Frozen Memories 1.8 Bridge
Hidden Past - Back Cover
Xeir Awakening
Chapter six: Heart of Shadow
19 October 2057
Kingdom of Arendelle
Marketplace District Den
6 PM
"Glad you could join us" Blackmane said as Irie stepped into view. Mark had raised a glass to drink some whater to his lips, but when he caught sight of Irie in a very form fitting and rather revealing in certain areas while covering other areas, dress. He missed his mouth entirely and ended up dousing Diana dead in the face. The Assassin woman chirped with sudden loss of personal diginty as Mark chuckled out a soft apology.
"Mom said it was a big deal for dinner tonight, so I got dressed up, its not too much is it Auntie ?" Irie asked as she sat across from Mark at the table. For a long moment Mark couldnt take his eyes off her form.
"Not at all, considering how I dress, I am rather shocked I dont get the same reaction from your cousins as it is." Blackmane replied with a soft smile. For once Irie was not grease covered or burnt or dirty from working in her workshop. She was actually quite clean and from the scent she had even showered, done her hair, the works. Was that lavender ?
And she was wearing shoes. Which added to her looks in many ways, which might be why Mark couldnt take his eyes off her ? Irie then asked the ultimate question. "Why the fuss of a big deal for me to be at dinner tonight ?" She had a confused look on her face.
"What she said" Mark said pointing across the table at her briefly as she took her seat.
"Diana, show everyone what you found" Blackmane said, Diana, not liking where that conversation was going, did so. Setting on the table a shard of pink glass that glowed with an etherial light. Everyone at the table stared at the pink shard of glass. Mark could feel the raw magic pulsing from it, as could everyone else in the room.
"This is what I found in the Dust district" Diana reported simply.
"What can you tell us about it ?" Blackmane asked
"It was hidden behind a puzzle within an ancient church. A cathederal. But once I had unlocked that same puzzle, I found something, a case of some form that protected this shard. But when I took it, the case disappeared and the shard was in my hand, the need to run was clearly evident so I took off. I had to run for at least a dozen maybe even more, kilometers before I could stop to take a breath." Diana reported exactly what she had done.
"So, sad to say, that the Dust District, has been returned to dust" Mark mumbled.
"The Dust District was thankfully mostly empty, since Arko the kingdom has spread its residental areas into more districts" Blackmane explained calmly. "We need not worry on that now"
"If only that were the case" Mark mumbled.
"You faced Kiyori, and lost, but you managed to get away with your life. For now that will have to suffice." Blackmane admonished her nephew slightly. "The matter at hand is now clear. Kiyori will seek the rest of these star shards. If what Diana said is true, the men searching for the shard were close to finding the cavern, and dying while doing so." Diana nodded.
"So now what ?" Mark asked as he speared a slice of steak off the platter at the table. "Do we start digging in random areas for the others, how many can we expect to search for ? For that matter, what will we do with this one ?"
"No idea yet, but I know for a fact we cant begin digging at random. Its possible that some of these shards might be hidden in stores, houses, or even in vaults or part of collections belonging to gangs or otherwise" Blackmane mused aloud as the family began eating their dinner. "For now, Diana, since she found this one, will continue to safeguard it on her person at all times. Perhaps other properties can be found through it as well."
That settled, the family, what was there, dug into their dinner. Normally Mark would have questions, but at that moment he was focused on his food, he hadnt really eaten anything that good in a long time, infact he was thankful at that moment for it. The chance to eat in peace without worry of anyone hammering down the door.
But he still had questions. So around a large glass of something that had to be either milk, apple juice or vernors, he asked simply. "Anyone else of the Wolfe family here or is it just me, Sapphire and Kiyomori ?"
Diana flicked her gaze briefly at Mark but it was Blackmane who answered. "No, as far as anyone knows, the Wolfe Clan disappeared when the kingdom forgot you. They know the histories, but in the last year, things had changed. And not in a good direction either."
"How so ?" Mark asked, he counted the Eilsar brood, or was it a massive clan ? As honoary Wolfe members with just himself, and two cousins, one of whom he was related to by blood, and he hadnt seen Miao whatsoever. "Its just the three of us, Sapphire, Kiyomori, and myself, the only three Wolfe's by blood alone. And then there's the Elisars that are still in the kingdom as well. Personally I see you guys as honorary Wolfe members. We could use the help"
"And that is well and good dear nephew." Vaeyuko said "But, the fact remains to your question, and the reason behind it, as you said, it is only the three of you, the rest, as well as most of our sisters have headed for China to liberate it entirely from the Templars, the few of us that remained here were t ohelp the council that Elsa put into place rule things in peace while you were away."
"And then you forgot us" Mark mumbled.
"It did not start that way" Irie spoke up around a mouthful of a rib from the platter of meats on the table.
"Huh ?" Mark looked to her from his aunt.
"Six weeks after Elsa set Xercine as head of the Council while she was to be gone, things began to change, for one, more patrols were being done, but not by Assassins or assassin appointed guardsmen and so0ldiers, but by men in strange colorations and patterns, colors belonging to the High Priest." Blackmane explained. "Of course the week before the changes began, Vaeyuko disappeared into a model, and before that, Snowfeather and the rest left for China, leaving us, and the Brothel, the only Assassin dens active in the kingdom, hidden yet greatly dimnimshed"
"And you didnt fight back ?" Mark asked, Diana was also intently listening, as if she was a part of it, Mark then remembered he had insisted she come along on their year away that Elsa and Anna wanted to go on. "What happened to Kristoff ? " Mar kthen asked
"The same thing that happened to Olaf, nobody knows, some few think he went back to his family in the mountains, others think he went after you four and got lost enroute. Aunt Snowfeather wanted to take him along to China, with his bulk and skills with a pick or a sword would be good in handling whatever the Templars have cooked up there. But he didnt agree and didnt want to see any fighting." Irie spoke up. Blackmane simply nodded as her niece spoke.
"So when did you all forget about us ?" Mark asked once again
"About a week after Vaeyuko was modeled" Blackmane replied, earning a snicker from Vaeyuko, and a noticable shudder from Irie. One by one we forgot your names, and then your faces, erveryone looking to Xercine and the council for gudiance" she explained. Detailing only three key events. The forgetting, as Irie termed it since they had returned, the Long year, which Irie felt when her mother had been shrunken to nothing before her eyes a year before, and then the Remembering, when everyone started to remember Elsa was their Queen, and Kiyori was simply the High Priest working for her.
"So, you forogt about us four, Myself, Diana, Anna and Elsa. And then in the past what ? Two weeks or so you started remembering us all ?" Mark asked, he got nods around the table, that question answered a new one on the way. "Did you know my uncle Arm has a Beerholder in the basement ?" That earned a gutteral snickering laughter from Irie.
"Beerholder ?" Blackmane asked, clearly confused at the terminology her nephew used
"Like a Beholder, but drunk" Irie explained to her aunt, who then nodded
"That explains the weird facination with magics that the guards have recently. Almost all the Healers, the Doves, have fled back through portals to get away from the new soldiers." Blackmane said in reply
"They are hunting magic users, seriously ? Why ?" Diana asked as she slid the star shard into a pocket, her dragon magic making it part of her diamond scale
"More like keeping track of magic users and healers, conscripting healers is one thing, but keeping them under their control, quite another" Blackmane said
"That does not explain why they keep going after you and Irie" Mark grumbled. Irie he saw brieflyu shivered, the soldiers didnt want her for her magic, but for something different. Blackmane just smiled impishly.
"They did not want me for my magic, but for my body" Irie grumbled, clearly upset at the mere thought of the soldiers leering at her. Mark, for once did the smart thing and kept his mouth shut. Though he felt in his mind that Irie was not exactly his type, she wasnt stacked exactly as one would like. But even so, she was quite pretty. But Mark wasnt sure if she'd even survive a night with even a normal guy. Much less another Tigris.
Cheetahs were small compared to Snow Leopards, or even Irie was adopted by Vaeyuko off the streets as an infant, her dead parents not far away when Vaeyuko found her wailing and her left eye bleeding color from a salt bomb. However, Vaeyuko had raised Irie as best she possibly could. And when Mark joined the huge family, Irie somehow took a liking to the man and had him field test all the new toys the Assassins were getting before they got them, he tested them.
But he never questioned it, nor did he know why she played favorites to begin with. But it was mostly times like they were when he started asking questions. "When did they start going after you two ?"
"About a week after mom started her puzzle" Irie said, she and Vaeyuko, with Blackmanes help, had managed to get most of the memory of Vaeyuko getting turned into a tiny model prisoner removed and overwritten, but Irie still remembered it, but now referred to it as puzzle work.
"Why ?" Mark asked them around a mouthful of cheese.
"In Iries case, they wanted her for as she said, her body, in my case, my magic, the High Priest was at times insistant on it" Blackmane replied. Mark looked around the table, without Diana sitting to his left, it was just the three of them out of the whole Elisar brood. Vaeyuko, her youngest sister Blackmane and Vaeyukos daughter, Irie, along with Sapphire and Kiyomori. Marks cousins by blood and adoption. Five of them to fight off the High Priest.
"Yeah, I can see that" Mark said simply, Blackmane threw him a confused look but then nodded when she realised what he meant, her body still bore many scars from Kiyoris treatment. Irie had only mental issues to deal with now, but it wasnt as bad as it once was.
So, what is your plan, Nephew ?" Vaeyuko asked
"I need to find Xeir, Nara is somewhere I think ? If I cant find her I'll find a friend, or a star shard. I'll figure it out on the way" Mark said.
"You plan to leave now ?" Irie asked, looking at him, almost upset he was leaving, and the fact that she saw him slightly overdressed as she moved a leg slightly to cross her other leg at the knee.
"No actually, my plan right now is to finish dinner with you guys, then go try and find Kiyomori or Sapphire, last I knew, Sapphire had Anna with her" Mark replied as he sdpeared a piece of fish. "After that I will try to find Xeir, or a friend of ours"
"Friend of ours ?" Blackmane asked, her eyes locked on Mark
Mark swallowed the piece of fish, then said "Have either of you met with anyone calling themselves the Star Council ?" Irie shook her head, Blackmane simply stared at her nephew for a long moment.
"How do you know them ?" Blackmane finally asked when she got her brain and mouth working together
"Two years ago, one of them stood on the deck of the Whitesparrow, then last week, one of them helped me wake up from the dream I was in for the last year, so, if I cant find Xeir, I will try to find my Star Council Friend" Mark explained. "Xiaoden isnt that bad of a lady either."
That earned a brief growl of discontent from Irie, and Diana caught her look of brief hurt towards Mark. But Mark had a thoughtful expression on his face, not one of lust. It was possible that the Star Council only sent that woman, Xiaopden to help Mark and not get in her way ? Mark didnt look to Irie when she growled, but Vaeyuko did just as Diana had.
Dinner continued for a few more minutes to a half an hour before a fellow low ranked assassin brought in the desserts and took the plates away. Afterwards, Irie got up to leave as she excused herself. Mark watched her leave. Vaeyuko smirked. Blackmane had no idea what was wrong with her niece.
And she didnt dare ask.
A full half minute after Irie left, Diana also excused herself, Mark allowed her to leave with only an extra order, "Get some armor, like my new armor, from Irie, she's been working on more suits of the stuff, and Kiyori will try at us again, best that we be ready." Diana nodded and went in the direction Irie had left the dining room through. Soon it was just Mark alone with his thoughts as Blackmane smirked, she had some things to attend to in the Kreen District.
That for a brief few moments, left Mark alone with his aunt, Vaeyuko. The albino panther woman was thoughtful. "My dear Nephew" She said simply, Mark cast her a puzzled expression without asking a question. "Where were you in the dream world ?" Vaeyuko asked him. Mark had to think a long moment before he could answer in some way.
"That, I still cant understand. Apparently where we were, when we were sleeping, our sleeping bodies at least, was in a old mansion just outside Arendelle, but within the kingdoms limits. But in the dream world itself, we were in a island city, it was called Scala ad Caelum. It had other island cities scattered around it too. But try as I might, not even the harbor has maps that have it on it anywhere."
Vaeyuko simply smiled, soon she could figure this puzzle out. She excused herself quietly then and disappeared, telling Mark simply that she wanted to go and get a nap in before taking the night watch. And that left Mark alone for a few minutes before he himself headed out of the Den and for the deeper part of the kingdom, he had a job to do.
Arendelle
Unknown location
A few moments later
Two men in dark coats were speaking together, they were on an empty road in Arednelle somewhere. A nearby plaza filled with people who never seemed to really notice the pair of men as they were speaking. One of them had long brown hair, the other, a black spikey mullet of a sort.
"WHAAA ?" The Mullet man asked confused, well, more like screamed
The other man clamped a hand over his mouth "Quiet you dunce!" A second or two passed and the brownhaired man lowered his hands.
"Alright fine, why would you pick me out of the whole bunch ?" The mullet man asked
"Because nobody on the Star Council looks to you for jobs like this, you're under everyones radar like Number Twenty, so the boss has him running the kingdom as a figure head only to have this place come apart at the seams!" Xexen replied, the man had a smirk on his face.
"Just because you're number seven on the council doesnt mean you can boss me around. I mean, real talk here dude, Backstabbing them would be sucide" The Mullet replied. "If they find out, we're yesterdays toast. I mean honestly, whats in it for me ?"
"The chance to enjoy yourself at others expense" Xexen replied. "Besides someone has to keep Xiuen from killing people. And you're low enough on the radar to not get noticed, just like her."
Xemir's eyes went wide. "Wait, what the hell ? You want me to watch her back ? Or is it the other way around ? You do know that she likes to play with her food. That and she also has a hard time denoting food from friend much less foe from food ?"
"Exactly" Xexen replied with a simple nod.
"So I wont be doing any fighting ?" Xemir asked while pointing at himself "I mean, with Xiuen doing the playing and such, I just do the watching ?"
"Correct, and furthermore, you wont be looked down on, you have a task ahead of you, one that could infact make sense, but it is also a task lowly enough the others wont bother you, or seek to find you while you are working it execept to give you further objectives" Xexen replied
"Wait, further objectives ? Those could normally include fighting" Xemir replied simply
"I know, for now, your objective is to watch over Xiuen, she is still new at this being number twelve on the council does have its perks, and yet she is low enough on the council to be overlooked. Just like you" Xexen replied
"So if I get any further objectives of what to do, or to fight ?" Xemir asked
"Should you get any orders to fight, simply allow Xiuen to 'play' with her food" Xexen replied, "in the mean time, Xiuen has gone in search of a certain Southern Isles princeling named Hans, your mission begins now." Xexen informed Xemir of where to go. A moment later, neither man saw Mark walk by through the plaza not far away. Xemir smirked and smiled.
"Perfect! Xemir time!" He said, Xexen simply put a hand to his face, Why me ? He was thinking, but said nothing as Xemir opened a Darkness Corridor and disappeared into it. Xexen shortly disappeared thereafter.
Arendelle
Pond District
Outdoor Eatery
8PM
"You are sure he will come ?" Hans asked to Taztan
"Sure as I'm sitting here talking to you. Masor and I made sure to lure in the High Priest and his goons into wanting to meet with you, made it even seem to be his own idea of making friends outside the kingdom. In this case, yourself." Taztan replied simply, a smirk in his tone.
Hans gave him a dark look. It had been a year and four days since he had spoken with the woman over a chess game, Xiuen was her name. When Hans had first met the woman he had to remind himself constantly he was married. Xiuen had the body of a goddess, stacked so carefully she could either be mistaken for a supermodel, or a plus sized modeled, or something.
It wasnt that Xiuen was small, she was infact a rather pretty, well endowed woman. And she didnt even wear a black hooded coat either when Hans had first met her, she wore a gfown of pale to shimmering medium blues. It changed color with every movement, and Hans could have sworn the woman had a tail of all things when he met her. He never expected that. Did thaqt mean she was not a human being ?
"You are thinking of her arent you ?" Taztan asked, Masdor had gone scouting to try and find and lure in Kiyori into meeting with Hans on their terms. Taztan had briefly scuffled with the stacked woman from who knew where.
"What if I am ?" Hans gave him a pointed look. "Gonna tell my wife on me ? She already knows and reminded me who I am married to." Hans grumbled. It wasnt that his beloved wife didnt look good, but compared to Xiuen, the woman who never gave Hans her name, only a package she said he was to open when the time was right, Sonya was flat, but strong, and in truth, Hans didnt care, Sonya was his beloved wife, and through her, their plans began to grow.
Hans had acted as if he were single when he proposed to Anna, truth was, he was, and still was married to his beloved wife Sonya, Anna never knew such and had said yes. Hans plan of course was to take the throne, kill Anna, and then send for his wife. It was of course mostly his wifes plan, using Hans skills at acting and gaining the trust of the people by doing good deeds.
But that was before the assassins came back. The Assassins had begun to crumble when Elsas father and Mother were in charge, growing weaker and lesser in number until most of the dens had been converted into enemy targets and slums.
Taztan didnt reply, he knew better then to get on Hans bad side. Hans had been in Napoli for a year with his wife when he had met Xiuen, the portal technology they had access helped for the most part, up to a point. "So what is the plan ?" Hans then asked
Taztan smirked. "I was hoping you'd ask that, rumor floats that the leader here, a guy named Xercine, is nothing more then a puppet on the throne at the head of Elsas council. Word on the street is that Elsa is dead and never coming back. The true power behind the throne is the High Priest, a guy named Kiyori. Most people say he is quite formidable in terms of magic ability so that is why all the caution we're going through for the two of you to meet." the Shadowling explained
Hans gave the man a sidelong glance. "Magical ability ?" He asked him. Taztan nodded. "What kind of magical ability ?"
"Observe" Taztan replied as a woman in a pale gold and white dress stepped into view on the street and passed a bonsai model of the jail, it broke apart, and the dozen men, mostly street theives and young children, were suddenly set free on the now golden marked pavement.
"What the hell did I just see ?" Hans hissed softly watching in shock as the the model was on fire.
"Kiyori, the High Priest, has a magical ability to shrink a person, or more then one person, down to a fraction of their true size to put them into these models scattered across the kingdom. Word is the process is incredibly painful for those involved." Taztan said
"So the cautions we're taking ?" Hans asked as the two of them had no idea who the gold and white dressed woman was.
"The cautions we're taking will render Kiyori completely magic free, basically an anitmagic zone is being set up. I dont know who that woman is, but I doubt that our antimagic abilities will even affect her. Does she look familiar to you ?" Taztan pointed out he gold and white dressed woman who helped a child to her feet.
Hans looked for a long moment, the way the woman moved, the way her magic moved was hauntingly familiar, but it was how her hair, now lose and flowing with a simple golden and white crown of sorts in her hair that made him stare. "Impossible." He hissed softly.
"What ?" Taztan asked, "You recognise her ?"
"Yes" Hans muttered "That, is Elsa, or at least someone like her." He pointed towards Xeir in the street, the people she had helped thanked her and went back to their homes. She felt eyes on her and looked around, pale silver eyes darted from store front to storefront, and shop to shop but never found whoever was watching her.
"How can you tell ?" Taztan asked
"Do you see how her magic is acting ?" Hans replied
"Yeah so ?" He hadnt really gotten to see Elsa in action before. So there was no telling what to expect. But he had seen Xeir in action before, and that itself was incredibly dangerous. "I'll grant you she looks pretty, nothing like what you said Elsa looked like though, this woman looks more regal, more... dangerous" the Shadowling said simply as he sipped a coffee.
Hans cast a sidelong glance at the man, Taztan was not much of a talker when it came to certain events. But he said nothing. It wasnt long before a few others made their presence known.
A dozen soldiers on patrol were checking the bonsai models, and clearly by their expressions, the soldiers werent happy. At all. "they look unhappy" Taztan mused seeing the expressions on the soldiers faces when they neared the woman in pale gold and offsilvery white dress. He smirked and raised a hand to quiet Hans, "Just watch, I think we might have found our enemy we need to hide from, but also to silently observe."
Hans simply raised an eyebrow. But said nothing. Taztan was insistant they stay were they were and not move a muscle to aid or hinder those in the street as the soldiers
walked right towards the scale dressed woman.
-8-8-8-
Xeir of course saw the squad come closer and had to carefully take into account their weapons, rapidly processing the information as each man was armed with a standard Arendelle sword, a pair of daggers, a boot knife, and a dozen throwing knives each. The captain of the squad alone wore a helmet and his sword was in much better shape compared to the rest.
The first of the group she could easily spot was a common footsoldier, the group had a pair of them, the two guys directly behind their commanding officer. Xeir saw that both soldiers gear was of lesser quality then the kingdom really had available so it was clear that the High Priest was doing things against the original plan, or was planning something else entirely.
The next set of soldiers were armed with a pair of rifles. Xeir saw them out of the corner of her eyes as one set up on the rooftop above where Hans and Taztan sat enjoying a coffee. Xeir never noticed the two men watching her.
She saw a man draw an axe as they came closer to her, Quickly recognising the design of the weapon she mentally marked him as a advance scout type. She'd have to keep an eye on him as much as she could.
Another man caught her eye, he carried no weapons, and only a pair of drum sticks as he set the beat for the group to patrol to. A snitch. She'd have to kill him first so he couldnt call more soldiers to the fight, snitches were fast, and Xeir wasnt exactly sure if she could kill him first. Then there was the guy with all the heavy gear on him. He had a belt of grenades and what looked like a combat machinegun ready to go.
Finally there was the two guys presumably in command, a Jaeger type, Xeir remembered from Elsas memories of Blackmane training such soldiers. And only forgetting briefly that Blackmane trained them. The Jaegers trained by Blackmane were the best of the best. Not even Mark trained them, he sparred with them sure, but he didnt have any real knowledge of them.
Beside the Jaeger, the commander of the unit was the Officer, the Jaeger was there as extra pull should it come to be needed. The officer called the shots for the squad while the Jaeger mostly worked on his own.
Xeir had her sword on her hip. But she never reached for it. At least, not just yet. She was watchful. She had to time it just right. The snitch had to die first. These thugs were taken in by Kiyori, the High Priest then trained them with tactics and otherwise. And most likely had brainwashed the Jaeger too. Which meant that Xeir was going to have to keep on her toes for this fight.
As the soldiers came closer to her, Xeir crossed her arms, tapping a bare wrist in thought as they stepped into easy earshot. "Can I help you gentlemen ?" She asked calmly.
"Good evening" The Offcier called to her. "I have a wee proposition for you if you dont mind hearing it" Xeir smirked and looked at him as the Jaeger edged past her as if continuing down the street. "Would you and yours in the Kreen District mind just sodding off ?"
"Clearly you're mad, just like the High Priest" Xeir said, the Officer glared at her as he set a hand to his gun, the pistol grip witrhin sight of the woman. Yeah this wasnt going to be a fuin one, but hse had to be careful, there were others, innocents in the street too.
"What do you know about the High Priest ?" The Officer asked. Xeir felt behind her with her senses, her dragon senses on overdrive as she felt the Jaeger come to a halt and turn around. Were she to run that direction, he'd knock her off her feet. "You're the one who is driving him crazy with trying to find you! He wants your head, and he'll promote the first man who brings it to him on a silver planet! GET HER!"
Xeir just smirked and turned her gaze slightly as the snitch looked nervous and tried to run to her left, faster then expected she snapped out her sword, but she wasnt fast enough, the snitch dodged blindly around her as he got away and bolted down the street. The fight was on.
Xeir drew a short version of her beautiful longsword in her left hand, holding it backhanded in a defensive grip as she settled with her sword in a relaxed defensive stance. A pair of soldiers rushed at her while a motion from the rooftop caught her attention, diving slightly, Xeir grabbed the nearest soldier, the scout, and held him like a meatshield. The sniper took out his own man.
Letting the scout fall to the street dead, Xeir settled into a defense stance and waited. The officer struck at her with his sword, time slowed as she blocked before she pushed him aside as she spotted another squad of the same soldiers rushing towards the fight. Well, more to join the party.
The nearest soldier ran at her, the same time the grnadier jumped for her. Grabbing the grenadier, Xeir used him as a pivot and swung up and wide as he was clueless of why he was suddenly holding her bridal style, the soldier sank to the ground stunned before the grenadier landed ontop of him, it was brief moment for them to try and get their breath only to have Xeirs very beautiful sword stab through them both. Two more down
The officer drew his gun, Xeir however plowed into him rapidly before grabbing the returning snitch and letting him get assassinated by his own snipers. Quicklu flicking a foot she brought up an axe that belonged to the dead grenadier and kicked it. Her magic aimed and shot the axe dead into the sniper, one sniper down, one more to go.
The officer shouted something, a soldier snuck up behind her and grabbed her, pinning her arms to her sides she struggled briefly before smirking. Perfect! She snapped her head backwards, catching the soldier in the face, briefly seeing stars, Xeir grabbed the guy and flipped him over her shoulder as the officer was about to fire his pistol a second time. Diving to the side she grabbed another soldier from the new squad. The offer fired, killing the soldier easily.
The man fell over dead. Two Jaegers, two officers, two soldiers, another pair of snipers, one still on the rooftop. Or not, Xeir scanned her surroundings briefly. Oh this wasnt good. One sniper was missing.
A pair of soldier and officer ran at her from two different angles, Easily she dove over the charging gun of the first soldier, while she then kicked the second, the second grenadier in the ass, the man stood there briefly dumb at why he was just kicked in the butt and stumbled slightly as Xeir stabbed the charging soldier in the face before slicing the neck of the gradnier wide open.
Both grenadiers down, two officers, two Jaegers, and then the three snipers, a pair of snitches, and a scout. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the third sniper taking aim, Diving fast she grabbed a snitch, the sniper unloaded, blowing the snitch away.
The other two snipers raised their rifles to fire. Xeir was too slow and had to dive out of the incoming fire before tackling the third sniper and briefly tussled with the man and then broke his neck. The man sank to the pavement in a heap. Two soldiers dove at her, one of them a scout, Xeir easily dodged the attack, hopping easily over the sweeping weapon before stabbing repeatedly on the first soldier ,then smashing her dagger to its hilt in the scout before slicing the throat of the soldier, and finally pulling her dagger from the scout. Both men sank to the ground dead.
The snipers raised their guns to fire again, Xeir was closest to an officer and snagged him, the snipers unloaded and their boss fell over dead. Xeir then ignored both Jaegers and the remaining sn itch and darted for the snipers, diving before briefly climbing up the wall she brought her weight down, just barely missing one of the two snipers before she simply smacked one, kicked the other, then body slammed the first.
The first sniper made to attack her from behind. Moving swiftly, Xeir brought up her sword. Blocking the strike from the sniper as time seemed to slow and allowed her to easily slit the mans throat, the other sniper was in shock at what just happened before he too sank to his knees and then to the ground. His throat missing.
The snitch was scared he had no where to run, Xeir easily walked past him, slicing her dagger across his neck, the man fell dead. That left the two Jaegers. Both men had drawn their swords, their faces hidden by cloth masks, Xeir knew who they were just by looking at both of them. Thugs the two of them.
But they were skilled thugs. Jaegers were some of the strongest soldiers she remembered Elsa having Blackmane train in various forms of combat. Each Jaeger level soldiers in Arendelles army was incredibly skilled because they were trained by Blackmane. A Tigris woman.
But Xeir had met Blackmane, once, a long time ago, so what recent memories she had of her were from Elsas own memories, Xeirs Nothing, had a life. A life she gave up freely to wake her back up. And Xeir couldnt get in trouch with her mother, Light, and couldnt find Diamond either, but she knew, she could feel, that Diamond was near. Diamond was somewhere in Arendelle.
Or at least on Earth somewhere.
Xeirs focus returned to the present, the two Jaegers were pacing around her, trying to figure the best course of attack when the Jaeger closest to her struck, she blocked and tried to counter but only to have the man laugh haughtily and clouted her in ther face "Ha! That all you got!" The man taunted as Xeir reeled back a step or so.
Briefly seeing stars, Xeir reeled back a few steps, both Jaegers glowered towards her, one of them sneering that he'd managed to defend himself and smash her in the face. The other struck, Xeir barely defended, again she tried to counter, only to fail as the man laughed "Try again sweetheart!" He said as he smashed his fist into her nose.
Xeir felt something give and a plip of blood fell to the stonework of the street. Her nose was bleeding. The Jaegers had broken her nose ?! The first Jaeger to strike her struck fast, she barely dodged, but his second attack landed, smashing her nose apart on her face, she stumbled away, her dress torn, scaled formed to repair it thanks to her magic.
She needed to end this quick!
Behind her the other Jaeger primed a grenade as his fellow got out of range, the grenade rolled under her feet and went off with a solid bang, sending Xeir briefly flying in a heap against a market stall in the street, breaking it apart.
Xeirs ears rang crazily as the two soldiers struck, she dodged and blocked before shrieking as her third counter failed and her nose was smashed a third time. She stumbled back, spat up blood, and growled. Her dress torn, and burnt in places thanks to the grenade was going to be needing extensive repairs. She put her dagger away.
A spark of electrical power began to grow in her hand. It was nearly time. She had to end this somehow. Blood dripped endlessly from her smnashed nose. Her dress was torn and burnt. Her body beaten. It was time to end this.
"You think shes beaten down enough we could have our way with her ?" One of the two Jaegers said to his fellow.
"Nah, this girl's still got some fight in her. Just look at her" The other said. The two men split up and started to circle her. Xeir spat again, thick red blood splattered on the ground.
A drop of blood counted for every second.
Plip.
Another
Plip.
A third.
Plip
When the third plip of blood splattered on the stone street, Xeir sprang forwards, raw electrical power blazing in her hand, she struck, an explosion of lightning fried one of the Jaegers, sending the other stumbling as her sword caught his neck. Sending the head flying and the body to the street.
Xeir stumbled, her hand to her face. Her nose weeped blood, her ears still rang from the grenade. Leaning against a pillar, she spat up more blood and then stumbled away. Leaving the dead for someone else to clean up later. And a trail of blood in her wake.
But nobody in their right mind would follow the blood trail to where it lead. Which meant that Xeir was safer then most would initally think.
-8-8-8-
Seated at a nearby table, drinking a Coffee, sat Hans, with him was Taztan. They had enjoyed the show, the woman had fought, and barely walked away. She leaned against a pole near their table when she was done with the fight, the soldiers laid upon the pavement and rockwork dead before she had headed off.
"Should we follow ?" Taztan asked
"No" Hans said simply "Even when injured she would still be a problem. Now would not be the best time, we wait for the High Priest to get here" Hans took another sip of his coffee "Hopefully he will have answers when he gets here. If he gets here"
Taztan smirked. "The High Priest is a careful man, that woman alone bested his troops, I havent seen such troops before. What were they ?" The Shadowling asked to the Prince
"That, I cant answer, but they looked similar to my wifes Brutes back in Napoli and back home. Men able to take a beating, but dish out twice as much" Hans replied simply, Taztan had no idea how to answer that.
Arendelle
Yaeko District
A few minutes later
Xeir stumbled into a courtyard and shut the gate. She needed to stop the bleeding, stumbling over the small koi pond the courtyard she currently called her home had she all but fell on the steps before smearing blood on the nearby pillar as she struggled into her house. Nose bleeding. Those Jaegers, they were skilled soldiers. Even before the High Priest brainwashed them. If she could turn them to her side. Or even entirely eliminate the high priest ?
A woman came into the room, seeing the blood she rushed over. "My lady what happened ?!" The Sparrow girl asked as Xeir let the young woman see her face.
"I finished the fight." Xeir replied, then rolled her eyes "For the moment, there will be more to come, can you getword to Lady Kreena, and to Nara ? Let them know I am alright." the Sparrow girl nodded, grabbing up a bowl from a nearby table she held it out to Xeir, who took it and began to let her nose just drip into it, and then the Sparrow girl left for some bandages and medicines. Another Sparrow servant girl rushed in as requested to take the request to send word to Naratas, and also to Lady Kreena.
As the second Sparrow left however, Xeirs strained words stopped the woman cold in the doorframe. "Oh, and find out who this Mark guy is. I keep thinking of someone named Mark, I never met such a guy before. He might have something to do with those Jaegers" Xeir grumbled and leaned forwards, letting her nose drip blood into a bowl that her servant had set for her.
For long moments her nose, what remained of it, dripped blood into the bowl she had set on the floor and leaned over. Soon the bloodflow stopped. Xeir tated copper in her mouth because of the blood and smashed nose. "My lady, are you going to be alright ?" The Sparrow girl asked her as she tended to her wound.
"The pain is gone yes" Xeir replied softly
The Sparrow smirked "My lady, your dress is in ruins. Come, let me take it to the seamstress for repairs, you can change into a another here" The Sparrow had a point.
Xeir thought a moment, then she nodded. "Alright, give me a moment." Xeir said, "Let me find a dress that I can change into, I think I have something that wont attract attention. Something too beautiful as this attrracted thugs and soldiers that fought with skills I havent matched before." Xeir held up a hand towards the sparrow girl
With some help from the Sparrow servant, Xeir found a more demure dress, a flower print patterned with darker green lowlights. It was snug to the body and not as revealing or as eye catching as the damaged dress. Thankfully the new gown allowed as much freedom of movement as the old one had, if not more. Holding ther damaged dress to the Sparrow, Xeior said "Get this to the seamstress, if she can repair it, that will be wonderful, if she must entirely make a new dress, then so be it. But I would prefer her first attempting to repair this one"
"Yes my lady, will you be alright here ?" The Sparrow asked
"I will be fine, get going, I wont be leaving this house for at least a few days in order to heal up anyway. I will be here when you get back." Xeir said, ushering the Sparrow to her task.
Arendelle
Dojo District
A few moments later
A little before nine pm that evening and Mark found a isolated park bench, upon sitting down he felt drowsy, His mind was focused on one thing, how his own cousin, Irie, was dressed for dinner that night, her not so subtle movements of her body. She was... confusing honestly.
"In heat," a male voice mused
"Who said that ?" Mark spoke softly looking around
"I did" Came the very clearly male voice, sounding very feline, and a lot like his own. So Mark knew it wasnt Kalda. It had to be someone else. But then the question was, who ? "Come on kid are you that blind, shes coming onto you!"
"Alright, show yourself" Mark said, drawing the sword hilt from his hip, never activating it. "This isnt funny. Who is this ?"
The voice chuckled. "I got a better idea, have a seat!" With zero control of his own body, Mark now a passenger, so to speak, was plunked back onto the bench. Seconds later and Mark's head clanked against the bench, knocking him out "Better then intended... wait... ah damn he's gonna need a map to my place in here!" The voice suddenly complained.
-8-8-8-
Within the mindscape Mark found himself in, he saw first and formost it was a gorgeous mountain vista. Wait, mountain vista ? Kalda didnt have a mountain vista, all he had was more or less a really dark and dreary swamp. "Whoa"
"I know right ?" Said a familiar voice from behind him. Mark turned around, there saty Kalda on the rock outcropping, his eyes closed. "I'm surprised it existed myself. But once I began meditating, thingsd became a bit cleaner." Mark had to admit, Kalda looked less beaten, stronger. Maybe he had taken a shower ?
"Where you ?" Mark started to ask
"No" Kalda shook his head, eyes still closed. "We're cut off remember. The worst I can do right now is give you a killer migraine"
"Then who ?" Mark asked.
"You'll have to ask him that yourself, we're not on speaking terms, none of us are. Good luck. You're going to need it" Kalda said. He avered briefly before glitching out like a bad hologram.
Mark briefly wondered what Kalda meant, good luck ? What the hell for ? He turned and regarded the mountains, they were a long way off. And yet ,the woods seemed to grow around him as if he were at their base. His mindscape was strange. He turned around then, taking it all in. There. A path.
Mark headed on it. Moving quickly he ran up a flight of stone stairs, then another. Then a third. Finally coming to a fountain, he regarded it briefly before smirking and moving towards another direction. He was going to have to figure out his own mindscape. Mark moved across the pleatu calm and quiet. Coming to a seemingly carved from the rock doorframe he stopped. A bright light was coming from it. Stepping up to the doorframe he put his hand on it, it felt real enough.
The path lead to the door itself, there was no other way for him to go anywhere else in the mindscape execept down the sheer cliff. Mark sighed and entered the door full of light.
A flight of stone stairs formed from nothing before him as he walked along it. Each step was a careful one. Mark had no idea how fall he'd fall if he'd fall. Was he inside a mountain ? Or was he inside a cave ? His mind was a complex world in and of itself.
Finally coming to a doorway he stepped through it. Seated within, or rather, kneeling with the room Mark found himself in, was a large brute of a man. His arms and upper body had a thick yet short coat of beautiful fur of a Snow Leopard. His face was behind a mask, the mask of a carnivale goer. Similar to what his uncle Nathan wore
The cats back was to Mark, Mark could see flaires of beautiful golden power dancing on the Leopards fur and off the walls. "Who are you ?" Mark asked as the door slid shut behind him, effectively locking him in.
The Leopard stood and turned towards him, the two were eye level. "I am you" The mask wearing Snow Leopard replied simply.
Mark regarded him carefully, then shook his head. "You are not me" He said firmly
The Leopard smirked, "You pretended to forget, and until this evenings dinner, you had locked all memory of me away." The Leopard looking him over. "I will always exist within you, and one day, things will change."
Mark regarded him carefully once again, then smirked. "Since I already locked away any memory of you, I can do it again, forever." He said simply.
The Snow Leopard snarled, then he laughed. "That is your own wishful thinking, Boy. You and I are one. Just like you and Kalda are one. You were blind tonight at dinner, but I was not, I was able to smell her, though she was quite faint. As if, she is already just starting to blossom"
"What ?" Mark asked.
"Are you really that blind ?" The Leopard asked him. "She sat right in front of you, you saw how she was dressed!"
Marks eyes widened and he drew a sword. Within the mindscape, Kiyoris magic was useless, so his normal sword was easy to use and he didnt have to rely on Iries gear for him to draw it out. He stabbed the Leopard. In the chest, the left lung.
The Leopard didnt even look down, he simply stood there as the sword stabbed into him. "Fool..." He simply said as Mark grunted, his own left lung burned as the tip of the sword stuck out of his own back. "I am you"
"You want to harm others! So I will end you!" Mark snarled as he pushed the sword deeper, holding his chest as the sword stuck out further.
"You foolish boy, you wish to protect people. Do you really think that people are kind and innocent ? That they do not have their own internal demons ? Should you discover, one day. That everyone in the world has become demons..." The Leopard said as Mark struggled to stay on his feet. "Who will protect her ? Who will protect, you ?"
"It wont happen" Mark said, he withdrew the sword and swung. The sword swept through the Snow Leopard, leaving no mark upon his skin as Mark was flung against the wall with a hard crash. The Snow Leopard of Mark Tigris side sighed simply.
"You really are that blind. And here is me quite ready to take her on too" the Snow Leopard stalked to where Mark laid on the floor and looked down at him. "In time you will learn exactly what I mean. For now, I really do hope that cut goes away. In the mean time." He offered a massive hand to help Mark to his feet. "Can I get you something, You hungry ? You look thin." Mark then saw what the Snow Leioard had prepared beforehand.
"What ?" Mark asked seeing the meal, and tea to drink
"I was waiting for you, remember the voice you heard before showinbg up in here ?" The Leopard tapped Mark on the bean.
"Wait" Mark raised a hand, then pointed at the Leopard, "That voice at the park bench,, then Im... you..." Mark sighed, "The hell is going on ? Kalda is out of the fight, now Im talking to you, a Snow Leopard, my Tigris side,... why now ?"
"I told you man, shes onto you, shes growing up. But you're too blind to see it!" The Leopard said, briefly a mental picture of two floated before Mark, of dinner, how Irie was dressed
"Irie ?" Mark said more like a question then anything else.
"Is that her name ? She's pretty." the Leopard replied
"She is not my type!" Mark replied, for one thing, Irie, compared to Mark in just a human form alone, was tiny as fuck.
"Most ladies might not be your type, but to them, you're their type" the Leropard replied. "Her for example, I think shes got eyes, on us, on you."
"My own cousin ? Seriously ? She wouldnt survive. She's a Cheetah" Mark started to reply, compared to a Snow Leopard, She was rather smallish. But compared to Mark himself as a Snow Leopard, a four hundred and fifty pound loaf of stupid really. However Mark could see visible drool showing up on his Tigris self. "Stop drooling stupid, she's our cousin remember ?"
"So ? Shes a woman, therefor, easy pickings!" The Leopard replied with a smug grin, the kind of grin of the suddenly quite insane. "Plus she's not related to you by blood, so whats the worry ?"
"You're really that desperate ?" Mark asked him.
"Are you ? Well,. Maybe you're not. After all you were at one point married and a King. So you were called for already." The Leopard seemed slightly upset at such a revelation. "Great, all I can do now is get to the end of the leash and bark." The Leopard sighed, then motioned towards the set of tea. "Care for a drink ?"
"I care for answers, you were the voice that knocked me out on the bench!" mark said, now realising who exactly this cat was.
"Now you're getting it! Yes, that was me, but I forgot that you've never been here before, at least, this part of your mind isnt as swampy as you're used to. I actually forgot to give you a mental map before knocking us out." The Leopard smirked. He was rigfht, the room they were in was oreiental, Mongolian, and very well kept, weapons racks were everywhere and a sleeping mat was upon the floor.
"I see, so you brought me here, for what ? To talk about how my cousin is so pretty ? Dude, you have been part of me for as long as I can remember, and you said nothing of my sisters, why didnt you speak up then ?" Mark asked
"Because back then, you werent strong as you are now, you werent a leader. You werent who you were born to be. But now you are. And you're blind ot the fact that Irie is into you!"
"Will you stop about my cousin before I get you neutered!" Mark thundered, the Leopard smirked, then started laughing. "What ?"
"Me, neutered ? The only way to do that is to cut your own off, and I just know you wont do it to yourself!" The Leopard was nuts, horny, and nuts, Mark knew it.
"Alright fine, so you like my cousin, but that doesnt mean that I do, now, I'd like to wake up" Mark said in a pointed tone, the Leopard man smirked, and offered a cup of tea. "Whats this ?" Mark asked
"Tea" came the reply, "Have a sip, you might like it." The Snow Leopard then smiled. "Relax, like I said before, she's still just starting to get into it. Shes at the age sure, but shes not fully comitted to it outright. It will be a while yet. And trust me, you'll know, she'll know too."
"Know what ?" Mark asked, the tea tasted about right. Mark wasnt exactly a tea drinker.
"Tell you what, tomorrow night when you go to bed, come back here in your sleep, we'll spar a bit and you can try to figure it out then, fair deal ?" The leopard looked to be faded into dust.
"I guess so" Mark mumbled.
"In the mean time" the Snow Leopard was then just a mouth as a plexus formed around Mark. "Pray that scar heals and your aunts wont ask any questions" The voice then faded and Mark felt himself falling as the plexus broke apart and faded away to nothing bnut blackness.
-8-8-8-
Mark sat bolt upright on the park bench, there was nobody about at that point and it allowed him to get his bearings. He still heard the voice in his head"Dont worry about your cousin kid, everything will be fine. Worry instead about that cut you gave yourself. Your aunts wont be happy." But the Snow leopard, the Tigris side of Mark, knew for a fact that Mark had no idea what was really going on, Irie was just getting into what cat owners termed as heat. And that meant she was in fact getting a bit past mildly horny.
And Mark, well, he was married, to Elsa but then Elsa was gone, so was he a widower ? He'd need to ask his aunt. Wait, cut ? Mark felt on his chest, there was a dull pain on his left lung, lifting his shirt slightly he looked, a cut was present, "Shit" Mark grunted. The Leopard man was right, He'd stabbed himself, when he had stabbed that cat.
Heh, he could say he took a hit in a fight, yeah, that would work, his aunts knew better by that point to grill him concerning such aftereffects. By that point however Mark had forgotten, just like the Tighris had said, that had locked him away in his memories, so all he had to do was act as if nothing happened, just a fight he had won.
-8-8-8-
Within Marks mindscape the Tigris sighed, great. This was going to go swell.
"I told you it wouldnt work" Came a voice, that of Kalda
"What, you got a better plan, look at yourself Silverscales, you're out of the fight because of that Priest. That leaves me and the featherduster to train him and work with him." The Leopard shot back at the flickering image of Kalda
"Trust me, Mark is as stubborn as they come, just like me, just like you, he's a mix of all of us wether we like it or not." Kalda smirked, his eyes however were closed. "Or had you forgotten that ?"
"I wonder who he gets his stubborness from ?" The Leopard asked. Kalda never opened his eyes at the tone the cat used.
"Mark will be fine. Keep it in your pants, and things will go smoother for the four of us." Kalda warned sternly.
"You're out of the fight, leave this to us." The Leopard retorted.
"I might be out of the fight, but that doesnt mean I cant fight you two" Kalda growled.
"Our power is stronger then yours even when you are at full strength. In a battle royale, it would be last man standing, you'd fall first." The Leopard snorted "So dont talk of how you'd best either of us."
Kalda finally opened his silver eyes. "He is my reincarnation, you and the featherduster are merely along for the ride. Or had you forgotten that too ?" he had a point.
"Perhaps I had, or perhaps I hadnt, but with you out of the fight, Mark cant use your magic, your gravitiy abilities, nothing. Not even the gravity grenades without my help" The Leopard replied
"That is true, without me in the fight Mark has lost access even to his armor. Alright, fine, as much as I hate to admit if, your point is taken. You win this round furball. But be warned, do not advance too quickly, it wont bode well for any of us three, or him. Its bad enough he stabbed all of us in the lung as it is" Kalda said.
"Will you relax already ? I'm really just waiting right now, she's into him, you could tell couldnt you ?" The Leopard was speaking about how Irie was dressed. But Kalda never saw that, him being in meditation and all
"I am out of the fight remember, normally I'm up here in his head, watching everything, but with whatever the High Priest threw at me, I havent been able to get back there yet, everything is blocked" Kalda tapped his own head on the side, as if indicating Marks head.
"Oh thats right I forgot." The Leopard flicked a hand out and a image of what Irie wore to dinner that evening appeared betwee nthem. It made Kalda raise an eyebrow.
"OK so she is trying to make hersdelf more presentiable, but that doesnt mean anything outside of the fact that she isnt Xeir, or Elsa." Kalda said simply as the image faded as the Leopard simply goaned, not only was Mark blind to it all, but so was Kalda. Then again Kalda was dumber then a brick when it came to him finding out that Xeir loved him in the first place so long ago to begin with.
"Xeir is back, you can feel her cant you ? She's whole again and all you can do is meditate." The Leopard snickered, only to quiet as Kalda snarled.
"Do not, bring that up. Yes I can sense she is back, whole" Kalda said softly. At first he was mad at the cat, but his tone softened as he spoke. "Please, for the sake of our carrier, the human guy we're inside of. Try to focus on the moment at hand, alright ?"
"I can try my best, but when that" The cat started to say
"Good, thats all I can hope for. Good night, furball" Kalda said as his image flickered and faded away. Leavintg the now upset furball, the Snow Leopard, Marks Tigris side, alone in his home. The cat was upset. The cat had to wait, but he could still smell Iries tantalisingly temptingly sweet scent.
She was indeed about to fully blossom.
And Mark, was completely oblivious to it.
Arendelle
Marketplace Assassin Den
930 PM
"Irie, wait up" Diana called to the other woman. Irie slowed and turned, looking to the Assassin that her cousin had recruited a scant few years before.
"Do I know you ?" Irie asked
"Name's Diana, but in secret you can call me Diamond" Diamond replied
Irie nodded, "How do you know my name ?"
"Because Lady Blackmane and Lady Vaeyuko both referred to you by that same name" Diamond replied, Irie smirked Diamond didnt miss a trick.
"Right, whats on your mind ?" Irie asked her.
"I saw how you looked at Mark at dinner. Want to talk about it ?" Diamond said giving her a poi9nted look.
Irie sighed, then took Diamond by the hand. "Not here. Meet me in my room tonight, my door will be unlocked, I'll wait for you around midnight tonight. For now, take this" She handed Diamond a bracelet watch. Similar to Marks. "I had mom get your measurements so I could make you a set of the same armor Mark has now, only like him, you get a few perks." She said, the nshe sighed, looking slightly upset. "I need to go." She headed off, leaving Diamond alone in the hallway.
They had a meeting that night for sure. And Diamond was more concerned over Irie's well being then anything. Diamond smiled, a half smile almost more of a smirk but still a half smile. "She's in love" Diamond mused thoughtfully. "I've seen it before, a long time ago when Xeir fell in love, Irie's in love, but who is she in love with ?"
Diamond checked the clock, it was almost ten at that point and Irie wanted to talk to her, alone, privately, at midnight ? Why then ? Diamond sighed, she could figure this mess out, maybe. Given the time she had, Diamond knew only that Irie was in love. The question however, was in love with who ?
Diamond went outside the den and stood upon the third floor rooftop. Overlooking the Marketplace district of Arendelle, Diamond could think before meeting up with Irie in a few hours time. "I cant go to mother, she could have advice. But. She's most likely asleep by now. Or worse, taken prisoner."
"You cant go to Mom because she thinks you're me" Came a soft voice as a plexus appeared and Marion formed from it. "Besides, if Mom knew who Irie is in love with, which I highly doubt. What good will it do if the guy she loves doesnt return it ?"
"Good point" Diamond mused. The last thing she wanted was for her newfound friend, Irie Elisar, the daughter of Vaeyuko, to be hurt, or worse by a man who didnt love her. Diamond nodded and sighed. "Alright, We both know Irie is in love with someone, plus we both know how we had to help someone else who was in the same situation"
"You mean Xeir ?" Marion asked. Diamond nodded. "Tell me about her ?"
Diamond smirked, "Where to start, Xeir was my best friend, my older sister. She and I grew up together, trained together. Its a shame I got mated with Naratas before she managed to nail down Kaldakava. That Silver wasnt easy, he was stubborn and as blind as they come." Diamond said recounting briefly the moments she could easily remember.
Then the memories darkened "It was about a week, maybe a little more. When Kalda faced against Kethend, a Black Dragon, a very evil woman, and wife of the Shadow Lord himself. Xeir had just laid their first egg too. They were so excited to become parents." Diamond sighed, "After Kalda died I found his sword,, he had two of them, but I couldnt find the other one, just the one. Xeir insisted I hide it, or get rid of it. Anything but give it to her"
"It sounds like she suffered greatly" Marion said softly, at first, the brief memories she could catch from Diamond, the long years of laughter, friendship, occasional strife but always forgiveness made it seem like Xeir was someone worth knowing.
Diamond nodded. "She did, about four years after Kalda died, she buried her egg, then fled. Heh. I have never seen a dragon so upset. Xeir was only doing what she could to protect her unhatched baby. But the black dragon, Draco, he was livid." Diamond recounted what Xeir had once told her word for word "Draco and Xeir briefly tussled in that cave, but Xeir caused the cavern to collapse, and in doing so she buried her egg, and greatly angered Draco in the process. Apparently he knew what it meant to be a parent, because evidently he had children, five of them. He was a father. Kethend, his wife, she was a mother"
"The fact remains, we have experience in love, and also experience of others in love, how they acted and such." Marion mused.
"Yes" Diamond nodded. "When Xeir was in love with Kalda, she was star struck, and there was nothing she could do to get her mind off of Kalda until they mated. She tried to lie to me too, but it didnt work, lying isnt her best skill." that mention made Marion snicker.
"So Irie is the same way she was" Marion then said, walking around the magically generated hologram of a sort that showed off Xeir. "Irie is in love, but who is she in love with ?"
"Answer that, and you're queen for the day" Diamond smirked, which earned an echo of laughter from Marion as the other woman faded. "I wonder if Nara could be of help. Where is he anyhow ?" Diamond suddenly felt a pang of longing for her own husband
"Did someone call me ?" Came a hauntingly familiar voice.
Diamond jerked about, her sword in hand, but then she lowered it in shock at who laid in the nearby rooftop garden. "Nara ? Is that you ?"
"You were exepecting the Papa John's Pizza Boy or the office coffee kid ?" Nara replied, a smile on his face. "Hiya sweetie, miss me ? YIKE!" Diamond tackled her husband and smothered him with kisses.
"Where have you been ?!" Diamond thundered at him as the two got comfy in the garden, Nara hugging her close.
"Oh, been busy really, the Star Council is one thing to be helpful, another thing to be so cryptic." Nara said in reply as the two snuggled. "What about you ? I went to the old house when you guys were waking up, but I never found you, met up with Xeir though, she's doing alright." Nara explained where he had been.
"Well, I think someone is in love. You know the girl here, Irie ?" Diamond said
"Yeah, she's Vaeyukos only daughter, a technological genius and a sweet thing in a fight, why ?" Nara asked her.
"She's in love, but with who, I dont know." Diamond said, "She wanted me to meet up with her tonight, at midnight, to talk it out. But."
"Well, judging by where the moon is right now. You got about ten minutes to make your meeting. If you're worried I wont be here when you get back, take this" Nara held out his Keysword to her.
"You!" Diamond then said when she recognised the weapon, "you were outside my window when I was in that dream world!"
"Yup! I'm sorry I had to keep things from you in there. But it was for the best, it was the only way to properly wake you guys up" Nara said truthfully. Diamond smiled
"Alright" She said as she took the keysword, he willfully offered it to her. Now she could summon it if she had to. She looked to him directly. "I forgive you." She then planeted one hell of a kiss on him. The two of them liplocked for a good five minutes until Nara saw the time,
"Dear, you need to make your meeting, dont worry, I will be here, if I am not here, I'll be in our bed. Alright, infact, I'll head there now, you go see what Irie wants." Nara stood up and pulled his wife to her feet. "You have my keysword, so I am not going anywhere from this building tonight. Because, we got a date when you get done with Irie." He gave Diamond another kiss and then watched her head off for her meeting.
Diamond headed to meet up with Irie as Nara headed for their bedroom. It was for all intents, worth it. He knew Diamond was upset, but she forgave him. He had to do it, he had to lie, to remain hidden, to lead them all along to wake them all up properly.
Marketplace Assassin Den
Iries Bedroom
Just before mindight
Diamond knocked on the door, Irie called out for her to enter, Diamond did so. The room was filled with stacks of old pieces of junk, tools, work kits, even some model kits were stacked in the room. "Close the door would you. Lock too please" Irie said. She was seated on the bed.
Diamond did so, once the door was locked, Diamond turned towards Irie, the girl was in a black nightie, which looked more like a swimsuit, "IS something on your mind ? Why ask me to come here at midnight ?"
"Because mom is dead to the world asleep by eleven thirty, and Aunt Blackmane goes on her midnight walk at two minutes to midnight, so we're the only two people in the house right now" Irie said.
"Alright thats true, so whats wrong ?" Diamond asked as she found a chair and sat down, looking to Irie.
"I think I am in love with somebody" Irie said softly.
"I thought so, I've seen it before with my own sister a long time ago. Who's the lucky guy ?" Diamond asked
"He was at dinner tonight" Irie replied
Diamond smirked, there was only one guy at dinner, and he had to be blind given how Irie had dressed. So she said three simple words. "Go get him." She had no other advice then that. Irie smiled.
Arendelle was in for the ride of its life.