Frozen Memories 1.8 Bridge
Hidden Past – Back Cover
Xeir Awakening
Chapter Nine: Rumble in the Galasia District
Unknown place
Unknown time
In the stars a message formed... it was simple, yet it was profound. As the stars twinkled, one broke into six pieces long ago into the past. Scattered upon the Earth. None knew why the star was shattered into six shards. Only that each shard was important as its fellow shards.
No larger then a shard of crystal as big as ones finger. Yet the power they possessed was stronger than steel. And yet their touch upon the worlds they landed upon was gentle, changing everything around them in subtle ways.
But the message remained clear. Someone had broken the star. And then scattered the shards across the Earth itself. But the question was, why ? And what importance was the Star Formation itself ? Did it control destiny ? Did the one who controlled it control destiny ?
Or was it something else entirely ?
A constelliation danced with color. Something was coming.
Something big.
Something dangerous.
21 October 2057
Hovertrain Light District to Turntao District
A few moments later
As soon as the hover train pulled into the station and halted, the doors slid open without a sound. Irie stepped into the train car and sat down, and, once she was sure she was alone, she removed the purple shard of glass from between her breasts where she had hidden it to keep it safe. As she looked it over carefully in her hands she asked it aloud talking to nobody but herself. "What exactly are you ? Oh! Agh!" The shard strobed a lumicient deep purple before flashing brightest white before flashing back to a luminus soft purple. Irie flinched and covered her eyes.
What was that ? She wondered
-8-8-8-
She found herself not on the hovertrain anymore, though still seated and holding the shard. She saw two men, one in elegant robes, the other dressed in a hooded robe. However the two men were seperated by a oak door. The elegantly robed man however was seated upon a low chair, reading a book.
A knock was at the door from the hooded shrouded man. "Come in" The seated man called. Allowing the man beyond the door to enter.
"Hello, Starmaster" The hooded man said as the seated man stared at him.
"You are ?" He asked as he stood. Setting the book aside.
"Speaking of, we should not have met for twenty years, it is no wonder that the way I look right now, you wont recognise me." The hooded man lowered his hood. And Iries eyes opened wide. It was impossible! "I am Hima Alo"
"Hima Alo ?" Starmaster replied confused, his hands shook as he stepped forwards, raising a hand to point at the man, respect in his tone, "you, you are Hao." He started to say, but Hima cut him off.
"Past titles need not be brought up again" He said simply with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Starmaster nodded and lowered his hand. "If I were to guess then it was not mistaken, it was you who shattered the Star ?" Hima smirked and stepped to the desk overlaid with books notes. "They have begun searching for the shards even now." Starmaster said as he watched Hima move about his study. "Why would you be here ?"
Hima stood at the desk, setting his hands upon it, in closed fists as he rested his knuckles on the surface. "Because they are searching I am to be here" He replied as Starmaster simply listened "I know you kept the purple shard, use it as you like, then hide it where you see fit. When the time is right, it will reveal itself to the right people."
Starmaster nodded as Hima continued. "I must leave, because you have the shard now, it will hold memories, they all will. Memories of a dead world. A world once filled with life." Hima turned and stepped to Starmaster. "My only concern is for the Formation. The world must never know of it!"
"You must leave ? To go where ?" Starmaster asked going to the door as Hima started to open it.
"I have things I must collect before I can come back, before I can be with you and the others and reveal it. Things most precious to me I must recover." Hima said
Starmaster pointed at whatever as he spoke. "They are your people, your family, the star formation is our lifes work together, you would leave them all ?"
"The star shards are also your possessions, I entrust them to you. I know that you will take good care of them, and good care enough to hide them across the world." Hima replied simply, Starmaster sighed thoughtfully, then nodded. It was settled. "Ensuring the shards are hidden, only the shards will know when to be found, and who will find them. I trust your judgement in this matter" Hima told Starmaster, the younger man nodded again.
Then Iries vision went black as a plexus starfield swam around her and she seemingly jerked in her hovertrain seat.
-8-8-8-
A rush of air followed and Irie found herself nolonger alone in the hovertrain car she had chosen to sit in as the train had come t oa halt and the doors slid open. Turning towards the opened door, Irie saw a young dark haired woman in a beautiful dark green flowerprint gown had taken a seat not far away from her.
Irie moved unnoticed with practised ease as she slid the shard in to her left sleeve under her watchband. Irie then sat back in her seat as she tried to make sense of what she had just witnessed.
Why did Hima Alo look, and sound, so very familiar ?
Irie had no idea the woman down the train car was none other then her cousins former wife's original body.
-8-8-8-
At the other end of the hovertrain car Xeir took a seat. Exploring the now vast kingdom, in the year she had been asleep, was not as easy as she had once thought it once was. "This kingdom sure has changed" Xeir mumbled softly so only Tiri could hear her
"It has grown in the year your Nothing slept" Tiri softly replied, the only other woman in the traincar looked to be asleep before jerking awake. Xeir paid her no heed, she seemed and looked harmless, young too. "Whats your plan ?"
"I need to find Jem, or Nara, one of them. You were recently in the Galasia district right ?" Xeir said softly, Tiri chittered a yes in reply. "Did you see anything wrong ?"
"Yeah, plenty. For one thing, the High Priests men had begun cracking down on reopened shops this morning, and last night when we were talking" Tiri mumbled, clearly upset by the news. A good two thirds of the stores they had reopened had been exorted for money or protection rackets by the High Priests thugs.
"With you on me, I can fight them better." Xeir said, Tiri chittered in agreement as the hovertrain came to a stop. Shifting her vision slightly, Xeir saw the woman, whose name was never known to her standup and exit the train inside the Turntao District station. Leaving Xeir and Tiri alone in the hovertrain car.
Once the train started moving and the automated announcement for the next District was spoken over the speakers. Xeir stood from her seat and went to the map. "This kingdom is big, the Galasia district is our destination. There has to be a way we can get in touch with those in the district" Xeir mused as she viewed the map of the train system.
"It wont be easy, but I can send off a shard with notice of whats going on." Tiri said, briefly flowing off Xeirs body in shards and pieces Tiri formed a journal crystal in her hands, and put some information on it, a place to meet, and what to bring. Going to the vent Tiri used it to get to the rooftop. Looking from the rooftop she spotted a Soldier she recognised.
A whistle sounded off, and the black haired woman on the street above the hovertrain looked her way. Suddenly the journal crystal was flung off the train towards the woman. The unknown woman caught the thing and knew exactly who it was intended for. Spyder smiled, it was about time she had a job to do. Getting back into the traincar, Tiri smirked "Message sent! Though, I think we might have a problem" Tiri then shattered and collected on her old body before entirely disappearing.
"What kind of problem ?" Xeir asked as she briefly flexed the fingers on her left hand in absent thought, Tiris ice glittered on her finger tips like dragon scales.
"Oh, you know, the normal crap, a buncha bad guys from Shadow Mist Sect, and also some of the High Priests men with them. They're on the train with us." Tiri replied with a chitter, she also sounded slightly bored.
Xeir smirked, wonderful. "That wont be a problem" She replied simply. What might be the problem would be her condition at the end of the fight. But with Tiri with her this time, she could be better off. Tiri could act like a shield in order to defend from longranged attacks, forming out of nowhere if she had to. "How many do you think you can take ?"
"I dunno, depends entirely on what you want me to do ? These freaks seem ready for anything, the last time you took them on, the last two of them took out your nose remember ?" Tiri replied
"Yes, they did, but that was because I didnt have you, we werent together like we used to be." Xeir replied, she had mentally carefully gone over her fight she had barely walked away from those two jaegers because she had underestimated their skills, not to mention their weaponry. "My scales protected me for the most part, but my dress was nearly destroyed, I didnt want to reveal my draconic self to those freaks so I had to fry one of them with lightning. Then I beheaded the other" Xeir sounded ashamed to reveal that she had beheaded a Mortal. But then, it was in self defense. So it was justified entirely.
"But now you have me, and with me you have a much better fighting chance then you had before. I can protect your face and body as best I can, but I'll take the brunt of magical and physical strikes. Unless we can get some help" Tiri said in reply, that made Xeir sigh with relief, Tiri was a formidable fighter, and as an Icewraith, nigh indestructible.
"You did send that crystal off right ?" Xeir then asked after a moment of quiet thought, the female voice of the hovertrain called out the next station, Turntao District.
"I did, I can only hope that it gets t othe right hands" Tiri replied calmly.
"Good, then for now, we relax, and wait." Xeir replied as she sat back down on one of the seats in the traincar. It was only a matter of time before things got crazy.
Unknown Place
Unknown Time
Kalda meditated upon his rock. Peace and quiet were not among the best of things, and the mindscape was also the hardest place to be. Marks head was a mess. And getting taken out of the battle was only the beginning. Kalda opened his eyes, calmly, quietly he stood up. He was by no means complete on his meditation on how to get back into the fight, to help Mark.
Instead he found himself standing at a cliffside. He held out a hand, for a moment admiring his own silver scales, and briefly seeing a ring upon his finger. His wedding ring. The scenery around him changed. He lowered his hand. He was on the deck of a airship, the Silver Eagle. His ship.
He turned around, and he saw himself, at a time well before he first met Xeir, standing there. Staring directly at him. A gentle smile upon his face. "You are walking a new path." Kalda heard himself say, his old self.
"What about you ?" Kalda asked himself, "Those memories of the past, even you. What is real, what is the dream ?"
The old Kalda, the Kaldakava from the ancient past, didnt even smile as he spoke, his voice, however, was still quite gentle. "The memories of each one is like a wave that passes." He raised a hand, slivers of beautiful magic danced upon it. "Being alive is the best proof"
Kalda raised his own hand then, the magic dancing upon it thinly. "Do I have the chance to return ?" He asked as he looked at himself, himself from the ancient past.
Instead of answering, the old Kalda turned his gloved hand towards his younger reborn self. "Have you already decided ?" His fingers spread apart as the younger Kalda raised his hand, their palms touching. "If you still have not forgotten me, then take our wish."
The Kalda from the past looked at himself in the present, "In this great new world, make a path of your own, with curage and heart." He said simply.
Kalda from the present merely half smirked, "Our common desire." He said, "to be with Xeir, to protect his beloved family, to find their daughter."
His old self smiled then, as the scenery around Kalda once more changed, back within the mindscape, his old self still holding his palm against his own. The old Kalda smiled again and faded into nothing but a plexus of dancing points of light before entirely disappearing.
As his old self disappeared, Kalda turned towards where he felt the first rays of the sun. "Without a doubt. I must find a way to get back, I must see Xeir again." He looked back at his wedding ring upon his finger. "I will see Xeir again." With that thought on his mind, Kalda reentered his meditational state.
Arendelle
Galasia District
Hovertrain Station
At that same moment
The hovertrain slowed to a halt. "Galasia District" The speaker said, a disembodied female voice for sure by the sound of it alone.
"This is our stop" Xeir said softly, Tiri chirped an agreement that only she could hear. Xeir stood from her seat as the hovertrain doors slid open. A bunch of men stepped onto the train as she stepped off. But she knew she couldnt just leave the train, thanks to Tiri Xeir could see that most of the men had the colors and marks of the High Priests men, these were the lower ranked soldiers normally on patrol, but apparently just getting to clock in.
Which then allowed Xeir to make a very simple plan of attack. "Tiri" She thought in draconic
"Yes ?" Tiri had a somewhat impish tone to her mind voice.
"Can you project a map of this district for my minds eye to be able to view ?" Xeir asked her simply. Tiri smirked, a second later and the map of the district formed from nothing. A brief legend formed showing details of the map before it faded from Xeirs minds eye. "Thanks, this will make things easier"
On thje map Xeir saw a Souk nearby, the massive covered open air market was the major focal point of the Galasia District to begin with. And it also allowed Xeir some leeway, as she examined the structure she found that there was more to it then met the eye. But it made little if any difference to her.
The Souk could provide ample freerunning courses for her to build her skills back up and also random soldiers belonging to the High Priest and also common Arendelle Guards were present in the area mixed evenly. Xeir knew that the Arendelle soldiers were peaceful men and didnt follow the High Priest. But the men bearing the mark of the High Priest upon their uniforms, along with their swords at the ready also told Xeir to be on guard regardless.
Stepping onto the platform at the Galasia District, Xeir made a quick turn and climbed between the hovertrain cars easily. Using a dagger to hold tight to the edge of the train, but nobody had seen her swift movements until the train was underway. Moving quickly, she climbed to the rooftop of the train and moved towards the observation windows towards the second traincar. The Hovertrain 'tracks' went under the main Souk proper and it allowed her more freedom of movement.
The train started moving but people saw her on it. Which was both bad timing and also perfectly needed. Just inconviently timed, Xeir wanted to surprise the soldiers aboard the hovertrain, but when the general public saw her atop the hovertrain the soldiers were alerted and started climbing up to get to her. As the soldiers started climing through the hatched in the roof of the hovertrain as it started moving. Xeir dodged the shots easily as Tiri activated a barrier of magical glass. The bullets bounced off hperfectly.
Xeir started running forwards as the train began moving. The jolt of the train going into motion made her briefly for a scant second, lose her footing before regaining it. She remembered the dream world, she had trained for this in the dream, so she decided to try and remember the movements.
Xeir darted forwards, drawing her sword in her right hand, and her much smaller identical dagger in her left hand. It was as if her smaller version of her sword was still being grown. Truth of the matter was, her swords had been damaged in her fight long ago. Some of the soldiers brought up energy weapons. Little balls of electrical energy smashed into Tiris magical shields. Weakening it. Xeir smirked.
"Tiri, when I say to do so. Drop the shield and trust me." Xeir said in thought.
"I hope you know what you're doing" Tiri replied with a concerned chittering
"Just trust me" Xeir told her. Tiri knew in her icy ball of a heart that Xeir was right, she had to trust her timing. Xeir got closer to the soldiers. Moving quickly as the hexagonal pattern of the magical shield absorbed the electrical fire from various directions. But Xeir could see it was weakening.
Bringing up her sword, Xeir said to Tiri "Now!" Tiri dropped the shield just before an electrical bolt hit it, Xeir brought up her sword with her dagger behind it, caught the bolt, let it dance briefly on her sword edge before easily flinging it back at the shooter. Electrocuting the man in an instant.
The brief respite allowed Xeir to get close enough to to the group of soldiers as they converged, building up their number and setting up a firing line. Xeir dodged a few more shots before redirecting another electrical bolt elsewhere. By that point Xeir was close enough to hack into the soldiers directly.
That was when Xeir cried something in a language the soldiers couldnt hope to understand. Suddenly, Xeir and Tiri split into two different women, Tiri with her own twin sword and dagger made entirely of ice, the two women went back to back, a dervish of fighters as the soldiers swarmed them on the hovertrain rooftop.
Spinning and dancing atop the train car allowed Xeir to get her bearings. The Souk was directly ahead. Kicking a soldier as Tiri sliced his thrat out. Xeir said, "There, that's our exit" She pointed with her sword, and then promptly brought it down like a headsmans axe on the soldier trying to sneak up on them.
Distractions did not last long for Xeir it seemed and these soldiers were learning that the hard way. With Tiri helping her in made things only slightly if not more fun and easier to do for the Dragon Princess. A flick of the wrist and the soldiers were cleared from the train. Tiri and Xeir rejoined then and with Tiris help, Xeir jumped from the train easily and up onto the roadway above for the Souk, the massive shopping district of the Galasia District was active with merchants, shoppers, and what was more, soliders gunning for them both.
"You know, I always planned on shopping here" Xeir mused as she briefly browsed a dress shop's front window. Her own battle gown was quite nice and with Tiri with her made it even better. But actually visiting a seamstress was something she still wanted to do
There came a chittery laughter from Tiri. "You might get your chance, but for now. focus on fighting for now, shop later perhaps ?" The Icewraith said simply. Xeir smirked
"Good plan" Xeir replied simply, they had work to do. There was no time for shopping at that moment. Instead there were other plans to take. Looking at where she was, or rather, where they were. Xeir took everything in carefully. Soldiers, shops, roof overhead. The common bazaar so to speak. For Xeir, at that moment, it was in a single word summed up as: Perfect "Tiri..."
"Yeah ?" Came the soft chitter of a reply.
"How good are your freerunning skills ?" Xeir asked her
"Uh..." Tiri replied, entirely clueless as to how to answer her best friend that question was not an easy to answer question.
"Never mind!" Xeir chirped as she ducked a swing and easily dove over another before scrambling up a flight of steps. Then diving over the railing at the landing above. On a platform xeir dodged a gunshot, slit the throat of a guard and then ran along the wall before freestepping along some beams jutting from the wall. Grabbing at the soldier who shot her, Xeir pulled him from the wall hole, the man screamed and slammed into the ground with a thump.
"I'm getting dizzy" Tiri chirped, also making a weird gurgling noise as if sick.
"Yeah I can feel that" Xeir muttered, as she flipped about, her dagger acting as a handhold in the wood and steel of the beam she was balanaced on hugging the wall. She was inside the Souk now, the massive mall shopping area of the Galasia District. Sheathing her sword Xeir launched a brief volley of electrical energy at the soldiers below her before turning and freestepping deeper into the souk.
"I think I had too much breakfast" Tiri chirped, before making a retching noise, spraying ice at the nearby soldiers who had thrown open a doorframe balcony, guns at the ready. The soldiers screaned as searing ice pelted them. "I feel better now" Tiri said, six soldiers fell from the balcony, they were dead before they even fell off it.
"Remind me to get you a stomach pump when this is over" Xeir mumbled. Which made Tiri laugh. Diving through a opening, Xeir found herself inside the upper floor of a map merchant. Well this was nice, for the most part. One of the maps caught her attention. It was a map showing the locations of strange patterns and designs across Arendelle. Strange decals and the like. Going to it, Xeir smirked, took it from the wall, and rolled it up. "Hide this" She said simply to Tiri, who chittered a reply, the map faded away. Tiri had it tucked neatly away.
Xeir then took the steps calmly from the second floor of the map shop, the owner of it, a merchant, a portly older looking Tigris of a sort smiled at her. "Ah, a customor I did not hear you come in, The fracas outside is terrible isnt it ?" The black and white tomcat, a big fat man of a sort, had a very posh feel to him. "Do feel free to look around. I am sure I have something in here that interests you." For Mr Jones this massive mans name was. He knew his maps, and he also knew that Xeir was special just by looking at her
"I take it those soldiers outside are looking for you ?" The big man asked her. Xeir just looked at him. He smiled to her "Relax I know the type, those soldiers all want the first shot they can get. But you're fighting them for a different reason yes ?" Jones asked.
"You could say that" Xeir replied softly. Almost truthfully. Then she said "Listen there's a map upstairs, its of the kingdom, and some weird locations drawn within it. Is it alright if I borrow the map ?" Xeir asked him.
Jones thought less then a minute before saying "Of course, do be gentle as you can with it. It cost a pretty penny to accurately detail everything in it. If you can do me this favor, I am sure we can get along perfectly fine" Xeir smiled and thanked the man, going back upstairs as if to get the map before stepping back down them after a moment, map once more in hand,
"Thank you, this will be incredibly helpful in trying to figure out the riddle I was presented with" She told him. The older man didnt bother to ask what she meant. But he did allow her to leave freely. It also allowed Xeir some more freedom of movement, and judging by the look of the massive Tigris, also allowed her a small hideaway should she have need of it.
As Xeir stepped out the front door, a brown and black haired woman with dark eyes stepped in. The two women traded brief looks, Tiri knew who the woman was, but with Tiri now worn by Xeir, Spyder did not recognise either Xeir nor that Tiri was present, she only felt her friend briefly. As soon as the door shut Spyder turned to Mr Jones. "Bustophor, I take it you have the map ?"
"Which map would that be ?" Jones asked in reply, for all he knew the map this woman sought was just removed by the woman who asked if she could borrow it to solve a riddle. Spyder just gave him a look. Jones simply just smiled. "You might have better luck asking the fine young lady who just left as you were coming in." He said to her. Spyder stared at him.
"I'll look for the map first" She replied. Luckily, Xeir had taken the companion map, not the map Spyder sought.
"Suit yourself, madam" Jones replied, Spyder then left the shop, map in hand, she had work to do.
-8-8-8-
It wasnt long before Xeir was on the rooftops again, moving among the storage pallets, rooftops gardens, and occasional thugs with a rifle. Xeir by that point had sheathed her sword and dagger and was more or less using the enemies own weapons against themselves.
Tiri being part of Xeirs clothing, and as a second skin actually helped in many ways as well for Xeir. At least as long as Tiri didnt get sick again. "Should we split up ?" Tiri asked after easily sending one man into oblivion. Shot to death by his own fellows. "I can meet you somewhere" Tiri blocked a shot, and then Xeir reacted, sending the man careening off the roof into a pile below. "Safer" Tiri apparently was more concerned for Xeirs safety than her own.
Finally taking down the last rooftop sentry, Xeir smirked. "Go ahead, I will catch up with you, on the next hovertrain from that station, when it starts to pull away, thats our ticket out of here." She pointed at the nearby station where a hovertrain was pulling in.
"What if its already moving ?" Tiri asked, easily shedding off of Xeirs body and taking out a sentry around the corner while she was at it.
"In that case, meet me in the road above, there" Xeir pointed to where the track was below the roadbed, there was a riverlike section that allowed the hovertrain to roll through it. "If any soldiers show up, we can hop onto the train and go from there"
"Perfect, see you there!" Tiri said, she had some food she wanted to get. And Xeir had some more soldiers to take on as well. And with Tiri, well, there was not really a marked increase in the fight skill that Xeir naturally had but splitting up gavew her a chance to get a few extra skills back into gear. Before Tiri left though, she halted, turning to her friend. "You're gonna be alright ?" She asked
"I'll be fine, get going, you dont have long." Xeior said, meaning that the second that the next hovertrain started moving they had to be on it. In some way or another. Tiri smirked and flittered off without a word.
Xeir fought on a bit further before diving off a rooftop and landing lightly on the street a dozen floors below. There were no soldiers around
A huge explosion occurred, sending her off her feet and briefly dazed she shook her head and blinked. "What the hell ?" The structures nearby were on fire, thick clouds of smoke poured out the windows as the roof spewed flames.
A single figure stood amid the burning wreckage. Xeir stared. It had to be a trick of her memory, her brain going into such truama to be triggering her seeing him of all things in Arendelle or in the world in general. Xeir shook her head, it just wasnt possible. But as she looked around the structures were burning, it was just her, and the other.
A figure she swore she had defeated. Barely. The man wore a dark long military style trenchcoat. His stance showed someone with skill and power, even when dead. And yet the man stood with his back to her. At least ever so briefly. Xeir's eyes went wide as the figure turned to look at her, a wicked sword in hand.
She stumbled, and the scene faded from around her. The cause of the explosion was a nearby collison that Tiri caused to distract some soldiers. Xeir regained her footing and turned to leave, to head in the direction of the station. Only to jolt to a fast halt as she found herself staring at the chest of the man she had merely thought an apparition.
Draco smiled wickedly at her. But he made no move to strike her. Nearby an awning collapsed with a crash, an explosion of dishes and other items scattered across the ground as Xeir shieled herself from the ceramic bomb. But when she looked back to where Draco was, he was two dozen paces away, and walking away from her. Again the fires were around her, the ground ripped apart.
But as he walked around a corner, Xeir stood in the ruined street. "How ?" She wondered softly, she then started after him, as much as she hated doing it she had to see if he was real, or if it was her mind playing tricks on her. She started in his wake, her memories assaulting her from many directions as she appeared ot others around her as a drunk. "It cant be him, but how, if it is him, how ?" She mumbled.
She rounded the corner that Draco had taken. Briefly stumbling against the wall as fires raged around her she plodded on. Draco stepped into view as she mounted a set of low steps. Draco looked at her. She snarled at him, "You're not real." She told him, as if telling herself that same thing. "You're... Dead!"
Draco smirked, "I am ?" He replied in the form of a question.
"I killed you with my own-" Xeir started to say, holding her shaking hand towards him, Xeir remermbered stabbing Draco dead in the chest, above his heart, but he had thrown her off, and in his wounded state he had knocked her cold. In truth she had wounded him enough for Light to do the final deed of seemingly killing Draco. But Light had only seperated his soul from his body. Xeir of course didnt see that happen and only thought that by banishing his soul she had slain the body.
She was wrong.
Draco smiled at her. "Oh, you need not remind me." Draco told her, never bothering to correct her that it was Light who made him a bodiless soul. "It was the crowning moment of our time together." Xeir struggled to remain on her feet, panting in the searing heat of the fires around her and seemingly Draco, he continued, calmly, oddly scarily calmly. "But that was then, this is now. I have a favor to ask you"
OK that was a new one. Draco never made deals with his enemies. Sure he tended to respect certain enemies as possibly rivals and maybe even friends over time. But his enemies were always on his shit list. And Xeir was at the top of that list. If she had to ask if she was on his list, she held the record.
"A favor ? Since when did you come to your enemies, I killed you! Why ask me for a favor ?!" Xeir asked him.
"Your child is suffering, silently, painfully, slowly. " Draco said almost solomn as he spoke, he never drew his sword against her, but he did watch her. "Can you bear to see your child suffer... Xeir Zith ?"
The scene changed then, Xeir saw a burning structure, her home with Kalda. A voice inside, an infants voice, crying as the fire raged. "Lizzy!" Xeir shouted, as she struggled to get closer.
"Were your child to die, so many things could be lost. Your husband you cherished, your mother, your human friends." Draco intoned simply as Xeir struggled in her own mind to get into her burning house to her child. Draco simply stood there as Xeir came back to the present, at least what counted for it. "That which binds us together would be no more, and I would be loath to live in such a world" Draco hissed
Xeir struggled back to her feet. Panting hard as Draco continued. "Which is why I must ask you this one favor, but do not worry, it is a simple thing." Xeir stared at him, anger in her eyes and heart. Draco never smiled, "Run, Xeir..." He said simply, "Run away"
Xeir panted a moment longer, then snickered, screaming out as she drew her sword "You bastard!" She swung down hard seemingly straight down on the crown of Dracos head. The vision disappeared as her sword connected with the ground. Shattering rock and stone as she came to her senses.
It was just a bad memory. She stood there in the slowly brightening alley. Dracos voice echoed around her "Good, Xeir, good. Hold on to that hatred." Xeir grunted as she fought to catch her breath, taking a deep breath she focused. It was just a bad memory, she'd had nightmares worse.
"Come on Xeir, get it together girl, you're just seeing things. Being with Tiri maybe has your mind remembering what you dont want to. A good meal and maybe a nap and I'll be fine." Xeir told herself before heading out of the alley.
Of course she had to walk into a open street. Down the way a truck pulled into view, when did Arendelle troops get transports ? Xeir wondered briefly. Then she remembered that time had caught up to the timelost kingdom. Technology had advanced, but not as much as one had thought initally.
Xeir drew her sword. A dozen troops had jumped from the first two transports, while behind her a third much larger troop transport unloaded. "End of the line bitch!" one soldier called out
"I'm gonna enjoy this!" Called out another as they took up formation. Xeir smirked, two dozen soldiers, six of which were riot geared the rest were normal soldiers and grenadiers.
A good ten minutes battle in the street and Xeir had cleaned house. She sighed and took a breather for a brief second or two as a pair of running feet came blasting in to the street, followed by a good two dozen more soldiers. Xeir overheard the men shouting. "Move in, dont let her escape, get them both!" Xeir turned and saw Tiri running pellmell down the side road and came to a shrieking halt, smashing into and enveloping Xeir as she came to a halt. Almost instantly becoming Xeirs unseen armor again
"Miss me ?" Tiri chirped, seemingly refreshed and not out of breath. For an Icewraith that was common.
"Not really" Xeir lied, of course she missed Tiri, the woman was really the only reason Xeir was still standing. Xeir shook her head slightly, "what a rush. Have you been eating ?"
"Why do you ask ?" Tiri replied Xeir could swear she smelled roast deer, some fox, and what had to be horse meat and even some various cheeses on Tiris breath
"Nevermind, we'll settle it later.' Xeir said with a brief shake of her head as she started counting the soldiers.
"Fair enough" Tiri chirped back as Xeirs form visibly shimmered with Tiri as her second skin.
The soldiers by then had surrounded them. "Base this is Tomb District squad six. The target is surrounded, moving to secure!' The soldiers commander said into a radio, Xeir rolled her eyes and looked towards the other soldiers, continuing to count them off.
One of the soldiers stared as he felt some sort of familarity about Xeir. "Wait." he said, "I know that woman-" Xeir's brain hurt, her mind jerked rapidly between the present and her past battles. Her mind refocused. She smirked, swinging her sword she took down the soldier blocking her only way out.
"Stop her!" the soldier that recognised her screamed, the others started shooting as the hovertrain was heard as it left the station and began to pick up speed. Xeir blocked a few shots before she ran for the barrier that devided the road with the hovertrain track
Easily vaulting it, and with a very loud wailing, or rather a retching noise from Tiri before hitting the hovertrain roof, rolling a few paces, then finally stopping. Laying on the roof of the hovertrain as it gained speed, the soldiers were soon left far behind.
Up on the road a soldier hit the barrier top in anger, they were so close to finishing the job, and she got away, again.
Xeir slid along the roof while in a tunnel and ended up on the step at the last car. Holding on for a few dozen kilometers before she simply let go of the hovertrain and jumped backwards, quickly running then jogging to a halt as it disappeared down the track, Tiri collapsing next to her in a pile of ice. "Did we lose them ?" Xeir asked looking back the way they had come
"I'm not sure, but I did lose my lunch back there" Tiri replied, that made Xeir smirk, a woman unexpected but welcomed stepped into view.
"They wont be able to pick up your trail" Spyder told them, "I made sure of that" Tiri chirped a greeting as Spyder smiled. "I thought it was you, leaving Bustophor Jone's Old Books and Cafe, but I wasnt fully sure. You have the other half of this map, I hope ?" Spyder held up the other map, it was a companion to the map Xeir had picked up.
"You mean this one ?" Xeir asked, pulling the map from her dress where she kept her dagger. "The man said I could borrow it provided I keep it in decent or better shape, there was some weired things on it that looked familiar and I wanted to explore a few of the areas on it in the kingdom" She gave Spyder a thoughtful glance, "Maybe we can do it together ?"
"Alright, maybe you can help me out too" Spyder replied, "I am trying to find a few friends, and also figure out something to help the kingdom" Spyder then went on to explain to Xeir and Tiri about the food storing the spiders were doing in order to survive.
Arendelle
Castle District
At that same moment
The people kept their distance, fear on their faces as a new model of the jail was set up in the street on the corner. Kiyori smirked and pointed out the fearful faces to Hans, "There. You see, nobody dares go near the models, the people of Arendelle believe in magic, curses, they are incredibly superstious people. Incredibly small minded, and in many cases scared of certain magics. So, naturally they think that the models I make of the jail house are cursed." Kiyori said simply to Hans
"Really ?" Hans replied calmly, he had not yet seen how his magic worked, so he was having issues making the connection. "And here I have heard such terrible stories"
"What ? Of the models sucking in the unwary ? Bloodthirsty soldiers spawning from them ?" Kiyori smirked, "A good story, ever evolving, but alas untrue" Hans gave the man a careful look. Kiyori smirked as they walked along the street. "Truth of the matter is, they only transport those I want transported in, by use of my transportation spells. The people can touch them, and nothing will happen, unless they are hit with my transportation spell, from me, directly" Kiyori explained. At Hans confused expresison, Kiyori smirked. "I had crafted their lurid reputation in order to fend off the most insidius evil that lurks in this kingdom of ours" The two men walked in the packed street. Kiyori took Hans by the arm, getting his full attention, "You know what I'm talking about ?"
Hans shook his head no. "The queens old taxes" Kiyori spat, "And the so called Assassins, with their armies, and skills, and hidden networks." Kiyori was unhappy, Hans smirked. "But who pays for it all huh ?" Hans looked at him as Kiyori pointed out everyone around him, anyone who owned a shop of some kind. "They do, the small businessman!" Kiyori smirked then and leaned close, "You see, That's why I started a little campaign, to spread some... false notoriety." Kiyori looked around briefly before saying in a completely serious tone to Hans, " So I made up a story. And then I spread it like a venerable disease in a Turkish Harem" Kiyori then snickered like a horny schoolboy.
It was rather unbecoming of the man, the current defacto leader of Arendelle, to laugh as if he just told the worlds most deadly secret to some unassuming call girl. But Prince Hans was no unassuming call girl, and niether was the woman with him. Hans wife, Sonya did not much care for the man, nor did she care for the two people with them, one of which had a bad mullet style haircut and wore a black trenchcoat. The other was a woman, dressed in a dark blue hued trenchcoat that actually looked more of a wedding gown or even a bridesmaid gown. It just made her dropdead beautiful.
The two with them were named Xemir and Xiuen, and they were ranking members on the Star Council. They were the ones who also helped Hans get to Arendelle, and with the two of them, of course his wife had to be there to keep the other woman off her husband.
"Though, there are a few recent issues" Kiyori said calmly.
"Issues ?" Hans asked him as they came upon a recently torched, or otherwise known as unlocked model. There was golden brickwork around the basde of the model.
"Yes, issues, models surrounded by golden brick, actual gold too. The rooftop of the model burnt apart. And those trapped within it, entirely free." Kiyori growled as he pointed out the damage, the golden brick, the raw magic enough to destroy the model, unlocking it so to speak.
"So what is your plan now ?" Hans asked him, Xemir and Xiuen kept their distance but thanks to Xuiens hearing, were able to hear every word between the two men. Kiyori was busy, in this case he had taken one of the damaged models to inspect it and found that the model of thje jail hall itself had been broken apart upon the roof, rubble filling the insides making it seem as if it were a destroyed model designed to look like the roof had caved in.
Kiyori however wasnt listening to Hans as the Prince asked his question. Instead he was instructing soldiers to remove the damaged models and replace the golden bricks with normal brick to match the road patterns where required."Whoever released those imprisoned inside the models is powerful enough to create gold. So that must mean a Dragon or someone with similar abilities" Kiyori mused
Kiyori turned to the man in the dark suit nearby. "Manny, see to it that supplies are readied, I am going to model repair tonight it seems" The big brute said nothing, but nodded. "You there" Kiyori pointed at a nearby shopkeeper, the man stepped dutily forward. "Have you seen anyone come near this damaged model or tamper with it in any way ?"
"I did so. A young woman." The merchant then detailed what Xeir looked like from what he could see.
Kiyori smirked as Hans listened to the two men talk. "Tell me what happened" Once Kiyori knew what Xeir looked like it was only a matter of time to actually get the wanted posters up.
The merchant nodded. "The woman, she walked up t othe model, golden brick spread from her touch, and the models roof exploded" He detailed exactly how Xeir freed several people. Kiyori did not look too happy, and yet it mader sense for what he was told. He nodded in thanks to the merchant and with Hans in tow started talking some more to the man.
"The models are perfect for holding certain parties in. but other parties once they figure out the puzzle, or for that matter have strong enough magical power, can free those, or themselves from the model. From what I remember this exact model only had one person in it" Kiyori and Hans were standing before the front gates of the Arendelle castle district itself. And that meant the only person actually trapped in the model was Sapphire, a member of the Honor Guard.
"So in this case someone let the person who was inside this one out ?" Hans said, and based on what the merchant told them, they knew exactly who it was who let the prisoner out. "Who was trapped in it ?"
"One of the Honor Guard, they came with the Outlander, but because I only needed to speak to the Outlander alone, I did not need her snooping around so I transported her to that model. Our mystery woman set her free" Kiyori was thoughtful. "If I could get my hands on that witch, she might be able to tell me more about my own models"
"Which witch ?" Hans asked, clearly a tongue twister but Hans had a point, which witch did Kiyori mean ? The woman who set Sapphire free, whom Hans saw hand the two squads of soldiers their own asses, or someone else ?
A soldier came running into view. "Sir!" The man said, his uniform was more tech advanced, the helmet looked new, it had night vision, and a hud screen on it. The mans colors however matched the other nearby Honor Guard soldiers. "A target escaped as we tried to grab her, she disappeared on the hovertrain heading from the Galasia District. Tomb District squads six through nine had reported they were moving to secret the suspect, but then lost track of her."
Kiyori was calm, scarily so. "Say that again" He said, the soldier repeated himself, word for word. Finally Kiyori nodded. "I thought you said that. Did Squad Six report what the woman looked like or what she did ?" The soldier nodded, and gave the detailed report. It had an image from one of the trucks. It was of Xeir herself. Hans smirked, holding the image to him, Kiyori asked. "Know her ?"
"My men do, but they've bee ntold not to go near her, their skills and abilities are nothing like her own and they wouldnt survive." Hans told him. He took the offered image. "Though I must admit, she looks younger then the Queen,m but also nothing like the Queen" He said
In the image Xeir was wearing a dark green flower print skin tight dress that allowed for plenty of movement, it was sleeveless, and snug,m and from what Hands could tell, could take a hell of a beating. Looking closer at the image he saw something odd. "What is that ?" he pointed out the strange sparks off the womans arm and weapon.
Kiyori took a closer look at the image, and smirked. "Figured as much" he mused. He put the image back in the report. Handing it to the soldier he said "Put this in my office on my desk, I plan to rebuild a few models tonight, afterwards I want to read the reports in detail. Get going" The soldier bowed to both as a man in a military coat stepped into view. Masor had been watching things in the Galasia district as well.
Seeing Masor arrive, Kiyori smirked at the man, "One of yours ?" He asked to Hans, By that point, the man and woman, Xemir and Xiuen had disappeared, in truth they had taken up a place to sit elsewhere since they werent needed.
"Yes, one of mine, worked wonders back home in Southton." Hans said, that was good enough as it was. Masor and Taztan both had to work with Hans, train him, everythingt he last year or so. "Any news ?"
"Yes, our target has disappeared, for now we're not worried abouyt her, but we have guests arriving soon that we're to meet up with when they arrive." Masor replied
"Guests ?" Hans asked, he was not aware that certain Dragon siblings were going to be arriving in Arendelle after a year away. "Who exactly are our guests ?" He gave Masor a pointed look
"They are His children" masor simply replied, he was going to say his true master, his Master's kids had planned on returning to Arendelle after Xeir woke up, but the fact was Xeir only had partly woken up at that wedding the year before, that golden waven that spread through the kingdom was her magic, but she wasnt Xeir, but now Xeir was back, and in the kingdom.
"Kiyori, allow me to introduce my right hand man, Masor, his fellow, Taztan is currently busy, most likely watching our target of interest." Hans said, as if introduction to Kiyori, the High Priest looked at the 'man' before the two shook hands. Masor nodded at the look, truth was, Taztan was waiting for the kids directly.
"We can talk about this further in my office over the reports, your fellow here can confirm or clear up issues in it when they show up" kiyori said, hans of course was going to need a minute but promised he'd be there, he knew the castle only so much since the Great Winter years before, and now he was back. Perfect.
-8-8-8-
On the rooftop nearby unseen by anyone two people stood, Xemyx, and Xuien both observed what was going on down below them. A Darkness Corridor opened behind them and a third m ember of the council stepped into view. "Arent you making it a little too obvious ?" Asked Xiaoden as she stepped into view.
"Nara did his job, Xeir is freeing prisoners from his models, and also making more enemies, and now, the High Priest is focused on finding certain things for himself. In this case he wants to find Xeir, and if we stick too close to him, we're in for trouble." Xemir said in reply. It was clear he was scared for his life.
"Fair enough, but lets not forget how many times Hans tried to kill Xeir's Nothing and wake her up too soon." Xiaoden said. She had a point, Hans had tried on several occasions, even his wife had tried on several occasions to kill Elsa, but Elsa was a Nothing, and was either too damn lucky, or too smart to just get killed by chance. In the end, Elsa had given everything back to Xeir to wake up the ancient Silver Dragon
"Arent you supposed to be working with someone right now ?" Xiuen asked, meaning training Mark along side Haversham, the old coot was a good man for sure, but also quite dangerous, and very skilled in other worldly things.
"Im off duty, so to speak, for the time being because I was needed elsewhere" Xiaoden said simply in reply to Xiuen's question, now that did not make sense whatsoever to the younger Star Councilor. But she didnt try asking her higher in rank fellow Councilor what she meant
"And who is working with Mark ?" Xemir asked instead before Xiuen could put her foot in her mouth with a wrong question,. Sometimes, Xiaden was not good at keeping her temper.
"If only you knew, Marks training is done, we now have some new tasks, Xiern asked me to let the two of you know, observation duty is over, get ready for figfhting. And no, Xemir, you're not fighting, you're calling the shots behind the scenes so Xiuen can play with her food"
"Yum yum" Xiuen smirked, which made Xemir look a bit sick. Xiaoden smirked at the way Xiuen was acting. "I didnt think you cared" Xiuen gave Xiaoden a sarcasm filled smirk
"Is that it ?" the Muscian asked their higher ranked member. Xciaoden snickered, "Anything more for us or are you wanting me to get so sick I will need a barf bag for the rest of this mission ?" To say Xemir didnt like fighting was an understatement. He'd avoid any of it if he could.
"Right now yourjob is simple, observe and make sure Xiuen gets to have fun with her food." Xiaoden said, she gave Xemir a pointed look. "Yoiu do not have to worry of any fighting, Xendras made it clear, as did Xeirn, you're not to do any fighting whatsoever." It seemed as if Xiaoden was upset that Xemir got to sit out the battles.
"I see, and its good enough for me, Xiuen, ready to go ?" Xemir said turning to his comrade in arms, the woman he was supposed to watch. How she was wearing such a beautiful dress nobody knew, but Xemir wasnt going to ask, he was already on the short stick and thankfully he outranked Xiuen.
The woman just gave him a dirty look as Xiaoden disappeared into a Darkness Corridor. Xiaoden's job of updating Xemirs objectives was done, she had other missions to attend to. And one of them was to speak to Mark.
Unknown time
Unknown place
Time was not present in the place. If it was a place nobody knew, because nobody asked if the place was expected to be a place.
A single body floated as if in the water, floating upon the currents of the air. It was Mark. He was stuck between the living and the dead. Laying as if drifting in the sea, or maybe a pond. Mark floated among unseen observors. But they were also the auditors of reality, so not only did they not speak, but they made it seem like they had spoken
He is the one that married the Nothing ? Asked one
He is. Replied another; He is also searching for information concerning the All-Mother
Then we have a problem, said a third. If it is to be believed, he still cares for the Nothing. The Raven has the information she seeks ?
She does. Said the second
Why is he here among us ? Asked the first; the matter of who has what information having been settled, what shall we do with him ?
The question floated between them in the form of Marks body.
He is not dead, but he is also not alive. Replied the second; Shall we waken him ?
Can we send him back, or must we question him ? Asked the first, if anything it was clear that the Observers did not want to question why Mark was present among them
He is the Wolfe Clan leader, let him go back. Said the third: Keeping him longer then expected would not be a good thing for the rest of the world. Send him back
A voice spoke, It was a older mans voice "It looks like its not your time yet fella. But you're in for a rough ride. Mind the rocks"
The world went white, allowing Mark to land in the water of a pond outside Arednelle, the backyard koi pond of the abandoned manor in point of fact.
Arendelle Border
Around dinner time
Abandoned Mansion
Mark was soaking wet, and warm, too warm. Warm water in Arendelle outside the Pond District just wasnt possible was it ? Where was he ? Marks eyes snapped open as he jolted awake and thrashed briefly in the water before getting his bearings. He saw the ruined farm house and remembered what he had done. "Ow Fuck!" Mark shouted.
At the dock just out of reach, stood two women and a dark coated man. "Yup, I told you he wasnt dead" The hooded man said
"So that's twenty I owe you dear ?" The woman, Diana replied to the coated man.
What ? Mark didnt bother to worry about it. A hover train pulled into view. And who came off of it startled everyone, it was Irie, and judging by the thing shining purple between her breasts, she carried something critically important. And it had Marks complete attention, either that or the fact that she had the purple star shard in her bosom that had Marks attention. Or was it her bosom ? No it was something else entirely, Mark was more focused on the fact that Diana, and now his couisin Irie, both had a Star Shard. So Mark instead scrambled for a footing and scrambled over to the dock, Nara helped him out. "The fuck just happened ? The last thing I remember I typed something into that computer screen, a huge bright light, the next thing I know I wake up in the pond!"
"I think you typed in the wrong command, it was supposed to send you into the simulated world, but something screwed up and you woke up in the pond" Nara replied, fact was, he knew exactly what happened. Mark wasnt supposed to go in there, or even try to.
"No shit, Why the pond ?" Mark asked once out of the water, soaking wet it was rather comical his expression, he was more focused on the fact that his cousin had arrived, with a star shard. Diana stared at it.
By that point Mark stood next to Diana and had caught her staring at his cousin. They had met. But Mark said in a very stupid tone. "I didnt know you were a boob girl" Diana didnt even say a wird as Irie smirked, however, Mark went sailing dead back into the pond as what Diamond did to him is too graphic for this bit.
"Nice shot I think you got him" Nara snickered
"Was that really needed ?" Irie asked
"He deserved it" Diana replied. She turned to Irie, "So you found one too ?" meaning the star shard.
"Yes, actually my mom saw it, I just retrieved it" Irie said as she withdrew the purple shard from between her breasts where it had somehow ended up when she originally wanted it elsewhere. Irie had a confused look on her face. "Diana, when you recovered your shard, did it trigger a memory of some form ?"
Diana shook her head. "No, why ?"
"This one did, and apparently there are six of them. According to what I saw ,each shard will know when to be found and who will find it. Much less how it will be found"
Diana was quiuet, she removed her pink star shard from her pocket, it glowed brightly briefly as it danced in coloration with Iries purple shard. They hade two of them. A long moment of quiet was had as Sazhori by the time Mark and the others had begun t osearch the old manor, had long since left, she had what she needed for the time being. "Nara, be a dear and return to the Den, let Blackmane and the others know we're coming back. I'll get Mark out of the pond and get him on the hovertrain."
"Fair deal" Nara and Diana traded a kiss in front of Irie, who smirked, the two then blushed but Irie remained smiling
"Relax you two, I wont tell anyone until you want me to spill it. Your secret is safe with me" She said simply, Nara knew he could trust the one eyed girl and smiled, giving the woman a quick hug he opened a portal and disappeared into it. Which then left the two women to drag Marks heavy ass to the hovertrain and get underway
Arendelle
Main Highway to Oslo
At that same moment
The limo pulled smoothly to a halt. A single man who looked as if he would rather much not be there to begin with, and three women were within it. "Is this the place ?" Asked one of the four, the tinted windows allowed them all to see outside, but nobody outside to see in.
"If it is not, then our directions were terrible" Said the first woman. The siblings had been sent by their father to ensure the rest of the plan fell smoothly into place. But things were moving faster then expected. "Have the Shadows been in contact ?"
"No, Sutri, but Father said that someone else has been" Said the lone man
"Dear Junior, always trying to be important." Said the older woman, the green eyed girl, Nasty, smirked as her twin sister, Sutri, spoke her voice calm and carefully content. "Have any of us heard from the drunkard of a brother ?"
"Yes, he is here, I can smell him" Said the youngest, a girl named Taris., her face was scarred by her brother's shadow magic when they had fought some time before when they were younger. Nasty scowled as Sutri smirked. Nasty was still upset that she didnt get to find out where Mother was, but the runt, the one who nearly died in her own egg alone when they hatched. Had found out where their mother was. But everyone, even trhe runt, was unhappy at Junior who insisted on being called Junyi or Jun. After all, it was him who actually got hugged by their mother in that other space two years before.
"We find Brutus' new tavern, no doubt he built another after the incident that scarred mother." Draco Junior said simply, every day he tried to take charge, be the older brother, but his sisters didnt have it, well Taris did mostly as was asked when asked, but she tolorated him at best.
That and their father regarded her with respect and even gave her a title.
But it was the fact that Draco Junior had a shard of their own mothers egg to give to their father that had changed everything in their family life. As a result, Taris had more freedom, and Sutri and Nasty had to follow Jr's orders when he told them to. If they resisted, their father got involved, unless it was a petty squabble like cleaning the house.
The mere mention of Kethend however had both girls go quiet, Nasty clearly agistated, her charred face showing it, Sutri, calm and quiet, not the least bit showing her anger. Taris, a odd look, one of sadness upon her scarred features.
It was an odd look upon his sisters face, the Runt never did get along well, Kethend, their mother, had carefully taught Taris to be more cunning, more resourceful, to rely on her wits and brain over brute strength to win her battles. Which didnt make a lot of sense as her sisters had been arguing over who to tell Father where their mother was when she had over heard them. Of course Draco Jr was so upset that she told him first that he had lashed out at her when she made fun of him fdor breaking protocol too.
The limo was quiet for a long moment.
"We find Brutus, we settle in, then we see whatr Father's Shadows have for us." It was Sutri who spoke, her calm quiet voice was clearly one who was in charge, Brutus might have been first hatched, but he was drunker than fuck even when apparently stone sober.
"Brutus wont like us dropping in will he ?" Jr asked. He hadf a point, but even then.
Sutri smirked "No, but he wont have a choice but to take us in, after all, we're family and you cant turn down family in the cold now can you ?" Sutri had a point, Brutus was a drunk he owned a bar, and the last time they all visited at once the bar got bombed to absolute shit. So it weas clear he didnt want to see them, but they werent the ones who dropped the bombs on themselves, someone else had, and their mother had seen to it that the bomber had been slain.
"If we drop in while bearing drinks from dad, it might be better off" Taris mused, which had all pairs of eyes focus on herself. "What ? Brutus likes to drink right ? We know his favorite drink and he only has scant bits of it to himself. We bring those drinks, he'll let us in like family we're supposed to be."
Jr stared at his sister, her idea was a sound one, but he didnt like it. "Where are we gonna find those drinks ?" he asked her
Taris smirked, "I know a guy here" She called to the drivber to stop the limo. "We get out here and find him, he's not far" She pointed through the window, the guy was infact quite literally overlooking a meadery. "He's the guy there. I show up, he'll give us what we need. Four kegs of Brutus favorite wine and we're checked into his place for a week or more."
The others traded looks, finally Sutri nodded, "Go for it, we will wait here." it was true, they needed Taris' plan to get their foot in the door at Brutus place. So she knew they wouldnt leave without her.
Arendelle Outskirts
Hovertrain Station to Marketplace District station
A few moments later
Upon the hovertrain as it got into gear a Darkness Corridor opened, "Easy Silver, I'm not here to fight, just chat, is he up ?" Xiaoden said upon arriving, Diamond was ready to attack until she saw who it was, one of the black coats.
"Should be" Diamond replied, she then introduced her brothers cousin. "This is Irie, Marks cousin. We'll be in the forward car" Diamnond said the two women then left Xiaoden with the knocked out Mark
About twenty minutes to lunch time and Mark jerked away. "Holy Fuck that hurt!" His nose was broklen in two places and was bleeding. He saw Xiaoden through bleary eyes
"Oh good." She said, "You're awake. You were so still I thought you dead" Xiaoden smiled at Mark, he stared at her. She looked at him then confused, the man just blinked at her. "You know me ?" She asked
"You're the woman whose food tastes like puke ?" He asked in reply. Onmly to have his nose broken again as Xiaoden clocked him hard. Mark stared at the leg of the nearby hovertrain bench. "Aside from giving me a humiliating pounding, what are you here for ?"
"Here to tell you some news for the most part" Xiaoden said simply as she then helped Mark onto the bench and then sat across from him. As if bored she raised a leg and crossed it over her knee, her ankle in plain view. Beautiful long leg boots of a sort. Armored too, adorned both of her legs
They rode the hovertrain for a few moments in silence. "News ?" Mark then asked giving her a look, "what kind of news ?"
"Something happened in the Galasia and Tomb Districts. Reports are sketchy, but somehow, dozens are dead, and something else is going on beyond you." Xiaoden said, Xeir had begun an all out freefor all in the Galasia District's main shopping area known as the Souk. She caused damage to a lot ofstructures as well.
"What ?" Mark asked, clearly confused, something happened in the Galasia District ? Wasnt that the only real Assassin District of the Kingdom recently ? He blinked, "Slow down, tell it to me straigh,t what the fuck is going on ?"
"First thing is first, what do you know about the High Priest and his men ?" Xiaoden asked
"Not a lot, why ?" Mark replied, he gave her a confused look, "When are we going to get to the part where you tell me what the fuck is going on ?"
"The High Priest's soldiers are being fitted with advanced technology recently. High end stuff as well, weapons, armor, you name it. They're now splitting into squads, but you faced a few of them already havent you ?" Xiaoden rattled off her report as if it was nothing new.
Mark remained silent however through it all. But he nodded at the question of facing a few squads so far. Finally when she was done speaking, he asked point blank. "What do you know of Star Shards ?"
Xiaoden smirked at the question. "Not a lot I can tell you that" She replied calmly, fact was she knew only so much. She looked to Mark confused, "Why do you ask ?" she asked him.
Mark smirked, finally he knew something she did not. "Because my cousin has one, a star shard. And one of my Assassins have one. My cousins shard is purple, whereas Dianas shard is pink. They glow when active as well." Mark then explained what happened when Diana recovered her shard. How the Dust District was destroyed.
"Huh, Star Shards... I know very little yet only so much." Xiaoden actually knew less then Mark did. So she said "What I know is, they're part of one star, but how many pieces I dont know." Xiaoden smirked then, "However if I were you, I would worry more about the High Priest's soldiers getting geared up." she produced a picture, a recruitment poster of a sort, and handed it to Mark. "This was in New York, what was left of it."
The poster showed three men dressed in uniforms colored to the High Priests colors, wearing bulking helmets by the look of them, yet the helmets were also very streamlined, possessing a infared sensor, night vision, and full heads up display, the body armor could stop small arms fire like pistols and similar. And Mark figured they wore steel toed boots too.
"This was in New York ?" he asked toi Xiaoden
She nodded. "And Detroit, and Chicago, and San Deigo, and Mexico City, and Oslo, just to name a few" She told him
Mark stared at her. "So he is gearing up for something big" He mused. The question then was. What ? "What is he gearing up for ? Why all this ? Why an army from across the world ?"
"That I cant answer, but maybe whoever did the throwdown in the Galasia District Souk could answer that question" Xiaoden said. "I'm just the messenger" She smirked then as she looked at Mark. "And also your teacher"
"Yeah, you taught me how to take a right hook to the nose" Mark said in a snarky tone. Which only made the Star Council woman smirk.
Another long moment passed. Finally Mark asked "You mentioned the Galasia District again, whats there ?" He needed a refresher course on what was in the kingdom apparently.
"Mostly the national Mall so to speak, big shopping area, open air, covered roofs, multileved in many places as well" Xiaoden replied, "Your cousin Miao could tell you more about it, or even if she is around, your families head servant from the dreamworld lives in that distrct"
"So Mora is real ?" Mark asked, Xiaoden snickered, he waved her off. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it" He said then.
Xiaoden smirked again. But said nothing further. Allowing Mark to wonder things. Finally she said "I'll leave you to it then ?" It was said as if he wanted to talk to her further before she left him. Mark just waved her off. A darkness corridor opened and Xiaoden faded into it.
Less then a minute later and Marks cousin Irie returned to the car he was in alone. "Want to talk about it ?" She asked, holding out the star shard to him. He tried to focus directly on it, but she too was distracted, the fact she was once more close to her cousin and he was obliviously blind to it.
Mark genhtly took hold of the purple glowing shard. The crystal was just a bit longer then his thumb, and jagged along one side, yet it looked like it could hold data inside it. "Where did you find this ?" He asked as he looked it over.
"Just outside the Den in the Marketplace District, Mom saw a weird glowy thing off a belltower so I went to get it" Irtie replied sitting next to Mark. "When I was going to find you, it triggered something really weird."
"Define weird ?" Mark replied, he had so far seen a cat, been in a dream world, watched his cousin get shrunk before his eyes, and was apparently briefly dead before waking up in the koi pond. So asking Irie to define what she meant by the term "weird" made sense in the short term
"It triggered some sort of memory replay, two guys, a guy in a ragged robe, named Hima Alo, and another guy, in a preachers type black robe, named Starman or Starsomething at the very least." Irie replied, she detailed what both men looked like. "It was like each shard holds a memory about something important down the road ? Or even in the past. I asked Diana if hers triggered any recordings, she said hers hadnt, yet."
"And Nara ?" Mark asked
"Busy like normal, Diana is acting weird when he's not around" Irie said, cloaking skillfully the fact that Diana, or rather Diamond, Marks own younger sister by blood, was married to Nara and when Nara wasnt around Diana pined for him.
Mark smirked at mention of Diana acting weird. "You noticed too huh ?" He asked her, which made Irie snicker. For once hjearing her laughter made Mark more then smirk, he actually smiled and started laughing too.
For once he felt good dispite being soaking wet and bleeding from his nose.