Frozen Memories - 1-8 Bridge

by Xeir Zith

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

25. Kiyori - Tears of Nothing: Chapter Five

Frozen Memories 1.8 Bridge

Hidden Past – Back Cover

Kiyori – Tears of Nothing

Chapter 5: Breaching Shadows

9 November 2057

Under Qadah, Dubai

Time Unknown

"So, dad went to the place where the desert is the hottest ?" Taris mumbled. She didnt mind it, but she knew Sutri would hate it. "Dont say I didnt warn you"

"Shut up, Runt, Dad's here, the coords he gave us when we left to go to Arendelle lead to this location, so the gate to his underground domain has to be here." Sutri replied, then she remembered what she said. And where she said it. "Taris, I'm sorry, I should not have called you that."

It was odd for Sutri to apologise, but Taris didnt even bat an eye or smirk, instead she said. "Who cares ? I've been treated that way by you guys all my life. By this point I am so used to it I actually think you are scaring me for apologising." Was it because of how close they were to their father that made Sutri have a change of heart to apologise ? Or was it something else entirely ? Either way, it made Taris nervous.

"Be that as it may but..." Sutri started to say before a voice broke in, and it was not Taris' voice either. But another, it was deeper, yet still very female. The two sisters turned around to look.

A Shadowling stood there, rather regal in appearance, a long black military like coat framed a smokey shadowy body. Bright shining purple eyes stared out of an otherwise ghostly creatures face. "You are expected" the Shadowling said.

"We are expected ? Already ?" Sutri asked. That was quick.

"Your father wishes to speak to you as soon as possible, please, follow me" The Shadowling said. Turning the Shadowling opened a portal that lead into darkness. Sutri and Taris traded looks before following the Shadowling without another word.

A dozen flights of stairs, both going up, and also down, and then somehow upside down, were had before the three came to a ornate door. The door opened as the two sisters stepped closer. They were expected after all. They stood there silently, each one willing the other go in first before the Shadowling spoke. "He expects you, for once, he smiled today when he felt your footsteps on the sand outside." At that the only thing that Sutri could think was, That is creepy, Dad rarely smiles

Sutri did not even speak, but Taris smiled and walked into the gloomy hall of their father. Never giving the Shadowling a second glance. Sutri watched her sister until she nearly disappeared into the shadowy gloom before following her. She would never hear the end of it if Nasty heard that Sutri was too scared to see their own beloved Father.

Walking between two rows of columns, the two came to a halt before a orante golden and ebony throne. A being sat upon it, ghostly and mixed with shadows. Both women dropped to one knee and looked to the floor.

For a long moment there was silence as both women knlet before the throne their father sat upon shadows rippled upon the floor and their skin as they danced to an unheard beat. Finally. Draco spoke. "You bring news ?"

"Yes" Taris said, She felt her fathers gaze on her first. As her sister, Sutri remained silent, Taris continued. "Sutri and I discovered something important."

"Discovered something important enough to bring such news to me ?" Draco asked her. His gaze went from his youngest to his second hatched. His tone is as calculating as it is intrigued. "Pray tell, what is it that you have discovered ?"

Taris went silent as she felt her fathers gaze shift from her to her sister. Sutri spoke as if by a mental command to do so. "We found where your body was hidden. But we were unable to get closer then just sighting it from afar due to the purity of the magic holding it sealed away" Sutri said simply.

Dracos gaze shifted from them both then as he closed his eyes. Lost briefly in thought. Standing from the throne he said simply "Both of you, stand up, and look at me." When they did so, he smiled at them. And it was actually kind of horrifying to both women, their father only smiled when plans were working in his favor.

"It is almost time. I want you to find out a means for me to recover my body, when you do, bring the news back to me here." Draco said to them, "Either way my body and soul will reunite. And I can destroy Xeir Zith forever. But for now, I will merely continue to play with her mind. There are still things to do. In that regard." Both women remained quiet, but seeing their father in such spirits made them both smile. Draco looked at them carefully. "Taris, through that door you will find a room, you may rest there for as long as you require." A door formed from shadows, beyond it was a well designed and rather clean room.

Taris bowed to her father. "Thank you father" She said simply before turning and all but skipping into the room. She was indeed tired, the purity of the magic hurt, and yet her fathers shadows were indeed refreshing.

Sutri was nervous, the last time she saw her father she had been, well, it was not the best of events, she had been beaten pretty badly, but her father cared for her with Winston. Draco stepped from the dias and came to stand before his oldest daughter. "Sutri. Even though you and Taris found my body together, Taris already received from me a reward. But you however, have not. Your brother, Junior, also received a reward. Your twin and you remain the only two without gifts."

"I ask nothing father" Sutri replied truthfully. But Draco smiled again, he stepped around her as she then kept her gaze upon the throne. To be this close to him was as terrifying as the thought of being any closer to the Light Magic sealing his body. As her father walked around her, he patted her on the shoulder.

"I think there is one thing I can give to my oldest daughter. In fact, it is a rather simple task. And upon completion the reward will be given. An army of shadows, eyes unseen, ears unheard. Yet seeing and hearing, everything." Draco said, he turned to her then once more standing in front of her. "All your own"

The idea of her own shadow army, shadows doing more then just dancing on her body making her look modest. That got her attention. Taris could make shadows of her own, but they were white, like ghosts. Looking to her father, Sutri had the expression of 'please, Father, tell me more!' all over her face, which made Draco smile again.

"Form a shadow upon the ground." He said, giving her instructions and the magical power to do so. Giving her a shadowling of her own first. In which case looked similar to the female shadowling that Taris and Sutri met up with outside the shadow realm. The Shadowling formed as Sutri followed her fathers instructions. As sultry and beautiful as Sutri herself. "And now, give her a name" He said, a "Name and Purpose befitting a Shadowling under command of the Princess of Shadows"

Her father had given her a new title, her first really. Taris had one already, Pride of Draco, and then about less then a day later, Jr got one, Prince of Shadows. Brutus always had a title, Family Drunk Tank. Mostly given as an insult. But her shadowling needed a name. So naturally, Sutri said "Lakota, my eyes Unseen, and my ears Unheard." She said

"A good name for a Shadowling." Draco said, admiring his daughters handiwork. He went back to the throne and bid Sutri to follow him, a few steps behind her, Lakota followed, forming an outfit similar to Sutris only with more leather in the pattern. "What you were able to see of my body. What exactly was present ?"

Sutri recounted everything she could remember, black stone walls, the feet of the body stood upon gold and black stone, pure light magic was everywere. "We were about eye level with your body, Father. Far enough away to see it in full, but close enough to get sick from the purity." It was more or less radiation posioning.

"So I felt." Draco said softly as he listed to his daughter recount everything as they walked along the halls of the Shadow Realm. "Continue"

"We did not see who was there, or if there even was anyone in the place. But we stayed only for a minute, possibly longer. The door and its hall were laid with many traps" Sutri recounted. "But I doubt very much that it is the only means to get to where your body is hidden."

"I am going to guess that my body is kept somewhere under Arendelle ?" Draco asked, turning briefly to see his daughter shaking her head. "No ?" Confusion was in his tone, yet contemplation within his expresison. What did she mean by the simply no ?

"We were underground for some time, by Taris' mapping, we found the edge of the light magic to be at the foot of the North Mountain" Sutri said. "It took us a while to regain our strength, but I fear we still have some of the pure magic on us somewhere." Sutri still felt very sick, and it was not because of her being so nervous of being so close to her father either.

Draco smiled, soft and fatherly. "Thank you, Sutri, you may take Lakota and get her started with her duties as soon as you like, your room" He said to her, they had come to a door. It lead to a large bedroom, designed neatly in the means that it could allow Sutri to learn her shadowling spawning magic much easier. Sutri stepped into the room. "Stay as long as you need. Breakfast is at nine thirty in the grand hall. Should you get hungry during the night the kitchen is just around that corner." Draco pointed furthert down the hall

Sutri had to smile. Trust her father to rember her midnight snacking and then blaming it on Jr or Taris. Despite her smile she said nothing, and before any words could come to mind her father placed his hand on her shoulder once more, giving her a small nudge forwards. Sutri entered the room and Lakota followed shortly behind. Once they were both inside, Draco gently shut the door. Allowing Sutri to get a good look at the room he had created, it was more or less similar to a one bedroom hotel suite. And perfect for Sutris personal needs

-8-8-8-

Upon returning to his throne, Draco thought a moment in silence. "Berude!" He called out, the female Shadowling that had lead Sutri and Taris to his throne stepped into view. He scanned her briefly. "See to the pits for a bath. You need it, some of the pure magic that the girls encountered may have gotten onto you. Do hurry, I will have need of your survices soon"

"Yes Master" Berude replied, the shadowling went to the door that Draco opened, allowing her to enter the pits of her own free will to get a much needed bath in their foul waters.

Draco remained standing at his throne for long moments afterwards. He needed his time to think carefully on the things happening around him. Then he had it. It was possibly the craziest idea. But Sutri said that Taris had mapped out where she figured his body was at as best she was able.

So he decided to pay his youngest a vist. Turning from his throne he headed to the room and gently knocked on the door. When Taris opened it she was briefly shocked, and then clearly scared that her father stood there, calm and regal in his military coat. "Am I intruding ?"

"No father, just, surprised that you would want to speak to me in person instead of sending for me. Please come in" Taris said, she briefly cast her gaze to the floor shyly and stepped aside, allowing Draco to enter. "Was there something you wanted me for, Father ?"

"Sutri said that you had generally mapped most of the area where you found my body sealed away." Draco said as he stepped inside, the two went to the nearby table and sat down as he spoke.

"Yes, the purity of the magic made me feel sick the longer I was able to see your body. It was like walking into a urainiumn cell" Taris replied, she poured them both a drink from the kettle upon the table.

"As such, I sent Berude to the Pits to have a bath, not as a punishment. If you like I can let my cleanings shadows give you a bath too, Sutri seemed to have figured out how to try and cleans the light magic from herself. From what I can sense is that you've been adapting to it somehow ?" Draco said as he took a sip of the tea.

"In a way, its not perfect, but I found that by experimenting, light magic and shadow magic are very volatile when mixed, and yet the results are... well, they're odd" Taris replied as her father looked at her confused

"Odd ?" Draco asked her. Waiting for her to explain.

"Interesting, intriguing, dangerous, stupid, amusing, different, unexpected, unwanted ?" Taris replied, "It's hard to explain but the results are, odd." Taris said as she tried to explain. "Using shadows we can teleport from place to place. But mixing that same portal with some light magic that I was able to steal from the purity seals. I found that making a shadow portal mixed with the light magic, well, it does this"

Taris did it directly in front of her father. Forming the portal mixed with the light magic she was able to adapt. A swirling purple and white vortex formed and danced in the room. "If one were to walk in it, they find themselves in a corridor, I found a corridor. Its... space I think" Taris said

"A Darkness Corridor, it uses both Light and Shadows to make it" Draco said, another skill his youngest had learned. "It seems my Pride of Draco is still adapting, learning, and observing, which is to be expected." He said to her. "You and Sutri are outperforming your brother and sister. Keep this up and Nasty wont have a title or a reward yet." Like it or not, Draco had a plan

"Last I knew, Father, Junior was planning something with Brutus, and Nasty, I hadnt seen her since we returned to Arendelle, we set our stuff in our rooms at Brutus house and she disappeared." Taris said truthfully. For all she knew, Nasty was trying to bed the High Priest to get information, or worse.

Draco nodded, "mmm, alright, for now, get your rest, recouperate. Adapt that light magic if you can, and also show Sutri how to do it as well, I wouldnt mind learning it myself." Draco mused, Taris smiled towards him, she could teach her father ? "It would be nice to have a skill, an edge over the enemy that they would not expect."

At the words learning the skill, Taris stared, a soft smile upon her lips. "You want me to teach you, Father ?"

"Of course, I learn from everyone where I can. Even from my enemies. To ignore wisdom where you find it is a fool's gambit." Draco said to her, he smiled and stood. "You need your rest, breakst is at nine thirty in the great hall, if you're hungry before then, just follow the smell of cooking. The kitchen isnt that far away." The kitchen was actually between Sutri and Taris given rooms.

He gave her a kiss upon the forehead. He smiled as she was rather shy about being near him. It was natural he supposed. But he was their father. And he could dole out love and punishment alike. "Sleep well, my Pride" he said softly. Taris smiled up at him.

Draco then left her, swiftly disappearing in shadows as if he was never present. He reappeared with a swirld of shadows upon his throne and thought for long moments. In his daughters he saw his wife.

It was Taris who told him where his beloved wife was. Hidden away in a prison made by Light, and only Light knew where that prison or how to get to it, was.

It was Junior, his youngest son, who brought to him a shard of his beloved wifes egg, the same necklace Draco had made when they were to exchange mating gifts. In this case, Draco had made a necklace using a shard of Kethends own egg. And Junior had been given that shard to take to him.

And now, Sutri and Taris had found his body. Which meant that there was chance for Nasty to come up with something. But he was not going to count on Nasty walking through the front door and having good news to share. He only hoped she had sought out Jarius like he had advised.

Yes, Draco had told Nasty in private, Jarius was a Brass dragon, but he was far older then even Draco himself was, and often he and Jarius had good 'fireside chats' and if advice was needed, going to him peacefully seeking advice or aid in any matter was normally the only option.

And so when Taris told him she had not seen Nasty since arriving at their brothers home in Arendelle, that was a bit worrysome for Draco at the time. He could only hope that Nasty had spoken with Jarius in some manner. However, knowing Nasty, she had connections in and outside Arendelle. So her being away from her siblings was nothing new.

So why was he worried ?

Was he worried because Taris advanced in her shadow magics ? Was he worried because Sutri and Taris together found his light sealed body beneath the ancient North Mountain ? Was he worried because Nasty had disappeared upon arrival at her brothers home ?

Should he pay a visit to Brutus ?

Questions floated upon his mind, dancing, gnawing at his thoughts. Finally he called for a Shadowling, in this case, Nymeth arrived. He had recalled her and her 'sister' Belyrr some time ago in order to help Berude maintain his holdings in Dubai. The Dubai Mall was still going strong, and each day according to Belyrr, the Dubai Mall added new tenants and the money began to simply pour in.

"You called for me, my Lord ?" Nymeth asked as she appeared, dropping to a knee as she spoke.

"I did, I want you to go to Arendelle and get in touch with my son, Brutus, he owns a tavern in the kingdom somewhere and wont be hard to miss. Go to him, and see what you can find out of him. I have not heard from him nor his brother, nor have I heard from Nasty. I want you and Belyrr to find out what is happening in Arendelle." He said to her. "After you speak with Brutus, I want the two of you to find Nasty, and to work with her as she requires."

Nymeth nodded. "Yes sir" she turned to leave.

"Oh, and Nymeth, do this right, and you can pick some humans as your new toys, you have two weeks" Draco called to her.

"Yes sir" Nymeth said, there was more strength to her tone, nothing of a forlorn Shadowling recalled away from the beautiful bountiful humans she could play with later down the line. Infact, if Draco didnt know any better, Nymeth was all but skipping to get Belyrr and head for Arendelle.

The sooner Draco knew what was going on with his sons and wayward daughter, the better.

But why was he still worried ? Was he worried because he was unable to be there in person ? Was he worried because Xeir was back and he did not have his body ? Or was he worried because of some other reason ?

"Something the matter ?" Came a calm voice, a womans voice as Draco felt the easy precense of magic before his throne. The swirling vertex of energy swirled around waist high and the face of a ancient woman was shown. "Normally for one such as you my best creation is off plotting the demise of his enemies"

"You spare no expense" Draco said simply. He did not ask what brought her to contact him. But he did not need to ask it

"Your daughter came to me, she went to the Brass, and then began with her contacts, Halen got in touch with her as well. You need not worry, she is fine." Ingrid said to him.

Draco snarled. "If you lay one magical finger upon my daughter, I swear I will have your head!" He thundered at the Wolf Queen.

"I told you" Ingrid replied calmly. "She is fine, it was you who I created, and you made her, I cannot hope to control her shadows." It was true, through Kethend, Draco had five children, Brutus, Strui and her twin sister, Nasty, then Draco Junior, and finally Taris. But because they were born through himself and Kethend, the ancient Wolf Queen held no chance whatsoever of control over their abilities.

"So aside from seeing my daughter, what do you want ?" Draco asked sitting back in his throne, giving Ingrid a very dirty look, clearly upset that she was contacting him, and giving her a show for calling on him anyhow.

"Would you rather the Council to contact you ?" Ingrid asked him, her voice and tone showing clearly the fact she was upset with him.

"If I ask you the question a third time, you wont live to see my answer" Draco told her.

Ingrid started laughing. "You have no power over me, childe. You may be a Lord of the shadows and other things. But you will never have power over me, I created you. Therefore, I have the power." She told him

"Alright if that is how you want it, then our business is concluded" Draco made to cut off the connection.

"Oh if that is how you feel about it, then maybe I wont tell you about the asshole here in Arendelle, some sort of High Priest who makes models, and then traps his enemies in them." Ingrid said, Dracos eyes flickered to her from trying to kill the connection.

"And my daughter ?" Draco asked, "and my Sons as well"

"All of them are fine, the high muckymuck here doesnt know them, never contested with them before either. For all we know, your kids are not the ones driving him bonkers recently, the whole kingdom is up in arms and everyone wants something different." Ingrid said, the look and expression on her face, one of a upset childish woman.

It was an expresison that was close to making Draco laugh.

Close but not quite.

"And you are telling me this, why ?" Draco asked her

"Because it is possible your childrens magic would be useless compared to whatever this fucker has that turns people small enough to trap in the models! I lost good soldiers to this freak." Ingrid growled.

Draco could tell she was unhappy. "So you are worried I would get involved because of my children being in the kingdom ?"

"The high priest does not know your children, shadows are everywhere, he has other enemies." Ingrid said, another portal formed, and three items, posters, fell through it. "Take a look at these"

Draco picked them up, he ignored the poster of Sapphire, she was inconcequential and was of no use to him. The other two however, Anna. And... "Waterlight, why the fuck is your face on a poster ?"

"It seems the high priests puppet, the Councilman, Xercine, is seeking an heir to take the throne of Arendelle." Ingrid said, she smirked. "Wouldnt it be grand when one of your children sit on it instead ? If you plan it right, your child could be on the throne, and this high priest and his nobles could be destroyed."

Draco had to admit, it was a good plan

"Or" He said simply

"Or you could let his enemies take the fight to him, and in the battles and street fights, you or your child can easily take the throne. With everyone focused on the fighting, nobody would notice the new leadership" Ingrid said, now why was she giing him that idea ?

"What is in it, for you ?" Draco asked her rather bluntly. She was skjipping the question, he knew she wanted Arendelle.

Ingrid only laughed. "My childe, do you not understand ? Arendelle, ruled by you, or your offspring, is still mine!"

The connection died. Draco looked at the poster of Waterlight, he only saw the one eyed woman, twice. Once from observing a huge battle, red and blacks fighting a single lone Light Dragon. And managing to rip apart her face, the Light Dragon, Waterlight, lost her right eye. But this poster had both eyes present. Was she using magic to desguise her face ? Irrelevant. If that witch who called herself the Wolf Queen was claiming Arendelle with one of his children on the throne, then she needed to be dealt with. But Draco needed more power still - power enough to break the magical leash she held him back with.

He'd need his body.

Under Qadah Dubai

Dracos caverns

Several Hours Later

As the day grew older, Draco made a crystal call to his daughter. It was similar to how Ingrid had contacted him hours before, but he needed to be sure, somehow he just had to be sure his daughter was safe. "Nasty, speak to me my child." He said simply. His voice stern yet clearly full of worry.

Ingrid had laid claim to Arendelle, through any of his children in the kingdom at that moment, in that case just Nasty was known to her, but she did not know that Nasty had two brothers, and two sisters, and a really pissed off yet still very much missing mother.

The 'screen' swirled with unknown energy and magics. Draco was looking forwards to learning from his daughter Taris, how to control both Light and Shadows to create such a path. With a Darkness Corridor he could go... anywhere.

But his chief worry at that moment was his daughter. Come on Nasty, answer my call. Draco was not one to worry, normally. But Ingrid was now his concern, but he had an ace up his sleeve. Ingrid had no power over his children. So she did not know how powerful the girls were, how powerful his sons were. Combined they could possibly match him in bodily strength, but not in magical strength.

"Father ?" Came the confused reply from the crystal. "Is something wrong ? Am I needed at home ?" It was Nasty, she was confused by Draco was calling on her.

"You have met with the Wolf Queen. She had contacted me, and laid claim to Arendelle with you or your brother on ther Throne. Do not let her know your true strength. Find her weakness, exploit it." Draco said, he stood from his throne, it was nearly time for breakfast, he had never slept the night. Too worried for his daughter.

"Of course father, I never trusted the woman, something always felt off to me when she even visited the house in Arendelle where we had a home." Nasty said, while growing up Ingrid visited the family often, and Kethend often drove her away for scaring the hatchlings. Nasty herself never liked the look of the woman or her undead wolf Halen, instead she she normally, growing up at least, shielded Taris from the beast.

Ingrid of course did not seem to much care or really notice if at all. But Nasty didnt care. She protected Taris. Draco sighed, a sign of relief. "Now, I have a new task for you. Ingrid informed me of the current leader of Arendelle, the former Bishop. Kiyori, currently leads the city, with a puppet council. I want you to find out how he rules. And who he works with. From what I understand he likes to make models"

"Yes, I have seen a few of them at work, scary things truth be told." Nasty replied, then she said something that made Draco crack a smile on his otherwise stony stern face. "Almost as scary as you, but not quite as scary. You're scarier. And better then a model or statue ever would be" Nasty told him. It was the truth, Draco could be scary, and at this moment he was protective and worried.

"Father please, do not look this way, worrying is not your style." Nasty said. Almost seconds later a portal of shadow opened and two Shadowlings stepped out beside Nasty. "Father, is something the matter to send Shadowlings to me ?"

"Let me just put it this way, Nymeth and Belyrr will be there to help you as you see fit. They have two weeks to do the tasks you lay out for them, and the more they can do the better. At ther same time they are also to speak to your brothers and then return information from them back to me" Draco of course was not one to go back on a deal, and he did promise Nymeth the pickings of some choice humans to toy with as personal playthings Draco told her.

Nasty looked to the two Shadowling women as her father spoke. "Treat them well, and they can aid you. Good luck. Oh, and Nasty, do this right and you might get a gift." The connection ended. Draco had to smile, Nasty was a good kid. A doer really, it was her idea to control the food in Arendelle, and that was their current source of a foothold.

Of course he could have given Nasty a gift then, a proper reward for taking the incentive, but he didnt. Instead he decided to wait. He was honestly hoping that Nasty and Sutri together were to find his body. He never epxected Taris to return with Sutri.

But at that moment it did not matter, much if that. He picked up the posters again. "Anna of Arendelle" he read simply the name. "Somehow were you to become queen, you would not last as long as the previous queen." Draco mused. He smirked. He felt eyes on him. He smirked again. Xeir Zith, he knew those eyes. His eyes glowed coal red and the scenery changed briefly, he remembered her memories. Their fight. The egg. He remebmered it all. But the child was too pure even for him to get too close to.

The eyes of Xeir Zith faded quickly as they had appeared. Draco observed everything carefully, he found what he sought. "Where are you, First Son ?" Draco hissed. Ever since Irral had gotten away from him a million years ago and then was subsequently cursed by him into his present form, Old Man Joe had once more disappeared into the fog of life.

Nobody, not even Light herself could locate him, not even her champions could hope to find him anywhere in the Mythic Realm. And the Mortal Realm was huge. And they often scoured the Mortal Realm to different planets and nebulae to find him.

And they never did find him.

They never would find him, not after what Draco had done to him in his present cursed state. Draco smiled as he sat upon his throne. A wine glass in hand. Capturing and corrupting Irral, the First Son and Champion of Light herself was the best thing he had ever done in his life time. Destroying Irral, corrupting him alone was the best 'FUCK YOU' middle finger that Draco could ever do to Light.

And somehow Irral had adapted to the Shadow Magic and Light Magic. And for now that was, as Taris had put it, a very interesting combination. Taris was going to teach him so he wanted to be ready for that. He could learn to adapt even his worst enemies magics into his own.

Learning from even ones enemies was normally the best way to get the task completed. And Draco loved to learn. Though he had to briefly wonder if Taris would be a good teacher. She herself was still experimenting with the selfsame magics she had adapted into her own shadow magic. He smiled, he'd let Taris practise and experiment until she felt she was ready, he wouldnt force her to teach him.

Draco took a sip of his wine. So many issues to deal with. But he did not mind them all. No, what he did mind and actually pay attention to was the fact that the Wolf Queen had threatened his children. But Nasty as far as he could see on their connection was alright, no visible changes as far as he could see. But that was a given Ingrids changes were never on the outside, they were always on the inside, and Nasty had told Draco she never trusted the woman or her undead wolf pet Halen.

So Draco felt one point in his favor, maybe two. The more information Nasty could get on the Wolf Queen and her minion Halen, the better.

Under Qadah Dubai

About an hour later

Taris bedroom

Taris was experimenting as she had woken up. A good night of rest was exactly what she needed, her father was right, her body felt refreshed in her Fathers incredibly protective shadows and his raw shadow power made her all the more giddy, more shadows to experiment with and create corridors. So she was experimenting and throwing shadows and other items trhrough the corridors. And then figuring out that once her first portal was closed, the second opening was made and the stuff that she tossed into it, in this case aiming to land on her bed, did exactly that, piled upon her bed.

Looking at the portal as it faded she simply said "Huh" She raised a hand in thought, pointing to where the portal was, then smirked, "Alright, lets try this" She said, opening a portal and stepping into it, willing the portal to close behind her before it opened up and dumped her onto her bed in a heap.

"OK reentery hurt, but it works! I'm gonna have to figure out the exiting part, but the corridor works!" Taris crowed in triumph, her experiment was working. She did not know where Sutris room was but was tempted to send something to Sutris bed. So she opened another portal and tossed a tome into it. The portal closed.

She was going to find out what the book hit, in this case Sutris Shadowling Lakota, dead in the face while asleep... did shadowlings sleep ? Taris had to wonder on that fact. Looking to where Zendu stood, silent and staring at nothing with a vacant expression on its face, summonmed on a whim by Taris, her gift from her father long ago.

Taris had to smile. She now wanted to experiment further, but she needed something. "Where's my camera ?" Taris, and her sisters and brothers, like any mortal living on Earth, had grown with the times, and over those times had aquired a great many phones, and at one point Taris had nearly bought the company directly.

At least the phones worked good. She found her phone and picked it up. Turning on the video camera to recording she opened another portal and stepped into it. Within the Darkness Corridor she was able to briefly look around. She was walking on a seemingly green glowy glasslike floor of a sort, like a tral or tunnel. Maybe a hallway ?

Stars surrounded her even under her, like a world between worlds, or the space between spaces. Could she get to her mother this way ? She doubted it, she took it all in with her phone camera for her father to see it.

Then she willed where she wanted to exit. And all but fell out of the corridor in her room. "Well that exit was a bit more dignified" She mused with a silly sounding chuckle before sighing, turning off her phone she sat down at the table and made some notes. She had experimented enough to have what she wanted from the experiment.

It was dangerous, weird, strange, confusing, amusing, stupid and odd. exactly as she had told her father. But it was also beautiful , quiet, and brightish. Within the corridor the sickly green glow was the floor, and the sky, if there was one, was more like a nebulae of a sort that she was walking through.

It was, in a sense, one of the more dangerous things out there. But it was also something that a certain council used to travel around. So there she was, using the same method of transportation as the Star Council themselves. And her version was a far more volatile one.

But Taris did not care. Far from it, infact if she had a choice she didnt worry too much about it at that moment. Her experiment worked and she was happy, now what if someone else were to walk through it ?

Looking around she smiled catching sight of Zendu. "Zendu!" Taris said in a commanding tone, the Ghostling looked to her without a sound, quiet as a ghost Taris opened the portal door. "Enter the portal. Do not worry, I am experimenting. I need to do a test, if others can go through the portal I make. You have your contact crystal ? Good, if this works, you wont need to contact me through it. But you might have to." Taris told him

Zendu silently nodded, and entered the portal. The portal closed behind him seconds later. Fading away into nothing. Not even a mark upon the ground was had. Sefonds later the portal reappeared, against a wall. Zendu pretty much fell out of it. As it was a few feet from the ground.

Seeing him hit the ground in a heap, Taris sighed, "Sorry Zendu, I forgot that it was set to my thinking, not exact floorspace. I need to figure that out. How did you feel ?" Taris asked him.

"As well as can be" Zendu replied softly. He handed her his crystal, "I recorded everything" Taris reviewed the recording, everything was there. And it was just as good as she had seen it.

"Perfect!" She could send items, even people through the portal, the Corridor was stable, solid, not as rough looking for Zendu as Taris compared the two videos both on her phone and on her Ghostlings crystal.

"Flawless" She mused softly. Her experiment was successful she cracked open her notebook and added some more notes.

"If I may be so bold as to ask what this experiment is to be used for ?" Zendu asked her.

"You may indeed ask, I need the questions, I cant rely strictly on shadows to get from place to place. This corridor will help me, and Father, and my siblings if father requires me to teach them as well. It will help us get away, and get to places as needed. Though I am not entirely sure of where we can go or what the distance limits are." Taris said as she wrote down her findings, she kept notes on everything she did. And one of those things she did was ensure that proper notes allowed those she wanted to have them to have such items.

In this case her notebook, filled with notes made since finding her fathers light sealed body was mostly on the notes about how the purity of the magic made her sick, and how she learned to adapt to it. Each step she took, everything she tried for adaption.

She only hoped her siblings would be as receiving as her father was in terms of her teaching. She had promised, or had she ? To teach her father how to make a proper Darkness Corridor instead of sinling disappearing into shadows on as whim.

Draco of course for himself was actually looking forwards to how his daughter could teach him in terms of adapting his magics in different ways. Taris he had seen while growing up, had adapted and watched, and reacted. Draco had seen how Taris watched her siblings like a hawk ready to take the fight down fast with as little bloodshed as possible.

For all Draco knew, Taris knew her siblings weaknesses better then they did themselves.

Taris for her part was the runt of the nest, and she knew it, but her mother, Kethend had trained her to observe, to use each situation into her own advantage. But to do it in such a manner that it was unexpected. Her siblings did not much care for her, so when they sparred and fought things happened, and most of the time Taris was the target and yet she was rarely, if ever, harmed by her siblings.

Taris finished the latest notes from the recordings and set the pen aside, closing the notebook she stood from the table. "That's that, I am famished, Zendu, what time is it ?" Taris said

Zendu removed a pocket watch from his belt and looked at it. "It is nearly noon." Taris' eyes widned, she had been working on her experiment since breakfast ?

"Three hours since breakfast and I am already starving." Taris said.

"Amazing isint it ? Time flies when you are having fun, so goes the saying the humans like to use" Zendu said, which made Taris smirk.

"Clean this mess, and meet me in the Great Hall, I think if Father is still there we can get started on the lesson." Taris was nervous, her father expected her at every meal when she visited and he was scary. But he seemed rather interested in learning how to adapt some Light Magic into his shadow magic to create a stable Darkness Corridor.

With that thought on her mind, Taris turned and headed for the main hall.

Under Qadah, Dubai

At that same moment

Sutris room

Thunk! A book landed on Lakotas face as the Shadowling laid on the bed of shadows, the book, though heavy woke the shadowling up as it landed and fell off her face as the Shadowling sat bolt upright in the bed. "What the ?" the Shadowling hissed softly her voice low and sultry, similar to Sutris own voice. She looked around before spotting the book.

Picking it up she read the runic written title "Fifty Seven Ways to Murder a Man" She looked over the book, looking to Sutri who was watching her. "I was not aware your father liked to cook."

"It must have been from something else, Taris more then likely. But thats alright. You managed to last longer then any Shadowling I tried to conjure, I wonder why that was" Sutri said looking over the very sexy looking Shadowling she had created. Lakota could appear as a ebony black creature of beauty, or as a fair skinned maiden of equal beauty as the mission came along. The two of them had experimented heavily during the night on what Lakota could do, finally settling upon a young girlish looking creature with long ebony black hair slightly tinted with red and skin a fair hue of a lightly tanned maiden.

"I wondered that myself my lady" Lakota said to Sutri, "Permit me to speak freely ?"

"Please do, I would like my own shadow unheard and eyes unseen to give me some insight on matters, so when we are alone like this, you are free to speak your mind to me." Sutri said to her. "You are after all, my first creation"

Lakota smiled, "It is possible that before you created me, your shadow magic was not as strong for a shadow to gain its own sentience upon given its name, in my case, even if you had given me a name before your father taught you how to make me, I would have disappeared after being named." Lakora said simply, it was true, Sutri had tried to make Lakota many times. But it was not until her father gave her the gift, the reward that she did not ask for.

But she was happy for it to begin with.

Her father had given her a gift similar but not identical to Taris own gift, Zendu and Taris' Ghostlings as she called them, were nothing more then fully visible white wisps. They could deal damage and appear as people, but on a much more ghostly level.

Sutri smiled and nodded, she knew Lakota spoke the truth, it made sense truth be told. "You are right, father has given me a wonderful gift, a wonderful reward. I knew it not right to ask for a reward. Or a title" Sutri said.

Draco had given her a title, "Princess of Shadows" When he gave her the gift, the ability to create Lakota, her father had told her to give her shadowling a name, a name and purpose "befitting a Princess of Shadows" Draco gave her a gift, and a title. At the same time.

And Sutri was not going to let her father down anytime soon. Infact as far as Sutri was concerned, her father should be in Arendelle, they all should be in Arendelle, working together to take the kingdom for themselves.

But Sutri felt tired of the Earth, there was something about the planet that she wanted to get away from.

In this case, Earth was where Light had sealed away her fathers body. Earth was also where Xeir Zith had her nest, her egg then hidden as well. But later found and then somehow hatched in the Southern Isles, the child was sickly without her beloved mother to care for her.

"Something trubles you My Lady ?" Lakota asked to Sutri

"Yes, I want to leave this planet, using shadows is one thing, but I want to go somewhere else." Sutri wanted to get off Earth, and as luck had it, so did her father. She knew she was just given her gift from her father, so to get another one so soon after before Nasty was to get one, only meant that Sutri had to wait.

Then she realised something. Did Taris leave Sutri alone with her father because the gift giving was a private matter, or was it simply out of respect ? Sutri sighed, realising that Taris simply left, not out of fear of their father, but out of respect that their father wanted privacy for what Sutri was to receive, it was why the Shadowling, Berude, was not even present when Taris left.

"Leaving this planet ?" Lakota asked her.

Sutri nodded. "This world is known as The Earth, or whatever, there are other planets in the night sky, in space." Sutri said

"In space there are shadows" Lakota agreed.

"You catch on quickly, Lakota. This makes me wonder if I will have more a sage in a library rather then a frontline fighter" Sutri said.

"I am what you want me to be, if it is a sage, then so be it, if it is a fighter, then again, so be it." Lakota said, "You made me, therefore, I am yours to remake as you see fit."

Sutri smiled again. She loved her Shadowling already. But she did not want to make Nasty jealous. "Alright heres the deal, soon as we get back to Arendelle, you will remain hidden at all times, blending in with the population there as if you're another resident of the kingdom. The last thing I want is for Nasty to find out she is the only one without a Reward from Father."

Sutris stomach growled, breakfast had long since came and went, and she knew the rule, be at every meal unless sick. So Sutri then wondered. "Can Shadowlings eat ?"

"It depends on what you want us to eat. To keep appearances up, yes we can eat. Otherwise our magical facade will fade and show our true being." Lakota replied, all Shadowlings had the innate knowledge of their coming into being, what fed them and how they could live.

"Alright, let us go to lunch then. Father will most likely be waiting for us there" Sutri said, the two soon left the room as Sutri set the book that Lakota had pretty much tossed onto the bed onto the nearby side table.

"This must have come from somewhere nearby." Sutri mused as she set the book on the side table. "That portal wasnt just created at random." She knew Taris had been experimenting, Picking up the book, Sutri took it with her and Lakota and the two headed for the great hall through a shadow portal.

Taris was already waiting with Zxendu standing near her chair at the table. "'Afternoon, sis." Taris said as Sutri and Lakota arrived, "Father gave you a Shadowling of your own ?" Taris saw that she had Zendu, a ghost butler quite literally. Whereas Sutri had a proper Shadowling. But instead of a military trenchcoat, Lakota wore a very pretty dress that showed off her legs, the dress of course made of military styled leather.

"He did, I can make Shadowlings now, like your Ghostlings, only in this case more like fathers Shadowlings. This is Lakota" Sutri said, somehow it felt right to do introductions. "Lakota, this is my sister, Taris, and her Ghostling, Zendu." Sutri said

"A pleasure." Taris said with a simply nod, Zendu merely gave a simply bow of greeting remaining quiet.

"A pleasure to meet you both." Lakota said, her voice making Taris briefly do a double take.

"Sutri, which one is you ?" Taris asked.

"Lady Sutri is the one seated" Zendu replied as Lakota smirked. "Lakota stands behind her like I stand behind you. Therefore, Lady Sutri. Your skill is most appealing." was Zendu in love ? Taris hoped not but it did earn a raised eyebrow of slight worry from Lakota.

Sutri smirked. "Correct, Zendu. Laktoa sounds like me, but she is not me, she is my Shadowling, my first shadowling at that. We experimented most of the night and this morning trying to figure the best appearance to work with." Sutri set the book on the table. "I'm going to guess, you have been experimenting with the light magic we contracted when we found Papas body ?" Sutri asked her sister

"Yes" Taris replied with a nod. "I told father about it too, he wants to learn what I can teah him about it. If you want me to, I could teach you how to do it too. Its a whole lot more stable then shadow teleportation. But I dont know the distance limits though." Taris said, "We're still experimenting on how far we can send stuff. I merely picked up that book and tossed it through, thinking it would hit your bed, it did not hit you did it ?"

"Not me no, but it did nail Lakota in the nose" Sutri said with a stiff giggle as Taris smiled.

"Sorry" Taris said apologetically.

"I did not know you were into cooking" Lakota said simply

Taris smirked, "yes, and knowing fifty seven ways to cook a guys goose is sometimes a good thing, it helps one avoid such chances of being harmed or killed" Taris said, in short it helped Taris figure out and stay safe from many assassination attempts

"Amusing thought" Lakota said in reply but then went silent as Draco arrived and sat between his daughters at the head of the table. He seemed a bit calmer then he was at breakfast.

At breafkast that morning, Draco was on edge. Mostly because of worry for Nasty, and the Wolf Queen claiming Arendelle through Nasty or himself. But thankfully Nasty was alright at that moment. And she had a new task given to her by him

So with the two sisters seated at table, with Lakota and Zendu standing nearby trading skills or whatever it was that Shadowlings did when communing with each other.

The lunch briefly was quiet before Draco asked a simple question. "Sutri, did you know that Taris has adapted the magic you and her briefly got sick from ?" Meaning the light magic and how it was so pure.

"Yes, father" Sutri said simply. When he did not speak further but continued to keep an eye on her she continued. "A portal opened over Lakota in bed, a book landed on her. It startled us both."

At mention of a book landing on a Shadowlings face it made Draco crack a rare half smile and he turned to Taris. "Have you made further advances with your experimenting with the Light and Shadow Magic together ?"

Now that her fathers eyes were on Taris, Sutri kept her mouth shut and let Taris speak. "Yes father, through my experiments I managed to send items through the portal, one of which was this book, as an experiment, to see if it worked. After that, I went through, All I had to do when the portal closed was think of where to come out, I feell onto the bed. The second time I went through I took my phone with me so I could use its built in camera to record thje experiment"

"I can then later review the recordings you made for this experiment ?" Draco asked her.

"Of course, you asked me to teach you, Father, so I am making as many notes and details as best I can for you to read at your lesiure" Taris said with a gentle nod, she was terrified his attention was locked directly on her. "That way when you find the time to experiment and adapt the magic yourself, you can use my notes and experiments as a guide."

Draco nodded "Good, that I can do, experiment at your leisure, Taris. When you find the time wherein your experimenting is a success and wish to share it with me, please do so when you are ready. Sutri." Taris nodded and went quiet at her fathers words. She could easily do just that.

Sutri went stiff as her father caleld on her, but continued to eat, looking to him attentively. Draco continued. "When Taris has completed her experimentation and her notes, I feel you can learn from what she has adapted. When she is ready to give her knowledge, I would like for you to learn it with me."

Sharing knowledge with her father ? He had just given her the ability to make her own Shadowlings just hours before, or was it the day before ? Sutri couldnt remember exactly. Sutri swallowed the cheese in her mouth before answering. "You want me to learn with you ?"

It was not the beswt question to ask as Taris stared, Sutri either just pulled a stupid, or had a legitimate question. But her father calmly said "You need not worry, Sutri, as soon as Taris has finished her notes and experimenting with the magic, we can learn it together with her guidance" Finally Sutri nodded, as terrifying as her father was, learning something new with him was a rather horrible yet somehow curious thought.

Infact if Sutri did not know any better, she she felt that she was about to have an entirely new experience to live through. Something only her mother most likely had lived through. Draco nodded. "Good then it is settled." They ate another moment in quiet. Finally Draco asked. "Now, what were your plans aside from visiting me here with news of your discovery ?" He looked first to Sutri.

"Well, we were planning on informing you that we discovered your body, Then we were going to try and find Nasty and see what we could do about the High Priest." Sutri said. Then she sighed. "But as soon as we had arrived in the kingdom, Nasty pretty much disappeared. I have no idea where she is"

"Nasty will be fine, I have sent Nymeth and Belyrr to aid her where she sees fit." Draco said simply, saying nothing of having the two Shadowlings get information crystals from Brutus and Junior. Again Sutri nodded. "As for what is happening in Arendelle, the Wolf Queen is there with one of her minions. When you go back, be sure to simply keep an eye on her, or at least a means to know where she is or what she plans. We may have a war on two fronts."

Both girls nodded. "You also have the chance you need to get even with certain parties ? Word on the wind is that the former Queen is gone." Draco continued, both girls stared at him as Draco simply waited for one of them to break the silence, he would not dole out punishment for a simple question.

"Gone, as in killed, or just, on vacation and never coming back ?" Taris asked, Sutri merely pointed at Taris as if saying 'what she said'

"Yes, both. Gone, never coming back, but not quite dead. But still not coming back" Draco said. Taris went throughtfully quiet at those words. "Something on your mind, Taris ?"

"Indeed" Taris said, but briefly said no more, she wanted a coherent thought before she really said anything.

"Pray tell, what is on your mind ?" Draco asked her, he was now curious to what his youngest was thinking.

"A year ago Elsa and three others went on a vacation, about a week later, we forgot about all three of them, we forgot about Arendelle having a Queen or a Princess, forgot about pretty much everything regarding the kingdom as a whole really. Until a month ago"

"I see what you mean. A month ago the memories of remembering, for example, the young woman, Anna and the Assassin, Diana Elisar, began to filter back into our minds." Draco said, in his case, he started to violently remember Xeir Zith and their fight from a million years ago. Which lead him to begin to mess with her memories and give her haunting visions.

"Exactly, Something happened between just now, a month ago rather, remembering them, and a year ago when we forgot them, something caused us to forget them entirely" Taris said, she smiled then "Personally when I get back to arendelle I am more interested in finding out the cause of the memory loss over anything else"

Draco smirked, a barely noticable nod as he spoke. "Very well, at the same time you will continue your experiments with the mixing of Light and Shadow magics ?" Taris nodded. "Good, you may begin your search for what caused the loss of memories as soon as you wish."

"Thank you Father, I promise I will get my notes to you when they are finished" Taris replied as she ate. She had some ideas she wanted to experiment with, but she could do those once back in Arendelle.

"Sutri" Draco said, getting the older girls attention upon speaking her name. "What are your plans upon returning to that kingdom ?"

"Well, my first plan was to send Lakota to be my unseen eyes and unheard ears in a few places I cannot go. While at the same time study the models the High Priest makes and see if there is a way to counter them." Sutri explained, "Though it is possible our shadow magic makes us immune to the models effects."

Draco sat forwards, setting his arms on the table as he spoke. "Nasty mentioned that the models are scary things, but not as scary as myself. So, this is what I would like for you to do. In addition to your own plans of course. Consider it a background task. Take as long as you like" He told her

Sutri nodded, "May I ask what this task is ?"

"You may and you just did, I want you to spy on this High Priest, find out his weaknesses and strengths, and if he has any magical aptitude, and what his skills are. Remember, you need not focus on this task all at once, this most likely will take some time to be sure." Draco said as he outlined a simple, at least overly simple task that could take a while, hence why he listed it more as a background or secondary task instead of a main or primary task or plan that Sutri had made for herself. "Can you do that ?"

"I can, and I will. Consider it done, Father." Sutri replied with a firm nod.

"Good, when you are both ready to leave, inform Berude, she should be done in the Pits by now, can escort you to the surface or even directly to the airport nearby." Draco said, the rest of lunch passed in silence and then Draco bid them both farewell and disappeared from their sight.

Lunch over, and Taris stood from the table. "Who knew father liked to cook good food." Taris learned something new every day. And one of those things was her father liked to cook on occasion.

"Shall we get going then ? Berude should be nearby" Sutri said as she finished her meal, the meats their father had provided were indeed good, mostly horse and fox, along with deer and moose, a ton of different cheeses.

"Ready when you are." Taris said in reply.

A few moments later and Berude appeared, the Shadowling then lead them straight to the airport in Dubai. Nobody paid the two women much if any heed as they walked through the terminal and made it to a flight to that point they were sure to draw some eyes to them as they were alone, two sisters. No Shadowlings with them to tangle with security.

Oslo Airport to Pine District of Arendelle

9 PM

Upon arrival in Oslo, both women were well rested and ready to take on their next leg of the journey, since they were closer to Arendelle they could easily shadow transport there, but they had to do it off airport grounds more then likely due to where they were at that moment was pretty public to begin with.

Once outside the airport and well enough away from prying eyes the two sisters smirked at each other and melted instantly intothe shadows. Disappearing from Oslo, and reappearing only scant meters from their brothers house's back door. The back yard was mostly empty.

"Good we made it" Sutri said. Out of nowhere her Shadowling, Lakota appeared as Taris went inside, she wanted a drink.

"You have need of me My Lady ?" Lakota said softly, her voice rather sultry at that moment.

"Yes, you are my Eyes Unseen, and my Ears Unheard, which means you are me where I am not. I need you to do some spying while unseen and unheard. Nobody here knows you execept for me and my sister Taris." Sutri said as she walked from the back yard to the front, as she did so Lakota fell into step a half step behind. "And that gives us the edge. I want you to find out more about what this High Priest looks like. Once you have that information on a data crystal, bring it straight to me. Understand ?"

"Yes my lady, it will be done." Lakota said, she saw nearby soldiers. As did Sutri, who smirked.

"Make your clothing match theirs in color, you can look how you like, but the colors must match so you can get about easier and unseen." Sutri said, Lakota nodded and her black and red patterned gown and corset transformed into colors matiching that of the patrolling soldiers. "I am not one to complain. But those colors are garish, I think the High Priest must be colorblind." Sutri said simply, in complaint to the colorarion of Lakotas outfit

"I agree, I can at least go about this without drawing attention. I will see you in the morning ?" Lakota said, Sutri nodded. Allowing Lakota to leave with the data crystal. It was going to be a good day in the morning for sure.

As Lakota left, Sutri turned and stepped into her brothers taverns front porch, only then she stopped and saw the sign on coloumn outside. "Hotel Costa Plente ?" She read. Then she smirked, of course, trust her brother to run a hotel, an expensive hotel.

"Nice name isnt it ?" Brutus said seeing her reading the hotel name. "Thought it up in order to pay for the beer and other stuff. Most people dont mind it" Brutus said

"It gets the point across" Sutri said in reply.

"Where the hell have you been ?" Jr asked seeing her enter. He never saw Taris sneak in the back way. Then again he was too focused on his own plans to really worry much over the Runt and her Ghostlings.

"Seeing Father, why ? What is it to you ?" Sutri asked him. She planned on making more Shadowlings. Lesser ones of course, Lakota was her first shadowling and thus, her strongest shadowling at that.

"You saw Father ?" Jr asked, instantly relenting his anger at the two being gone all day and all night. "I guess that makes sense of where you have been." He said

"Is there a problem ?" Sutri asked him

"Nasty is missing, havent seen her since we arrived." Jr said as the three went back into the hotel and Brutus headed for the bar area of the lobby. The siblings went up the stairs as Jr spoke. "While you two were gone theres an increase in solder patrols in the city. And something weird is going on in the Pond District."

"Other then the Pond District being a place of magically occuring Hot Springs..." Sutri said giving her brother a look. He knew what she meant. "What else could be weird enough to happen there ?"

"Its quite possible someone is recruiting others, a huge influx of hovertrucks showed up this morning while you were gone, all of them went to the Pond District. From what I was able to see, they were filled with all sorts of people. Almost all of them Eagle of some kind." Jr said, he was sorely tempted to capture one and torture him with his shadow magic, but somehow thought better of it. The last thing he wanted was the kingdom coming down on him like a ton of bricks

"So we have new toys ?" Sutri asked as Jr explained the new arrivals that morning. "Why worry so much ?" Sutri sounded bored if Jr did not know any better. The woman collapsed into a chair in their apartment their brother had set up for them all to use. The reseidental floor he called it. "Whats your plan little brother ?"

"That woman you were talking with" Jr started, Sutri stared at him hard, oh shit somebody saw Lakota already ? "She might be a messenger for you or something, that's fine, but right now I'm tracking down Xeir Zith, dad's enemy. Mostly because I have nothing better to do., but when wqe came here two weeks ago, something was going on in the Galasia District. So I have been scouring it for information."

"Did you find anything ?" Sutri asked him, looking at her brother hard. "You have the look of someone who found something and wants to share it but is hesistant to share it."

Jr pointed at his sister. "That is true dear sister. I did indeed find what I was looking for, turns out witnesses saw Xeir Zith, Dads sworn enemy, fighting soldiers of the High Priest in the Galasia Districts main shopping area. The fight happened on the exact same night we arrived for that matter" Jr told her. "According to the witnesses, Xeir Zith fought dozens of soldiers before escaping on a train out of the district to somewhere else in the kingdom"

"Nothing of the former queen ?" Sutri asked him.

Jr shook his head. "Only that she's dead, according to my kobolds overhearing talk around the kingdom, Elsa is long dead, never coming back. Her husband, that big brute, Mark Wolfe, is a widower. And from what I hear tell, several women are crushing on him." Jr said before taking a seat and pouring himself a stiff drink.

"So whats the plan now ?" Sutri asked him.

"For now" Jr replied after a sip of wine "I plan simply to track down Xeir Zith, at least see what she looks like, see what her strengths are, what her weaknesses are. That sort of thing. She seems rather fond of four different women though, they look alike in how they dress and act, the only way I could tell them apart is the hairpins"

"Servant girls ?" Sutri mused

"Maybe" Jr shrugged, "I havent been able to tell much more about them, they look like twins, or even quintuplets or even quadrupetls. Like I said, their hair pieces tell them apart for me" He sipped the wine.

"Little brother. They're women, you'll never be able to tell much about them" Sutri smirked.

"What's that supposed to mean ?" Jr glared at her as she started laughing, he had no idea what she was getting at whatsoever. "You know what, nevermind. Its nearly midnight and I'm wide awake, I'm gonna take a walk and clear my head." Jr got up from the seat he had collpased in with his drink and headed for the door, but somehow it was Sutri's words that stopped him

"Father was in a odd mood today, and last night. It was scary. But it was also productive." She said, it sounded as if she and Taris received something. But no, the Runt couldnt receive anything new, not yet. So did that meant.

"Wait" Jr said, Sutri looked at him. "That woman outside, did Father... oh fuck, you got a Gift too. Right ?"

Sutri sighed, so much for that staying secret. She nodded. "Yes. Father taught me how to make Shadowlings of my own, you got Kobolds, Taris has her gosts, and Brutus... Brutus has his beer." Sutri said

"And you got Shadowlings. Huh" Jr said, he knew it was going to happen soon. He just did not expect that soon. "So that just leaves Nasty. Where is she anyhow ? We came in here, dropped our stuff, made plans, and she disappeared after dropping off her stuff. Nobody has seen her come in or leave if she ever did just that."

"Nasty is fine according to Father, its the High Priest and Wolf Queen we have to worry about" Sutri said to him

"Right right you said that be- wait what the fuck ? She is here too ?" Jr asked, a look of confused shock on his drunken face.

"Yup, Father was worried because Nasty made contact with her somehow, but now we dont have to worry. Because according to Father, the Wolf Queen cant even hope to match our magic skill, much less try to control us in any manner." Sutri said simply. "And yes, I got Shadowlings, that was my first one. That woman you saw me talking with outside"

"Huh" Jr said drunkenly. It made Sutri smirk at her brother. "So we have gifts, everyone but Nasty, I wonder what kind of gift Father would give to her ?"

"Jr" Sutri said simply, giving him a dirty look, the last thing he needed was to think himself into a stupor before bed

"Huh ?" He replied simply, his brain failing him for once

"Go to bed." Sutri told him, she herself stood up, she had a plan, and a lot to do at that moment. Jr sighed, shook his head and turned around, and promptly missed a step and crashed to the floor dead asleep. Sutri looked at the wine her brother drank, what was in that ?

"Did it work ?" Came a soft voice, that of Taris. Taris poked her head out from behind a nearby sofa.

"Yeah, he's asleep" Sutri said, "did you find anything ?" Taris stood as Sutri spoke

"Only that he's right, Xeir Zith was indeed in the Galasia District, disappeared on a train heading out of the district, to the West, towards Oslo at least, that was where the tracks went" Taris replied, setting the folder she had found in the dresser her brother used. Sutri cast a glance at it, then to her. "Relax when we're done getting a read over of this I'll put it back as if I never touched it"

Jr snored with the sound of someone cutting a log really slowly as Sutri opened the folder up. All sorts of notes in Draconic were to be had inside it. She could see that Jr was indeed telling the truth. "He got all this information over two weeks ?"

"Two weeks and today." Taris said, there were no pictures present, at least as far as either woman could tell. "Seems he was planning on gauging her strength, seeing what she can do, that kind of thing"

Sutri smirked, "I have to hand it to you, drugging our oiwn brother just to get into his information on Dads worst enemy."

"Well, Jr did speak the truth, we can be sure of that. I'll put this back into his stuff so he wont miss it." Taris said as she took the folder from Sutri who offered it to her.

"Good idea, and in the mean time I think I will get some sleep, get rid of the drugged wine though, Jr wont be happy to wake up on the floor though." Sutri said simply as she stood up. She sighed, "Even though we're both Dragons, flying in a Mortals method of transport makes me sleepy"

"That I never understand" Taris said, "How can humans get tired on a plane ? Those engines are loud" she hated flying in a human plane, if she could do it, she'd use shadows, or her newly experimented with Darkness Corridor. If she could figure out fully how it could work at least. It was just thinking of her new spell ability that made her smirk

Sutri spotted the smirk, and said "What is it now ?" Then she put two and two together and somehow got four dead on. "Wait, you're not thinknig what I think you are thinking ?"

"I might be, I want to experiment some more. Lets see if I can put Jr into bed, or at least on it ?" With that thought, Tairs formed a portal under Jrs sleeping body, he disappeared into it, the portal closed, less then a second later, Jr fell out of a portal that rent reality above his bed, falling flat onto his pillow.

Draco Jr never woke up, nor did he stop snoring. But it was a little more muffled

Sutri struggled not to laugh as Taris couldnt help but giggle like a child. "Well, what do you know. It worked." Sutri said, looking to her sister. "Can you do what dad said ? Teach us both ?"

"I can, but like I told Papa, I am still experimenting with it on my own, and also with Zendus help, and also just now Sleeping Beauty's help. I never thought it would work but somehow it did. I just wanted him in bed instead of in the doorway" Taris replied

"That is fine with me, long as I can learn it, the portal looks pretty enough. And also seems faster then shadow teleporting too." Sutri said, she was mostly right. It was really just a matter of opening the portal, going in, then opening the exit at the desired location and appearing through that

"Its mostly rather simple, but for it to be stable and solid, it takes a little bit of Light Magic, like the stuff holding dads body" Taris said, Sutri stared at her. "What ? So I adapted some of the magic that radiated onto us like the humans method of radiation. Only in this case it is more dangerous to us because of how pure it is."

"So the magic holding dads body that made me feel sick, you adapted it to make those portals ?" Sutri said, sh could still feel some effects on her body from that magic. Sutri smiled then. "Can you teach me ? Or should I wait for dad to start learning it too ?" Oh man that was a delimma that Taris did not want to think about.