black eye" Mark said
Irie thought a moment and then looked her cousin dead in the eyes. "Alright, you come back with a black eye, or not at all. If you dont come back with a black eye or come back at all I will know you got imprisoned, But if you come back with a black eye, then that is good that you just spoke with him and maybe fought with him. I will know you can withstand him, but. I do not want to get seen by him" Irie told him. Mark patted her on the shoulder before heading into the shop.
Briefly leaving Irie alone in the sidealley. Irie didnt watch Mark leave, all she could see, all she could hear was her mother screaming in pain as she shrank to a fraction of her own size.
-8-8-8-
Mark had brief second thoughts about speaking to his aunt so quickly after speaking to his scared witless cousin. When he heard his aunt speak, reality held its breath, waiting for him to just turn and walk away.
"I have been wondering when you would return" Came a soft voice. Blackmane spoke volumes when she used a voice that soft, that scarily calm. It meant issues were big.
Mark did not leave the building, for three reasons. The first was acohol, One was that tiny flame of flickery pride that any drunk had. But the third and most important was the voice his aunt had used: It was the kind of voice, Mark knew that could make a stone statue do twetny pushups, a dozen chinups and a half dozen laps around the den.
It was the kind of voice that sounded how wild silk looked
It was the kind of voice, if Mark hadnt known any better thanks to growing up with her as his aunt he'd seen many things and wouldnt have to worry of an ice cold shower to cool off.
It was the kind of voice that made "good morning" sound like an invitation to bed. And when Mark saw his aunt, her current appearance, her clothing, her face, her hair, it hit the male libido like a lead pipe.
Mark hesistated, lost a perfect opportunity to take a left and go swimming in the Pond District when a sound at the door came to their ears.-
"Oy! Ya cant go in there, that's private property! Come ba... OW!" Came the sound of Irie as she got sucker punched by a guard.
Blackmane handed her nephew a box, it was about as long as his leg but half as heavy and made of oak. "Come on, with me. Now." She told him "You're in danger'
Mark looked at her confused "Say what ?" He was in danger ? Didnt that mean he was the safest guy around ?
"Because if those guards wont kill you, I will" Blackmane said calmly
Mark tapped his fingers on the box, "Well since you put it that way..." He started to say before Blackmane stuffed a sock in his mouth and shoved him into a closet and shut the door before going back to the dishes.
The four soldiers entered the dining room and kitchen area and six more came in through the back way. "Can I help you gentlemen ?" Blackmane calmly asked them.
"Did a man about yay tall, dark clothed with a hood up by any chance come into here ?" The leader asked her.
Blackmane raised an eyebrow, the guy didnt exactly ask for Mark, but he didnt exactly ask her if Mark himself was there. "Who ? There are a lot of men that tall dressed in a hoodie, its winter, what else are you gonna wear ?"
She had a point. The man pointed at her, as Mark watched through the crack in the closet door he saw the sadistic smirk on the guards face. "That's funny. You fancy yourself a comedian ?"
"I fancy myself more of someone you need to tread carefully around" Blackmane said calmly. "I am not the one you seek, so why bother me ? In fact I have a suggestion for you. You and your mean, kindly leave, apologise to my niece, and never return to this building again." Blackmane said it more as a threat, her tone said it all, yet her amazingly calm and cleaerly bored appearance said otherwise.
"Or what ?" the guard asked her stepping closer, out of Marks view through the crack, forcing the man in the closet to silently peek through the keyhole to see everything going on. "If we dont do as you say, what will you do ?"
Mark had to smirk, there was a reason his aunt was so scary. Everyone was scared of her, to the point that he would indeed pay in gold one hundred dollars to the first person not scared of her. Blackmane smirked, and very briefly disappeared, less than a second later she was once more standing before the guard captain, smiling smugly.
He stared her down, she could sense he was nervous, scared even as his men all collapsed, their throats missing. "The door is that way, apologise to my niece on your way by." She said, now much sterner.
The guard stuttered briefly before growling out. "The High Preist will hear of this. You will burn, witch" He turned and stormed out of the den. Blackmane watched him leave as he briefly stopped and gave a sour look towards Irie who held her stomach where the man had punched her. Giving the woman a glare he glanced back at Blackmane, who had her arms crossed watching him. Softly he said to Irie, "Sorry" Though he meant none of it. He turned and stalked away. He had to report that incident.
"Witch huh ?" Mark said emerging from the closet and setting the sock on the counter. He briefly patted the sock. "Was that really necessary to stuff in my mouth ?"
"Yeah, they always come up with a new name every week or so, normally they repeat them, things like oh; sorceress, bitch, beast, possessed girl, Witch though is a new one entirely I've never been called that." Blackmane chuckled and nodded at his question of the sock "Yup, how else will you shut up and listen when needed to do so ?"
He just smirked at the answer "Oh its good to be home. Irie mentioned Aunt Vaeyuko got uh..." Mark said, Blackmane gave him a dirty look. Mark nodded and turned away in thought."Right, Irie told me everything, she's... well, I thought I had PTSD bad when in Sacremento, nothing like her. She's got it worse." He said looking back to her.
"She insisted I let it happen" Blackmane said as Irie set up the stall for the market day.
"What ?" Mark asked her, confusion clear in his voice as he set the oblong box on the table in the kitchen.
"Vaeyuko saw the bonsai models as a puzzle just waiting to be solved, so she told me in no uncertain terms that I was to let her get trapped in one so she could solve the puzzle. Neither of us realised how painful it was going to be. For both her, and her daughter. I've never heard Vaeyuko scream like that either in my entire life." Blackmane went back to washing dishes as the bodies were magiced away with a flick of the wrist. "Irie cant stop thinking about it. All she can see every morning since her mother was shrunk and trapped, is that same event happening, and hearing her mother screaming in pain."
"You didnt know" Mark said, Blackmane was shivering slightly at her own explination of the scene. "You and Aunt Vaeyuko didnt know how painful it could be. Nobody knew." He tapped his fingers on the box. "Though I gotta say, nice job on the throat grab. Looks like I did teach you something huh ?" Mark had a small smirk on his lips as Blackmane looked to him.
She looked to him, then smirked on her own, seting the last dish in the cupbard she said simply. "So what is your plan now ?"
"Right now my plan is apparently to speak to you, then the high priest. I've been told by a little bird that he wants to speak to me about something. Those soldiers, they were looking for me werent they ?"
"They were, this time they were close to finding you. The last year alone, they came by looking for you, thinking that I kept you and Elsa hidden here somewhere. But each time they left empty handed." Blackmane said she then turned entirely towards her nephew, and he couyld see how many injuries she bore.
Mark growled deep in his throat "The fuck happened to you ? First Irie in extreme levels of shell shock, and you looking like you had eaten a firework and blew up and put yourself back together imnside out. What is going on ?"
"Thanks to Kiyori my magic rebounds, ever time I use it unless indoors like you saw through the keyhole, I get injured just as much or less than those I am fighting." Blackmane said. "I cant use magic to heal myself, but it can dull the pain.
Mark glared at the door, The High Priest needed to back off on hunting enemies of his. "Irie does not want me to speak to the High Priest. So we made a bet, I speak to him, but I need to return with a black eye, or not return at all."
"How good are you at puzzles ?" Blackmane asked, giving him a thoughtful look. He might be able to get Vaeyuko free.
"Not very, you know that riddles never were my strong suit. Most puzzles take a bit to think through carefully. Why ?" Mark replied a confused look on his face
"I was thinking that you could try to get your aunt free, Redmane and the others, I think Shadow went too, went to China, they are in Mongolia last I heard. With them not here, its only me, Irie, and Vaeyuko, but a week after you left she was trapped. Nobody has seen her since." Blackmane said to him.
Mark held up a hand. "So let me get this straight. The last year alone, first everyone in the kingdom forgets us, then in the last week they start remembering us, and half of those that remember us do not want us to come home, but then I find out that my own family is under threat from the most powerful man in the kingdom, and that man is the same asshole that married Elsa and I, a man we used to trust ?" He said. "What are the odds then that Xeir will try to kill him the first chance she gets ?"
"Who ?" Blackmane gave him a confused look. Mark shut up. When he didnt respond she glared daggers at him. "How do you know that name ? Who told it to you ?"
Mark sighed, mouth opened a few times, no words were said, finally he sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Diana mentioned it. Did you know she's blonde now ? Well, more white over blond, but still blonde, almost like Elsa but lighter."
Blackmane smirked, "Dont change the subject nephew. Its bad form" She said simply. She met Xeir, she and Snowfeather both had met Xeir on a task they were given just before Blackmane became pregneant with Kaezin. That was just before Elsas own mother tried for her first child. The weird events in the skies above.
Mark stared at her slightly confused. "What ?" Changing the subject wha ? How was he changing the subject ?
"How did Diana learn the name of Xeir ?" Blackmane asked him
"No idea, she said that when she returned we'd know her as Elsa, or at least feel that Elsa is present, but she'd be going by another name." Mark replied still confused on the matter.
"Great" Blackmane said. It started to make sense. Looking to Mark she said. "I have an appointment set up outside the kingdom that I must attend to. The woman, Kiyomori is a good woman, keep her safe, she has the means to remain outside of the bonsai models." Blackmane informed him.
"So with you gone, what happens to me ?" Mark asked her
"See the High priest, try not to get killed, help Xeir when she needs it. Try not to do anything stupid. And if you absolutely must do so, try to avoid killing anyone in public" Blackmane said before opening a portal from the room and disappearing into it. Leaving him on his own in the den.
Mark sighed as he watched the portal smoke fade away into nothing. His face set in a grim line he muttered under his breath. "No pressure." he had a mission now, he had to meet with the High Priest.
-8-8-8-
The Arendelle jail was a strange location, oddly full of mostly common criminals and the occasional mistaken identity victim. Some of the cells towards the back were for more dangerous prisoners. One such cell used a magical energy field to keep prisoners within an assigned space.
One such prisoner simply waited within one of the larger more nicely kept cells. If it werent for the cerll walls being bars on two sides. One could easily call it home. Tiri sat in a pile of ice upon the floor, projecting a ghostlike image of a humanish woman seated upon the floor.
Tiri never moved as the soldiers patrolled the jail. The chained shut cell door could hold her because of the magic only to a point. If Tiri wanted to, she could turn into a pile of ice entirely and slither her way out like a glaicer. Even though her magic was strong then the magic holding her. Tiri chose to let the High Priest have his fun.
Adairion, in the simulation, had done his job, when Tiri had finished her part and entered Scala ad Caelum side of the simulation, it was as if the High Priest was doing the search for the Star Formation itself. And that meant that even though Tiri was a prisoner, she really wasnt. She was pretending to be a prisoner.
Tiri paid no heed to the patrolling guards as they jeered at her as they walked past her cell. She paid no heed to the other prisoners claiming she was nothing more than a ghost who had died waiting for trial. She paid no heed to the endelss footsteps of the movements of the other prisoners and visitors. Until a pair of footfalls stopped at her cell and a voice spoke.
"So you are here" It was a voice Tiri didnt think she would ever hear again.
Opening her eyes the ghostlike project solidifed and stood up. "I was beginning to fear I would never hear your voice again." She said turning around, facing two guards. Honor Guard by the look of them yet the clear voice of Anna and the worried look of her companion greeted Tiri like a slap of ice cold trout to the face.
"How long have you been in here ?" Sapphire asked as Anna struggled with the lock before giving up.
"About four days now. The High Priest saw to my imprisonment to ensure certain parties stayed out of his hair, his models didnt work when he tried locking me there, I think it is because I kept falling to pieces" Tiri had a chuckle in her voice as she explained how the High Priest got more and more angered as his magic failed to shrink Tiri down and transport her to a bonsai model.
"Care to explain how it went ?" Anna asked
"As long as you explain why you're dressed as an Honor Guard" Tiri replied
"Its the only way to get around the castle and Arendelle without Kiyori getting wind of me being so close to him. As an Honor Guard and with what I know of the palace grounds I have an edge against him" Anna explained to Tiri, it made sense so to speak. "Now that we explained how I am able to get around, can you explain things ? Why did we see you in our dream ?"
"Because the dream was a simulation created in a machine. I joined it to aid in waking you all up. Believe me if I knew a better way to get you guys back, it wouldnt have taken a year to do so." Tiri explained as best she could.
"That does not explain how people forgot about us" Anna told her.
"According to DiT, people forgot as in, time passed, and there was a person or people that were on their minds, but they faded out of view and were forgotten with time, but now that everyone started remembering you and Xeir, it only was a matter of time before you came back." Tiri said, doing her best to explain how the kingdom had forgotten Elsa, her husband Mark, and her sister Anna and a Assassin bodyguard named Diana
"Wait" Anna held up a hand. "You said Xeir. how do you know that name ?"
"It is a long story" Tiri began
"I have time" Anna cut her off
"Are you sure ?" Tiri asked, at those words Sapphire caught wind of what she meant and briefly ducked away leaving Anna questioning Tiri.
"Fairly sure" Anna said
Tiri sighed. "Alright, fine, I will try to explain it" Anna gave her a hard look and very briefly Tiri looked like a ghost version of Elsa before returning to her natural almost entirely bonelike form. "At one point before you wer born, Xeir and I were the same person. I was her body, the woman you knew as Elsa was her soul. Together we formed a woman named Xeir Zith."
"You do know that even awake and outside the dream I do not like riddles" Anna scolded the Icewraith sternly. Tiri chuckled.
"I know. But you will understand soon." Tiri smiled thinly.
"What happened for you and her to become seperated ?" Anna asked as Sapphire returned with another woman, a woman Anna recognised as Emry. The former castle cook and one of Annas best friends in the castle.
"Xeir was mortally injured by another dragon. To save herself she cast aside her old body, me, and then cast her soul, herself into your mother in order to be reborn. As a result Xeior as she once was, died. And was reborn into two parts. The woman you knew as your sister Elsa, and myself. Uinfortunately, your sister Elsa, was little more than a means to an end"
"What ?" Anna asked, to Anna, Elsa was the most important woman in the world outside their mother. "What was Elsa to you ?" Anna asked Tiri, a edge to her tone.
"To me, Elsa was myself, a mirror image. And yet, she was not." Tiri said. Giving Anna a careful look she said. "To certain parties. Well, Elsa was something that should never have existed."
"What was Elsa to you ?" Anna repeated
"To me I just told you, but in the light of recent events and those surrounding them. Elsa was a Nothing" Tiri said.
"How could Elsa be nothing ? She was Queen of this kingdom, how could she be nothing ?" Anna asked
"Elsa exsisted when she was not supposed to. A Nothing is what happens when one does not have a soul. When Xeir cast out her soul and abandoned me, Elsa was born. Now, Xeir is properly awoken and Elsa returned what she had to her. Making Xeir once more whole." Tiri explained carefully. A Nothing was never meant to exsist, yet somehow Elsa did, and so did many others.
"Elsa was indeed the Queen, but more recently before the marriage, before the Assassins, before her birth, things had happened, seemingly paving the way for her to be born and become Queen. Someone planned it all behind the scenes" the cook, Emry said. Anna looked at the woman. "I know this because I was in on it, your mother, queen Idun, was a good leader. She worked tirelessly to find the right teacher for your sister Elsa, but something kept her from getting the absolute best there could be."
"Elsa had Matthew Michaels for her teacher did she not ?" Sapphire spoke up
"Only after any other source had indeed been spent and abandoned." Tiri explained. "When Elsa was born I spoke with Emry and we planed to keep an eye on Elsa as much as we could, hello Emry." Tiri said giving a nod to the cook.
"A woman called Emisary had spoken of a woman dressed in silver with scales upon her arms and a scale brooch in her hair. A woman she said I would recognise upon sight. In this case she was right" Emry explained what she knew, then of why she was in the jail to begin with. "Someone tried to poison the High Priest, he didnt trust me when I swore it wasnt me, so he had me jailed for the crime."
Tiri snickered. "Ah yeah, my fault I posed as a servant to bering him a meal, his food tester died within two seconds of taking the bite. He had me frogmarched down here and then went looking for you too"
"So that explains why you are in jail" Tiri merely smirked at the comment. Anna half smiled. "Alright, we have the reasons, now we just need the whens and the whats" Elsa was gone, she wasnt coming back, but in a way she was coming back. Elsa and Xeir were the same person. The entire affair left a sour taste in Annas mouth.
"Well, when you guys left on Elsas honeymoon with Mark, the sabatical as she had termed it, everything was fine for about a week when we had forgotten about you. The council Elsa put in charge while she was gone became the defacto leader and for a time, Arendelle had good peace and made good coin. But now. In the last two weeks alone things have been different. More arrests, more upheavel. Infact from what I hear tell, there have been people outright claiming that you and Elsa arent the true leaders of the kingdom." Tiri said, everyone had always thought that the Council lead the kingdom in their best interests.
The council allowed kingdom residents to plead their cases. But now that had all changed. If Elsa, or in this case Xeir, returned to power, would that continue ? Most people in the council directly feared it would end. The only real way the council had any true sway over the kingdom was making it possible for the kingdom to plead their cases.
"Honestly, those in power are afraid to give up their power, so they exert their strength over others. Throw their weight around in order that those in power remain in power, or even gather more strength of arms and knowledge in order to prove that you and Elsa are to be exiled." Tiri said as Sapphire and Emry left to retiurn Emry to her cell.
"So those on the council who refuse to allow me and Elsa to return and take back the leadership" Anna said thoughtfully
"Those men and women are scared to lose what power they now hold over the kingdom, each member of the council that is against your return has effectively split the council in half nearly evenly. The merchants guilds, the churchs, and the kingdoms military are all against your return. Because they are scared they will lose what they gained while you were gone" Tiri replied.
"So what happens now ?" Anna asked as Sapphire returned without the cook.
"For now we wait, I dont mind staying here another night. Besides, I am easily get myself free and I do have a date tonight so you two might need to get going. The High Priest is not a man to keep waiting you know" Tiri smirked.
"You can leave this cell ? Even with this magic guarding it and holding us out ?" Anna asked her. Only to stare in shock as Tiri shattered like glass, forming a pile of ice that easily snaked its way from the cell and entirely free of the magic the woman reformed. "Ok that answers my question, Excuse me" Anna turned and went to the nearby bathroom and threw up. Upon returning she saw that Sapphire was more than a bit antsy and Anna told Tiri "Dont ever do that again"
"Sorry Princess, sometimes its the only way for me to get places" Tiri replied, she meant it. "Now, you two need to get going, and I have a date to keep" With that the three women parted ways, Sapphire and Anna went back t othew Honor Guard barracks for dinner, while Tiri found a pair of guards sent to retrieve her from her cell to take her to the High Priest.
-8-8-8-
The flame faded from Diamonds palm, the beautiful icefire floated perfectly off her skin carefully. Allowing her to do the Essence Flame without harming herself. She then revealed her true nature to Kiyomori. The Japanese woman was surprised that a dragon would ask to be taught by a human. So when Kiyomori saw the pale pink and white scales under the Essence Flame it began to fuel confusion for the mortal woman. "Why do you want me to teach you ?" Kiyomori asked.
"Because the more abilities one has against the High Priest, the better" Diamond replied. She held out her hand after the ice color flame died off. "I dont think we have been formally introduced, I'm Diamond, but until Mark knows who I truly am, I think it best you continue to call me Diana. Only scant few know who I really am."
"A pleasure" Kiyomori said giving the Silver Dragon princess a firm shake of the hand. "I am Kiyomori, my father is known as the Faceless Asassin of Japan. But like I mentioned already at the tavern. I woke up one morning to the High Priests men banging on my door and my father gone."
"Even so, with you teaching me how to iuse Essence Flames, I will keep my promise to not combine them." Diamond said.
"Because you are a dragon you need not worry of overextering yourself when summoning the flames to begin with." Kiyomori said. "But yes I would like for you to keep your promise as much as you are able to do so."
"You can count on it. This flame you just taught me, what is it called. ?" Diamond asked.
"There are twenty seven total Essence Flames, nine of three types, the first type, the Elemental Essence Flames are the middle ground. The heaven Flames, they're the most common and easiest to learn and even faster to fully master. The strongest most dangerous of the essence Flames are the Beast Flames." Kiyomori explained.
"So there are nine of each, three types. What was this one ?" Diamond once more summoned the icewhite firely flame.
"Icefire Lotus Flame" Kiyormori said. "its a common healing Essence Flame, it uses its strength to heal, and when I use it and combine it with another flame, it can be also used to destroy with extreme pain." Kiyomori said. "Of course it wasnt easy to learn how to combine. But once I figured out how to even summon Essence Flames without using my own internal energies it became easier for me to combine them" Kiyomori summoned a dark blue essence flame. "This is the Sapphire Lotus Flame, of the Beast Flames, one of the weaker Beast Flames. This when combined with Icefire Lotus Flame, creates a raw unyielding pain inducing magic that can either destroy a target outright, or spread to other targets as needed."
After an hour of Diamond learning, and kiyomori teaching, the teacher called a break. Diamond had learned nearly all of the Heaven Flames, and only one Beast Flame and could easily summon any of the Heaven Flames so far. Just a mere thought or even flick of the fingers and bam she had a Heaven Flame floating on her palm or flung at a target without issues.
"I guess being a dragon has its perks" Kiyomori said when she saw Diamonds scales, it was possible that Diamonds dragon magic was helping her fuel the Essence Flames so easily. "Either way, Essence Flames can defend easily against the High Priests bonsais" Kyomori said.
"And that is thankfully a good thing, I dont know if my magic can get contained in one such model. Even if to hide" Diamond said thoughtfully.
"No, with the Essence Flames the high priest cant trap you. Trust me, he's tried, even jailed me twice befiore letting me going both times when I annoyed him to the point of getting arrested when he couldnt trap me on one of his models." Kiyomori said with a smirk. Diamond looked to her.
"The Essence Flames are too strong for the model scale ?" Diamond realised, Kiyomori was confused. "That explains how his magic has no affect against you, how he cant trap you!"
"I dont follow" Kiyomori said confused. "His models arent strong enough to trap me ?"
"Exactly, his magic is not strong enough even compared to a Heaven Flame, Any one Essence Flame, it doesnt matter, dont you get it. Any Essence Flame, his magic is useless. Tell you, what, teach Mark, teach Sapphire, teach Anna, everyone you can in secret. The Essence Flames inside their bodies will prevent Kiyori's magic from shrinking them down into a model state" Diamond said, realising exactly how important the Essence Flames were.
"So that's why the transportation leaf kept burning away when it got close enough to me." Kiyomori mused, finally figuring it out. "I always thought his magic was weaker than my willpower. But the transportation leaf kept burning before it could get close enough to touch me. I never thought it was the Essence Flames protecting me" Kiyomori recounted a few incidentis of the High Priest trying to capture her or even teleport her across the kingdom, each time met in failure.
"So it figures, now that I'm learning the Essence Flames, I cant get trapped by the High Priest, and he's most likely after me" Diamond said
"What about Mark ?" Kiyomori asked.
"Last I knew the High Priest only wanted to talk to him. For all I know, something might happen." Diamond said. "Why ?" The two women stared at each other briefly before realising that Mark was in trouble. The two left their hiding space and took off for where Mark likely was.
-8-8-8-
As Mark walked through the halls one of the Church buildings with Sapphire beside him he took notice of the design of the buildings internal structure and architexture. A force of habit he learned when living with Snowfeather as Snowfeathers only son. Even by adoption Mark learned the finer points of seeking out and locking down a buildings strongest and weakest points. And from what he could tell of the structure he was in. magic was the key point. But there wasnt anything Gravity couldnt fuck up.
Upon arriving at the door of the open air structure that the High Priest made for his home. Mark noticed four guards stood at the entery way, guards he did not recognise the colors of. Then he remembered. Church Guards were different than Honor or Arendelle Guards.
A deacon approached. "Captain Wolfe, and friend. What is the honor of this visit ?" the Deacon was a newly ordained deacon and was violently in the thrall of the High Priest. The Deacon held his hair long, yet clean.
"They are expected Zala" came the calm voice of the High Priest from within the gazebo, the man was seated at a desk. The Deacond nodded and let the two pass. Mark finally saw the High Priest, unlike any man he had met before, Kiyori was not exactly an imposing figure when he stood up to greet them. Sapphire bowed in greeting and Mark was about to.
Kiyori smirked and waved off the bow. "No need for such formailty." He said to them. "What do I owe this visit ?" He took a long hard look at Mark, he recognised Sapphire and for a moment was unable to recognise Mark. But he felt familiar. "Do I know you from somewhere ?"
"Yes, I am the Master of the Wolfe Clan" Mark simply stated. Kiyori half smiled. "I was under the impression that you have my aunt imprisoned ?"
"I have many people imprisoned. You'll have to be more spicific" Kiyori smirked, Sapphire didnt even smile knowing exactly who Mark meant.
However Mark said simply. "Was that supposed to be a joke ?"
"Yes" Kiyori said simply. "Now aside of wanting to free a relative, I know exactly why you are here, Infact I can have the soldiers stop searching for you since you came to me directly as it is."
"You wanted to speak to me ?" Mark asked
"You yes, her not so much." Kiyori said in reply as he simply plucked a leaf off the small tree on his desk. "We all have secrets to tell Master Wolfe. But she has yet to tell me her secrets. But I will know them soon enough" A flick of the fingers and the leaf connected with Sapphires foprehead.
Mark never heard such pained shrieking in his life. Not5 even witnessing someone transforming against their will was that jarring. Right befor his eyes purple and white sparks of energy danced across Sapphires body, ripping her apart, making her smaller. Within seconds the model upon Kiyori's desk had a new resident as Sapphire was safely deposited upon its grass.
Mark reached for a sword, but Kiyori waved him off. "You dont need that now Master Wolfe. I have something to show you." Mark let go of his sword hilt and glance to where his cousin had disappeared to as Kiyori left the gazebo and lead them down a path. Entering the side hall of the Palace of Arendelle Mark felt right at home.
He knew every inch of the place, so what was ? A stop at a unseeming door to an apparent closet allowed the two men to pause. Kiyori, the High Priest flicked a hand towards the unassuming door. It faded open. And a swirling vortex was seen with stars beyond. Kiyori entered the doorway, Mark right behind him. The door slid closed behind Mark.
Mark found himself on a long stone and steel bridge. The stars were both near and far around it, and what looked like a constellation had been set in it. Two stars were not well set up however. Seeing them Mark spoke internally to Kalda. "What is this ?"
"Not a damn clue man, you're on your own here" Kalda replied, seeing the Star Formation in person was one thing, he never really gave it much thought. Truth was, Kalda knew exactly what Mark was seeing at that moment, but honestly, Kalda didnt much care of the Star Formation or the missing Map that went with it.
"Yeah, thanks anyway pal" Mark mumbled before focusing on the outside world seeing that Kiyori was watching him. "What is this ?"
"This is what the Council Inhereited when Queen idun left us two children. Neither woman know of this, Only Queen Idun, Myself, and Deacon Zala and now yourself, know of it" Kiyori told him
"What is it ?" Mark asked then looking to the man.
Kiyori seemed to settle into lecterer mode and managed to focus enough that he failed to notice Mark noting mentally which stars were which. To see if he could find them in the night sky that night. "This is the Star Formation, its an ancient piece of technology that has protected Arendelle for ages even beyond my own time. Sadly I am unable to find out how far back the construction of this Star Formation is to find when it was first made."
"Why are you showing me this ?" Mark then asked
"Because I am hoping you have the answers I seek" Kiyori replied. Turning to him, "You saw the Transportation and bonsai prisons I have set up across the kingdom." Kiyori said, his tone held a hint of a threat to his voice
"You use the models in order to fuel this ?" Mark asked, an eyebrow raised in horror at what was being told to him.
"Far from it boy, far from it. You being the Master of the Wolfe Clan should have seen it before anyone else. The Bonsai models are prisons, each one of them an exact replication of our own jail here in the kingdom as a whole. It is only tied to me because of how I imprison those who have wronged the kingdom or myself." Kiyori explained.
"So you love to make models of various items, and yet to make multiple models of a single structure. Word in the kingdom is many people fear them." Mark observed. "They fear that if they get too close, they will get sucked in. the screams of those arrested and imprisoned however is, well, its not exactly the best sound" Mark wasnt too happy of all the bonsai models, first his aunt, now his cousin. "Can you let captain Wolfe free ?"
"At this moment, no. However its only a temporary thing. You see, a woman saw the Bonsais as a puzzle she wanted to solve, I gave her a year. That time is almost up" Kiyori said. "By imprisoning captain Wolfe, it increased the clock for which the woman is to get herself free. Once she is freed, anyone she wishes may also be set free"
"I see." The two men then exited the Star Formation room, or so it was seen, and the door returned to being a simple closet. "But why show me this ?" Mark then asked
"Because I need someone I can trust to take the mantle, the Council I fear is too corrupt, and the Queen should she return, now that you are here, may not be able to retakew her throne, half the council wishes her dead as it is." Kiyori said nothing of his own intentions, yet thanks to Kiyomori, Mark knew better.
"And you ?" Mark asked simply. "What exactly is your thoughts on the matter ?" Did he really want Elsa gone ? Did he want him gone ? What was the exact motive of the High Priest and why couldnt Mark figure it out ?
"Me ?" Kiyori repeated simplu, slightly a question mostly a simple offhand remark. He had plans, the whoel church was behind him in those plans. And yet nobody knew exactly what those plans where, not even Deacon Zala knew. Nor did Kiyoris bodygard Mannfredd. The big brut of a man of course was dumb as a rock yet with a heart of gold too.
Kiyori finally smiled simply. "That remains to be seen, should Elsa return and want the throne, I will gladly let her try to take it back, just to see how to the council would react. On the other hand I think she is rather young and inexperienced. Rash, and her magic is unspoken of to begin with." Kiyori smirked. "What does it matter anyway ? "
"Plenty Elsa is my wife" Mark said simply, but he knew that it wasnt exactly the right thing to say, infact it was possibly the stupidt thing to say.
"And that makes you the king in just name, no military power, no control to give orders to soldiers, its only a title." Kiyori said. "Do you honestly think that you can waltz in here, see the Star Formation, and expect me to hand it over to you when you say the queen was your wife ?" Kiyori glared daggers at the man.
Mark never backed down. His hand freely resting on the hilt of his sword at his hip. "I may be the king in title only. But I am the Master of the Wolfe Clan, do you not know the traditions ?"
"The Wolfe Clan is the royal bodyguard of the Arendelle bloodline. And at one point, even held the queenship I have read my history yes." Kiyori said. He smirked then. "But there is one thing you forget"
"And that is ?" Mark asked him.
Kiyori smirked evilly. "Elsa is not the Queen, which means, you are not the king. You, an outsider. Marrying royalty ? Bah! You'd have better luck finding a woman at random on the street!"
Mark smirked. "Three mistakes" He said simply, his tone deadpan. Kiyori looked at him confused. "First, you invited me into your own home. Second, you captured my cousin right before my eyes." He glared darkly at the man and drew his sword in one hand, his pistol in the other. "And third. You just pissed me off by insulting my wife" Marks voice was deeply draconic by that point.
Kiyori glared and attacked, green energy clashed with draconic power as Marks sword caught the energy and flung it aside with ease. Mark shot twice, both shots barely missing as Kiyori dove out of the way. Mark knew what type of ammo he had, but Kiyori didnt. Light Blessed bullets werent easy to come by. But Light had also blessed the clip itself, it was never gonna run dry.
"gravity you idiot" Kalda barked inside Marks brain. Mark put his sword away, shooting around a corner as Kiyori dove to another pillar. His free hand picked up an item not far away using gravity, then flung it at where Kiyori was hiding. Smashing to bits the pottery exploded like small grenades around Kiyori's hiding place.
Kiyori returned fire with mystical energy and qi from within at Mark. Causing the roof to cave in over Mark, who barely dove out of the way before kicking hard and flinging stonework at the man, breaking the pillar Kiyori hid behind. "Perhaps then we can come to a different agreement ?"
"I think we are past agreeing on anything, asshole" Mark retorted getting to his feet. By that point Kiyori had made contact with the weapon and flung it aside from Marks own hands. Forcing him to draw his sword. "The only way I will agree to anything is when I have your balls on the floor and your head removed from your body"
Kiyori seemed to calm down. "A bit harsh for a boy like you, Outsider." He formed a sword out of leaves in one hand. "Typical however for a outsider to say, so uncultured" Mark barked a battle cry and shot forwards, enhancing his hits with gravity acceleration
The two men traded blows for several long minutes, within that span the throne room of the Arendelle castle was reduced to ruin. Finally their blades locked as Mark had forced Kiyori backwards. But the High Priest was smiling a wicked smile as Mark pressed his weight against him.
Moving quickly, too quickly for Mark to follow, Kiyori connected with Marks chest, raw ewnergy coursed through Mark and he heard Kalda screaming in his head as he was flung backwards. Kiyori smirked as Mark crashed against the wall and hit the ground, briefly laying still. Kiyori laughed. "What's the matter, Outlander ? Unable to fight longer ?"
Mark forced himself to his feet, the tip of his sword digging into the steel and wood of the floor. Kalda was out of the fight, there was nothng more Mark could do there. Kiyori threw a ball of raw qi at Mark, Kalda did his best to slow it down, but it wasnt enough. It slammed into Mark. Forcing away the battle armor from the man. Mark spat up blood and dropped to a knee as Kiyori readied a bonsai leaf. Seeing him advancing with the leaf Mark spat more blood onto the floor. "So that's it then, bonsai jail without trial by jury ? You really are an asshole of a judge too"
Kiyori snarled and threw the transport leaf, Mark reached up and caught it right before it could activate. Looking it over, it was a real leaf yes. An intricate patter upon the green and pale yellow sides, Like a map of an district. He recognised it. "You want to trap me in my own district ?"
"I dont know what kind of magic this fuck is using, but I'm going to give you my lightfire weapon to destroy that leaf. Once that's done I wont be able to help you further until he's defeated." Kalda said, Mark growled and focused on the leaf. Setting it on fire as Kiyori's eyes went wide as he watched. The only means of entrapment, safe entrapment, destroyed by such beautiful power.
"Thanks Kalda" Mark said simply
"From here, you're on your own, no armor either. But you'll have the gun and sword. No gravity too. I need to recouperate myself and this is the only way to do so." Kalda said, Mark felt the dragon retreat from his head into a private area of the mindscape and Mark struggled to his feet. Using what latent magics he had learned from his aunt and mother, he called his pistol to his hand.
"I think its time we split ways, asshole. Have fun remodeling" As much as it pained Mark to destroy such a beautiful room as the two had in their fight, Mark shot out the nearby window and ran for it as Kiyori threw another energy ball at him. The energy ball missed and exploded against the wall causing a fire as Mark sailed out of the window using the explosion as propellant to get through the remains of the steel lattace work.
Kiyori went to the window and watched Mark fall towards his apparent death. "So long, Outsider" He never saw the silver energy catching the young man as he fell.
-8-8-8-
Tiri had easily outsmarted the guards watching her, so by the time the High Priest got to visiting with her, she had been let go easily. At which point when wandering the castle gardens she spotted Mark from far above falling from the thron eroom window. "Stupid fool" Tiri growled shattering and swiftly opening a portal under Mark for him to disappear into before opening the other end easily allowing Mark to plow into a cartful of hay.
Checking his energy levels Tiri was shocked to feel nothing but a very weak pulse. Shifting again she used her magic to get Mark to a nearby denspace. Within which another woman waitede. "What happened to him ?" Xiaoden asked
"Not one damn clue" Tiri replied.
"Xeirn is not going to like this" Xiaoden grunted as the two women ensured Mark was resting in the nearby bed. "Whats your plan ?"
"Well, I managed to piss off the high priest, and then he had visitors expected and then I never tracked down Sapphire" Tiri said. Only to be interrupted by Kiyomori.
"Dont bother looking for my sister" The Japanese woman said calmly.
"How come ?" Tiri asked her as Xiaoden turned her way as well.
"The High Priest got to her, she's imprisoned in the bonsai that was just placed in front of the Castle Gates. I dont know how to get her free" Kiyomori replied
Tiri stared at her. "I thought you taught her some Essence Flames already ?" the Icewraith was confused, as far as she was aware, kiyori had no control over anyone who possed the magical Flames within their body
"That was the plan yes, but never had time to do so" Kiyomori replied clearly upset. "I'm teaching Diana though, and I think I can teach him, he looks dang beaten up" Kiyomori was right, Mark had a black eye, cuts on his face and arms. The scar on his face already was openly bleeding anew as well.
"Irie will want to see him" Tiri mused aloud. "She mentioned that should Mark see the High Priest, he was to return with a black eye, and he has one. Not sure of that cut though." The cut on Marks face was bleeding deeply. That was going to be a problem, she tried to recall how Mark had received it, for all she could remember it was simply a scar, now it was a cut ? Or was it both ?
"We will have to figure out the High Priest, there must be a means to destroy him somehow." Kiyomori said simply
"How do you propose we do that ?" Tiri asked
"The High Priest Guard have ties with the Tendu Guard of the woman known simply in the histories as The Necromancer, desrtroy one they other will fall to internal fighting." Xiaoden mused.
"How did you know of the Tendu Guard ?" Kiyomori asked to the black coated woman, confusion on her face
"It was easy, quite honestly finding out anything further is not going to go down well, but to find their current location, I can ask a friend" Xiaoden meant Haversham, the old man was around somewhere after waking up Mark. "In the mean time I have a friend I need to speak to. I will meet up with you fine folks shortly" A swirling portal of darkness faded into exsistence, swirled a moment, and Xiaoden disappeared into it
Pointing at the fading portal, Kiyomori remarked. "I am never going to get used to that effect." it was true, Blackmane stepped into view. "Mentor" Kiyomori said upon seeing the black and dark blue dressed woman.
"Kiyomori, Tiri, How is he ?" Blackmane said giving the former a nod in greeting before regarding Tiri as the silver woman ensured Mark was resting comfortably on the bed as Blackmane saw the beaten down look to her nephew and shook her head. "Stubborn fool" She muttered.
"Yes is resting now, when he wakes up, Irie will want to see him." Tiri said.
"Kiyomori, let my neiece know her cousin is back, is resting, she may waken him in time for dinner tonight. In the mean time, Tiri, you and I have a friend to bust out of jail with Diana" Blackmane said, she meant that they were going to get her sister and niece back in one piece. Tiri smirked and nodded as Kiyomori simply left the room.
-8-8-8-
In the streets of Arendelle a man wandered the busy plazas and walkways, the packed roads were filled with all manner of folk. The dark coated man seemed calm and uninterested in what was around him, the hustle and bustle of the street was just white noise to him at that moment. As he walked along with a woman who was also in the matching black coat, Nara felt eyes on them both.
"Things have changed this past year, Xercine is barely able to hold the council together as it is" Xiaoden was saying softly as the two turned onto a empty street devoid of people, the loud white noise clearly gone as the two walked along the road without a sound.
"Yes, things have" Nara replied simply, he lost Diamond, only to get her back, but be told to use a fake name when speaking with her infront of anyone. At least until Diamond said she could call her by her true name. "Infact have you noticed the lack of people on this road ?" Nara of course stupidly turned to face Xiaoden as shots rang out, the two dove for cover.
"Holy fuck!" Xiaoden swore in a very unladylike manner as the paving stones were turned into ceramic powder. Nara had grabbed Xiaoden and the two ducked behind a brick and stone stairway. "Damn, the High Priest has even the Zune Guard on his side." The Council woman was confused of what to do next.
"So there is no point in us hiding is there ?" Nara asked
"We're stuck if we cant get past them!" Xiaoden replied.
"Then why hide ?" Nara asked standing up, lighting danced in his hand and sparked into being, forming a strange keylike sword in his hand. "After all, those who burden themselves with regret, die first." He said as he stepped into plain view of the men on the rooftops. Smirking he said simply to Xiaoden. "Lets play a game, Diamond and I came up with it" He had a smirk on his tone as well as on his face.
"A game ?" Xiaoden asked forming her own keylike swords in her hands.
"Yes" Nara said looking up to the men omn the rooftop. "A game Diamond liked to call, 'Who is the better killer' Try and keep track of how many you cut down" With htaqt Nara darted forwards as gunfire rang out some more. Xiaoden watched him run forwards as the bullets missed entirely. Hitting the ground where he was only a heartbeat after he had left the space in question.
How is he moving so quickly ? Xiaoden wondered as she watched Nara run up the end of the street to a wall to elad to the rooftop of the building and began hacking away at the targets upon the roof. Running so fast to avoid the bullets ? Not possible, unless. It cant be Xiaoden stepped out of hiding, an energy orb of some form appearing around her body and defelcting most of the shots sent her way as she followed in the footsteps of Nara.
Xiaoden then realised what Naratas Aigatis was.
A Dragon.
Nara was a Dragon, but Xiaoden had yet to figure out what kind as the two black coated figures fought with the strange enemeies, Xiaoden saw that the creatures they were fighting were not the Zune Guard as she had thought they were, but the dead.
"What wicked magic brings back the dead ?" Xiaoden screamed as the two fought back to back.
Nara stood with his back to Xiaoden as the two circled and fought off undead "Only one person can do magic like this. And we are not to take her on." he said simply. Xiaoden could tell he was planning something. "Go, get out of here."
"Not without you" Xiaoden said
Nara snickered. "Relax, They cant hurt me" A second keysword formed in his other hand, matching the first one that formed. "Its you I am worried about. Get going" As Narta spoke he hooked the two weapons together at their handles, making them into one single double bladed weapon.
Xiaoden stared at him a brief second as enemies fell around them, then nodded. Her mind already working out the details. Going over what he just said to her 'Relax, they cant hurt me' Xiaoden then released the truth. If nothing could hurt him as she spoted magic charging on the rooftop. Then that meant. He's a Force Dragon ?
"GO!" Nara screamed, Xiaoden stiuffly nodded and opened a portal, Nara all but tossed her into it before lealping upweards from the rooftop, his double sword spining like a helicopter blade as he came down. Slamming hard into the center of the group. The whole swarm of undead fell in one swath. None were standing or in one piece when he was done.
But there were three pairs of eyes watching the fight, one was facinated by the weapon in use, the other simply observing and being watchful as a bodyguard should, and the third were dead, well should be dead, and yet not so.
"The undead worked, and yet they saw through the dead armor the dear wore" The man, Kiyori, the High Priest, said simply.
"It was not by choice to use the dead soldiers of the Zune Guard." Replied the woman, the ancient undead Necromancer, Ingrid the First, former queen of Arendelle smirked, her rotted flesh clining to her face barely staying on as she spoke. "It did the job for now in seperating the two. Shall I begin to search for the man who got away from you ?"
"No" Kiyori said simply waving her off. "I let him go for a reason, I have weakened him, I want him to learn how to fight, like a man" Kiyori had his plans in motion now, there was just one last contengncy to start off. He wanted to ensure the woman, Vaeyuko could not find the key to his bonsais.
"Make your models, Priest. When the time comes, I will rule the kingdom anew." Ingrid growled, her rotted body making her voice echo and almost as if made from electrical means of being sythned. The woman turned and left the balcony, disappearing into the castle.