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

26. Kiyori - Tears of Nothing: Chapter Six

Frozen Memories 1.8 Bridge

Hidden Past – Back Cover

Kiyori – Tears of Nothing

Chapter 6: Something You Could Never Imitate, part 1

9 November 2057

Arendelle

Yaeko Distrct

Sunrise

Xeir sat bolt upright in bed, "What a nightmare" she grumbled. She had seen two women go into darkness, and briefly saw a pair of coal red eyes staring from the darkness. The two women ? Clearly not the owners of those two coal red eyes.

She had seen them before. She remembered them clearly. Xeir had last seen such eyes on Draco, his eyes in the vision were a pale green and catlike slits. They were not wholly evil as they were right then however.

"Bad dream ?" Came the question, from Tiri laying on a pillow in a pile of ice nearby. Try as she might, Xeir never could get used to Tiri able to just turn into a harmless pile of ice. Aheh, harmless ?

"Yeah, it was just a nightmare" Xeir replied. It was the truth.

There was quiet for a long moment, then. "Care to talk about it ?" Tiri asked her. It was not the best question to ask.

Xeir was silent for a moment. She did not want to talk about it, but the more she thought about the more she felt she should. She sighed and spoke. "I saw two women, I had never met them before, they met a third woman and then, disappeared into shadows with the third one. And then right after that. Two coal red orbs about the size of a mans head each. They stared right at me" Xeir said

"I see" Tiri replied, two coal red eyes. Where had she seen such a thing before ? Oh thats right. "Well fuck" Tiri said simply when the realisation hit her.

"What ?" Xeir asked giving her sister a worried look. It had to be the first time Tiri swore

"Draco was in the simulation. He kinda ruined a few things too, but he appeared to me as coal red eyes about the size of my head" Tiri explained what had happened in the simulation, "Even though it was a computer generated world to wake you up. It felt so real when I joined in to help wake you up."

"So here we are now" Xeir mused aloud. She rolled her legs over the side of the bed and sat up, setting her hands on the bed she sat there a moment in thought. Something bothered her.

"Shouldnt you be asleep ? You're normally dead to the world about now" Tiri said, she was right, Xeir normally went to bed very late at night, and woke up just past noon if not around noon back in Lights Palace. At least before the wedding, before their egg. Tiri then had a thoughtful murr from her pile of ice bones.

"What is it ?" Xeir asked looking to the pile of ice that was her best friend and sister, her old self really.

"Do you remember the egg ? Your egg with Kalda ?" Tiri asked, it was a hesitant question. And yet it had to be asked. As much as Xeir did not want to answer. She sighed. "Look I know its a hard to answer question but, still. I feel we need to find out, did the egg hatch, did it get destroyed ? Was it found ? What happened to it ? All I can remember is hitting the ceiling, and then fleeing after Draco" Tiri said softly

"Well, I try not to think about it, but I think I made Draco mad when I collapsed the cave where the egg was. I had a dream about it before I woke up in that bed in the old manor." Xeir cast her gaze to the red shard nearby on the nightstand. "I wonder what other memories this thing has ?"

"Possibly none good as far as I can guess" Tiri grumbled. "Ever since you got it you never let it out of your reach. I think its growing on you. Greedy ?" Tiri seemed to be looking towards Xeir as she spoke, but Xeir could also sense the tone of humor in Tiris voice.

"No, more like protective. Also confused." Xeir replied as she got up from the bed and got dressed, shifting briefly to fully scale covered as she took off her nightgown and put on a more comfortable dress. It felt oddly cool that morning and she was chilly. So the dress was of a thicker material and was similar to the dress Xeir had nearly lost in the street fight with the soldiers. A few weeks before.

"What ?" Xeir asked as Tiri chirped something

"Getting cold ?" Tiri asked her

"Maybe I am." Xeir replied before getting back into bed with a much warmer night dress on.

"You're worried arent you ?" Tiri asked

"Yes" Xeir said truthfully.

"Worried you might have another nightmare" Tiri more like a statement said. Again Xeir nodded. "Would it make you feel better if I slept in bed with you ?"

"No, I'll be fine, Draco's dead. Its nothing to worry too much about" Xeir had told both Tiri and Blackmane about the vision she had two weeks before. Xeir laid back down and snuggled under the covers.

Tiri smiled, or at least Xeir felt her smile. "You're right, Dracos dead, we killed him after all." Tiri said, it was true, Tiri and Xeir were one person when they fought Draco, and won, but they never saw what Light did to him, never knew what Light did to him infact.

So Tiri was as in the dark as Xeir was when it came to what was really going on. Kethend was safely gone, Draco was safely gone, all that was left was to find what happened to their egg. "You know" Tiri mused as Xeir started to drift back to sleep "Its possible the egg hatched somewhere. If you like, I have some contacts outside of Arendelle, I can find out where the egg was found or if it hatched after being found through them, if you want"

Xeir smiled as she stared at the ceiling. For long moments she was quiet. Tiri alomost thought she had gone back to sleep. Finally Xeir said "That would be nice, Alright, Tiri, if I am not awake in four hours, find your contacts, find my Egg, find my daughter, or at least news of her"

"Sure, now, rest easy, me" Tiri said to Xeir, the two then drifted into a dreamless sleep.

"Good night Tiri" Xeir said as she drifted into sleep.

Arendelle

Galasia District

at that same moment

Nara rolled off from the grip of sleep, it was sunrise, and normally he was awake in time for breakfast, but sunrise was sooner then it used to be ? It did not make sense, at least, not to him. Staring at nothing but sky, Nara mumbled "Why am I awake ?" He had forgotten that he had been on guard duty the night before when Diamond joined him. After which he had shortly passed out with a very heavy thud to the rooftop and slept like a dead rock.

Naratas made to get up, but a weight kept him from moving, looking down, or rather towards his chest he saw why. Diamonds beautiful head of white hair filled his vision, He saw Diamond asleep, her hand on his chest, and then her face pressed against her hand. Nara couldnt help but smile as he watched his wife's quiet breathing as she slept.

He then relaxed, staring at the brightning sky. "Alright Ma, whats your plan ?" Naratas asked to nobody, meaning Light, if she could hear him as he stared at the sky. Something just did not feel right at that moment, and it soon became clear as Diamond awoke with a shriek from a seemingly bad nightmare.

Nara reacted and helped Diamond focus "Dia, Dia its me, its me calm down, its alright" Diamnond's sleep adled brain thought she was still asleep. "Its alright, its me, Look at me, look at me, calm down. You're OK" His hands held her face, making her look at him as he spoke.

"Nara ?" Diamond asked, Only he and Xeir used her nickname like that. Diamond sighed in relief. "Oh thank Mother you're alive! It was just a nightmare" They were on the rooftop, a blanket was laid mostly on the roof and off the rooftop mattress they had slaid on during the remainder of the night.

"Did you have a bad dream my dear ?" Nara asked her, a soft smile on his face.

"Yes, more like a nightmare vision." Diamond replied, she explained it then. "It was dark at first. Then two women showed up. And spoke with a third. Then the initial two went and knelt before another being. But the actions of the two women, I think they were sisters, and I think one of them looked familiar." Diamond said, meaning Taris, she had seen Taris once before, a long long time ago, around the time Xeir and Kalda got married.

"What do you make of it my dear ?" Nara asked

"I think they were His children." Diamond replied. Nara looked at her in a concerned expression on his face.

"But Draco is dead, isnt he ? Light said that Xeir killed him." Nara replied, they had all been told by Light never to reveal the truth to Diamond or Xeir, Diamond of course was not present at the fight until well later when Xeir was healing from it.

"Then who were the two women speaking to, if that was the one girl I remember from the time Kalda bombed that pub in the Pond District..." Diamond said, then she realised it. "Impossible, its impossible, he must be dead!" Diamond said.

"What ?" Nara asked her.

"Lets say, just for the sake of argument that Draco is alive somehow, but not entirely alive, but not entirely dead either. And those two women, the one I recognised and the other with her, were speaking to his spirit somehow ?" Diamond said

"Possible, but highly unlikely, but its also possible that Kiyori is on your brain and you need somebody to place the blame on... dont hit me!" Nara said as Diamond gave him a funny look.

"Alright lets look at it this way" Diamond said laying down, once more using Naratas' chest for a pillow. "What if Draco is dead, and the two women are able to contact him, or someone like him, or maybe even his spirit ?"

"You did mention their mother was banished for killing Xeir, right ?" Nara asked

"Yeah, why ? Only Mother knows where she got sent. And nobody knows where Mother even is to begin with." Diamond said while giving her husband a confused look. What was he getting at ?

Nara sighed, then nodded, "Yeah that is a problem, I suppose if we find DiT maybe she could help ?" Nara said, then he remembered "Oh wait, I forgot, we tried to search the old farm house and Mark landed in the koi pond outside." He said, so much for finding DiT.

"Mother is missing, Draco might still be alive somehow, or maybe banished ? You know Mother cant exactly kill, right ?" Diamond mused

"Mother can do many things, but one of the things I have indeed seen her done is kill. Draco is dead, I saw it myself. Xeir did it when her sword exploded in his stomach" It was mostly true, but Diamond did not have the need to disbelieve her beloved husband. "Dia, look at me, we dont have to worry, you do not have to worry, Draco is dead."

"But what about Tiri ?" Diamond then asked

"What about her ?" Nara asked, he hadnt been told the story of how Tiri was born. So once Nara was told by Diamond how Tiri was born, he smiled. "Oh that is easy, Xeir willingly cast aside her old body to be reborn as her Nothing. From what I remember, Tiri made a deal with DiT to not rejoin with Xeir when Xeir woke up. DiT honored the deal."

"And Draco ?" Diamond asked

"When Xeirs sword exploded in his stomach, the last thing I saw was Xeir throwing a ball of Light Magic at the explosion epicenter. After that I saw stars for about ten minutes because I got hit with something, I blame Kanwar, and the next thing I saw was Light and Kanwar rushing to Xeirs side to help her heal. Draco, body and all, were nowhere to be seen." That in and of itself was the entire truth, Diamond was not present when Draco and Xeir fought.

"So Draco is dead" Diamond said, it was just a bad dream. She laid against Nara as he hugged her. Within moments Diamond had fallen back asleep.

Unknown Time

Unknown Place

A being sat at a computer alone. Keys clicked as they were touched. Apparently the person seated there knew what they were doing. Able to find and search for what was needed at the right time.

A memory filtered through the womans mind. The ground was ravaged, mountains torn asunder. Everything was ruined in that realm. Nobody wanted such a battle to occur, and yet it was to be.

Draco was slain. Xeir laid upon the floor against a pillar as Kanwar rushed to the fallen Silver Dragons side. Light ensured ther ground was clean as a Force Dragon, DiT Remebmered him, Nara, had shielded his face from the explosion of raw power that Xeir had thrown at the explosions core. Magnifying the blast.

Or so Light had everyone believe. In truth, what Nara heard and believed so clearly. Was the fact that Light banished Draco, forced his soul from his body and sealed away the body in such pure magic, Nara quite literally believed that Draco was dead. That Xeir killed him when her sword exploded in his stomach.

DiT smiled, it was the best thing that had happened she mused. She had the information she needed. She finished what she had to do on the computer and then shut it off. The digital laser system was ready for use, this time to send those seeking information to the right place instead of the koi pond. Though what made her laugh seeing the replay was the fact that it was Mark Wolfe, Kalda, of all people, who went through first, and ended up in the koi pond of all places. It did not make a lot of sense either, but it was nice seeing the boy get a good bath.

Leaving the computer room, DiT walked to a door, it slid open without a sound. Shoes clicking upon the glasslike tile floor she entered a large circular structure and went down a ramp.

Kethend had been quite useful...

"What information could I possibly give you ?" Kethends voice echoed in the chamber as the memory formed around the robed woman

"You can tell me exactly your husbands current plans" Light replied

"For one thing I do not know what you did with his body, but I do know that he planed to go where it all started. To plan and think. That was also where we had our children" Kethend replied.

Light did not know it but she was mostly lying. But Light also knew that Kethend could only tell her so much.

"Do you know where he is now ?" Light asked her, giving her a careful look.

"No" Kethend replied, it was the truth, she had no idea where the nest was after the children had hatched. They had to be moved, and Draco and She had used the shadows to ensure the transportation was safe. "We always used portals to enter and leave, I do not ever recall where the place would be located."

The memory faded as DiT came to a door, it slid apart allowing her to enter, as she stepped through the door slid closed without a sound. Her heels clicked upon the floor as she walked along the rows of doors, each one carefully locked with a dozen locks plus magical spells.

Coming to a door at the end of the hall, DiT tpyed a code into the glass of the wall, the door faded open. DiT stepped inside the spartan room. Stepping to the single chair in it, DiT sat down. Energy powered the room from the chair.

An evil sword laid on the floor. "It has been too long, Old Friend" DiT said simply to the ancient sword that danced with shadows.

Arendelle

Yaeko District

Just before noon

Xeir woke up. Finally a dreamless sleep. Tiri was nowhere to be seen. Getting up from bed the room was chillier then normal as Xeir wrapped herself in a robe. "Tiri ? Zen ? Tie ? Anyone ?" Xeir called out

"Good morning Madam" Zen called as she brought in the food for a late breakfast early lunch. Brunch most called it. "Lady Tiri said she had something she needed to do, and you have a guest."

"A guest ?" Xeir asked

"Yes, Lady Blackmane wishes to speak to you, she says it is urgent." Zen replied

"Should I get presentable ?" Xeir asked, already running a hand through her messy bedhead of hair.

"Lady Blackmane looks no better, I do not think it will be an issue." Zen replied, that made Xeir smile.

"Thank you Zen, please allow Blackmane to come in." Xeir said. Zen nodded and took her leave, about a moment later even while Xeir tried in vain to make her hair look presentable, Blackmane stepped into the room.

"Good morning, Xeir" Blackmane said upon seeing her, she went right to the table and sat down, getting right to the point. "I need your help"

"Please by all means, tell me what this is about ?" Xeir said in reply as she ate her late breakfast. "I have slept through breakfast, please dont mind that"

Blackmane smiled at mention of breakfast. She had finished hours before. "Can you still open portals to anywhere ? I need to get in touch with my niece and her brother." Blackmane said

"Depends entirely on where they are and if I had been there" Xeir replied. Of course Xeir had been to many places through the years.

"China, last I recall they were in Beijing at the Imperial Palace helping Georgina, a friend of your Nothing" Blackmane said, Xeir nodded, she remembered Georgina quite well, it seemed her Nothing had made many friends. "Free China from Templar opression. My nephew, Mark, came up with a genius plan and I think it will work, but we need Draconic magic to open such a long distance portal" Blkackmane explained.

"To open a portal to make contact, or have it as a two way gate ?" Xeir asked, she knew how to do just that but was not sure if she had the magical strength to do it.

"Exactly" Blackmane said in reply

"I dont follow" Xeir said with a confused expression. Blackmane smiled

"It's easy, for right now we only are going to try and at least make contact, see if they can come to us. And if they can and are ready, we make it a two way gate." Blackmane said.

"How many would be coming or going ?" Xeir asked around a bite of scrambled eggs and bacon.

"Just two, my niece Topaz, and her brother, Lazul." Blackmane said

"Nobody going ?" Xeir asked, Blackmane shook her head. "When do you want to try and make contact ?"

"Now if we can." Blackmane said

"Shouldnt we wait until I am more presentable, or even yourself more presentable ?" Xeir asked her.

It was then that Blackmane explained the plan entirely, they needed to see if Topaz and her brother Lazul could return to Arendelle and aid them in spying on Kiyori inside the castle.

"How exactly will they get into the castle ?" Xeir asked

"Mark has a winged friend, said that she is already flying overwatch every morning, spying on the castle, but she cant get too close without getting noticed for long. So she somehow makes her shadow look like a massive eagle in the sky." Blackmane explained.

"I see. And this needs the portal why ?" Xeir asked, she knew the winged friend, Spike already was flying overwatch for her and reporting to her each morning of the previous days developments.

"Our resident winged supermodel as Mark called her, can only carry up to one other person as long as they are as big as a housecat, or two housecats at that size" Blackmane explained, "my niece Topaz, and her brother, Lazul are both Tigris like me, and their Tigris form is of full grown housecats, one a topaz white, the other a russian blue hue."

"So with them inside the castle that can give our reisdent Winged Supermodel information every morning of the previous days events once she deposits them at the castle ?" Xeir mused, Blackmane nodded. "Sounds like a plan." Xeir said in reply.

"So, can we at least make contact ?" Blackmane asked, she would do it, but she didnt have the magical strength that dragons had.

"Sure, what do they look like ?" Xeir asked, once Blackmane explained what her niece and nephew looked like Xeir used her magic to try and find them in China, two people matched exactly within half a minute of who they were looking for and the portal formed a smokey surface before turning into a open window in thin air.

"Aunt Blackmane ?" A voice asked, Blackmane saw Topaz looking at the smokey surface of what had to be a pond judging by how the angle of the view was. "Is that you ?"

"Yes, its me," Blackmane replied, "Where are you ?"

"A portal opened in a fountain here in the Imperial Palace, thankfully its just me and Georgina, but she had something she had to look into." Topaz replied

"How goes the liberation of China ?" Blackmane asked, clearly curious to how the removal of the Templars was progressing.

"Quite well, Georgina said it should be another month or so before China is fully liberated, the plan is to have a new reason to celebrate the Chinese New Year, fully liberated by then is the plan." Topaz replied

"So the portal is on the surface of water ?" Blackmane asked then judging by how Topaz was looking at Blackmane to begin with told her that much.

"Yes" Came the reply from Topaz. "Did something happen in Arendelle ?" Topaz then asked

"One could say that. But that is not why I am contacting you" Blackmane told her.

"Whats going on then ? Why contact me ?" Topaz asked, of all people to contact her, Blackmane was the least expected. Unless something dire had happened and Blackmane was the only one left to make the call ?

"I was hoping to contact both you and your brother actually" Blackmane said to her.

"Oh ?" Topaz asked, a curious kitten expression upon her face as her head tilted cutely in question. What did her aunt want them for ?

"You and Lazul have skills that we need." Blackmane said. "You can blame your cousin for it too."

Topaz facepalmed then, "What did Mark do this time ?" Topaz asked, a curious yet almost hilarious jokingly stern tone to her voice.

Blackmane just looked at her dumbly "Do you really want me to answer that ?"

Topaz thought for a moment then smirked, "Now that I really think about it" She finally said, "No. whats up ?"

"We need you and Lazul here, your cat forms are needed for sneaking duty. Have either of you brushed up on your cat stealth abilities ?" Blackmane told her the plan. With Topaz and Lazul able to get around as housecats, Kiyori would notice them sure, but he wouldnt know who they were. Cats can be noticed, and can also be entirely ghosts when the need called for it.

"I know I have, we had to do a lot of sneaking around to ensure we got to the Imperial Palace safely without being seen by the Templars controlling most of it." Topaz replied. She put a hand to her chin and thought a moment, tapping her lower lip. "I'm not so sure about Lazul though. It was mostly me and him doing scout work and me doing the direct assassinations."

"That's fine, so long as you dont mind heights" Blackmane said.

"You need Lazul and I to get into the castle of arendelle to scout around and report every morning. We can do that. The question is, how soon do we need to get ready to come to you ?" Topaz said, already working out how to get hold of her brother, Lazul. Then again Lazul already found a possible wife in China and he had only been there a year.

"Once I have confirmation that the two of you can do it I can tell Mark, then we can worry on him figuring out the best time to begin the infiltration. For now, pack a bag for a week worth stay. Tell Lazul the same, even if he doesnt want to, I can and will portal him to Marks bed or the pool in the backyard if I must" Blackmane said, that made Topaz smile. She remembered the threats that occasionally happened with Blackmane, normally time outs were landing in the pool or portaled to a bed for an hour.

"Hmm, it does not give much in the timeframe for much time to pack. But I think we can do it. I'll let Lazul know to expect your call and also pack. Talk to you then." Topaz said after a brief moment of thought. The portal connection broke, it wasnt strong enough, even through Xeirs draconic magic to send anyone through it.

There was no way Blackmane, even as a natural source of magic, could safely bring her niece and nephew both together from China to Arendelle. She normally did it very short distances. Like from the kitchen to the backyard pool, or from the backyard pool to a playpen bed.

But then with Xeir Ziths help, Blackmane knew she could safely bring her niece and nephew from China to Arendelle. The only thing was, she was only able to get in touch with Topaz at the time. She had no idea that Lazul had found a possible wife in China during his year long stay in the country as it was.

"Do you think it will work ?" Xeir asked her as the portal faded.

"I think so, I will talk to Mark. Since you know now what Topaz looks like, making a portal to get her safely to this room is easier now, yes ?" Blackmane said in reply, giving Xeir a curious look

Xeir nodded. "Very much so, Topaz also seems quite likeable" She told Blackmane. Topaz even though Xeir was recently reawoken, was still basically a kitten compared to Xeir in age, but they were also much closer in age then it appeared. After All, Xeir still was only human in appearance.

"How are the scales ?" Blackmane asked, briefly nodding towards Xeirs left arm, more scales had faded away as the burns healed, albiet slowly.

"Its healing, they're helping heal the burns" Xeir said, as Blackmane watched a pair of scales on Xeirs wrist seemed to fade to beautiful unblemished skin. "But its taking longer then expected." Xeir said, meaning the rest of the scales on her arm still had a long way to go. At least they werent covering her shoulder anymore.

"The burns will heal in time, quicker if you'd let me use some magic." Blackmane said

"No thank you, I will be alright." Xeir said, a soft smile on her face as Blackmane briefly pouted. Then smiled. "You hungry ?" Xeir asked, she offered some of her late breakfast to Blackmane, who shook her head

"I ate breakfast before coming here," Blackmane smiled, that was fine, all the more food for her then. Chowing down further the two began to plan. Mark still did not know who his aunt was meeting with, it was as if the place Blackmane was going was somewhere... else.

Arendelle

Talz District

The Brothel

At that same moment to A few minutes later

Mark did not much care for the brothel much, but they normally had the information he sought. The call girls that worked it were well known to not to try and flirt with him, and yet they also knew that Mark was a nice fellow when he needed to be. At that moment he really just needed someone to talk to. He had a strange night and did not get much sleep.

His mind was on Irie, and the only way he could get away from her was to talk to someone else, another woman more then likely. So he went to the Talz District, to the Assassin Brothel that was kept there.

Stepping inside Mark was greeted with a sight for sore eyes. The courtesans were meeting with clients, helping men with their needs, sounds of love was filtering from the various rooms upstairs.

"Master Wolfe" said the girl at the front desk. "What brings you to the Talz Brothel ?" She asked him, confused as why he was there, he rarely came looking like that

"I need one of your girls who is good, if not the best, at listening to a mans troubles." Mark said in reply. His haggard appearance spoke volumes and the girl, known as Rebecca thought a very brief moment. "Lets just say I am having... widower issues" He did not want to say the word, it made him feel the pain of not having Elsa within his line of sight ever again all the more clear.

"Ah, lady issues." Becca said, Mark just nodded. "Alright, I'll have Cota meet you in a room ?" Again Mark nodded. Bvecca went to the key controls and handed Mark a key. "Room 153, its on the second floor and it looks out over a nice pond, you'll be able to relax there"

"Thank you" Mark said as he gently took the offered key. "Once Cota arrives, I do not wish us to be disturbed except for lunch served" He said simply

"Of course, and welcome to the Talz Brothel. Cota will be right up." Becca said, Mark nodded another silent thanks and headed up a flight of stairs as Becca got on her phone. "Cota, its Becca at the front desk... yeah, Master Wolfe is here, he said he wanted to talk, maybe vent. Best be ready for a long morning... yeah, one fifty three... good luck, He didnt look too good." Becca then hung up the phone.

In the room as Mark unlocked the door. Mark could see a low table, two low chairs with it, a nice comfortable bed that he knew was not going to see much if any use from, him. The balcony just as Becca promised looked out over a very nice koi pond of a sort.

It made Mark briefly think of home in Egypt growing up. A nice large swimming pond. Serenity and him self swimming nearly constantly in it. Practing their sword skills and other abilities in the same shallows as well.

He found himself missing his own childhood. Except for the parts he did not want to remember.

Stepping to the railing of the balcony Mark looked out at the koi pond and its landscaping. Becca's boss, the guys who owned the place while under Assassin Control, a guy currently named as Jem, was a smart guy. Mark hadnt met the man as yet. But he admired his taste in landscaping.

The door opened as Cota entered, the girl, more an experienced yet still quite young woman, stepped inside the room and shut the door behind her, the door clicked locked. "Master Wolfe, is something troubling you ?" She asked, a strong Mongolian accept to her voice.

"Yes, something is" Mark replied from where he stood at the rail. "I miss Elsa, I miss my wife"

"So I gathered, Becca said you did not look good when you arrived, her assessment does not do you justice. I was expecting a forlorn widower. Not someone in your position" Cota told him as she joined him at the rail. "What troubles you ?" Mark turned to regard Cota, the woman was dressed as any common Courtesan of the Brothel, only much more modest and made the place feel more like a Tea House or well known Geshia House of some form as she spoke.

"Its complicated but I think because I lost Elsa. I might be falling in love with someone else" Mark didnt know it then, but Irie was spying on him lately at nearly all hours of the day. She hadnt really figured things out yet. But she was starting to get some ideas.

"You lost Elsa ?" Cota asked. "How could one lose the queen ? The two of you were married, Kiyori even oversaw the wedding." It was next to impossible for Elsa to go anywhere without Mark by her side.

"Yeah, he did, and now he's running things." Mark replied, Cota did not ask what Mark meant. But she knew he was troubled. For several hours Mark explained to Cota how he felt, he felt lost, alone. Confused. For the most part he missed Elsa greatly and wanted to have her back. But somehow he knew she was not coming back. There was just no way she could come back.

But Cota seemed to know some ideas to calm Mark down. Listening to his troubles she offered a few, all of them non sexual, solutions. Possible alternatives he could traverse if he wished. Soon however the conversation turned once again back to Elsa, and the fact she was never coming back. "You are alone. And yet also hesitant to take on another wife"

"I think the question is; should I take on another wife ?" Mark said to her. Cota smiled, she had an inkling of an idea.

"What does your heart tell you ?" She asked

"Nothing, my heart tells me jack shit" Mark said, he went from the balcony and fell into one of the low chairs. He pointed at his own head. "My mind is the issue, its a mess. I am a mess." Mark then went silent, to tell Cota what he was or not ? He chose to tell her. "Close the balconey door, would you ?" he asked her, when she had done so. "Come over here and sit down, you'll need to be seated when you hear this anyhow."

Once she had sat, Mark explained everything he could, Ending soon with "As far as I am aware there is a Eagle somedwhere in my mindscape, where he is, I do not know. Right now I have only met the dragon side, and the Tigris side."

He was in luck, because Cota was actually an Eagle by birth. Only in this case she was a more a gull then anything. So when Mark told her about what he was, she knew what he meant. "You have not yet found your Eagle self ?"

"Exactly, and I am unable to get in touch with my dragon self either. The Tigris self, that's easy but I am trying to keep that from happening lately." Mark said to her. The main reason was because of his close proximity to his cousin. The other reason was because of how horny the Tigris side was to begin with just by being around other women.

As far as Mark knew, he was the only guy in the Marketplace Den, he was not, thankfully so. He still had a few other guys to joke around with when not thinking about how to kill somebody, watching people suffer, or thinknig about killing people.

Infact if one did not know better,when Mark joked around with the other Assassins, one would naturally think he was just fine and nothing was wrong. But it was all a facade. Mark was good at showing no reaction to certain things. And one of them was, well. How things were going, he could put on a brave face. But for that moment he could not put on a brave face, with Cota, Mark could just let his wall drop and try to relax if that was possible with Kiyori pretty much breathing down his neck.

Fortunately, Cota was a good listener and she helped Mark keep his wits about him as he explained things. "Its possible that someone wants to put you out. And have someone else in your place. Or just have you eliminated entirely, either one more then likely." She said

"The high priest hit me with some weird kind of magic. After he did so I couldnt access or get in touch with my inner Dragon, around the same time I was able to get in touch with my Tigris side just fine. Its weird, its like the High Priest is trying to actively reduce me to a shell of my former self." Mark sighed at the horrifying thought. So far the High Priest was only a third of the way there.

But he would not get much farther then that.

"Well, what about the rumors ? And the search for a Heir to the throne ?" Cota asked him then

"That is what confuses me the most" Mark said, "For one, Sapphire Wolfe, she cant rule a kingdom, she'd be nothing more then a puppet Queen for whatever Kiyori has planned. I dont know this... Waterlight... woman, and most of the people I have seen commenting on the posters did not much like the look of her to begin with." Mark explained, he smiled then as he sat back in his chair. "At least Anna is safe."

"You mean Princess Anna ?": Cota asked, Mark nodded. Cota smirked. "That did confuse us when we saw the posters, why Princess Anna herself was a chosen Heir to vote on. Most of the girls think she would make a good leader."

"The problem is, Kiyori, the High Priest. The fucker needs to get taken out, somehow. Either on a date, or by a sniper. Either will do. Though personally I would much rather prefer the sniper" Mark said with a snicker, which earned a smile from Cota. Mark looked at her then. "So, why the name Cota ? Is that your real name or a stage name ?"

"My birth name, yes" Cota replied, so it made her Mongolian, that made her the third maybe fifth Mongolian he had met. In this case Taichar, his wife Altun, then Sharka and his wife Altan, and now Cota.

Mark did not press for details, instead he sighed and tried to relax as lunch was soon brought up. Had it really been six hours since he had arrived there ? Mark had only gone so far as it was. He'd left the Den around sunrise, so now he was hungry.

Cota then asked "Have you eaten ? I can have lunch set up for us if you wish." She said, Mark nodded at the offer of food

"Yes, and thank you" He said simply. The lunch was brought in and they ate in quiet for about an hour. After he was done eating, Mark sipped at his wine thoughtfully. There were still so many thoughts and ideas going through his head. "Cota, do you have a sponsor ? Are you a member of the Brotherhood ?"

"To the first question, no, I do not. Though many have offered. I turned them all down. And yes, still an iniate level." Cota looked at him. "Why do you ask ?"

"I need someone I can trust to spy on Kiyori's nobles, they still come here dont they ? They come here and use the Brothel for its, services to relieve stress ?" Mark said, giving Cota a funny look as the woman finally got what he was saying, she started to nod. "If I can have someone here getting information, and you were sponsored, it would only make sense if by being sponsored, say by me. You can see me freely when I come in here."

He looked at her. "What do you think ?"

Cota was quiet for a brief moment before she smiled and nodded again. "I think it makes sense. With you sponsoring me I can easily go to the palace... no not the palace. Where are you staying ?"

Mark shook his head at mention of the palace, "No, not the palace. I am staying in the Marketplace District, we have a Assassin Den there, you cant miss it when you know what to look for." Mark said. He smirked "So its settled then. I sponsor you, and you can get me the information from Kiyoris nobles. In the end, you get promoted a few ranks the more info you get me."

The offer of promotion made Cota slightly confused. "What ?" She asked, "How can you promote me, I do not recall being told there was a Mentor in Arendelle"

That was where Mark smiled. "My aunt, Blackmane, she stayed in Arendelle when the rest of the Assassins mostly my family, went to China to help free it." He explained. "But Aunt Blackmane, my cousin, Irie, and my aunts sisters Vaeyuko and Shadowmane all remained in Arendelle, in hiding of course so Kiyori wouldnt find them." But then Blackmane didnt care if she was found or not, Kiyoris men couldnt find her. And then Vaeyuko got modeled for a year.

"And during the last year, where were you ?" Cota replied

Mark was not sure how to answer that, but he said "Sleeping"

"Where ? Cold storage ?" Cota asked, it made Mark laugh, Cota just looked at him. "What did I say ?" Mark was laughing too hard to answer. For a good minute Mark laughed before finally composing himself and calming himself down a bit. It was just too funny really.

But it did not matter. No what mattered was information. "Look, when you get the information, go and see my aunt, ask for Blackmane at the den and she'll give you the promotion." Mark told her, Cota nodded.

The two talked further on things well into the afternoon

Arendelle

Kreen District

3 PM

Kreena paced as the spider before her remained silent after giving her report. "the last thing I want is for Kiyori to figure out we are hoarding the food against our wills." She grumbled. Kiyoris soldiers were incredibly close to finding the storehouse of food had Fuiu not alerted the other Spiders in the area to mask the door as a plain wall. "Have we heard anything from the Queens husband ?"

"No" Spyder replied, if they had, they'd know what to do by then. "Fuiu however said that Diamond is ready should the need arise. Kiyoris magic wont work against her or us." Spyder said

"Dragon magic is a powerful thing, small wonder Mark Wolfe figured our issues out." Kreena mused. Finally she stopped pacing and collapsed into her chair. The day was long as it was. And she was starting to get nervous. "What do your Little Eyes tell us ?" She asked to Spyder

Spyder smiled, "I saw through them a few small issues, two of them are nobles. They like to use a nearby Brothel in the Talz District. They also reported a strange large shadow overhead every morning as well, always in the same area too."

Kreena smirked. "Figures, someone is flying overwatch on the palace not knowing we have eyes and ears inside already. Anything else ?"

"Only that Kiyori has plans to pay the Kreen District a visit, and soon. His goal is to try and take over the Centeral Cathederal." Spyder reported, Kreena looked at her, and for a brief moment, Spyder thought she had spoken out of turn. But instead, Kreena shook her head. "Was it something I said ?"

"No, it is not what you said, it is the very fact that Kiyori will try for the Centeral Cathederal soon. Do we have a day that he plans to make the attempt ?" Kreena asked.

"As of now, my Eyes cannot get to see the maps of his plans. But they're working on it. The cleaning staff in the castle are meticulus." Spyder replied. There was disgust in her voice.

Kreena thought a moment, then said "Spyder, sit down before you fall down, you look ready to collapse, have you been able to get enough sleep recently ?" she looked at the woman carefully. Spyder truthfully shook her head. "Hmm, Spyder, I want you to do this as your next assignment. Go rest, get a full night of sleep. alright ?" Spyder nodded and all but fell into a chair nearby. "In the mean time, have your Eyes instead look for news of new comers and the origins of the shadow each morning. So for right now, let your Eyes watch, and you get some rest."

"Yes My Lady" Spyder said, "Will that be all ?" She pulled herself to her feet.

"For now, yes, get some rest, dont begin your new task until after you had a good night of sleep, you may go now if you wish" Kreena said, Spyder nodded and took her leave

"Thank you, Lady Kreena, I will try and sleep in my apartment." Spyder told her, "In the case I might be needed, that is where I will be." Kreena nodded and Spyder left the throneroom that belonged to the Kreen Districts Lord. The Kreen District trusted Anna. So when Kreenas representative sent to the meeting had returned with the three posters, it was clear who would be voted for when the time came.

Spyder walked through the halls and various courtyards, briefly lost entirely in her thoughts, her sleep deprived brain had briefly come up with an idea, and then there was another idea after that which contridicted the initial idea entirely. But she didnt care, a Spider skittered into view and she held out her hand, easily jumping from the wall to her hand, the spider seemingly farted in Spyders hand and some web spat out of its spinner. It was a missive. Reading it Spyder couldnt help but smile.

Several nobles of Kiyoris inner court were taken by a few of the courtesans in the Talz District. Kreena could use that to her advantage. Spyder kept walking away from Kreenas rooms and home and the spider spun another web, this time one filled with questions. Where were they going, and if Spyder herself was alright.

"I'll be alright little one, I am just in need of some good sleep really. Lady Kreena insisted I get some rest while you and the other Eyes continue to watch and note things." Spyder said as she mounted the steps leading to her apartment on the second floor of a six level tower of a sort. The doors parted after a brief moment before closing after she entered.

The bed was a simple thing, the interior of the structure was mostly spun webbing, the walls were a silk smooth 'paint' which was really just web. Each wall was formed with the stuff. It was good sound proofing too. Spyders shoes seemingly fell off as she neared her bed and fell onto it.

Within the Kreen District Cathederal, two Spiders stood at attention as Lady Kreena herself had left the throne room only scant moments after Spyder had do so, she needed to check on things. The main area of the well kept cathederal was designed in such a manner to be seen as a place where worship occurred. Which some in the District did indeed to, praying and giving thanks to their Districts namesake, Saint Kreen.

Some of the Kreen District believed that Saint Kreen had been reborn as Lady Kreena, who was named after Saint Kreen by her parents. And when she had asked about it, she was told she was named after Saint Kreen because of a dream. But it did not make sense and she was their daughter so she didnt pry for further information.

Seeing their lord before them, the two Spiders at the door stood at attention. "How are the workers ?" Kreena asked, "Have measures been taken to protect their work if and when Kiyori tries to take over the Cathederal ?"

"Measurements are in place, Kiyoris men have tried to enter, but only got ensnared by web traps" Came the reply, Kreena smiled, perfect. So far everything was working as it was supposed to, but something gnawed at her like a dog on a bone.

"Have the young transfer until further notice, to the Galasia District to be with Fuiu, as soon as Kiyori is properly dealt with the young may return here as if they had never left" She said,

"As you command" Came the reply, that made Kreena feel better. Much better.

Arendelle

Turntao District

4 PM

"I told you Sharka, I trust you. After what you told me about your previous offer from Hans and his brothers. There's only two of Hans brothers who would love to see hans killed or thrown out or made a mockery, its hard to tell" Anna told Sharka as the two walked along, they had two younger recruits into the Kopekh with them as they walked

"Which is what worried my wife at first, Altan, but she trusts you, you are, after all, the Princess of Arendelle" Sharka replied.

Anna looked at him as they walked along. Seemingly patrolling the Turntao District, the gothic emo district as Mark termed it two years or so before. He was tasked with liberating it from Templar rule, and now, it was in Kiyoris grasp, which was strange truth be told. Strange enough to award the Kopekh themselves to explore it. Kiyori didnt much care of the Taelieon District, but he did care of the other districts, and the gothic punk feeling of the Turntao District had drawn Sharkas attention. Which was oddly strange for Anna, she had never been there before. So this visit was her first time there.

And yet something nagged at them both. It was not often that Anna ventured out of the castle, and when she did however. Well, she mostly went to the Galasia, the Talz, or the Market Districts, as Mark ventured out and freed more districts from Templar control Elsa also ventured out, but Anna rarely went beyond the Talz District or the Marketplace district

"Something troubling you, Princess ?" Sharka asked as they walked along

"Yes" Anna replied "I feel like we're being watched, and I dont like it"

"I agree." Sharka said, he turned to the two with them. "Spread out and find the other patrol, we're supposed to have others to meet us here and I see no sign of them" He said, the two men nodded and left. Sharka then turned and with Anna they continued their walk together. Just the two of them. Sharka and Anna never heard the muffled screams of his suddenly captured men.

But they did hear sounds of brief fighting. There was a reason this district was so silent. Most of the models they found were of the district's local jail. So they moved in that direction. It was seemingly deserted except for two Turntao soldiers keeping watch as Sharka eased t othe corner and peeked around, but Anna recognised the colors, "Those are Kiyoris men" She said as Sharka and she looked at them from around a corner.

"Now how do you know that ?" Sharka asked her giving her a confused look.

"I recognise the colors, for the brief time I was with Sapphire in the Honor Guard as a cover" Anna said, she poiinted them out. "If we can get past them without them seeing us, we can find out more ?" She asked then to Sharka.

"Possible, I havent seen anyone else, in terms of soldiers, just those two." Sharka mused thoughtfully. "But if they are Kiyoris colors, then its also possible they tangled with my patrol, getting past them wont be easy." Sharka said as he rubbed at his chin thoughtfully.

Anna sighed. "What should we do ?" She asked him

"There's no easy answer, lets go find my men and get back to the Taelieon District" Sharka said, Anna nodded, the two left the area and headed back to where the two younger Kopekh members had left them.

There was no sign of them, nor was there sign of Kiyori or his men, and yet Anna had the nagging feeling he was present somewhere had Anna on edge. "Something is wrong" Anna said softly.

"I agree, Princess. Stay close to me." Sharka drew a pistol, after making sure it was loaded he scanned the intersection. "Looks clear to me." He said, though he spotted something. "Oh wait, watch yourself" he said, the two ducked into a pottery shop. As the soldiers went by, Sharka noticed their armor, but then also noticed something else. "Those arent Kopekh." He said, his tone hard. "They foul the armor"

"There's nothing we can do about it right now, not with just the two of us" Anna said, as much as she hated to do it, someone had something set up in that district in order to make clones or steal items off others. "Lets get out of here while we still can"

"Right." Sharka sighed, putting away his gun he activated a portal to his home. "Right this way my lady" He said to Anna, offering a hand to her. "Please watch your step, that first one is a doozy" It made Anna smile.

Arendelle

Yaeko District to Turntao District and back

Five hours later

Xeir was restless. Rarely was she this agrivated in any manner and Tiri knew it. Tiri had been busy, recruiting, overseeing, and learning. Xeir had used the ruby shard of the star she had found to try and find out what it was for. But her efforts were useless.

And now her mind wandered heavily, she needed to get out and about, to explore. To find out what was going on around her in Arendelle. If her Nothing was indeed the queen, then at some point her Nothing had been among her people as if nothing was wrong ?

Or maybe her Nothing had gone among her people in order to see how the kingdom fared, what people thought of her as Queen ? Xeir smirked and snarled briefly. Scales shivering upon her skin as she thought of her Nothing being a queen. It was impossible for a bodiless Soul to survive so long, thirty three years was still a long time on its own. Xeir snorted again, looking to her dragon scaled arm.

Jarius had given her back something she had lost ages before in her fight with Draco, his death, the result, her left sword broken in half, if not shorter. Xeir sighed, why was she upset ? Why was she so in need of action ?

She smirked as magic danced upon her fingertips. "Of course, it has to be magic related ?" She mused aloud. "Zen!" She called out. The Sparrow arrived. "I am going out this evening, let the others know not to wait up for me, but to keep the place clean, I feel restless and I want to take a walk. Dont worry, I will alright" Xeir told the Sparrow, who then nodded and went to tell her sisters as Xeir snagged up her swords.

Briefly she felt their weight, the beautiful blades danced and felt perfect, if not better then perfect. The magic she had used to make them in her dream... was it a dream ?

She couldnt rememgber now, was it a dream or a memory that she had made her swords in that ancient vault ?

Did it matter ?

Putting both blades where they belonged upon her belt, Xeir smiled, she felt whole again, something she had not felt in a long long time. But there was still something missing as she left the room, turning briefly to regard the empty bed.

She was married, until Kethend took away her beloved husband. So Xeir had retaliated, and took Kethends husband from her. And then there was the issue with Draco finding where she had kept her nest, and the collapse of the roof.

That in itself was the reason for their fight.

Draco knew and understood the need to have a mate, the need to have offspring to continue ones bloodline. But to destroy the egg, Dracos mother had done that to his own siblings, somehow he survived her wrath. And seeing another dragon do what his mother had done only infuriated him further against the Silver.

But Xeir did not care, she did not want Draco to know where her egg was kept. So to force him out, she collapsed the ceiling of the nest.

But something told her in her heart the egg was safe. The child within, their daughter, was safe, somewhere. She could somehow feel it in her heart. Her daughter was alive, somewhere.

She left the courtyard house and headed into the kingdom, she wanted to take a walk, get her mind off some issues. And somehow found herself wandering into the Galasia District, even at night the districts never slept if at all. So it allowed a sense of certain satisfaction to the point wherein most would think her slightly strange with how her arm looked all scaled as it was, as if heavily tattooed.

But Xeir paid no heed to those who were staring or giving odd looks as she wandered the District before entering the Turntao District from the Galasia District.

Not many knew exactly where Xeir really came from, or where their last queen came from. But they did know they had a Queen at one point the year before. Xeir herself could remember her Nothing making vacation plans with her husband, a year away.

Was it a bad idea ?

If it was, why did everyone forget them all ? Herself, Diana, Mark and Princess Anna, the four of them, how could the entire kingdom forget them ?

Xeir came to a halt near some models within the Turntao District, unaware she was being watched by a dark haired scarred woman. Unlike Waterlight, Nasty had watched how the magic of the models worked, and all day long, the High Priest was seeming to harvest soldiers for a plan later down the line. More and more soldiers got sucked into the models.

But Nasty had a plan, she was tempted to break those models, get the soldiers freed, she recognised a few of them. But she didnt care. She had gotten her set of orders from her father, Observe everything, learn the weaknesses.

But there was also the problem of the woman who called herself the Wolf Queen, an ancient woman who had a undead Wolf for a companion, who could transform into a rather elegant man named Halen.

Nasty did not like the look of either of them, and treated with them lightly. To the point of threatening to neuter the wolfman thing before heading away from them. Nasty was smarter then to get tangled with the ancient Necromancer. But it was not a bad thing really. Nasty had learned a few of Ingrids own weaknesses.

But she had yet to tell her father that. She did not want to ask directly for a reward either. But Nymeth and Belyrr, her fathers third and fourth Shadowlings ever made, had gotten in touch with her, they seemed oddly excited to do their thing and work with her. But never said why other then that her father was suddenly on edge, and worried for her and her brothers.

Or rather her and her brother. Brutus was the Family Drunk Tank, absolutely hammered, Draco had basically given up on his now raw alcohol son. Brutus had drunk so much alcohol through his lifespan it had transformed him inside and out, his magic, it was not shadowmagic anymore, it was just sheer raw alcohol.

Somehow, Brutus had friends in incredibly high places.

Jarius was helpful too. But Nasty was more concerned with what was going on in front of her. She watched a woman dressed in white and pale gold, along with black stop near one of the models that Nasty had seen Kiyori shrink people to put them into.

Apparently their silent screams were unheard, or were they ? Xeir heard them, or at least her magic had. Looking aty the model as it began to smoke as she neared it, Xeir smiled. Reaching out her hand towards the model she blasted it with raw pure light magic.

She had gotten better with her aim too, the model itself was the target, originally her magic was too strong and had also rendered the brickwork around the base of the models dias to turn into golden brick. Pure gold quite literally.

But she had learned over time how to focus her magic. Like her Nothing learned to focus her snow and ice magic. So now only the model itself was damaged.

Smoke poured from the models rooftop. Soon golden bits of fire spread upon the rooftop. Two men appeared behind Xeir with a sudden POP noise before calltering to the ground. Both men were that Xeir could see, Mongolian in their very nature. Turning to them she saw another model. Throwing a brief ball of magic at it, the patroil the initial two were sent to find also returned back into normal human sized Men and women, landing in a heap.

Nasty smirked from her hiding place. So that is the weakness to those traps! She thought. Hmmm, that gives me an idea! Nasty smirked again and snuck away unseen. Nasty had plans to make.

None of the two groups Xeir had just freed noticed Nasty whatsoever as Xeir helped them to their feet. "Are you well ?" She asked them

"Thanks to you, yes" Said one of the two men she initally freed first. When he saw who he was looking at he realised who she was. "Lady Xeir!" He tried to drop to a knee in homage, but she grabbed his arm to keep him on his feet. He looked at confused as to why she was not allowing him to kneel then he realised, even in the stories she refused such praises. Right there and then she was merely a felow citizen of Arendelle like he was.

Or rather, in this case, they were both visitors to the kingdom as a whole. Of course Xeirs Nothing, the former Queen of Arendelle, Elsa, was long gone. But the Kopekh did not enter Arendelle until six months before, and had always thought that Xercine was the head guy of the kingdom even though the Great Mother's insisted otherwise

"You know me ?" She asked to the young man. She had no idea who he was, but he knew of her at the very least

"Yes. Well, about you. Stories told to the Kopekh over the ages about a fair and gentle lady known by her strength and purity, and also by the fact that she wears twin swords, and also is a Silver Dragon. The Great Mothers spoke fondly of you, stories their mother, our Great Root from which the Kopekh sprung from told them." The young man replied.

"Who are your... Great Mothers was it ?" Xeir asked him.

"Yin, and her twin sister, Yang, the daughters of Kamerilah." Came the reply

Xeir smiled. Without thinking about what she was doing she hugged the young man. Much to his shock. But the man relaxed less then a heartbeat later, the two hugged briefly.

"Thank you for getting us out of there" The second of the two man patrol said to her. "My name is Nekhii, this is my brother in arms Aruchi, our sister is Kara, shes in the patrol there"

"It is a pleasure to meet you both. If I recall correctly, your Great Mothers, as you call them, were good fighters, devils in battle, was that true ?" Xeir asked them. Well of couse the twin daughters of Kamerilah were deadly and skilled fighters! What else would they be ?

"That's right" Said Aruchii with a nod. The young man's dreadlocked hair was shorter then Nekhii. And when Xeir was pointed out to Kara, she had noticed the long thin braids in her hair as well, but their braids were all woven with a ribbon denoting their membership, and family linage. Each Kopekh member had a distinct family tree they followed.

The Wolfe Branch in Mongolia was truly big. Kamerilah either spread wild oats, or had taken many children as orphans into her care. But Xeir did not ask about that. Instead, she asked simply. "Are you well enough to return home ?"

"What ? Back to Mongolia ? Pardon my language but Fuck No." Aruchii said, "Arendelle is our home now. And with you freeing us from that thing, its even better. Because it proves to us your magic is as strong as the Great Mothers praised"

"You act as if you had spoken with them" Xeir said, giving both men a doubius eye "And recently"

"Because they are indeed alive, by some unknown fate their bodies never decomposed like the rest of the dead have. The Great Mothers, and their mother the Great Root from which we sprang are indeed alive." Nekhii said simply. "So with you leading us, we have nothing to fear. Consider the Kopekh at your beck and call!"

"You would fight by my side ?" Xeir asked them, it did not make sense to her, both men willing to fight by her side instead of going off back to Mongolia. Well, they had said that Arendelle was their home now.

"By your side, and under your command, Sharka would have it no other way when he hears that the Lady Xeir Zit herself freed us from that hellhole!" Said Kara as she overheard her brother and his brother in arms conversation and wandered over. With her patrol freed from their hellish ten hours. She came to Xeir and when the Silver turned to look at her she bowed slightly in greeting. "Thank you, Lady Xeir, for freeing us"

"Who trapped you in there, why were your screams unheard ?" Xeir asked them

"The head guy here devised a foul magic that countered our seals and defenses. As a result, we were transported to those models." Kara smiled seeing the hellish things on fire as Aruchii spoke.

"I take it that was your magic at work, lighting the models afire ?" Kara asked to Xeir

"Yes" Xeir replied calmly. An audible sigh of relief was had from Kara.

"I will take my patrol back to the Taelieon District and speak to Sharka and Altan and let them know we're alright." Kara said to her brothers. "You two stay with Lady Xeir, do what she asks, I will return to you. Lady Xeir, that reminds me, where are you staying ?"

"In the Yaeko District, it is not much, but the Courtyard House is well kept, the outer wall is recently cleaned and will be noticable from the roads. I will hang a silver ribbon over the Courtyard gate so you know its the right house" Xeir said to her, Kara nodded her thanks and with her patrol headed off to find Sharka and give him the hellish news. As well as the amazingly good news that Xeir was in the kingdom.

Xeir turned to the two men, Nekhii and Aruchii both looiked to her, almost as if they were ready for orders. Xeir sighed in thought. "Hmmm, I am not used to commanding Men, it has been too long really." Thirty three years was a long time. She never did remember anything past that.

But neither man seemed to care. "Wherever you are staying, Lady Xeir, we will follow your orders to the letter" Aruchii said as Nekhii nodded.

Xeir looked between both men carefully then nodded. "Alright, come with me, I want to be sure you are both well, and I know only the person to do it." She knew that Kanwar, her aunt so to speak, could be of help as a healer. But Kaedrian the Royal Healer of Arendelle was staying near to Xeirs place.

"As you wish" Came their reply, the three of them left the Turntao District, carefully observing each model as they passed it, most of them were devoid of figures within the model itself, but those that had figures in them were quickly freed by Xeirs powerful magic.

Nekhii and Aruchii were quick to make sure that each prisoner released from the models were healthy and strong on their feet to get them to a place of safety or to their homes. Xeirs night was going to be a busy one.

Carefully focusing her vision she noted how healthy the two Kopekh were. Both men were healthy, just shaken from their ordeal. They were more then helpful to aid her in helping the people trapped in the models. Most of the prisoners werent even from the Turntao or the Dojo Districts they went through.

Xeirs magic cut a fine swath through the models that Kiyori had set up, soon they entered the Yaeko District and one model was with figures on the last leg of their path to Xeirs home. The figure had wings. "deevdru di vi riika" Xeir Zith swore seeing who the figure was. She had briefly wondered where Tie had gotten off to. Quickly using her magic she freed her Sparrow from the hellhole of a model.

Aruchii caught her before she hit the ground, helping her to her feet as she stood unsteady. "Bastard priest" Nekhii said seeing the condition of Tie, her hair was a mess, she had been roughed up a bit, but thankfully from her magic Xeir could detect that Tie had not been raped. Sparrows were too quick to nail down like that, beaten sure, but screwed, not so much. Once Xeir was sure that Tie was still clean and unspoiled. She had Aruchii carry her to the house while Nekhii carried her fallen weapons.

"Lady Xeir, if you do not mind my asking, who is this lady ? Why are you so concerned for her ?" Aruchii asked, Tie was quite light in Nekhii's arms and out like a light, it was as if she was knocked out, then shrunk to the model.

"She is one of my Sparrows, servant girls one would say, she was ordered by my Mother apparently to aid me until she and her sisters are recalled to my mothers court." Xeir said, "Her name is Tie, please be gentle, her sisters must be worried sick!" Xeir then remembered, Tie hadnt been seen since the night before. "I wondered what had happened to her when she did not return last night, and then not bringing breakfast this morning. I guess I know now" Xeir said.

Nekhii carried Tie to a bed as soon as they were within the courtyard house walls. Gently ensuring she was comfortable he stood and looked to Xeir. "If she is your servant, the High Priest had overstepped his bounds to trap her, unless he sent someone else to do it." He said, he looked, to Xeir, to be quite upset.

But it was nothing to how Xeir was feeling at that moment. Xeir was seething in rage. Her walk was not a walk to clear her head, but to reveal to her just how cruel Kiyori was. Her nothing had made a dire mistake leaving the kingdom and truisting Kiyori in the first place the year before. "It is my fault. Or rather, it was Elsas fault." Xeir finally said

"How could it be Elsas fault, she was queen wasnt she ?" Aruchii asked standing at the door in thought before setting Ties fallen weapons on the nearby table.

"Elsa was nothing, she was not to exist. And yet she did" Xeir replied as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "The Nothing, the Queen, left a council in her stead as she left for a year to travel the world with her husband Mark Wolfe, and her sister, Anna, and Annas guard, Diana Elisar."

"Only to have this asshole take over somehow, we've been here six months, the first two months we were here the guards said that they answered to a guy named Xercine, the head of the Council of the Kingdom of Arendelle." Aruchii said.

"About a month later, they got new colors, new weapons, and were saying they answered to the High Priest. Kiyori is an asshole, a blight on this kingdom. There must be a way to get rid of him, somehow" Nekhii said

"There is, but now is not the time. Instead we will focus on other things, Xercine called for a concensus to be taken concerning the Heir to the Throne, on the three posters there on the table are the three canidates." Xeir said nodding at the table.

Nekhii looked at this. "I do not recognise this woman, Sapphire, or this woman Waterlight" He said. He did however smile and tapped the poster showing Annas face. "Though I do recognise Princess Anna, Sharka is keeping her safe in his house in the Taelieon District."

Aruchi nodded and concluded as Xeir looked at them confused. "Anna was with Sharka in the Turntao District when we had to split off and find out what happened to Karas patrol. That was when we got trapped in that shithouse model"

"Sharka ?" Xeir asked out of the blue, the name sounded hauntingly familar

"The curerent head of the Kopekh, he answers to the Great Mothers, and through them to the Great Root. Though he will also answer to the current head of the Wolf Clan as well if they can be found. Rumor is that Mark Wolfe is back, but nobody has seen the Gauntlet on him." Nekhii said.

Xeir smirked, it made sense, Sharka trusted only so far with plain words and faith, but proof in a mans actions made things much more solid. To Sharka, a man was as good as his word. And Xeir liked that. "When can I see him ?" Xeir asked the two, The two traded looks, that question they were unable to answer.